Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Easter Wednesday
Numbers, Chapter 21, Verse 34
The
LORD, however, said to Moses: Do not FEAR
him; for into your hand I deliver him with all his forces and his land. You
will do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in
Heshbon.
This
verse is referring to Og a great and terrible giant King.
OG (Heb. עֹג ,עוֹג), ruler of Bashan,
one of the Amorite kings in the Transjordan area during the time of Moses. The
Bible remembers Og as belonging to the race of giants "who was left of the
remaining Rephaim," and special attention is paid to the description of
his huge iron bedstead (Deut. 3:11). The kingdom of Og comprised Bashan and the
Hermon region, and extended to the Jordan river to the west (Josh. 12:4–5).
Three or four of the cities of his kingdom are mentioned in the Bible – Ashtaroth,
which was apparently his capital and known as the capital of the realm From
this it would appear that his kingdom was one of the remaining Hyksos kingdoms
whose cities at that time were scattered in Palestine. It is also possible that
this kingdom was established by Amorites who invaded the area in the time of
the Egyptian-Hittite struggle during the reign of Ramses II (13th
century). Og was defeated by the Israelites when the eastern side of the Jordan
was conquered by those who left Egypt (Num. 21:33, 35; Deut. 3:1ff.). Half of
the tribe of Manasseh took Og's land as their inheritance (Josh. 13:31). This
victory greatly strengthened the spirit of the people. "Sixty towns …
fortified with high walls, gates, and bars" were then conquered (Deut.
3:4–5). Echoes of this victory, which was of exceptional importance, are also
encountered in later passages (Josh. 13:12; Ps. 135:11; 136:20; Neh. 9:22).[1]
Easter
Wednesday Picnic Breakfast[2]
This Easter picnic is a
festive way to spend time with your family and watch the signs of new life in
nature, associated with the Resurrection.
"Come and
breakfast!" That is the invitation Christ gave to Peter and John when they
landed their great catch of fish, so mysteriously bestowed. They were elated
and humbled and weary. It must have been a comfort to find a fire waiting on
shore, a fish on it, and bread ready. To commemorate this Gospel of Easter
Wednesday, why not a picnic breakfast in our home, or, better, out of it?
A party at this hour can
be more fun than the usual afternoon-evening spreads, so hard on tired babies
and so short on mothers' nerves. By now you can smell and feel spring throughout
the land, even under the crusty layer of leftover snow. The voice of the turtle
may not be heard, but all the mittens are lost, and nobody cares. In those
sections of our country where spring has really arrived and the violets are
lying in wait to be discovered, this can be a picnic of sudden beautiful
surprises for everyone. Children who might never have noticed will be amazed
that mother isn't as old as they thought. She even knows how to turn a jump
rope. If you live where winter hasn't yet given up the ghost, or if the little
ones are really too little to do more than curdle the atmosphere, a picnic on
the back porch (or basement, if you have that kind of basement) will be just as
exciting to the children. Scrambled eggs with hot ham or bacon in buns wrapped
in aluminum foil, individual boxes of dry cereal with companion boxes of
raisins, thermoses of cocoa or orange juice — whatever it is in your house that
makes a special breakfast should be on the menu. If we mothers are to be
catchers of (little) men, we must look to our lures! City families might
breakfast in a nearby park, even if it does shock the squirrels and pigeons.
They just have to learn we humans can be carefree too. And our explanations to
passers-by, openly curious at our cavorting, may be, for all we know, a chance
for spiritual seed-sowing. For apartment-dwellers, patio-less and too far from
a park, breakfast on the rooftop can be just as exhilarating as a penthouse
cocktail party. More so, since Christ is the Host and the small talk is never
boring.
Divine Mercy Novena[3]
Sixth Day - Today Bring Me the Meek and
Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children.
Most
Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and
humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart
all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send
all heaven into ecstasy, and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are
a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in
their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate
Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal Father turn Your merciful
gaze upon meek and humble souls, and upon the souls of little children, who are
enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls
bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth
and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by
the love You bear these souls and by the delight you take in them: bless the
whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for
endless ages. Amen.
Novena for the Poor Souls[4]
O Mother most
merciful, pray for the souls in Purgatory!
PRAYER OF ST.
GERTRUDE THE GREAT O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of
Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world
today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere— for
sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and for those within
my family. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE
DYING O Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray Thee, by the agony of Thy
most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother, to wash in
Thy Most Precious Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their
agony and who will die today. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the
dying! Amen.
ON EVERY DAY OF
THE NOVENA V. O Lord, hear my prayer, R. And let my cry come unto Thee. O God,
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Thy
servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that through our devout
supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired, Who livest
and reignest world without end. Amen.
WEDNESDAY O
Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus
that was shed in the streets of Jerusalem, whilst He carried on His sacred
shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and
especially that one which is richest in merits in Thy sight, so that, having
soon attained the high place in glory to which it is destined, it may praise
Thee triumphantly and bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory
Be.
Grilled
Cheese Sandwich Day[5]
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a
delicious, toasted delight popular all across the world. They even have their
own holiday, Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day,
when it’s practically your duty to indulge in them.
Melting cheese on top of bread is a culinary concept that has been around since the time of the Romans, but grilled cheese sandwiches as we know them didn’t become popular until the 1920s. Due to the ready availability of cheese and sliced bread, they became an American staple, but also spread around the world. Naturally, the best way to celebrate Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day is to make and eat a grilled cheese sandwich. All you need is bread, cheese and butter, although you can experiment by adding more ingredients of your choice. You butter the outside of each piece of bread and grill the sandwich while the cheese melts on top. Delicious!
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION ONE-PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
CHAPTER THREE-THE LIFE OF PRAYER
Article 2-THE BATTLE OF PRAYER
2725 Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response
on our part. It always presupposes effort. the great figures of prayer of the
Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he
himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves
and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from
prayer, away from union with God. We pray as we live, because we live as we
pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ,
neither can we pray habitually in his name. the "spiritual battle" of
the Christian's new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer.
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
How
to prepare for a Sick Call[6]
When a
person is homebound, bedridden, or suffering from a severe ailment, Catholics
are taught to call the priest. Decades ago the sacrament reserved for the very
ill or dying was known as Extreme Unction (last anointing) or more commonly “Last Rites.”
Today we know it as the Anointing of the Sick, and it is not given exclusively
to those who are on their deathbed. It is one of the seven sacraments and
invokes God’s divine aid for those suffering in a physical way.
In days when people more often died at home, there developed the custom of having a
“sick-call” crucifix on hand for emergency visits by a priest. This type of crucifix was hung on the wall of a person’s
home (usually above the bed). The crucifix contained a hidden compartment,
revealed by sliding the face of the cross downward. Within the compartment were
two candles, a small bottle of holy water and sometimes a white cloth.
The purpose of the sick-call crucifix — they are
still made today — is to facilitate the ritual connected to the Anointing of
the Sick, making the bedside a sacred space for the sacrament. Interestingly, it used to be a popular wedding present,
meant to be hung over the bed of a married couple, ready
to be of used when a spouse was in need of an anointing. It reminded the couple of their commitment
to be true to each other “in sickness and in health.”
Here is brief instruction on how to prepare for
a home visit by a priest to celebrate the Anointing of the Sick.
Prepare a small table next to
the bed
This can often be a nightstand or a collapsable
table that is small and easy to move. The table will be there to hold all of
the various elements of the ritual.
Place a white cloth on the
table
It is appropriate to place a white cloth over
the table, similar to the white cloth covers the altar at Mass. If the sick
person is near death, or has requested to receive Holy Communion as part of the
Anointing, the priest will bring a small container called a pyx with a
consecrated Eucharistic host in it. The priest will place the pyx on the table
and so the white cloth adds greater reverence and respect to the King of Kings
who is truly present in the host. (This is also the case when an Extraordinary
Minister of Holy Communion brings the Eucharist to a person who is hospitalized
or homebound.)
Set up the crucifix on the
table
A sick-call crucifix is constructed so that,
when opened, the face of the crucifix can be set upright in a slot in the base.
This creates a focal point of the sacrament, encouraging the sick person to
unite their sufferings with Christ on the cross.
Place one candle on each side
of the crucifix
The crucifix will also have two slots, one on
either side. This is where the candles are to be placed and lit when the priest
arrives. Again, this is to mimic the altar at Mass, reminding all present that
Christ is truly present in the Eucharistic host that the priest brings with
him.
Other (optional) items to have
The holy water bottle can be placed on the table
as well, though often the priest will bring his own with him. This is used to
bless the sick person. After the priest administers the anointing with the Oil
of the Sick (which he will bring, from the parish’s store of oils consecrated
at the Chrism Mass each year, in a container called a stock), he will need a
white cloth or cotton ball to wipe his fingers. (Sock sick-call crucifixes
include these items, or the priest may bring his own.) Another variation of the
sick-call set has a small bell to be set on the table for use after confession,
signaling that family members may return to the room.
The sick-call crucifix is a beautiful tradition,
one that adds a greater solemnity for the occasion, reminding all in the room
of God’s presence among them.
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.
Prayer
to St. Joseph.
O most chaste Joseph, who, by thy purity and other exalted virtues, wast worthy to be chosen for the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, I beseech thee, by the great graces of which thou wast made partaker, that thou wouldst, by thy intercession, obtain for all parents grace to rear their children piously; for all married persons who are distressed and afflicted through poverty and tribulations consolation and encouragement; for all unmarried persons who have devoted their chastity to God the grace of perseverance; and, finally, for all the dying the grace to come, after a happy death, to thy foster child, Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Holy Priests, Consecrated, & Religious
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 8 day 3
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Make reparations to the Holy Face
·
30
Days with St. Joseph Day 24
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