Monday, September 11, 2023
DAY 28 - MARY, TOWER OF DAVID, PRAY FOR US!
DRAW YOUR STRENGTH FROM THE LORD
“We belong to the Church Militant; and she is militant because on earth the powers of darkness are ever restless to encompass her destruction.” - Venerable Pius XII
Pope Benedict XVI stated that we are facing a critical moment: “In vast areas of the earth the faith risks being extinguished, like a flame without fuel.” The pope warned, “We are facing a profound crisis of faith, a loss of a religious sense which represents one of the greatest challenges for the Church today … The renewal of faith must, then, be a priority for the entire Church in our time.”
In recent decades, we have seen Satan engage the world as never before. In all of human history we have never witnessed evil promoted so effectively while virtue and character and morals are roundly mocked and rejected. Meanwhile, it could be said that the Mystical Body — the Church — has never been so unprepared for and unengaged in the challenging mission of spiritual warfare. It is obvious that Satan’s forces are well trained and well organized while ours are clearly not. At the very beginnings of our great nation, Sir Edmund Burke is said to have warned, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Yes, we are being called upon to fight the mother of all wars against powerful evil spirits in the heavenly realm, but we are sure to meet our demise unless we discover these battles cannot be won without first acquiring God’s strength and mighty power:
“Draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above. You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground” (Eph 6:10-12) (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual).
PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY
Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.
In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!
In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.
Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
The Annunciation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Visitation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Nativity – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Presentation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
Say: The Hail Holy Queen.
Spiritual Communion: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request, see below). Hail Mary …
In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request, see below) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
PETITION: May our Church and our country find hope as we unite at the foot of the cross. (Please add your own petitions to this powerful novena)
All of the daily Novena Prayers and Reflections are found in this book: 54 Day Basic Training in Holiness
All of the daily Novena Prayers and Reflections are also posted at usgraceforce.com
You can join the United State Grace Force Facebook group HERE, to receive the reflections each day.
Spanish language Novena prayers and reflections are available at https://rosarycoasttocoast.
Those who would like to pray with others via The Telephone Rosary, call 1-951-799-9866 daily at 6 pm Eastern.
Enroll in the worldwide Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary! Click here: https://championshrine.
You are welcomed to join Fr. Richard Heilman as he prays the rosary "over our country" at sunrise from a lookout tower atop Blue Mounds State Park:
Introduction to Tobit[1]
Tobit,
a devout and wealthy Israelite living among the captives deported to Nineveh
from the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722/721 B.C., suffers severe reverses
and is finally blinded. Because of his misfortunes he begs the Lord to let him
die. But recalling the large sum he had formerly deposited in far-off Media, he
sends his son Tobiah there to bring back the money. In Media, at this same
time, a young woman, Sarah, also prays for death, because she has lost seven
husbands, each killed in turn on his wedding night by the demon Asmodeus.
God hears the prayers of Tobit and Sarah and sends the angel Raphael in human
form to aid them both.
SEPTEMBER 11 Monday
PATRIOT DAY
Tobit, Chapter 1,
Verse 18-19
18
Sennacherib
returned from Judea, having fled during the days of the judgment enacted
against him by the King of Heaven because of the blasphemies he had uttered;
whomever he killed I buried. For in his rage, he killed many Israelites, but I
used to take their bodies away by stealth and bury them. So, when Sennacherib
looked for them, he could not find them. 19 But
a certain Ninevite went and informed the king about me, that I was burying
them, and I went into hiding. When I realized that the king knew about me and
that I was being hunted to be put to death, I became AFRAID and took flight.
Tobit,
although righteous was also not stupid, even though he opposed the evil in his
neighborhood he did not like to suffer for it so he naturally kept his good
deeds secret and did not want to be found out by the evil oppressors.
Tobit[2]
- Both names,
Tobit and Tobias (sometimes written Tobiah), mean “Yahweh is my good.”
- Tobit was the
son of Tobiel, which also means “Yahweh is my good.”
- He was a
native of Thisbe in Naphtali. Their land allotment lay NW of the Sea
of Galilee. After the division of David’s kingdom, Naphtali was one
of the northern tribes.
- Tobit lamented
the split, but that concern paled in contrast to his sadness over the
people’s refusal to worship in the temple in Jerusalem.
- Jeroboam, the
king of the northern kingdom, had set up “golden calves” at Dan (in the
north) and Bethel (in the south) to make it easier for northern citizens
not to have to go to Jerusalem. Most were taking full advantage of
that. Tobit, however, continued to make the trek to Jerusalem to
worship.
- He claimed he
was the only one who did so. He obviously felt very isolated from
his countrymen, though occasionally he took his wife and relatives with
him.
- Tobit offered
sacrifices and gave alms to the temple, the priests, and the poor.
- When it was
time for him to marry, he took a wife from his tribe.
- His wife’s
name was Hannah, which means “Grace.”
- According to
the story, Tobit was among those who were exiled to Nineveh during the
reign of Shalmaneser (727-722 BCE). Most scholars, however, think
the deportation of Naphtali occurred under Tiglath-pileser (745-727 BCE).
- Tobit was a
“young man” when this happened.
- He continued
to be an observant Jew while in exile, refusing to eat Gentile food.
- As an
observant Jew, he followed not only the spirit but also the letter of the
law, even in Nineveh.
- Because he was
faithful to the covenant, he was blessed by God.
- He was in good
standing with Shalmaneser and worked in his court. It seems that his
position might have been “buyer of provisions.” This allowed him to
travel frequently to Media, where he had family.
- His was an
important position in Shalmaneser’s court.
- In gratitude
for his services, Shalmaneser gave him ten talents of silver.
Scholars argue over the value of this amount, but it might have been
$10,000-$20,000, surely a tidy sum in antiquity.
- On one of his
trips to Media, he managed to give this money to his cousins for
safekeeping.
- In addition to
his work in the court, Tobit gave alms to poor people in Nineveh and made
sure that every dead Jew had a proper burial.
- Ironically, it
would be those good deeds that would get him into trouble.
- When
Sennacherib took over in 705 BCE, he instituted a new policy that the
bodies of dead Jews should be left to rot as a message for others.
Undaunted, Tobit defied this law and carried off the bodies to bury them.
- For a Jew to
remain unburied and have his body rot in the open or eaten by animals was
the ultimate degradation.
- Burying bodies
is the main “good work” of the book of Tobit. After the new king
came to power, such actions became very risky. Tobit was essentially
risking his life each time he did it.
- It was not
long before his neighbors turned him in.
- When the
authorities heard what Tobit was doing, they confiscated all of his
possessions and would have killed him if he had not vanished, taking his
wife and son with him.
Patriot Day[3]
Patriot
Day is a day the US remembers the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
This day is commonly referred to as 9-11 (Nine-Eleven). It is
believed that 2,977 people died in the attacks. President George W. Bush
proclaimed September 11th Patriot Day in 2002.
Patriot Day (Sept
11) Facts
·
On
September 11th, US Flags should be flown at half-mast - both on US soil and
abroad.
·
A
moment of silence is held at 8:46 a.m. (EST) across the nation - commemorating
the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on
September 11, 2001.
·
The
National September 11 Memorial and Museum takes up over half of the destroyed
World Trade Center site. It contains bronze parapets inscribed with the names
of those killed on September 11, 2001, and those killed in the 1993 World Trade
Center attack.
·
Cleaning
up Ground Zero, as the World Trade Center was renamed, took 18 months and 19
days, and was completed in May of 2002.
·
The
Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were once the tallest buildings in the
world and contained enough concrete to build a sidewalk from New York City to
Washington D.C
Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Visit
the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City.
·
Observe
a moment of silence.
·
Attend
a 9/11 Memorial Service.
·
Share
with a group of children your memories of 9/11 and how the events of the day
forever changed America.
·
Show
support for local police and firemen as a way to honor the emergency personnel
who gave their lives on 9/11.
·
Firemen
on that day climbed 2200 steps in the stairs of the towers to save lives;
perhaps today would be a good day to climb 2200 stair steps and donate one cent
for each step ($22.00) to a 911 fund that supports the widows and orphans.
Total Consecration to Jesus through
Mary[4]
Mary asks that in order for us to be happy in this life and the next
that we follow her example of prayer, sacrifice and devotion to her son Christ
by making a total consecration to her immaculate heart. This consecration takes
33 days of prayer and reflection. As it is exactly 33 days from 9/11 to 10/13 (miracle
of the sun in Fatima 1917)
Consider making a gift of yourself to Christ through Mary for
the protection of America and the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
St. Louis de Montfort
(1673 – 1716) had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and wrote extensively on the
virtues of Our Lady, what true devotion to her consists in, and how the
faithful need to turn to her as the way to her Son, Jesus Christ. In his
classic writings (The Secret of Mary, The Secret of the Rosary, and True Devotion to Mary) he recommends that the faithful
formally consecrate themselves to the Blessed Mother. For this end he developed
a specific 33-day program consisting of various prayers and readings to help
the faithful detach themselves from the world and bond themselves more closely
with Christ through the example and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St. Louis de Montfort stands in a long tradition of saints completely devoted
to Our Lady, and his work has been influential in the lives of many other
saints, notable among them is Pope St. John Paul II who took his papal motto,
"Totus Tuus" (Totally Yours) from de Montfort. This "Total
Consecration of Jesus through Mary" consists of an initial 12-day
preparation followed by a period of three consecutive weeks, each week focusing
on a different theme. It is recommended that the consecration be done on a
major feast day of Our Lady, meaning that the preparation would begin 33 days
prior. That is, after the 33-day program is completed, the Act of Consecration
is made on a Marian feast day. Once you make the consecration, it is for life.
It can then be renewed annually. Keep in mind that this is a formal
consecration to Our Lady, not unlike a vow, that is to be done in a solemn
manner. Through this 33-day program you are giving Mary all of yourself -
heart, mind, and soul - in order to bring you to her Son, Jesus Christ. Also,
that she may use you as a holy instrument in her battle with Satan - i.e., this
consecration allows her the free reign in your life to make you holy (as she
assists you, through the Holy Spirit, to conform to her virtues) and to use
your prayers, sacrifices, and sufferings for the greater glory of God.
“The Immaculata alone has from God the
promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves
entirely to her, that will become in her hand’s forceful instruments for the
defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom."
- St.
Maximilian Kolbe
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERY
SECTION ONE-THE
SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY
CHAPTER TWO-THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF
THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
Article 1-CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY
IV. Where is the
Liturgy Celebrated?
1179 The worship "in
Spirit and in truth" of the New Covenant is not tied exclusively to
any one place. the whole earth is sacred and entrusted to the children of men.
What matters above all is that, when the faithful assemble in the same place,
they are the "living stones," gathered to be "built into a
spiritual house." For the Body of the risen Christ is the spiritual
temple from which the source of living water springs forth: incorporated into
Christ by the Holy Spirit, "we are the temple of the living God."
1180 When the exercise of
religious liberty is not thwarted, Christians construct buildings for
divine worship. These visible churches are not simply gathering places but
signify and make visible the Church living in this place, the dwelling of God
with men reconciled and united in Christ.
1181 A church, "a house of
prayer in which the Eucharist is celebrated and reserved, where the faithful
assemble, and where is worshipped the presence of the Son of God our Savior,
offered for us on the sacrificial altar for the help and consolation of the
faithful - this house ought to be in good taste and a worthy place for prayer
and sacred ceremonial." In this "house of God" the truth
and the harmony of the signs that make it up should show Christ to be present
and active in this place.
1182 The altar of the New
Covenant is the Lord's Cross, from which the sacraments of the Paschal
mystery flow. On the altar, which is the center of the church, the sacrifice of
the Cross is made present under sacramental signs. the altar is also the table
of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited. In certain Eastern
liturgies, the altar is also the symbol of the tomb (Christ truly died and is
truly risen).
1183 The tabernacle is to be
situated "in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest
honor." The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic
tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the
Blessed Sacrament of the altar.
The sacred chrism (myron), used in anointing's as the sacramental sign of the
seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, is traditionally reserved and venerated in
a secure place in the sanctuary. the oil of catechumens and the oil of the sick
may also be placed there.
1184 The chair (cathedra) of
the bishop or the priest "should express his office of presiding over the
assembly and of directing prayer."
The lectern (ambo): "The dignity of the Word of God requires the church to
have a suitable place for announcing his message so that the attention of the
people may be easily directed to that place during the liturgy of the
Word."
1185 The gathering of the
People of God begins with Baptism; a church must have a place for the
celebration of Baptism (baptistry) and for fostering remembrance of the
baptismal promises (holy water font).
The renewal of the baptismal life requires penance. A church, then, must lend
itself to the expression of repentance and the reception of forgiveness, which
requires an appropriate place to receive penitents.
A church must also be a space that invites us to the recollection and silent
prayer that extend and internalize the great prayer of the Eucharist.
1186 Finally, the church has an
eschatological significance. To enter into the house of God, we must cross a
threshold, which symbolizes passing from the world wounded by sin to the world
of the new Life to which all men are called. the visible church is a symbol of
the Father's house toward which the People of God is journeying and where the
Father "will wipe every tear from their eyes." Also for this
reason, the Church is the house of all God's children, open and welcoming
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: End
Sex Trafficking, Slavery
· Eat waffles
and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Monday: Litany of
Humility
·
Rosary
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