Saturday, May 27, 2023
Saturday Whitsun Eve
Deuteronomy, Chapter 25, Verse 17-18
17 Bear in mind what Amalek did to you on the journey after you left Egypt, 18 how he surprised you along the way, weak and weary as you were, and struck down at the rear all those who lagged behind; he did not FEAR God.
How shall we deal with truly evil
people?
In Judaism, the Amalekites came to
represent the archetypal enemy of the Jews. In the Jewish folklore the
Amalekites are considered to be the symbol of evil. This concept has been used
by some Hassidic rabbis (particularly the Baal Shem Tov) to represent atheism
or the rejection of God. Elliot Horowitz and Josef Stern suggest that
Amalekites have come to represent an "eternally irreconcilable enemy"
that wants to murder Jews, and that Jews in post-biblical times sometimes
associate contemporary enemies with Haman or Amalekites, and that some Jews
believe that pre-emptive violence is acceptable against such enemies.[1]
The truly wicked are animals as the bible mentions they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Strong men and women whether laity or religious have a duty to protect the flock; they are the shepherds of the church that protect the weaker ones. Who are the Amalekites of our time; how shall we recognize them.
According to Christian Counselor Lesie Vernick[2]
there are five indicators that you may be dealing with an evil heart rather than
an ordinary sinful heart.
1. Evil
hearts are experts at creating confusion and contention. They twist the facts, mislead, lie, avoid taking
responsibility, deny reality, make up stories, and withhold information.
- Evil hearts are experts at fooling others with their smooth
speech and flattering words. But
if you look at the fruit of their lives or the follow through of their
words, you will find no real evidence of godly growth or change. It’s all
smoke and mirrors.
- Evil hearts crave and demand control, and their highest
authority is their own self-reference. They reject feedback, real
accountability, and make up their own rules to live by. They use Scripture to
their own advantage but ignore and reject passages that might require
self-correction and repentance.
- Evil hearts play on the sympathies of good-willed people,
often trumping the grace card. They demand mercy but give none
themselves. They demand warmth, forgiveness, and intimacy from those they
have harmed with no empathy for the pain they have caused and no real
intention of making amends or working hard to rebuild broken trust.
- Evil hearts have no conscience, no remorse. They do not struggle against sin or evil—they delight in it—all the while masquerading as someone of noble character.
Hmm…sounds like politicians to me? I would like to finish with
some thoughts of Saint John Paul II on the subject.
I once again address the leaders of
nations and all men and women of good will, who recognize the need to build
peace in the world…
"Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good" (12:21). Evil is never
defeated by evil; once that road is taken, rather than defeating evil, one
will instead be defeated by evil.[3]
Whitsun Eve[4]
Similar to the Easter Vigil, the
Vigil of Pentecost can be celebrated in a way that preserves its rich
traditions.
Fifty
days after the high feast of Easter, the Church comes together to celebrate the
coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is one of the principal feasts of
the year and marks the end of the Easter season. Historically the feast of
Pentecost was given a greater emphasis and its vigil the day before was
connected to the Easter Vigil in many ways.
There
was a service called by the English Whitsun Eve, during which the catechumens
who had not been baptized at Easter received the sacraments on the eve of Pentecost.
Similar to the Easter Vigil, it was celebrated in a “night watch” liturgy that
included the reading of six prophecies and a solemn blessing of the baptismal
font.
After
the celebration of Baptism, the newly baptized would be vested in a white alb,
symbolizing their new birth in the life of grace. Thus Pentecost is also called
Whitsunday by English speakers, a word that simply means “White Sunday,” in
reference to the white albs the newly baptized would wear.
In recognition of this ancient
tradition, the current Roman Missal has revived this extended vigil. Below is a
brief guide to how Pentecost can be celebrated according to the Third Edition
of the Roman Missal.
Evening Prayer
Prior
to the start of Mass, it is an option to begin the celebration with the
recitation of Evening Prayer (Vespers). This includes several Psalms and ends
right before the Liturgy of the Word during Mass.
Liturgy of the Word
Similar
to the Easter Vigil, there are four readings from the Old Testament that are
read. The priest will pray the following prayer before these readings, which
summarizes the overall “spirit” of the Pentecost Vigil.
Dear brethren, we have now begun our
Pentecost Vigil, after the example of the apostles and disciples, who with
Mary, the mother of Jesus, persevered in prayer, awaiting the Spirit promised
by the Lord; like them, let us, too, listen with quiet hearts to the Word of
God.
Let us meditate on how many great deeds God in times past did for his people and let us pray that the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sent as the first fruits for those who believe, may bring to perfection his work in the world.
These
readings reflect various prefigurements of the coming of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost starting in Genesis, and ending in the book of Joel. Each reading has
its own proper prayer, which bring out the truths revealed in this ancient
texts. Here is the one after a reading from the book of Exodus.
O God, who in fire and lightning gave the
ancient law to Moses on Mount Sinai and on this day manifested the new covenant
in the fire of the Spirit, grant, we pray, that we may always be aflame with
that same Spirit whom you wondrously poured out on your apostles, and that the
new Israel, gathered from every people, may receive with rejoicing the eternal
commandment of your love. Through Christ our Lord.
After
the fourth reading and its Psalm is completed, the Gloria is sung with great
jubilation. Then a reading from Romans is recited, which recalls the how the
Holy Spirit helps us in our need. The Gospel is then proclaimed, and Mass
continues as usual.
In
the Ordinariate Missal of Divine Worship, the Litany of Saints is sung, again
echoing the Easter Vigil Mass.
Celebration of Baptism
Though
not a requirement of the Pentecost Vigil, it remains fitting to celebrate
baptisms during this Mass after the homily. This can occur for various pastoral
reasons and reflects the continuity of the liturgy throughout the ages.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The remainder of Mass is the same
as usual, with no special additions. Mass is concluded with the solemn
dismissal, “Go forth, the Mass is ended, Alleluia, Alleluia.” Pentecost marks
the last use of the Easter season double Alleluia.
Apostolic Exhortation[5]
Veneremur
Cernui – Down in Adoration Falling
of The Most
Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix,
to Priests, Deacons, Religious and the Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix
on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
My beloved Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
I. The Graces of Holy Communion
ii. We become “One Body and One
Spirit in Christ.”
46. In Holy Communion, Christ
is present in us. Holy Communion allows Christ through us to go to every corner
and alley of the world so that where there is division and hate, He will bring
love; where there is suffering and pain, He will bring comfort and consolation;
and where there is discouragement and sin, He will bring healing and
forgiveness. Imagine if each of us Christians makes the Eucharist the source
and summit of our life? We would set the world on fire with Christ’s love!
II. Faith perceives what our
senses fail to grasp.
47. What must we do then, to
assure that Holy Communion bestows these life-giving and transforming effects
in our soul? If we receive Holy Communion out of routine only, without openness
to the Lord, then we will not receive all the graces that God wants to give.
But if we receive the Lord with the right dispositions, God’s grace will
strengthen our resolve to follow, love and imitate Him. Our Lord Jesus deeply
desires our union with Him in Holy Communion and through it He wishes to bring
about our transformation into Him and the transformation of our society in
which we live. But we, on our part, must ardently desire this union with Jesus
Christ as well.
48. In today’s superficial and
fast paced culture that is driven by instant results and gratification, it is
easy for us to lose our sense of wonder when we come face to face with the
miracle of the Eucharist. Living in a culture that seeks sensational headlines
and attention-catching spectacles, we can easily take for granted the Eucharist
and receive Jesus in Holy Communion with little to no expectation. Contrary to
what our culture offers and seeks, the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is so
quiet, so gentle, and imperceivable.
To be continued…
Four
Approved Eucharistic Miracles from the 21st Century[6]
In his writings on the
Eucharist, Fr. Spitzer reminds us that a Eucharistic miracle occurs every day,
at every holy mass across the world, when the substance of bread and wine is
transformed into the substance of Jesus’ body and blood.
However, the term “Eucharistic miracle" can
also refer to extraordinary empirical signs of Jesus’ presence in the
Eucharist, such as bleeding hosts or the transmutation of a consecrated host
into a piece of cardiac muscle tissue.
Some notable Eucharistic miracles happened years and
years ago (i.e. the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy in the 8th century
and the Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem, Portugal in the 13th century). Others
have happened in more recent history, such as the scientifically proven
Eucharistic miracles of Buenos Aires in 1992-1996. However, there are a handful
that have taken place in just the past 20 years. Below are four stories of
approved and recent Eucharistic miracles.
1. Legnica: A Bleeding Host
in Poland, 2013
On Christmas Day 2013, at the Church of Saint
Hyacinth in Legnica, Poland, a consecrated host fell on the floor. The host was
put into a container with water so that it would dissolve. Instead, it formed
red stains. In Feb. 2014, the host was examined by various research institutes
including the Department of Forensic Medicine in Szczecin who stated:
“In the
histopathological image, the fragments were found containing the fragmented
parts of the cross-striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle.”
Additionally, and similar to the findings of the
Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy, research found that the tissue had
alterations that would appear during great distress.
The bleeding Host in Poland was approved for
veneration in April 2016, by Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica who said
that it “has the hallmarks of a Eucharistic miracle.” Learn more here
2. Tixtla: Eucharistic
Miracle in Mexico, 2006
In Oct. 2006, a parish in the Chilpancingo-Chilapa
Diocese of Mexico held a retreat. During mass, two priests and a religious
sister were distributing communion when the religious sister looked at the
celebrant with tears in her eyes. The Host that she held had begun to effuse a
reddish substance.
To determine the validity of the event, Bishop Alejo
Zavala Castro asked Dr. Ricardo Castañón Gómez (who researched the Eucharistic
miracle in Buenos Aires) and his team to conduct scientific research.
In 2013, the research concluded that:
“The
reddish substance analyzed corresponds to blood in which there are hemoglobin
and DNA of human origin… The blood type is AB, similar to the one found in the
Host of Lanciano and in the Holy Shroud of Turin.”
Learn more about the Tixtla eucharistic miracle here.
3. A Eucharistic Miracle at
Chirattakonam, India, 2001
Though most Eucharistic miracles have to do with a
bleeding host, the one at at Chirattakonam, India was a bit different. On an
April morning in 2001, Fr. Johnson Karoor, pastor at St. Mary’s parish in
Chirattakonam, India, exposed the Blessed Sacrament for adoration. Soon Fr.
Karoor noticed three dots on the host and shared what he saw with the people,
who also saw the dots.
The priest then left for a week and came back to
find that the host had developed an image of a human face. To ensure it wasn’t
his imagination, he asked an alter server if he saw anything in the host.
“I see
the figure of a man,” the alter server replied. After mass, Fr. Karoor had a
local photographer capture the image of the host:
Read more about the Miracle at Chirattakonam here.
4. The Eucharistic Miracle
in Sokolka, Poland, 2008
Before the bleeding host in Legnica, there was
another Eucharistic miracle in Poland that occurred in the city of Sokolka.
The miracle took place in 2008 at the church of St.
Anthony. That morning during Mass, a priest accidentally dropped a host while
distributing Communion. The Host was then put in a small container of water.
The pastor, Fr. Stanislaw Gniedziejko, asked the sacristan, Sister Julia Dubowska
of the Congregation of the Eucharistic Sisters, to place the container in a
safe in the sacristy. After a week, Sister Julia checked on the host. When she
opened the safe, she smelled something like unleavened bread and the host had a
red blood stain on it.
Immediately, Sister Julia and Fr. Gniedziejko told
the archbishop of Bialystok, Bishop Edward Ozorowski, about the host. The
Bishop had the stained host taken out of the container and placed on a
corporal, where it stayed in the tabernacle for three years. During this time,
the stained fragment of the host dried out (appearing more like a blood stain
or clot) and several studies were commissioned on the host. The studies found
that the altered fragment of the host is identical to the myocardial (heart)
tissue of a person who is nearing death. Additionally, the structure of the
muscle fibers and that of the bread are interwoven in a way impossible to
produce by human means.
Learn more about the bleeding Host in Poland here.
For more on Eucharistic miracles, see “The Eucharistic Miracle Overseen
by Archbishop Bergoglio (Now Pope Francis)” and Fr. Spitzer’s article,
"Contemporary, Scientifically
Validated Miracles Associated with Blessed Mary, Saints and the Holy Eucharist.” See
also,
“For us
believers what we have seen is something that we have always believed… If our
Lord is speaking to us by giving us this sign, it certainly needs a response
from us.” –
Bishop Cyril Mar Baselice, Archbishop of the diocese
of Trivandrum on the Eucharistic Miracle at Chirattakonam, India
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART ONE:
THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION ONE
"I BELIEVE" - "WE
BELIEVE"
Article 1-THE REVELATION OF GOD
III. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All
Revelation"
God has said everything in his Word
65 "In many and various ways God spoke of
old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us
by a Son." Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father's one,
perfect and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no
other word than this one. St. John of the Cross, among others, commented
strikingly on Hebrews 1:1-2:
In giving us his Son, his only Word
(for he possesses no other), he spoke everything to us at once in this sole
Word - and he has no more to say. . . because what he spoke before to the
prophets in parts, he has now spoken all at once by giving us the All Who is
His Son. Any person questioning God or desiring some vision or revelation would
be guilty not only of foolish behavior but also of offending him, by not fixing
his eyes entirely upon Christ and by living with the desire for some other
novelty.
There will be no further Revelation
66 "The Christian economy, therefore, since
it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public
revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord
Jesus Christ." Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not
been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to
grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries.
67 Throughout the ages, there have been
so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized
by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of
faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive
Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history.
Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to
discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call
of Christ or his saints to the Church.
Christian faith cannot accept
"revelations" that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of
which Christ is the fulfilment, as is the case in certain nonChristian
religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such
"revelations".
Please
pray for the intentions of my wife Mary
Katherine (name meaning: Star of the Sea my Purest One) for today is her
birthday.
>>>Today is Day 10 of the Pentecost
Novena to the Holy Spirit.<<<
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Protection
of Life from Conception until natural death.
·
Saturday
Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Rosary
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