Thursday, January 26, 2023

- January 20, 2023

Novena for Purification Day 3

Description:

This novena prayer, although short is sufficient. It would be better of course to add, if time permits, three Hail Marys or say five times the Our Father, Haily Mary and Glory be to the Father, or to use some of the many well-loved novena prayers from other sources. Remember that prayers must be said with the lips in order to gain the indulgences. This novena starts on January 24 and ends on February 2.

Prayer:

O Blessed Mother of God, who went up to the Temple according to the law with your offering of little white doves, pray for me that I too may keep the law and be pure in heart like you.

Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.

300 days. Plenary, under usual conditions, if said daily for a month. S. C. Indulg., Sept. 30, 1852.

Prayer Source: All Day With God by Blanche Jennings Thompson

FEAST OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS

Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 11-12

¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s FAITH, yours and mine.

Paul had a great desire to visit Rome for Rome was the center of either the greatest good or the greatest evil in the world. Paul was convinced that Christ came not to overcome evil with force but with love. The world still engages in the same battle in that instead of Rome we now have enclaves in every city that purport the idea of might makes right. We must continue the work of Christ. The best way is encouraging good among the faithful and then go out to overcome the world with the spiritual gifts that Christ gives to each of us.

Friendship: key to sharing your spiritual gifts^{^[1]}

Our triune God shares His truth, beauty and wisdom or personhood with each of us. God’s desire for us is that we thrive, and He takes action to ensure that we do. We can tap into God’s grace and power if we do His will for us and listen to Him. Matthew Kelly in his book “Rediscovering Catholicism” recommends that in order to share our spiritual gifts we need to have a real practical plan. Here is his Plan for evangelization via friendship:

It first starts with prayer taking time in the “classroom of silence” and ask God to point out two to five people in your life who would most benefit from a greater knowledge and appreciation of Christ and the church. Write down the names of those people. Mentally attach one of their names to a finger of your right hand and think what life would be like without those fingers.
Pray for those people every day for the next month, by name, every day. Make yourself available to God for them. Tell God that you would like to help them discover the benefits of living a life of virtue and the adventure of walking with Him.
After you have prayed for them for a month, contact each of them and arrange to spend an hour or two with each of them personally. No agenda or preaching; just be present with each other. Take them to lunch, walk, golf, coffee make it fun and enjoy. Talk with them what is going on in their lives-listen.
Do this once a month with each person individually for three to six months; don’t talk about God, religion, or the Church, unless they bring it up.
After six months invite them to a local homeless shelter, soup kitchen or some other good work the Lord leads you to and after having formed a friendship; now would be a good time to discuss the place of God in our lives.
Over time if they seem to have an interest in drawing closer to God; give them a good book on the spiritual life that will challenge them to think, change, grow; become the best version of their self.
When you get together each month talk about the book ideas. What did they like about the book? Or didn’t like. What parts is a challenge? What parts is a comfort? How does it make you want to live differently?
When they are ready invite them to one of your church programs or outreaches. Afterward, invite them for a meal or coffee and talk.
Continue the five friendships and then invite them to do the same with five. Now go back to the Lord and ask for five more. This is how we bring about the new evangelization and build a Kingdom of God.

Confronting Evil^{^[2]}

Why doesn’t God stop human beings from committing wicked deeds? Evil’s continuing presence among us is a mystery we can’t fully figure out in this life. Nevertheless, we can say this much: God allows evil because He’s powerful enough to bring out of even the greatest evil a much greater good. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides a vivid illustration of this reality. According to the Gospel, when “Satan entered into Judas,” one of the twelve Apostles, he went out to betray Jesus (see Lk 22: 3– 4). So, the worst evil we can imagine— the torture and murder of God’s innocent Son— occurred through the Devil’s influence. Yet the triumph of the empty tomb transformed the horror of the Cross. Satan was thwarted. When Jesus rose from the dead, He displayed God’s power to bring out of the greatest of evils an even greater good: the world’s redemption. Meanwhile, our days in this life provide a season for God to test, purify, strengthen, and perfect us, making us fit to live with Him forever in heaven. To that end, the demons serve as useful tools for Him as they constantly test us by tempting us, so that we become purer and stronger and closer to perfection every time we resist the temptation. In this sense, we might say, quoting St. Augustine: “As an artist, God makes use even of the Devil.”

982 There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. "There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest. Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin.

1039 In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life:

All that the wicked do is recorded, and they do not know. When "our God comes, he does not keep silence. “.. . he will turn towards those at his left hand. "I placed my poor little ones on earth for you. I as their head was seated in heaven at the right hand of my Father - but on earth my members were suffering, my members on earth were in need. If you gave anything to my members, what you gave would reach their Head. Would that you had known that my little ones were in need when I placed them on earth for you and appointed them your stewards to bring your good works into my treasury. But you have placed nothing in their hands; therefore, you have found nothing in my presence."

2783 Thus the Lord's Prayer reveals us to ourselves at the same time that it reveals the Father to us.

O man, you did not dare to raise your face to heaven, you lowered your eyes to the earth, and suddenly you have received the grace of Christ all your sins have been forgiven. From being a wicked servant you have become a good son.... . Then raise your eyes to the Father who has begotten you through Baptism, to the Father who has redeemed you through his Son, and say: "Our Father..... " But do not claim any privilege. He is the Father in a special way only of Christ, but he is the common Father of us all, because while he has begotten only Christ, he has created us. Then also say by his grace, "Our Father," so that you may merit being his son.

Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops[3]

St. Timothy, born in Galatia in Asia Minor, was baptized and later ordained to the priesthood by St. Paul. The young Galatian became Paul's missionary companion and his most beloved spiritual son. St. Paul showed his trust in this disciple by consecrating him bishop of the great city of Ephesus. St. Timothy was stoned to death thirty years after St. Paul's martyrdom for having denounced the worship of the goddess Diana.

St. Titus, a convert from paganism, was a fellow laborer of St. Paul on many apostolic missions. St. Paul later made him bishop of Crete, a difficult charge because of the character of the inhabitants and the spread of erroneous doctrines on that island. St. Paul's writings tell us that St. Titus rejoiced to discover what was good in others and drew the hearts of men by his wide and affectionate sympathy.

Australia Day[4]

Australia Day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Britain. On this day in 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip first raised the British flag at Sydney Cove, marking the British occupation of Australia which has been claimed 8 years earlier by the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1770. Australia Day is observed annually on January 26th each year with barbeques and fireworks. Today, the day gives Australians the opportunity to reflect upon what it means to be Australian, the history that shaped the nation and the brighter future that the country has to look forward to.

Australia Day Facts & Quotes

· In 2015 Australia day coincided with 150th anniversary of Colac's Botanic Gardens.

· Australia was originally designed as a penal colony - a place used to exile convicts and criminals. The first was named the Colony of New South Wales.

· The Australian Flag is flown to commemorate this holiday. The flag includes: The Union Jack, representing historical ties to Great Britain; a large white seven-tipped star representing the 7 provinces making up the Commonwealth of Australia; and five white stars in the Southern Cross constellation pattern, a reminder of their Southern Hemisphere location.

· The entire population of Australia (22.3 Million) is less than the population of Texas (26 Million).

· There's an expression in Australia that's called 'Go Bush,' which means to get out of the city and relax. I try and 'go bush' to places where there's no cell reception. But I don't get to do that often, so for the most part, it's just a state of mind. - Cate Blanchett, actress

Australia Day Top Events and Things to Do

· Watch fireworks displays. Some of the grander displays are at Sydney harbor, Rooty Hill and the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

· Watch or attend the Oz Day 10km race in Sydney, Australia.

· Visit Hyde Park in Sidney where many Australia day events take place.

· Attend flag raising and citizenship ceremonies in Canberra and Perth.

Thursday Feast

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: soup Mushroom a la Mary-Louise main dish Saint Stephens Scrambled Eggs salad Crunchy Winter Salad with Balsamic Honey Mustard Dressing desert Stollen Drink Whiskey Skin