The dispute was so serious that the
commander, AFRAID that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his
troops to go down and rescue him from their midst and take him into the
compound.
During Paul’s time the Jewish people were divided into two camps. Paul in his fearlessness had spoken the truth and it struck a nerve with both sects wanting his death. How often is truth and reason ignored? Men find it easier to fall into camps and rationalize or justify their actions. Christ tells us to use reason much as He did with Thomas and believe. God has given us intelligent foresight as well as the Holy Spirit.
The
Virtue of Foresight: A Mark of Wisdom[1]
The
ancient philosophers identified man’s capacity for thought by the use
of different words for perceiving reality: sensus (the five senses), imaginatio
(the ability of the mind to recall pictures from the past or paint pictures of
the future), ratio (the ability to think in logical steps to reach a
conclusion), and intellectus (the ability to perceive the truth all at
once as self-evident). While animals have instincts as a form of knowledge,
they do not reflect on the past or ponder the future with the capacity to think
that distinguishes human virtues such as foresight and prudence, a mark of
wisdom.
While
ants prepare for the winter, they do not contemplate eternity. While dogs have
keen memories, they do not gather wisdom from the accumulated experience of the
entire human race as a source of universal truth.
Beyond the Present. Because man is a
rational animal with the power of intelligence, human thinking goes beyond the
immediate concerns and duties of the present moment. Man’s memory allows him
to recall the mistakes of the past and not repeat them and to learn from the
previous experience of older generations in his study of history. Man’s imagination
allows him to project into the future and consider possibilities, consequences,
and likely outcomes. The art of living requires this capacity to think today
while mindful of the past and conscious of the future. This wise thinking,
however, is not escaping into the past with nostalgia or calculating about the
future with cunning. The foresight of a wise man is a far cry from the
reckoning of a fox or rat.
Exceeding
our Grasp. Foresight
does not mean simply being insured for accidents to protect against harm to a
person’s
health or damage to his home. While home and car insurance show prudential
judgment, foresight is more than prevention or precaution. It goes beyond not
taking foolish chances but rather embraces noble efforts and daring initiatives
to achieve an ideal. It encompasses the common good, the welfare of future
generations, the happiness of all family members young and old, and an
awareness of the four last things: death, the final judgment, heaven, and hell.
Foresight strives for excellence and imagines always the difference between the
way things are in the present and the way things ought to be in the future. Famous
characters in literature like Don Quixote seek to restore the best of the past—the virtues of
knighthood—to
inspire future generations with truth, honor, chivalry, and courtesy. Robert
Browning writes that “man’s reach should
exceed his grasp, “Or else what’s
a heaven for?”
Foresight always aspires to perfection and never rests
complacent with mediocrity, the lowest common denominator, or the average. Just
as God in His Divine Providence foresees man’s needs and plans
for them, man too needs to be provident—to be far-seeing, to think ahead,
to be mindful of consequences, and to realize that the outcome of the future
depends on the choices of today. Created in God’s image, man
imitates God by providing for others and acting with prudence about the future
with the virtue of foresight. For example, God’s all-wise plan for
life—envisioning
a child’s
needs—prepares
for the birth of the newborn by endowing man and woman with parental instincts
to care for and protect the infant. All good parents are provident as they
attend not only to the present needs of their children but also think ahead for
their future.
Looking
Ahead. The
word “pro-vide” comes from two
Latin words that mean to look before or ahead. To be Godlike, to be wise, to be
prudent, and to exercise common sense means to weigh consequences and be aware
of both the present and the future. All actions bear fruit for good or for ill.
As the parable of the talents illustrates, God expects the coins to be
multiplied and earn interest—evidence
of foresight and imagining the future with good judgment. God judges’ man by
the abundance of his harvest: “By
their fruits you shall know them.”
There is no interest earned, no bountiful harvest, no
fruitful field without foresight, without sowing the right seeds in the
springtime of life for the later years. Unlike animals that live in the present
and do not foresee the future with vision or ideals, man enjoys a greater
awareness of time as he recollects the past and anticipates the future. In
fact, the cardinal virtue of prudence takes account of past, present, and
future learning
from the mistakes and experience of the past, making a practical judgment based
on the reality of the present, and foreseeing the consequences of actions today
that affect others for the common good in the days ahead. To be responsible,
moral, and sensible, a person naturally thinks ahead—living today but
anticipating tomorrow, saving money now for next year’s purchases,
educating children in their youth for their later adult life, keeping the Ten
Commandments and living the life of the Beatitudes in the expectation of life
everlasting.
Foresight
for the Future. Christ
taught his followers to be both “gentle
as doves and wise as serpents.”
The serpent looks to the left and to the right, moves slowly and cautiously,
and checks for dangers and enemies. Thinking must always precede acting;
otherwise, a person acts foolishly or imprudently without weighing the effects
or reactions beforehand. Without foresight a person wastes money, time, or
effort and accomplishes nothing. Without foresight—an intelligent plan
of action to achieve a moral goal—no
one progresses toward a destination. To live only for the present and think “eat, drink, and be
merry, for tomorrow we die”
does not amount to wisdom because the future always comes. Man enters the
future either prepared or unprepared—like the ants in Aesop’s fable that
prepared for winter or the cicada that only sang in the summer and froze in the
cold. Foresight for students means not only preparing for a career through a
good education but also gathering wisdom to live well and to enjoy an abundant
life. Nothing learned—no
matter the subject matter, book, or class—is ever wasted. Whatever a person
learns in science, social studies, religion, or English, he will use in one
capacity or another. Not to learn is to show no foresight. If not in his own
profession, then in his own personal life a person will be glad he knows, glad
he can teach others, glad he possesses an informed mind capable of making
intelligent decisions. A person in high school or college is not just
qualifying for a profession but providing for a life of the mind, one of the
greatest sources of human happiness because man is designed to love truth, to
desire knowledge for its own sake, and ultimately to know God. It is not only
human wisdom to think ahead for the sake of one’s own happiness but
also charity to be far-sighted on behalf of the well-being of others. Just as a
Christian is obligated to love others as Christ loves him and forgive others as
God forgives him, he also needs to think of others and provide for their future
as God provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
Love Litigating Lawyers Day, no matter how unpopular we generally consider them to be…or how unprincipled we believe them to be we are to love them for the sake of Christ. #LoveLitigatingLawyersDay
Our
National Principles[2]
Declaration of Independence is in July and the Constitution is in September, let us once again reflect on the marvelous principles underlying these two documents. The following is a review of these principles together with a comment or a quote by the Founders. Documentation may be found in The Five Thousand Year Leap.
·
Principle 1–The only reliable basis
for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law.
Natural
law is God’s law. There are certain laws which govern the entire universe, and
just as Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence, there are
laws which govern in the affairs of men which are “the laws of nature and of
nature’s God.”
·
Principle 2–A free people cannot survive under a
republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.
“Only
a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and
vicious, they have more need of masters.” – Benjamin Franklin
·
Principle 3–The most promising method
of securing a virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.
“Neither
the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and
happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is
the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its
virtue, and who … will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power
and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.” – Samuel Adams
·
Principle 4–Without religion
the government of a free people cannot be maintained.
“Of
all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion
and morality are indispensable supports…. And let us with caution indulge the
supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” – George
Washington
·
Principle 5–All things
were created by God, therefore upon him all mankind are equally dependent, and to
him they are equally responsible.
The
American Founding Fathers considered the existence of the Creator as the most
fundamental premise underlying all self-evident truth. They felt a person who
boasted he or she was an atheist had just simply failed to apply his or her
divine capacity for reason and observation.
·
Principle 6–All mankind
were created equal.
The
Founders knew that in these three ways, all mankind are theoretically treated
as:
- Equal before God.
- Equal before the law.
- Equal in their rights.
·
The Freedom to try.
·
The Freedom to buy.
·
The Freedom to sell.
·
The Freedom to fail.
·
Principle 7– The proper role of
government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.
The
Founders recognized that the people cannot delegate to their government any
power except that which they have the lawful right to exercise themselves.
·
Principle 8 – Mankind are
endowed by God with certain unalienable rights.
“Those
rights, then, which God and nature have established, and are therefore called
natural rights, such as are life and liberty, need not the aid of human laws to
be more effectually invested in every man than they are; neither do they
receive any additional strength when declared by the municipal [or state] laws
to be inviolable. On the contrary, no human legislation has power to abridge or
destroy them, unless the owner [of the right] shall himself commit some act
that amounts to a forfeiture.” – William Blackstone
·
Principle 9 – To protect human
rights, God has revealed a code of divine law.
“The
doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be
found only in the Holy Scriptures. These precepts, when revealed, are found by
comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature, as they tend in
all their consequences to man’s felicity.” – William Blackstone
·
Principle 10–The God-given
right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people.
“The
fabric of the American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent
of the people. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from
that pure, original fountain of all legislative authority.” – Alexander
Hamilton
·
Principle 11–The majority
of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.
“Prudence,
indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes … but when a long train of abuses and
usurpations … evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is
their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new
guards for their future security.” – Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of
Independence
·
Principle 12–The United States of America
shall be a republic.
“I
pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic
or which it stands….”
·
Principle 13–A Constitution should
protect the people from the frailties of their rulers.
“If
angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government
would be necessary…. [But lacking these] you must first enable the government
to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” –
James Madison
·
Principle 14–Life and liberty are
secure only so long as the rights of property are secure.
John
Locke reasoned that God gave the earth and everything in it to the whole human
family as a gift. Therefore, the land, the sea, the acorns in the forest, the
deer feeding in the meadow belong to everyone “in common.” However, the moment
someone takes the trouble to change something from its original state of
nature, that person has added his ingenuity or labor to make that change.
Herein lies the secret to the origin of “property rights.”
·
Principle 15–The highest level of prosperity
occurs when there is a free-market economy and a minimum of government
regulations.
Prosperity
depends upon a climate of wholesome stimulation with four basic freedoms (Speech-Worship-Want-Fear)
in operation.
·
Principle 16–The government
should be separated into three branches.
“I
call you to witness that I was the first member of the Congress who ventured to
come out in public, as I did in January 1776, in my Thoughts on Government … in
favor of a government with three branches and an independent judiciary. This
pamphlet, you know, was very unpopular. No man appeared in public to support it
but yourself.” – John Adams
·
Principle 17–A system of
checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power by the
different branches of government.
“It
will not be denied that power is of an encroaching nature and that it ought to
be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it.” – James
Madison
·
Principle 18 –The
unalienable rights of the people are most likely to be preserved if the
principles of government are set forth in a written Constitution.
The
structure of the American system is set forth in the Constitution of the United
States and the only weaknesses which have appeared are those which were allowed
to creep in despite the Constitution.
·
Principle 19–Only limited and
carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being
retained by the people.
The
Tenth Amendment is the most widely violated provision of the bill of rights. If
it had been respected and enforced America would be an amazingly different
country than it is today. This amendment provides:
“The
powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
people.”
·
Principle 20–Efficiency and dispatch
require that the government operate according to the will of the majority, but
constitutional provisions must be made to protect the rights of the minority.
“Every
man, by consenting with others to make one body politic under one government,
puts himself under an obligation to every one of that society to submit to the
determination of the majority, and to be concluded [bound] by it.” – John Locke
·
Principle 21–Strong local
self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom.
“The
way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to
divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions he is
competent [to perform best]. – Thomas Jefferson
·
Principle 22–A free people should be
governed by law and not by the whims of men.
“The
end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.
For in all the states of created beings, capable of laws, where there is no law
there is no freedom. For liberty is to be free from restraint and violence of
others, which cannot be where there is no law.” – John Locke
·
Principle 23–A free society cannot
survive as a republic without a broad program of general education.
“They
made an early provision by law that every town consisting of so many families
should be always furnished with a grammar school. They made it a crime for such
a town to be destitute of a grammar schoolmaster for a few months, and
subjected it to a heavy penalty. So that the education of all ranks of people
was made the care and expense of the public, in a manner that I believe has
been unknown to any other people, ancient or modern. The consequences of these
establishments we see and feel every day [written in 1765]. A native of America
who cannot read and write is as rare … as a comet or an earthquake.” John Adams
·
Principle 24–A free people
will not survive unless they stay strong.
“To
be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” –
George Washington
·
Principle 25-Peace, commerce, and
honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none.”-Thomas
Jefferson, given in his first inaugural address.
·
Principle 26 –The core unit which
determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government
should foster and protect its integrity.
“There
is certainly no country in the world where the tie of marriage is more
respected than in America, or where conjugal happiness is more highly or
worthily appreciated.” Alexis de Tocqueville
·
Principle 27–The burden of debt is as
destructive to human freedom as subjugation by conquest.
“We
are bound to defray expenses [of the war] within our own time, and are
unauthorized to burden posterity with them…. We shall all consider ourselves
morally bound to pay them ourselves and consequently within the life
[expectancy] of the majority.” – Thomas Jefferson
·
Principle 28–The United States
has a manifest destiny to eventually become a glorious example of God’s law
under a restored Constitution that will inspire the entire human race.
The
Founders sensed from the very beginning that they were on a divine mission.
Their great disappointment was that it didn’t all come to pass in their day,
but they knew that someday it would. John Adams wrote:
“I
always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the
opening of a grand scene and design in Providence for the illumination of the
ignorant, and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the
earth.”
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
IV. The Effects of the Celebration of This Sacrament
1520 A
particular gift of the Holy Spirit. the first grace of this sacrament is one of
strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the
condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of
the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the
temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in
the face of death. This assistance from the Lord by the power of his
Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the
body if such is God's will. Furthermore, "if he has committed sins,
he will be forgiven."
1521
Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick
person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to
Christ's Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by
configuration to the Savior's redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of
original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving
work of Jesus.
1522 An
ecclesial grace. the sick who receive this sacrament, "by freely uniting
themselves to the passion and death of Christ," "contribute to the
good of the People of God." By celebrating this sacrament the Church,
in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and
he, for his part, though the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the
sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church
suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.
1523 A
preparation for the final journey. If the sacrament of anointing of the sick is
given to all who suffer from serious illness and infirmity, even more rightly
is it given to those at the point of departing this life; so it is also called
sacramentum exeuntium (the sacrament of those departing). The Anointing of
the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just
as Baptism began it. It completes the holy anointings that mark the whole Christian
life: that of Baptism which sealed the new life in us, and that of Confirmation
which strengthened us for the combat of this life. This last anointing
fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final
struggles before entering the Father's house.
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.
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 10
Daily
Devotions
·
30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 17th ROSE:
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: An End to Addictions
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
SEPTEMBER
September--Our buildings need to be
winterized. Now is the time to think of energy conservation measures, adding
caulking and painting, completing needed repairs, composting yard wastes, and
protecting garden plants for late fall and winter. Do we regard our abodes as
God's dwelling space, a sacred trust and healthy place? Do we cherish the
abundance of space and use it properly as good stewards?
September is Harvest Time
Since man is both a spiritual and physical being, the
Church provides for the needs of man in his everyday life. The Church's liturgy
and feasts in many areas reflect the four seasons of the year (spring, summer,
fall and winter). The months of August, September, October and November are
part of the harvest season, and as Christians we recall God's constant
protection over his people and give thanksgiving for the year's harvest.
September is the end of the
summer season and the start of the fall season
Explanation of Ember Days—Three days set apart for fasting,
abstinence, and prayer during each of the four seasons of the year. They were
the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after St. Lucy (or Lucia, d. 304) (December
13), the First Sunday of Lent, Pentecost, and the feast of the Holy Cross
(September 14). Since the revision of the Roman calendar in 1969, Ember Days
are to be observed at the discretion of the National Conference of Bishops.
Moreover, their observance may be extended beyond three days and even repeated
during the year. Possibly occasioned by the agricultural feasts of ancient
Rome, they came to be observed by Christians for the sanctification of the
different seasons of the year, and for obtaining God's blessing on the clergy
to be ordained during the Embertides. (Etym. Anglo-Saxon oemerge, ashes.)
— Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, SJ, Doubleday, 1980.
So, during these times the Church had a threefold focus:
(1) sanctifying each new season by
turning to God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
(2) giving thanks to God for the
various harvests of each season; and
(3) praying for the newly ordained
and for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Since the reorganization of the Roman calendar in 1969
after the Second Vatican Council, Ember Days are still retained in principle,
but how and when they are to be observed is at the discretion of each country's
Episcopal Conference. There is no longer set Mass readings for the Ember Days
in the Ordinary Rite. Another harvest feast is September 29, the Feast of the
Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Before the revision of the calendar,
this used to be only the feast of St. Michael. In many countries this day was
referred to as "Michaelmas" and is celebrated with traditional foods
and customs
September is the time to
reflect on the Sorrows of Mary
September Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows.[1] Since the 16th century Catholic piety
has assigned entire months to special devotions. Due to her feast day on
September 15, the month of September has traditionally been set aside to honor
Our Lady of Sorrows. All the sorrows of Mary (the prophecy of Simeon, the three
days' loss, etc.) are merged in the supreme suffering at the Passion. In the
Passion, Mary suffered a martyrdom of the heart because of Our Lord's torments
and the greatness of her love for Him. "She it was," says Pope Pius
XII, "who immune from all sin, personal or inherited, and ever more
closely united with her Son, offered Him on Golgotha to the Eternal Father
together with the holocaust of her maternal rights and motherly love. As a new
Eve, she made this offering for all the children of Adam contaminated through
his unhappy fall. Thus she, who was the mother of our Head according to the
flesh, became by a new title of sorrow and glory the spiritual mother of all
His members."
Daily
Prayers for September
At Morning
O most
holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you
experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and the death of
your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a
tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of
my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affection for the
passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that
henceforward all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this
one most desirable object. Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and
to the holy and immaculate Mother of God. Amen. --Saint Bonaventure
At
Noon
Mary, most holy Virgin and
Queen of Martyrs, accept the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into thy
heart, pierced by so many swords, do thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as
the companion of thy sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for
the redemption of the world. With thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly
suffer all the trials, contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please
our Lord to send me. I offer them all to thee in memory of thy sorrows, so that
every thought of my mind, and every beat of my heart may be an act of
compassion and of love for thee. And do thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me,
reconcile me to thy divine Son Jesus, keep me in His grace, and assist me in my
last agony, so that I may be able to meet thee in heaven and sing thy glories.
Amen.
At
3PM
Most holy Virgin. and
Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy
divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never-ending
joy at His triumph; obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the
adversities of Holy Church and the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be
found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the
charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
At Twilight
O most holy and afflicted
Virgin! Queen of Martyrs! thou who didst stand motionless beneath the Cross,
witnessing the agony of thy expiring Son--through the unceasing sufferings of
thy life of sorrow, and the bliss which now more than amply repays thee for thy
past trials, look down with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel
before thee to venerate thy dolors, and place my requests, with filial
confidence, in the sanctuary of thy wounded heart; present them, I beseech
thee, on my behalf, to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred
death and passion, together with thy sufferings at the foot of the cross, and
through the united efficacy of both obtain the grant of my present petition. To
whom shall I resort in my wants and miseries if not to thee, O Mother of Mercy,
who, having so deeply drunk of the chalice of thy Son, canst compassionate the
woes of those who still sigh in the land of exile? Offer for me to my Savior
one drop of the Blood which flowed from His sacred veins, one of the tears
which trickled from His divine eyes, one of the sighs which rent His adorable
Heart. O refuge of the universe and hope of the whole world, do not reject my
humble prayer, but graciously obtain the grant of my petition.
At Slumber.
Mary
most sorrowful, Mother of Christians, pray for us. Virgin most sorrowful, pray
for us.
September is the month dedicated to contemplation of the Angels
Devotion to the Angels is a mark of Predestination[2]
The Church has always practiced
and encouraged devotion to the holy angels. All ancient liturgies make mentions
of them and the protection they provide to men. It is their greatest desire to
aid us in all our acts of religion by uniting their supplications to ours. We
should honor and love angels as well as our fellow mankind for it is though the
Precious Blood of Christ, we are all united. Christ is the head of angels as
well as men, and it is as Man that He is Head of the angels. To honor them and
love them we must first know them and earnestly strive to cultivate their
friendship.
September is the month of Angels and Mary is the Queen of Angels
The church traditionally honors angels during the month of September. Paul in Colossians states of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.”
“St. Michael and the Angels” is a beautiful and inspiring book
telling all about the angels. Filled with stories from the lives and writings
of the saints, it tells of the role which the good angels play in the divine
economy of saving souls. Led by St. Michael, the Prince of the heavenly host,
the angels act as our guardians, serve as messengers from God to us and from us
to God, surround the altar during Mass, and bear the graces of the Mass like
incense to the altar of God on high. Here is explained the relationship of the
angels to the Blessed Virgin Mary and how, if she is to send them to our aid,
we must request her to do so. Included too is the prayer to our guardian angel
asking him to go in our place to attend Mass when we cannot, plus the way the
good angels protect us against the evil spirits. The book also discusses in
detail the pre-eminent role of St. Michael as "Champion of the
Church," "Defender of Christians," "Guardian of Purgatory,"
and "Helper of the Sick and Dying."
It is also a good practice to ask for angelic help throughout our
day. There are nine choirs of angels and three hierarchies three within three.
Remember to ask their assistance about every two hours throughout your
day
Upon rising (7 am) address the first
choir of angels, the Seraphim. Their chief characteristic is great and ardent
love. They were made for one thing alone-----to love the God of Love. Without
ceasing they honor, praise, and love the most Blessed Trinity-----they can do
nothing else-----this is their happiness. Practice upon rising to try to become
a Seraph of love: let this be your habitual disposition. Love and do what God
wills. Ask this great gift feverently. Aspiration: "Oh! Blessed Seraphim!
Make us love." Say the Shema Yisrael.
At the fourth hour (11
am) of
the day address the third choir is the choir of Thrones. They are
called Angels of Peace, calm, tranquility, and stability. Ask them for
that peace of soul which is the fruit of a good conscience. Invoke their aid
for such as are prone to hatred, passion and impatience; and after their
example, practice being meek, calm, and peaceful with all. Practice: Dispose
yourself to great sweetness and patience. Aspiration: "O Holy Thrones!
Obtain that Divine peace, which surpasses all understanding, may keep our hearts
and minds in Jesus Christ, Our Lord."
At the sixth hour (1
pm) of
the day address the fourth choir
of angels which is the choir of Dominations. They are consumed by their
yearning for the interests of God: their principal office is to manifest His
will. We should also beg of God to manifest His will to us by these Blessed
"Intelligences" and then take care to fulfill it scrupulously, as
being the shortest way to perfection and sanctity. We should ask these Angels
to help us to spread God's kingdom upon earth, for the conversion of heretics
and infidels, and for the return of lukewarm and fallen away Catholics to the
practice of the faith. Practice: Give practical proof of your zeal for the
glory of God; do something for His reign in souls, as instructing the ignorant.
Aspiration: "Holy Dominations! Animate us with thy zeal."
At the eighth hour (3
pm) of
the day address the fifth choir
of angels which is the choir of Principalities. The Principalities watch over
Empires, Provinces, and Dioceses. Purity of intention is the virtue
ascribed to them, for in their high functions they never seek but the honor and
interest of God alone. Let us imitate them. It is the intention which stamps
the action with merit or demerit. Practice: In all you do and say, seek the greater
glory of God. Aspiration: "O Holy Spirits! May we, like thee,
seek God, for God alone." Now would be a good time to also pray a divine mercy prayer
At the 10th hour (5 pm) of the day address the
sixth choir of angels the Powers.
These Angels have unlimited mastery over the wicked Spirits; they are endowed
with great intelligence and are able to discover their schemes and plans for
our destruction. Their power is so incredible that one alone of them would be
able to destroy the entire infernal host. It is well to invoke them in
temptation: but to merit their assistance we must take care to avoid the occasions of sin. Practice: Resist the
attacks of vice and passion; frequently make acts of diffidence in self and
confidence in God; combat your evil inclinations. Aspiration: "Lord! Send
Thy Angels to assist us."
At the 12th hour (7 pm) of the day address the
seventh choir of angels the Virtues. Energy and strength are attributed to
the Virtues. They have dominion over the elements; all nature is subjected to
their control. Hence, they can raise or appease the tempest. We may profitably
invoke them in unforeseen accidents, sickness, etc. We may also have recourse
to them for that strength necessary to lead a penitential life and root out the
inclinations of depraved nature. All persons inclined to the contemplative life
should call on this choir of Angels for help, for good thoughts alone do not
make holy, one needs also strength to persevere and to accomplish this great
task. Practice: Visit the Blessed Sacrament to obtain grace to overcome your
evil dispositions. Aspiration: "Holy Virtues! Strengthen and fortify
us."
At the 14th hour (9 pm) of the day
address the eighth choir of angels the Archangels. The Archangels are
distinguished from the Angels by the greater importance of their functions: the
Guardians of those invested with authority in the Church and State and are
remarkable for their love and care of men. Let us imitate them, doing our
neighbor all the good we can and invoking in his behalf these Blessed Spirits.
Members of this choir are the holy spirits who stand before the throne of God,
ever ready to announce His commands. St. Michael is the warrior leader of God’s
angels. St. Gabriel is the special messenger of The Holy Spirit. St. Raphael is
the angel of Joy. Practice-----Two Acts of Charity, with great affection.
Aspiration: "Holy Archangels! Pray for us, and for our priests."
At the 16th hour (11
pm) of
the day address the Ninth choir of the angels. They are charged with the execution
of the Divine ordinances and are appointed the Guardians of men. Humility is
the virtue particularly ascribed to them-----for though the least among
the Choirs, yet they see their celestial companions without desiring their
greater, more excellent endowments. The Guardian Angels exercise continual
watchfulness over the souls committed to their care. Their number is
exceedingly great, and it is not necessary when an Angel has accompanied his
charge into Heaven, that he be again assigned to a soul in any future
generation. Our Guardian, who is our companion in life, will also be forever at
our side in Heaven. The joy of these Angels is immeasurably increased when
souls entrusted to their care enter Heaven. The Guardian Angels of the lost
souls are not deprived of their share of joy. God in His justice increases also
theirs with the others, and then assigns them to the special guard of the Queen
of Angels, where they with great joy praise the Infinite Justice of God. Let
us, like the humble Guardian Angels, love the lowest place, especially when
placed therein by Divine Providence, and to behold with joy the preference
given to others. Practice: Three Acts of Humility, interior and exterior.
Aspiration: "Who is like God!"
Information was
obtained from: http://www.catholictradition.org/Angels/angels.htm
September Travel and Events
Belgian Beer Weekend September 2-4. The drinking fun doesn’t end in Budapest! Head
to Belgium for Belgian Beer Weekend. Held at Brussel’s Grand Place square, this
annual celebration in early September showcases Belgian brews from more than 30
small and big breweries.
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
(Hong Kong) September 9-11. Top off Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations
with the Tai Hang fire dragon dance. This 3-day-long event, held during the
Mid-Autumn Festival, carries on a tradition that’s more than 100 years old. In
the Hong Kong community of Tai Hang, some 300 performers take to the streets,
dancing, waving incense sticks and animating a 220-foot-long dragon.
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Call it an
excuse to party: Come Sept. 10, 2022, the 3-day Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
begins. In mainland China, the annual festival is the second biggest holiday of
the year (right behind the country’s spring festival). Experience Mid-Autumn
fun yourself at Chicago’s Moon
Festival.
Kentucky Bourbon Festival
(Bardstown, KY) September 16-18. Spirits lovers will want to
head to Bardstown, KY -- the bourbon capital of the world since 1776. Every
September, the small city hosts the weeklong Kentucky Bourbon Festival, which
showcases more than 30 bourbon-related happenings, including the chance to
sample the many different flavors of bourbon and whiskey, each sure to give you
a nice kick in the gut.
Constitution Day Celebrate
Constitution Day and the anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution with
a trip to Washington, DC, on September 17. The National Archives has the
original Constitution on display in the Rotunda, along with the Bill of Rights
and Declaration of Independence. Make the most out of your trip to DC and pay a
visit to the Smithsonian
museums and monuments along the National Mall.
Oktoberfest September 17-Oct. 3. Raise a stein
to Oktoberfest.
This annual, 16-day celebration of all thing’s beer kicks off in late September
in Munich. Can’t make it to Germany? Bring your taste for brewski to
these US Oktoberfest
events.
Texas State Fair (Dallas) September 30-Oct 23 “Our state fair is a great state fair.” How can it not be when it’s in Texas? Beginning the last Friday in September, the annual Texas State Fair unfolds over 24 days in Dallas, TX, with plenty of fun for the whole family, including the chance to ride this Ferris wheel – the largest in North America.
Iceman’s Calendar
·
September 2nd MASS First
Friday
·
September 3rd MASS First
Saturday
·
September 4th Thirteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
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
·
September 14th Feast
of the Holy Cross
·
September 15th Our
Lady of Sorrows
·
September 18th Fifteen
Sunday after Pentecost
·
September 21st Feast
of St. Matthew
·
September 22nd fall
begins
· September
23rd Ember
Friday
· September
24th Ember
Saturday
· September
25th Sixteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
o
Rosh
Hashanah begins at Sunset
·
Feast
of St. Michael the Archangel
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