Friday, August 4, 2023
First Friday
SAINT
JOHN VIANNEY-Saint Obama
2 SAMUEL, Chapter 23, Verse 3-4
3
The God of Israel spoke; of me the Rock of Israel
said, “One who rules over humankind with justice, who rules in the FEAR of God, 4 Is like the light at
sunrise on a cloudless morning, making the land’s vegetation glisten after
rain.”
The Rock
of Israel (Hebrew: צור ישראל,
Tzur Yisrael) is a concept in Judaism that alludes to God, and in
Zionism and politics, to the cultural and historical heritage of the Jewish
people and the foundation of the State of Israel.[1]
God
fearing leaders are life giving and not life taking for they have a Holy Fear
of God. Traditionally in Judaism there are seven names given for God. The seven
names of God that, once written, cannot be erased because of their holiness are
the Tetragrammaton, El, Elohim, Eloah, Elohai, El Shaddai, Tzevaot.
Tetragrammaton
is YHWH or I am that I am.
El
simply means God and is used in the names of IsraEL, AngEL.
Elohim
means He is power of powers Eloah is the singular form of Elohim.
Elohai
mean “My God”.
El
Shaddai means “God Almighty”
Tzevaot
means “God the armies of Israel”.
Names are important. Most of us remember the
elementary school playground and the mean names kids called each other. Author
and speaker, Kary Oberbrunner[2],
states that we all have a secret name that the One who made us gives us.
Oberbrunner said, “My name is Kary, and I have a girl’s name.” He was no
stranger to mean names on the playground. He went on to say that each of us has
three names:
1.
Our
birth name – the name assigned to us when we arrive in this world
2.
Our
given names – the names assigned to us as we walk through the world. These
names can be positive and negative, ranging from successful, beautiful, star
athlete to those names assigned by mean kids, like concentration camp victim,
stupid, addict.
3.
Our
secret name – the name granted to us by God Oberbrunner said the problem is our
birth names and given names don’t ever fill up the void inside us. We pretend
and wear masks.
What
would God call you? When Christ called his apostles; He revealed to some of
them God’s name for them. Sons of Thunder for John and James and for Simon son
of John, He called him Peter which means “Rock”.
First Friday Promises[3]
Those
who faithfully complete the First Friday devotion for nine consecutive months
are promised the following, as told to Roman Catholic nun St.
Margaret Mary Alacoque
by Our Lord Jesus Christ:
1. I will give them all of the graces
necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their
homes.
3. I will comfort them in all their
afflictions.
4. I will be their strength during
life and above all during death.
5. I will bestow a large blessing upon
all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean
of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount
to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place where a
picture of my heart shall be set up and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of
touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in
My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise you in the excessive
mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant all to those who
communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final
penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their
sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
To gain these blessings there are just three simple
requirements to
complete each month.
Feast of Saint John Vianney[4]
During
the French Revolution a small band of Ursuline nuns was imprisoned in the
Bastille. To cheer her disconsolate companions, one of the group passed wheaten
discs of bread, cut from the loaf of the daily rations, to memorialize the
happy days when they were free and could receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. At
that time all religious schools and churches were closed, and those who
harbored priests were imprisoned. At the Vianney farmhouse near Dardilly,
France, fugitive priests were offered a refuge. Here their son was prepared in
his tenth year for the reception of Holy Communion by a hunted priest. While
tending his father's sheep, John Vianney fashioned a small statue of Our Lady
out of clay. He hid it in the hollow of an old tree with this petition: "Dear
Lady Mary, I love you very much; you must bring Jesus back to His tabernacles
very soon!" On a visit to his aunt at Ecully, John listened to her praises
of Father Balley, the parish priest, and he sought the Father's advice
regarding his vocation to the priesthood. The pastor appraised the overgrown,
awkward youth of faltering speech and devoid of general education. Though John
was unable to answer the questions pertaining to earthly science which Father
asked him, yet, when the priest put to him the questions of the catechism, his
face became luminous with lively interest. He answered every question
correctly, and in a manner beyond his years. The amazed pastor took this
evidence as a sign from heaven, prophesying, "You will become a priest!"
The ensuing years brought many trials to John. He was conscripted; his mother
died; he failed often in his studies. Ordained as a Mass priest, August 12,
1815, he remarked to Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy: "Here is your priest,
O Blessed Mother! Stay close to me. Help me to be a good priest!" As a
curate and as a pastor, St. John Vianney's daily instruction on the catechism
found an inspired audience, among whom were noted orators such as Père
Lacordaire, O.P., the famed preacher of Notre Dame. The saintly pastor performed
many miracles, but the greatest was his own manner of Eucharistic living. It
was his Lord, living in Father Vianney, who made him "spend and be
spent" in ceaseless service for both sinner and saint in the sacred
tribunal of penance.
Things to Do[5]
·The
Collect praises St. John Vianney's zeal for souls and his spirit of prayer and
penance. Say a special prayer today that by his example and intercession we too
may win the souls of our brothers for Christ.
·Say
a prayer for priests that they may persevere in their vocation. If you haven't
been to confession for a while resolve to do so right away and be sure that you
remember to say an extra prayer for your confessor.
·From
the Catholic Culture library: Pope John XXIII holds St. John Vianney as a model
for the priesthood in this Encyclical.
·June
19, 2009--June 19, 2010 was The Year for Priests declared by Pope Benedict XVI,
which held St. John Vianney in particular prominence and example, and he was
proclaimed as patron saint of all the priests of the world. Although some links
are no longer present, see Catholic Culture's special section for the Year for
Priests.
·Read this
longer life of the Curé
of Ars and also these excerpts from his sermons.
Saint Obama
Today has also been recognized as “Obama Day” and it seems the left has
already begun his canonization.
Obama’s frequent appeals to
history’s judgment reflect his confidence that history will be kind to him. In
the short run, it will: liberals will canonize Obama. Like the faithful
Catholics chanting “santo subito” after the death of Pope John Paul II, Obama’s
liberal boosters will turn him into Saint Barack, savior of health care
and slayer of bin Laden. You might see hints of this already in your liberal
friends’ wistful Facebook posts: “I’m really going to miss this guy.” If
liberals are calling the shots, Obama’s name will shortly be inscribed on
statues and state buildings, and his face will someday appear on coins and
currency, while the divisions he sowed and exploited in pursuit of personal
glory will be papered over. Generations of schoolchildren will learn about the
beloved, barrier-shattering college professor with the megawatt smile who could
tell a joke and make a jump shot—not the ambitious, polarizing ideologue whose
disdain for half the country was palpable. No mention will be made of his habit
of insulting supposedly lazy, ignorant Americans who cling bitterly to their
religion, guns, and “antipathy toward people who aren’t like them,” and who fall
prey to “anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain
their frustrations.”[6]
In celebration of Barry’s day, I think we should have a beer summit.
International Beer Day[7] another hedonistic holiday but even the saint enjoyed a beer-check out “Pints with Aquinas”. International Beer Day celebrates the taste of beer and the achievement of beer brewers. Beer is an ancient alcoholic drink brewed mainly from malted barley, hops, yeast and water although it is possible to brew it from other grains such as maize, wheat and rice. Records of beer date back to 4000 BC, making it one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world. The three stated goals of the International Beer Day are to: appreciate brewers and servers, enjoy the taste of all beers from around the world, and to unite the world under the banner of beer. Founded in 2007 by the Association of California Brewers, International Beer Day has become an international event that is observed in more than 50 countries worldwide. It is held annually on the first Friday of August.
International Beer
Day Facts & Quotes
·
International
Beer Day began in Santa Cruz, California, in 2007. It was founded by beer
enthusiasts, Jesse Avshalomov and Evan Hamilton.
·
As
far back as ancient Egypt, beer was a staple food. Known as Hqt, heqet or
heket, beer was a thick and sweet source of nutrition including vitamins,
minerals and protein that was consumed daily by adults and children.
·
On
average, a can of beer contains 100-150 calories and 10-15g carbohydrates.
· I work until beer o'clock - Stephen King
International Beer Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
your local watering hole and try a new beer that you have never had.
·
Attending
a beer festival to taste beer from around the world and learn more about
brewing and craft beers.
·
Visit
a local craft brewery in your state.
· Try a Orval beer or a Chimay.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION
OF FAITH
SECTION
TWO-I. THE CREEDS
CHAPTER THREE-I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
ARTICLE 8-"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"
Paragraph
4. CHRIST'S FAITHFUL - HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE
871
"The Christian faithful are those who, inasmuch as they have been
incorporated in Christ through Baptism, have been constituted as the people of
God; for this reason, since they have become sharers in Christ's priestly,
prophetic, and royal office in their own manner, they are called to exercise
the mission which God has entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world, in
accord with the condition proper to each one."
872 "In
virtue of their rebirth in Christ there exists among all the Christian faithful
a true equality with regard to dignity and the activity whereby all cooperate
in the building up of the Body of Christ in accord with each one's own
condition and function."
873 The very
differences which the Lord has willed to put between the members of his body
serve its unity and mission. For "in the Church there is diversity of
ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has
entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in his name and by
his power. But the laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical, and
kingly office of Christ; they have therefore, in the Church and in the world,
their own assignment in the mission of the whole People of
God." Finally, "from both groups [hierarchy and laity] there
exist Christian faithful who are consecrated to God in their own special manner
and serve the salvific mission of the Church through the profession of the
evangelical counsels."
I. THE
HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH
Why the
ecclesial ministry?
874 Christ
is himself the source of ministry in the Church. He instituted the Church. He
gave her authority and mission, orientation and goal:
In order to shepherd the People of God and to increase its
numbers without cease, Christ the Lord set up in his Church a variety of
offices which aim at the good of the whole body. the holders of office, who are
invested with a sacred power, are, in fact, dedicated to promoting the interests
of their brethren, so that all who belong to the People of God . . . may attain
to salvation.
875
"How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? and how are
they to hear without a preacher? and how can men preach unless they are
sent?" No one - no individual and no community - can proclaim the
Gospel to himself: "Faith comes from what is heard." No one can
give himself the mandate and the mission to proclaim the Gospel. the one sent
by the Lord does not speak and act on his own authority, but by virtue of
Christ's authority; not as a member of the community, but speaking to it in the
name of Christ. No one can bestow grace on himself; it must be given and
offered. This fact presupposes ministers of grace, authorized and empowered by
Christ. From him, they receive the mission and faculty ("the sacred
power") to act in persona Christi Capitis. the ministry in which Christ's
emissaries do and give by God's grace what they cannot do and give by their own
powers, is called a "sacrament" by the Church's tradition. Indeed,
the ministry of the Church is conferred by a special sacrament.
876
Intrinsically linked to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry is its
character as service. Entirely dependent on Christ who gives mission and
authority, ministers are truly "slaves of Christ," in the image
of him who freely took "the form of a slave" for us. Because the
word and grace of which they are ministers are not their own, but are given to
them by Christ for the sake of others, they must freely become the slaves of
all.
877
Likewise, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it
have a collegial character. In fact, from the beginning of his ministry, the
Lord Jesus instituted the Twelve as "the seeds of the new Israel and the
beginning of the sacred hierarchy." Chosen together, they were also
sent out together, and their fraternal unity would be at the service of the
fraternal communion of all the faithful: they would reflect and witness to the
communion of the divine persons. For this reason every bishop exercises
his ministry from within the episcopal college, in communion with the bishop of
Rome, the successor of St. Peter and head of the college. So also priests
exercise their ministry from within the presbyterium of the diocese, under the
direction of their bishop.
878 Finally,
it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a
personal character. Although Chnst's ministers act in communion with one
another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally:
"You, follow me" in order to be a personal witness within the
common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the
mission, acting "in his person" and for other persons: "I
baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
..."; "I absolve you...."
879
Sacramental ministry in the Church, then, is at once a collegial and a personal
service, exercised in the name of Christ. This is evidenced by the bonds
between the episcopal college and its head, the successor of St. Peter, and in
the relationship between the bishop's pastoral responsibility for his
particular church and the common solicitude of the episcopal college for the
universal Church.
The
episcopal college and its head, the Pope
880 When
Christ instituted the Twelve, "he constituted [them] in the form of a
college or permanent assembly, at the head of which he placed Peter, chosen
from among them." Just as "by the Lord's institution, St. Peter
and the rest of the apostles constitute a single apostolic college, so in like
fashion the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, and the bishops, the successors
of the apostles, are related with and united to one another."
881 The Lord
made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He
gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole
flock. "The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter
was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its
head." This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs
to the Church's very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the
primacy of the Pope.
882 The
Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, "is the perpetual and visible
source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company
of the faithful." "For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his
office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full,
supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always
exercise unhindered."
883 "The
college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the Roman
Pontiff, Peter's successor, as its head." As such, this college has
"supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power
cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Roman Pontiff."
884
"The college of bishops exercises power over the universal Church in a
solemn manner in an ecumenical council." But "there never is an
ecumenical council which is not confirmed or at least recognized as such by
Peter's successor."
885
"This college, in so far as it is composed of many members, is the
expression of the variety and universality of the People of God; and of the
unity of the flock of Christ, in so far as it is assembled under one
head."
886
"The individual bishops are the visible source and foundation of unity in
their own particular Churches." As such, they "exercise their
pastoral office over the portion of the People of God assigned to
them," assisted by priests and deacons. But, as a member of the
episcopal college, each bishop shares in the concern for all the
Churches. The bishops exercise this care first "by ruling well their
own Churches as portions of the universal Church," and so contributing
"to the welfare of the whole Mystical Body, which, from another point of
view, is a corporate body of Churches." They extend it especially to
the poor, to those persecuted for the faith, as well as to missionaries
who are working throughout the world.
887
Neighboring particular Churches who share the same culture form ecclesiastical
provinces or larger groupings called patriarchates or regions. The bishops
of these groupings can meet in synods or provincial councils. "In a like
fashion, the episcopal conferences at the present time are in a position to
contribute in many and fruitful ways to the concrete realization of the
collegiate spirit."
The teaching
office
888 Bishops,
with priests as co-workers, have as their first task "to preach the Gospel
of God to all men," in keeping with the Lord's command. They are
"heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic
teachers" of the apostolic faith "endowed with the authority of
Christ."
889 In order
to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the apostles,
Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own
infallibility. By a "supernatural sense of faith" the People of God,
under the guidance of the Church's living Magisterium, "unfailingly
adheres to this faith."
890 The
mission of the Magisterium is linked to the definitive nature of the covenant
established by God with his people in Christ. It is this Magisterium's task to
preserve God's people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the
objective possibility of professing the true faith without error. Thus, the
pastoral duty of the Magisterium is aimed at seeing to it that the People of
God abides in the truth that liberates. To fulfill this service, Christ endowed
the Church's shepherds with the charism of infallibility in matters of faith
and morals. the exercise of this charism takes several forms:
891
"The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this
infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of
all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a
definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals.... the infallibility
promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together
with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium," above all
in an Ecumenical Council. When the Church through its supreme Magisterium
proposes a doctrine "for belief as being divinely revealed," and
as the teaching of Christ, the definitions "must be adhered to with the
obedience of faith." This infallibility extends as far as the deposit
of divine Revelation itself.
892 Divine
assistance is also given to the successors of the apostles, teaching in
communion with the successor of Peter, and, in a particular way, to the bishop
of Rome, pastor of the whole Church, when, without arriving at an infallible
definition and without pronouncing in a "definitive manner," they
propose in the exercise of the ordinary Magisterium a teaching that leads to
better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals. To this
ordinary teaching the faithful "are to adhere to it with religious
assent" which, though distinct from the assent of faith, is
nonetheless an extension of it.
The
sanctifying office
893 The
bishop is "the steward of the grace of the supreme priesthood," especially
in the Eucharist which he offers personally or whose offering he assures
through the priests, his co-workers. the Eucharist is the center of the life of
the particular Church. the bishop and priests sanctify the Church by their
prayer and work, by their ministry of the word and of the sacraments. They
sanctify her by their example, "not as domineering over those in your
charge but being examples to the flock." Thus, "together with
the flock entrusted to them, they may attain eternal life."
The governing
office
894
"The bishops, as vicars and legates of Christ, govern the particular
Churches assigned to them by their counsels, exhortations, and example, but
over and above that also by the authority and sacred power" which indeed
they ought to exercise so as to edify, in the spirit of service which is that
of their Master.
895
"The power which they exercise personally in the name of Christ, is
proper, ordinary, and immediate, although its exercise is ultimately controlled
by the supreme authority of the Church." But the bishops should not
be thought of as vicars of the Pope. His ordinary and immediate authority over
the whole Church does not annul, but on the contrary confirms and defends that
of the bishops. Their authority must be exercised in communion with the whole
Church under the guidance of the Pope.
896 The Good
Shepherd ought to be the model and "form" of the bishop's pastoral
office. Conscious of his own weaknesses, "the bishop . . . can have
compassion for those who are ignorant and erring. He should not refuse to
listen to his subjects whose welfare he promotes as of his very own
children.... the faithful ... should be closely attached to the bishop as the
Church is to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father":
Let all follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ follows his
Father, and the college of presbyters as the apostles; respect the deacons as
you do God's law. Let no one do anything concerning the Church in separation
from the bishop.
Fitness Friday-The 5 Switches
of Manliness: Providing[8]
In case you haven’t noticed men and
women are different both physically and mentally. Men’s brains are constructed
by our creator differently than women. Men’s brains are uniquely suited for
survival and providing for the tribe. If we wish to provide for the tribe we
must make use of the male body and mind.
The Providing Brain
The male brain is particularly adept
at visual-spatial skills. Men tend to be better than women at rotating objects
in their minds to gain a 3-D view and are better able to track moving objects,
gauge how fast they’re going, and determine the objects’ proportions and
location. Men also have keener long-range vision than women, are more sensitive
to objects entering their field of vision, and are better at noticing the
small movements of those objects. In fact, there is a correlation between
higher testosterone levels and visual-processing speeds. Men’s visual and
spatial abilities give them a leg up when it comes to geography, orientation,
and navigation–skills that come in handy when out on the hunt or engaging in
battle. The male brain is also built with a larger dorsal premammillary
nucleus, also called the “defend-your-turf” part of the brain. The circuity of
this part of the brain is designed to detect territorial challenges by other
males. Men’s brains also include a larger amygdala than women, which can be
thought of as an alarm system for possible danger. Thus, men are especially
alert to potential threats to themselves and their loved ones.
These inborn proclivities not only
helped men in their roles as searchers and scouts, but they may also have been
used in ways that then strengthened their ability to envision the future;
giving us an ability to track animals or have better math skills.
Men have an innate need to look ahead,
to plan, to prepare, to strategize. Or in other words, men have an innate need
for vision, for providing.
While we’re no longer hunting
antelopes, our brains are still primed to engage in searching, scanning,
recognition, and long-term planning. These activities are carried out in the
left side of the brain and are fueled by dopamine, the neurotransmitter which
neuroscientists have shown motivates the male brain to a greater extent than
the female brain.
Flipping the
Provider Switch
If you’re a single man, you need to have a vision for
your own life. If you’re a married man, you need to have a vision for your own
life and for your family. Women don’t want a man who’s a domineering oaf, but
they also don’t want to feel like they’re always pulling and dragging
their husband along. They want a man who’s personally motivated, takes
initiative, makes decisions, and has a discernible sense of direction and
purpose. A man who is always scouting the way to take care of his family and
lead them through the storms of life. I’ve sometimes had that conversation with
my wife where I tell her that I feel unhappy, and she asks me what I want out
of life and what would make me happy, and all I can answer is, “I don’t know.”
That’s a failure of vision. And a failure in being a provider.
Having a vision involves growing in self-awareness and
awareness of the world around you. The man of vision understands his own
strengths and weaknesses, how the world works, and what makes people tick. He
looks out from a high point in the landscape, takes in the lay of the land,
fixes his sights on where he wants to go, and figures out how to get there. And
then he leads and navigates, watching for and surmounting obstacles, until the
destination is reached.
Here
are some suggestions for harnessing your inner-Scout and flipping the Provider
Switch:
·
Create a blueprint for your life.
·
Keep
a journal.
·
Spend
some time in solitude. Hike, camp overnight or even rent a hotel room.
·
Create
a daily schedule.
·
Work
on becoming fully present in your life.
·
Meditate
or pray.
·
Write
down your goals each night.
·
Unplug
and take periodic technology “fasts” to recharge and clear your mind.
·
Read
biographies–by taking in the sweep of another man’s life you can really gain
perspective on your own life, what a man is capable of accomplishing, and
insight on the paths other men took.
·
Create
a morning routine that pumps you up for the coming day.
·
Turn
off the radio on the way to work and think about what you want to accomplish
that day.
·
Carry
a pocket notebook so you can capture your ideas and make to-do lists to keep
track of what needs to get done.
·
Practice
memorization–memorize a poem or work on remembering names.
·
Keep
track of data in your life–when you work out, record how much weight you’re
lifting. Write down what you eat. Keep track of your goals or new habits with
something like Joe’s Goals.
·
Read
up on human psychology, relationships, body language, etc.
·
Educate
yourself on things like health insurance and retirement plans (stay-tuned
for a post on this).
·
Create
a budget and understand exactly what’s going on with your finances.
·
Be
prepared for disaster and learn survival skills–like how to handle a weapon, pack a bug-out bag, and forage for food.
·
If
you have a family, hold a regular family council. We’ll do a post on this in
the future.
·
Talk
with your kids one on one to find out what is going on in their lives. Make it
casual–like when you’re driving around together.
·
Stay
up on politics, news, and current events.
Baked
Rockfish for St. Peter in Chains (feast Aug. 1st)[9]
Ingredients:
5 cups fresh spinach
2 (6 ounce) fillets rockfish
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 lemon slices
2 onion slices
1 teaspoon butter
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees
C).
2. Layer the spinach in the bottom of a 2
quart baking dish. Lay the rockfish atop the spinach. Scatter the tomatoes
around the fish. Pour the broth into the dish. Season the fillet with the dill,
garlic powder, lemon pepper, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Place the lemon,
onion, and butter on the rockfish. Cover the entire dish with aluminum foil.
3. Bake in preheated oven until the fish
flakes easily, 20 to 25 minutes.
Party
all Night
All-Night Eucharistic First Friday Vigils to Help
Save America
In
the wee hours of the morning, while most people are sleeping, a growing number
of people are praying in a monthly powerhouse Eucharistic all-night Vigil every
First Friday in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Mundelein, Illinois.
The Vigil, which is intended to draw worshippers from all over the Archdiocese
of Chicago, begins Friday at 9 p.m. with Confessions and Mass at 10 p.m. After
the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and devotional prayers are prayed
throughout the evening, but allowing enough quiet and reflection time, and
concluding with Benediction shortly before 7 a.m. on the First Saturday.
The
purpose of the Vigil is to pray for LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY and for
PRIESTS/RELIGIOUS, important elements which form the essence of civilization
and fruitfulness. From conception until natural death, LIFE is sacred. Those
who attend the Vigil pray for an end to all actions against life: abortion,
euthanasia, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and even In-Vitro
Fertilization procedures. They pray for the sanctity of MARRIAGE as a permanent
covenant between one man and one woman committed to each other for life, which
is chaste, open to life and lived according to God's plans. They pray to
promote the building up of strong, loving, holy and heroic FAMILIES. They pray
for the renewal of the vocation of PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, so that they may be
faithful to their vows and the teachings of the Catholic Church, and for the
increase of holy vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Additionally,
they pray in reparation against sins committed against LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY
and the PRIESTLY and CONSECRATED VOCATIONS. Also, they give Jesus truly and
really present in the Holy Eucharist praise and honor because He wants it and
deserves it. Finally, they seek the transformation of hearts so that society can
be transformed.
This
Vigil is part of the St. Therese Marian Vigil Society (STMVS), an emerging
Catholic apostolate that helps get started and promotes all-night Eucharistic
Vigils nationwide aimed at renewing society and the Church through the
restoration of the four root pillars--life, marriage, family and
priests/religious vocations. These elements are essential in the cultivating of
a culture of life and the restoration of Church and society on various levels.
The STMVS has developed a model to help others start their own Vigil, which can
be found on the Website of the STMVS: www.vigilsociety.org. There is no need to
re-invent the wheel since everything one would need to accomplish this, such as
prayers, schedule and more, is on the Website.
The
Mundelein Vigil and the St. Therese Marian Vigil Society Apostolate were both
founded by a concerned young wife and mother of 5, in response to a feeling
that something must be done to combat the attacks on the very essence of our
Church and society. The Apostolate is named after St. Therese of Lisieux, the
Patroness of the Foundress of the STMVS, and the Blessed Mother to whom the
Foundress is consecrated and has a strong devotion. The STMVS is rooted in the
observable fact, supported by Church teaching, that an increase in holiness of
our shepherds--bishops, priests and religious--leads directly to an increase of
holiness among the laity they guide, just as growth in holiness of parents
leads to an increase in holiness of children. In addition, to the degree that
life and the Church are placed in danger, so is American society at large in
danger. To secure the outpouring of divine grace for the strengthening of these
four essentials and so help save America from suffering further moral decay,
the concerned mother started the first Vicariate/Diocese-wide all-night Vigil
and then Apostolate soon after. The first Vigil began on February 6, 2004, with
permission from her pastor in Mundelein, Illinois. Both the Vigil and the
Apostolate have been endorsed by the local vicariate bishop. The hope, vision
and prayer of the Foundress are to spread more Vigils like this based on these
four key pillars of LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, and PRIESTS/RELIGIOUS.
"The
nighttime hours were chosen for good reason," says the Foundress.
"Giving up sleep is hard, and the greatest sacrifice brings great graces.
This is the time of the day when Jesus prayed at Gethsemane. It is also a time
when most people are available to pray as the hours don't conflict with their
schedules, just their sleep."
"Eucharistic
adoration transforms hearts, no doubt about it," she says. "The more
people that join us, the more hearts will be transformed. An entire culture can
be transformed if only people will hear and respond to 'His voice' and not
continue in the hardness of their hearts."
We
are all called to be saints, and attending this Vigil is a good start towards
that end! DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY!
For
more information to help you start your own Vigil in your area modeled after
that of the STMVS, go to (www.vigilsociety.org).
You may also contact Nancy Martin at
(847) 566-7711 or email her info@vigilsociety.org.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: An
increase of the faithful
·
Let
Freedom Ring Day 29 Freedom from Racism
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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