Thursday, September 22, 2022

- September 16, 2022

First Day of Autumn

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX

Philippians, Chapter 2, Verse 12

So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with FEAR and trembling.

Be good even when no one is watching is the old man’s advice. We who are chosen by the Lord are the light bearers showing the way to the will of God in a dark world. The world is a turbulent place fraught with evil beyond imagining. We must be wise as parents of children who build a home with both a prayer room and a storm cellar for the times when a tornado might come. Our church is such a home both a prayer room and storm cellar against the world.

Fall begins (Northern H.)[1]

Fall begins in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun is perpendicular to the equator. This day has equal hours of day and night. The first day of Fall is also called the Autumnal Equinox. In many areas it coincides with harvests. The first day of Fall happens between each year between September 22 and 24.

Fall begins (Northern H.) Facts & Quotes

· The Harvest Moon is the full moon which occurs closest to the autumnal equinox.

· The Earth takes 365.25 days to make one complete revolution around the Sun. This results in the first day of Fall beginning 6 hours later each year and moving a full day backwards on Leap Years.

· During the fall, the leaves on many trees die and fall to the ground. 500 years ago, expressions like fall of the leaf and fall of the year were quite common in the English-speaking world. The term fall as the name for this season comes from these early expressions.

· How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days - John Burroughs

Fall begins (Northern H.) Top Events and Things to Do

· Take a hike and enjoy the colorful leaves.

· Visit a Nature Center or Nature Museum near you.

· Plant cold weather plants or begin to protect your summer plants from the winter elements.

· Rake leaves into piles and then jump in them.

· Visit an apple orchard and pick some fresh apples. Use some of them to make a delicious apple pie or apple crisp for dinner.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY

SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

Article 7-THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY

IN BRIEF

1659 St. Paul said: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church.... This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the Church" (Eph 5:25, 32).

1660 The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament (cf CIC, can. 1055 # 1; cf. GS 48 # 1).

1661 The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life (cf Council of Trent: DS 1799).

1662 Marriage is based on the consent of the contracting parties, that is, on their will to give themselves, each to the other, mutually and definitively, in order to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love.

1663 Since marriage establishes the couple in a public state of life in the Church, it is fitting that its celebration be public, in the framework of a liturgical celebration, before the priest (or a witness authorized by the Church), the witnesses, and the assembly of the faithful.

1664 Unity, indissolubility, and openness to fertility are essential to marriage. Polygamy is incompatible with the unity of marriage; divorce separates what God has joined together; the refusal of fertility turns married life away from its "supreme gift," the child (GS 50 # 1).

1665 The remarriage of persons divorced from a living, lawful spouse contravenes the plan and law of God as taught by Christ. They are not separated from the Church, but they cannot receive Eucharistic communion. They will lead Christian lives especially by educating their children in the faith.

1666 The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called "the domestic church," a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.

Thursday Feast

This week we fast 3 days Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. What about Thursday. Why don’t we fast? Thursday is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stop by the grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace.

Feast of the day: Roast Grouse with Bread Sauce and Game Crumbs