Saturday, September 23, 2023
DAY 40 - MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES, PRAY FOR US
Join us for Rosary Coast to Coast!
In the Battle of Lepanto, the Turks believed Christianity had become so weak, it was time to move in and "deal the last blow." Outnumbered, Pope St. Pius V called upon the world to pray the rosary. Miraculously, victory was won on October 7, 1571, which brought the Feast of Our Lady of Victory.
Here we are again, my brothers and sisters. The enemy appears to be attempting to "deal the last blow." There is no doubt we are living in diabolically influenced times. This, while Godless leaders and influencers in our nation have usurped the phrase, “This is a battle for the soul of America,” as their evil abominations unto God easily become a “new normal” in the lives of our loved ones?! Those who choose to stand in the “Spirit of Truth” are mocked, persecuted, abandoned and put out?! The time is now to do the "Lepanto thing!"
PLEASE join us for Rosary Coast to Coast on the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, October 7, 2023 at 3:00pm CST to pray the Glorious Mysteries as a nation. It simply means to gather with a group of 2 or more outside (if possible) as we call upon the powerful intercession of Our Lady to Heal Our Land!!
Go to RosaryCoasttoCoast.com to find more information and register your group.
Let’s … UNITE AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS!!
DIVINE CONNECTION
The Gospel story Pope John Paul II sets as the foundation for his new millennium appeal is the “Call of the First Disciples” (Lk 5:1-11). This is the classic scene in which Jesus tells Peter to “Put out into deep water (duc in altum), and let down the nets for a catch.” Peter’s response is: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” They proceed to catch the maximum amount of fish their nets can hold. Peter, filled with awe and wonder once he realizes he is in the presence of divinity, does not feel worthy to be called. But Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be fishers of men.”
Why does the Holy Father choose this particular Gospel reading as the basis for his new millennium master plan? Because Peter’s words — “We’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” — could not speak any more directly to the modern tsunami-like wave of secularism rolling across our planet, as well as our endless parade of parish programs that are mostly done as though God were not there (etsi Deus non daretur).
In other words, the story of the great catch is meant to show that when we try to move only under our own natural power without God (we’ve worked hard), we will flounder in the chaos of darkness (all night) and come up empty (caught nothing) every time. Jesus asks us to get in sync with him (to obey him) and not be afraid to set aside our superficial (man-powered) tendencies, as we enter the depths of a supernatural (God-powered) life.
Everything in the religious order — sacraments, devotions, teaching, scripture, moral discipline, preaching, etc. — is meant to bring us to this deeper state of being, to this Divine Connection. Jesus calls it “abiding” (Jn 15:4). The Latin for this is maneo which means “to remain” or “to stay” or “to endure” (or like the Marine Corps’ semper fi). This Divine Connection, this conformity to love, this participation in the Divine Life of God is the very power of the Holy Spirit and is referred to as being in a state of grace. (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.
FAST EMBER SATURDAY
PADRE PIO-AUTUMNAL EQUINOX-BISEXUAL DAY
Tobit, Chapter 12,
Verse 16-17
16
Greatly
shaken, the two of them fell prostrate in FEAR.
17 But Raphael said to them: “Do not fear; peace be with you! Bless God now
and forever.
In June
2017 through a horrible act of violence our congress fell prostrate in fear as
a shooter was taking aim on them playing baseball in a Washington, D.C. park.
Men when confronted with the terrible power of man and nature instinctively
fall flat. Yet, imagine if you suddenly were confronted with the power of an
angel of God. You like a soldier would seek the ground.
Tobit[1]
- After all the
festivities, Tobit wanted to settle up with Azariah, which included paying
him for his work during the journey.
- At this point,
Azariah told them who he really was – an angel sent by God. Both
Tobit and Tobias were shocked and a bit fearful. Yet, Azariah
assured them of God’s providence and care for them. His job was to
bring the healing God had decreed. Their job was to proclaim God’s
great mercy. They were supposed to write everything down that had
happened. Then Azariah simply disappeared.
Overcoming Fear[2]
David shows
us how to overcome fear, whether it be the fear of death, the fear of speaking
in public (which surveys show to be greater than the fear of death!), fear of
losing your children, fear of the future, or whatever. He says:
To overcome fear,
seek the Lord!
David knew
what he was talking about! He had evildoers coming at him to devour his flesh
(27:2). They were breathing out violence (27:12). Nothing would have made them
happier than to see David’s head removed from his body. He had an entire army
encamped against him. The soldiers had probably been told, “Whoever comes back
with David’s head gets an instant promotion to general and a fat reward!” And
yet David could say, “My heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in
spite of this I am confident” (27:3)! The man knows his subject! He can teach
us about overcoming fear. David isn’t dispensing a formula that’s easy or
simple to apply. God isn’t a good-luck charm which you can pull out when you’re
in a jam and rub the right way. David is talking about a total way of life that
is focused on God and which clings to God with naked faith in desperately
overwhelming situations where there is no other source of help.
May this Nation
prostrate itself not before men or nature but seek the Lord as David did.
Psalm 27
The LORD is my
light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of
whom should I be afraid? When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, these my
enemies and foes themselves stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me,
my heart does not fear; though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.
One thing I ask
of the LORD; this I seek: to dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life,
to gaze on the LORD’s beauty, to visit his temple. For God will hide me in his
shelter in time of trouble, He will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set
me high upon a rock. Even now my head is held high above my enemies on every
side! I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and
chant praise to the LORD.
Hear my voice,
LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. “Come,” says my heart, “seek
his face” your face, LORD, do I seek! Do not hide your face from me; do not
repel your servant in anger. You are my salvation; do not cast me off; do not
forsake me, God my savior! Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD
will take me in.
LORD, show me
your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not abandon me to
the desire of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me. I
believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the
LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
September Ember Days
By Fr. Chad Ripperger, FSSP
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy
Cross, September 14th, are known as “Michaelmas Embertide,” and they come near
the beginning of Autumn (September 22nd) and were formerly set aside as days of
fasting and abstinence. The Lessons focus on the Old Covenant’s Day of
Atonement and the fast of the seventh month, but start off with this prophecy
from Amos 9:13-15:
"Behold the days come, when the ploughman shall overtake the reaper,
and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed, and the mountains shall dop
sweetness, and every hill shall be tilled. And I will bring back the captivity
of My people Israel, and they shall build the abandoned cities, and inhabit
them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine of them; and shall
make gardens and eat the fruits of them; and I will plant them upon their land:
and I will no more pluck them out of their land which I have given them; saith
the Lord thy God."
Like all Embertides but Whit Embertide, the Lessons end with the story of the
three boys in the fiery furnace, as told by Daniel. The Gospel readings recount
how Jesus exorcised demons from a possessed boy and tells the disciples about
fasting to cast out unclean spirits (Matthew 9:16-28), forgave Mary Magdalen
(Luke 7:36-50), and healed the woman on the sabbath after telling the parable
of the fig tree (Luke 13:6-17). In the midst of this beautiful time, things
wizen and seem to begin to die. The air grows cooler, the earth stiffens, the
trees tire of holding their leaves. And during this waning we remember our dead
— on November 1st, the victorious dead (All Saints’, or All Hallows Day), and
on November 2nd, the dead being purified (All Souls’ Day). These Days of the
Dead begin with the eve of All Hallows, or “Hallowe’en,” an unofficial evening
of remembering the frightening fate of the damned and how we can avoid it.
There can’t be a more appropriate time for such a night than Autumn, when foggy
mists are likely, and bonfires helpful.
Source: http://fssp.com/press/2009/09/september-ember-days/
Ember
Saturday of September-Commemoration
of Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles (both of
which occur in the Jewish calendar around this time), two important
foreshadowing’s of the Christ event.[3] The
church reminds us of the profound importance of total conversion.
Meditation:
Ember Saturday, A Day for expiation and thanksgiving! This excerpt from Pius
Parsch is based on the 1962 Missal. The current Missal does not include special
propers and readings for Ember Days.
1. Holy Mass
(Venite). Ember Saturday is the official thanksgiving day for all the blessings
of the past quarter-year. Especially in autumn when we garner the fruits of
nature should we be more conscious of God’s Providence both in the temporal and
spiritual orders. In ancient times today’s Mass served as a thanksgiving
sacrifice and as a renewals of the Christian covenant with God. The text
presumes that the Ember days are the Christian counterpart to the Old Testament
feasts of Atonement and Tabernacles, highlighting penance and and gratitude
respectively. The liturgical celebration, observed during the night between
Saturday and Sunday and of obligation for all the faithful, was unusually
festive. The faithful gathered at St. Peter’s for an entrance song the
Invitatory (Psalm 94) was sung. The first four Lessons belonged specifically to
the night-vigil and formed a greeting worthy of the enthroned King. The
Readings tap the marrow of the Ember celebration, its connection with the
Jewish feasts of the seventh month, Yom Kippur and the feast of Tabernacles.
The autumn Ember days are days of penance for past failings and of gratitude
for the harvest (and redemption); such too is the spiritual import of the
Lessons. The first reviews the Mosaic legislation concerning the Day of
Atonement, the second concerning the feast of Tabernacles, Israel’s great
thanksgiving feast.
The two Graduals
echo their respective Lessons; the first “Forgive” (Day of Atonement), the
second, “How lovely are Thy tabernacles” (feast of Tabernacles). The third and
fourth Lessons, from the prophets Micheas and Zacharias, are comforting
messages in which God reaffirms His readiness to forgive the sins of His people
and to grant them good things provided they remain faithful. God is also
concerned over the manner in which we fast: “The fast of the fourth month, and
the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth
shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness and a great solemnity!” By
which our Ember days, of course, are meant. The Orations offer God our festive
fast and plead forgiveness. As on other Ember Saturdays, the fifth Lesson is
already part of the morning service; the assembled faithful are praying Lauds;
the three youths in the fiery furnace prefigure the resurrection of Christ and
of Christians.
In the Epistle
St. Paul shows how the ceremonies of the old covenant were types of the new;
our day of atonement is Good Friday when Christ, the divine High Priest,
entered the most holy sanctuary of heaven with His own Blood and wrought
eternal redemption; every Mass is Good Friday repeated. In the Tract we chant
the shortest Laud psalm as we express our gratefulness for God’s merciful work
of redemption and HIs fidelity in fulfilling the prophecies.
Presently the
High Priest Himself appears, first “teaching on the Sabbath” (in the Foremass),
then offering Himself (in the Oblation). The unfruitful “fig tree in the
orchard” and the “bowed-down woman” are the faithful. God is the landlord,
Christ the pleading gardener; till now we have been unfruitful.
We also resemble
the bowed-down woman; wholly taken up with earthy concerns, too often we are
“unable to look upward”; but on this Christian Sabbath, Christ seeks “to free
us from the bonds of Satan” and make us spiritually “erect.” Thus the Gospel
insinuates the workings of grace in today’s holy Sacrifice.
At the
sacrificial Banquet we once more recall the institution of the feast of
Tabernacles as a remembrance of the deliverance from Egypt and the wanderings
through the wilderness—for the Eucharist is the fulfillment of those two
historical events by providing deliverance from sin and the true Manna from
heaven. A classic, thought-packed Postcommunion: May the sacramental energy of
the Eucharist realize its power in us, and may we one day enjoy face to face
what now we see in a veiled manner. Three realities are noted: the first is the
sign—this shows the sacrament. Underneath the sign is hidden the second
reality, the sacrament’s efficacy—what the sacraments contain. And lastly, the
rerun veritas, the future unveiling.
2. A “Spiritual
Renewal” Day. For a “day of recollection” no better meditation points could be
found than those in the Lessons of today’s Ember Mass. Of the two areas of
thought proper to the formulary, viz., the Ember festivity is the Christian
“Day of Atonement” and the Christian Feast of Tabernacles (or thanksgiving day
at harvest time), let us pursue the former in some detail.
a) The Old
Testament type. The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, was the great penitential
observance of Mosaic Law, Israel’s “confession day.” With us “penance days” are
not feast days, but among the Jews it was otherwise; Yom Kippur was a day of
strict rest, absolutely no type of work was permitted and the spirit of the
occasion was festive, celebrabitis. The day’s liturgy exemplified the nation’s
effort to expiate sin; on this one day of the year, the high priest would enter
the Holy of Holies with sacrificial blood and sprinkle the ark of the covenant
in atonement for his own and his people’s sins. Meanwhile the people did
penance through fasting, humbling themselves before Yahweh.
b) The New
Testament fulfillment. Mosaic festivals were shadows which took on flesh and
blood in the Church of Christ. Good Friday was the real, the unique day of
atonement in the sight of God. How well St. Paul affirmed this truth in the
Epistle of today’s Mass: “Christ appeared as the high priest of coming
(Messianic) blessings. He entered the greater and more perfect tabernacle not
made by human hands (i.e., heavenly in nature) not with the blood of goats and
steers but with His own blood—once and for all He entered the (heavenly) Holy
of Holies—after He had effected an eternal redemption (i.e., one with lasting
effects in contrast to the annually repeated Jewish day of atonement).” For the
sacrifice on the Cross constituted the perfect reconciliation of God with
mankind; and every holy Mass, as it renders present that sacrifice on Golgotha,
is Yom Kippur par excellence.
Every Sunday
then would be the Christian atonement feast. But because we Christians are so
irresponsive and dull to the inner nature of spiritual realities, holy Church
introduced special expiation days during the course of the Church year. Among
these are Ember days. Ember Saturdays, particularly September Ember Saturday,
have preserved best this original spirit. Anyone who seeks to develop his
spiritual life on a liturgical basis would have to use the Ember days during
the four seasons as times of genuine spiritual renewal. The peculiar means of
keeping these days is evident from the liturgy itself—acts of penance and
fasting, confession of sin, humbling ourselves before God and neighbor, and
nevertheless rejoicing, in the best sense of the word. Our conduct would
exemplify the prophet’s statement (fourth Lesson), “The fast proper to the
fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months (i.e., the four Ember weeks) should
mean joy and exultation to the house of Judah (viz,, Catholics) and high
festival; you only need to love truth (obedience) and peace.”
c) Application.
God appeals directly to my heart in the Gospel. The two parables, one in word
and one in sign, should move me deeply. I am that barren fig tree. The
infinitely just God is the landlord, our Savior the pleading caretaker. If God
should summon me to His judgement seat today (the command to destroy the tree),
would there be any “fruit”? To what extent would I resemble the barren fig
tree? Why does it occupy ground? But Christ intercedes, says a kindly word in
my behalf: “Perhaps there will be some return—next crop! If not, it can then be
cut down.” The coming quarter-year mark must mark a change, genuine
improvement.
The parable in
sign is equally instructive. My soul is so badly bowed down to earth, it find
“looking upwards” toward heavenly realities extremely painful. Christ must make
me stand erect again. The coming season as no other is the season of hope, of
preparation for the parousia, of longing for the heavenly Jerusalem, of
expectation for the returning Lord. Jesus, have mercy. Free me from stooping
down to the earthly, the sensual. Straighten me out for heaven. Now! Jesus,
have mercy.
—Excerpted
from Pius Parsch, Year of Grace, Volume 5.
Feast of St. Pio
Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, into a simple peasant family. At the age of 15 he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, and was ordained a priest in 1910. In September 1916 he was assigned to the Friary in San Giovanni Rotondo in central Italy, where he lived for the rest of his life. After celebrating morning Mass on September 20, 1918, during his prayers of thanksgiving before the Crucifix, Padre Pio received the "Stigmata". His hands, feet and side were pierced with the nail marks and the lance wound of the Crucified Christ. Doctors estimated that for the next 50 years he lost a cup of blood every day. His five wounds were deep, bleeding and painful, but completely free of inflammation and swelling. News of his holiness spread rapidly. Millions of people attended his Masses. He received letters from believers all over the world who asked for his saintly counsel in their times of distress and misfortune. Countless were attracted to his confessional, where he celebrated the Sacrament of Penance for as many as 16 hours a day. People waited as much as two weeks to have him hear their confession, for they perceived in Padre Pio the true heart and soul of the Gospels, expressed in a simple and uncomplicated manner. His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer, continual sacrifice, and strict austerity. He had a very deep union with God, a burning love for the Holy Eucharist, and a fervent devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Worn out by half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968. He was canonized a Saint by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002. Today his tomb is the most visited shrine in Europe, surpassing even Fatima and Lourdes — a place of extraordinary holiness for those in search of inspiration.
Things to Do:[4]
· St. Pio is a saint of the last century, so there
are many pictures and biographies to read more about his life. Having this gift
of the stigmata was very hard on his life — both physically and emotionally. Find
out more about the stigmata and
his other mystical gifts, such as bilocation. St. Pio also had great devotion
to his guardian angel.
·
From the Catholic Culture
library: Biography of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, The Devil and Padre Pio, Five Maxims for Living a Devout Life and His Wounds Spoke of God's Love for
All. There are many other
documents in the library which may be found by searching for "pio".
Prayer
Gracious God, you generously
blessed Your servant, Padre Pio, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his
body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the
saving Passion and Death of Your Son, and as a stirring inspiration to many
people of Your infinite mercy, forgiveness and love.
In the confessional, Padre Pio
labored endlessly for the salvation of souls. Through his prayerful
intercession, many who suffered were healed of sickness and disease. Endowed
with the gift of discernment, he could read people's hearts. From the blood of
his wounds came a perfumed fragrance, a special sign of Your Holy Presence.
With dignity and intense devotion, he celebrated daily Mass, inviting countless
men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of the
Holy Eucharist.
Through the intercession of Saint
Pio, I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of (here state your petition). Help me to imitate his example of
prayerful holiness and compassion, so that I, too, may faithfully follow the
Risen Lord, and one day rejoice in the Kingdom, where You live and reign
forever and ever. Amen.
Fall begins (Northern
H.)[5]
Fall
begins in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun is perpendicular to the equator.
This day has equal hours of day and night. The first day of Fall is
also called the Autumnal Equinox. In many areas it coincides with
harvests. The first day of Fall happens between each year between
September 22 and 24.
Fall
begins (Northern H.) Facts & Quotes
·
The Harvest Moon is the full moon which occurs closest to the
autumnal equinox.
·
The Earth takes 365.25 days to make one complete revolution
around the Sun. This results in the first day of Fall beginning 6 hours
later each year and moving a full day backwards on Leap Years.
·
During the fall, the leaves on many trees die and fall to the
ground. 500 years ago, expressions like fall of the leaf and fall of the year
were quite common in the English-speaking world. The term fall as the
name for this season comes from these early expressions.
·
How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and
color are their last days - John Burroughs
Fall begins (Northern H.) Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Take a hike and enjoy the colorful leaves.
·
Visit a Nature Center or Nature Museum near you.
·
Plant cold weather plants or begin to protect your summer plants from the winter elements.
·
Rake leaves into piles and then jump in them.
·
Visit an apple orchard and pick some fresh apples. Use some of
them to make a delicious apple pie or apple crisp for dinner.
Bisexuality Day[6] another pagan celebration of sexuality
Celebrate Bisexuality Day was established by Wendy Curry,
Michael Page, and Gigi Raven Wilbur to raise awareness of the challenges faced
by bisexuals all over the world. “Ever since the Stonewall rebellion, the gay
and lesbian community has grown in strength and visibility.” observed Wilbur,
“The bisexual community also has grown in strength but in many ways are
invisible.” It was this vision and experiences of marginalization and prejudice
experienced from both the straight and LGBTQ community, that inspired them to
create this new holiday. Inspired by Freddy Mercury of Queen, they decided that
his birthday would be the perfect day to establish Celebrate Bisexuality Day.
This served two purposes, the first being to establish a day that was dedicated
to raising awareness of bisexuals everywhere, the second being to help reduce
the prejudice faced by bisexuals and work to legitimize it as a sexual
orientation. Since then it has been celebrated every year with teach-ins,
poetry reading, parties, picnics, and festivals.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
2332 Sexuality
affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of
his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and
to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of
communion with others.
2336 Jesus came to restore creation to the purity of
its origins. In the Sermon on the Mount, he interprets God's plan strictly:
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I
say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart." What God has joined together, let not man
put asunder. The tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment
as encompassing the whole of human sexuality.
2337 Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman. The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift.
2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
2360 Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are sanctified by the sacrament.
2361 "Sexuality,
by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts
which are proper and exclusive to spouses, is not something simply biological,
but concerns the innermost being of the human person as such. It is realized in
a truly human way only if it is an integral part of the love by which a man and
woman commit themselves totally to one another until death."
Tobias got out of bed and said to Sarah, "Sister, get up, and let us pray and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety." So, she got up, and they began to pray and implore that they might be kept safe. Tobias began by saying, "Blessed are you, O God of our fathers. You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve as a helper and support. From the two of them the race of mankind has sprung. You said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.' I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together." And they both said, "Amen, Amen." Then they went to sleep for the night.
2362 "The
acts in marriage by which the intimate and chaste union of the spouses takes
place are noble and honorable; the truly human performance of these acts
fosters the self-giving they signify and enriches the spouses in joy and
gratitude." Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure:
The Creator himself. . . established that in the [generative] function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment. They accept what the Creator has intended for them. At the same time, spouses should know how to keep themselves within the limits of just moderation.
2370 Periodic
continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation
and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria
of morality. These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage
tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In
contrast, "every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal
act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural
consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation
impossible" is intrinsically evil:
Thus, the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . . The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle.. . involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.
2395 Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.
2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.
1. Situation.
Make no mistake, we are in a battle for our soul and the soul of the world.
The Secret[8]
It’s no secret
that porn usage has increased drastically over the years. Things that are
considered mainstream used to be blatantly considered porn. We also know not
only is this a moral problem but studies have shown more porn use correlates
with less grey matter in the reward circuit (dorsal striatum).
Matt Fradd says, “when you are at your best, you must prepare for your
worst” in regard to fighting pornography addiction. We must flee from sexual
immorality as St. Paul says. Leaving a porn addiction behind involves life
changes in several aspects. “The secret of change is to focus all your energy,
not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates. Integrity
Restored has a great website to helping overcome porn. They list 7
steps in recovering from porn addiction.
1. Honest, Self-knowledge and
Commitment
2. Purifying your Life
3. Support and
Accountability
4. Counseling
5. Spiritual Plan
6. Education and
7. Virtue. We encourage you to
visit their website for more information.
The Chase Man or Woman gives to God
true worship by dedicating to God's will their Mind, Heart, Soul and
Strength-This is to Love God above all things. This is the Shema Israel
Modern Men and Women are in a battle with the World, the Flesh and the Devil-We are all Soldiers of Christ.
THE VIRTUES OF A
SOLDIER OF CHRIST[9]
Another way to
illustrate the virtues of a genuine man of God is by reference to a good
soldier. The relation between a man of God and a soldier will seem either
somewhat obvious or a stretch depending upon your larger views of the military
and military interventions. If you do not see the connection at this point, I
ask you to bear with me briefly, because I think its relevance will soon become
apparent.
A good soldier, especially one fit for battle, generally has
the following ten traits, among others:
1.
He is willing to give his life to protect others.
·
Jesus willingly gave his life to save us. He is
the Good Shepherd who made good on his promise to give his life for his sheep
(John 10:11). Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he handed himself over, he
demanded that his disciples be let go (John 18:8).
2.
He is task-oriented, and lets his actions speak for
themselves.
·
From his earliest days, when he announced he was
“about the Father’s business” (Luke 2:49), his whole life was dedicated to
accomplishing that mission. He lived by the same principles he taught, not to
be distracted from his purpose (Luke 10:4), which not even the devil could do
by promising him all the power of the world (Matthew 4:9). He let his actions
also speak more loudly than his words. As he said once when challenged by the
Pharisees, “Even if you do not believe me, believe the works” (John 10:25, 37;
14:10). He backed up each of his discourses with miracles that testified to his
power, the greatest miracle and message of all being what he said from the
pulpits of the Cross and the empty tomb.
3.
He does his duty, even when it is unappreciated.
·
Jesus fulfilled his mission even when one of his
apostles thought he was less valuable than 30 silver pieces, when the rest of
his hand-picked men ran away, when he was hammered to wood by those for whom he
was dying, when he was mocked by four different groups as he agonizingly hung
from the Cross, wondering all the while, “When the Son of man comes, will he
find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). He was the “grain of wheat” that fell to the
ground and died, knowing that that seed would hit hardened, rocky, weedy soil
in addition to good, but he did it anyway (John 12:24; Luke 8:5ff). Yet, at the
end of it all, he cried out in triumph, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) which
was the equivalent of “mission accomplished.”
4.
He is a man of honor, who is loyal to others and to his
principles.
·
Jesus kept his dignity, even when being tempted
by the devil, tested by the hypocritical Pharisees, beaten by the brutal
guards, and mocked by thieves and passersby. He was loyal to his disciples,
never abandoning them though they abandoned him; to Israelites, despite the
many times they broke God’s covenant; to sinners, no matter what their sin. He
was knightly in his protection and care for women in need and danger, like the
woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well in Samaria, and the woman who
washed his feet with her tears in the house of Simon the Pharisee.
5.
He is rooted in discipline and strength.
·
He called himself the “stronger man” who would
overpower the devil and divide his spoils (Luke 11:22), who could calm even the
winds and the sea (Matthew 8:27), who would repeatedly say to his frightened
followers, “Do not be afraid. It is I!” (Matthew 14:27). His strength was shown
most when out of discipline he did not use it, when tempted in the desert or on
the Cross. His power was always used not for his own benefit but for others, to
teach them the discipline that makes disciples.
6.
He may be tender and compassionate but never soft.
·
He who was “meek and humble of heart,” who cared
compassionately for parents and widows, for the woman caught in adultery, for
the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 11:29; Luke 7:12;
John 8:3; Mark 6:34), was also capable
of driving the money changers from the temple with a whip, calling the
Pharisees “whitewashed sepulchers” and telling forgiven sinners to “go and sin
no more” (John 2:14; Matthew 23:27; John 8:11).
7.
He sees himself as part of a unit, a band of brothers,
greater than himself.
·
Jesus came from heaven to earth to form a family
with the same Father in heaven (Matthew 12:50). To that family, the Church, he
gave his whole mission. To the twelve whom he associated most intimately in
this task, he gave his own power to turn bread and wine into his Body and Blood
and to forgive sins in his name (Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 16:19; John 20:19-23).
To the Church he gave his whole message (Matthew 28:18-20). He said that all
members of the Church were a part of him, as branches on the vine (John 15:5).
8.
He follows the chain of command, without considering it
demeaning.
·
Jesus said simply, “I seek not my own will but
the will of him who sent me,” “I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus
as the Father taught me” and “not my will, but thine, be done” (John 5:30; John
8:28; Luke 22:42).
9.
He is courageous, even and especially when heroism is
required.
·
Courage is doing what ought to be done in spite
of one’s fears, a virtue Jesus showed us time and again, but especially during
his agony and on Good Friday. Despite asking for the cup of suffering to pass
from him, he drank it to the dregs, sweating blood-filled perspiration, being
beaten, scourged and crucified for our sake (Matthew 26:39).
10. He
sees sacrifice as an opportunity to show his character and demonstrate love
·
“Greater love has no man than this,” he said,
“that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) and he evinced that
love in hundreds of little ways and unforgettably through his supreme
sacrifice. The real Christian man will seek to embody these same virtues. They
will help him to become a real soldier of Christ. They will help form him to be
another Christ and train him to love others as Christ loves.
2. Mission: To love God with all your mind, heart, soul
and strength and your neighbor as yourself.
3. Execution:
a. The Chase man or woman should fast once a week on the
day of their choice (suggestion Fridays) giving their total mind, heart, soul
and strength to God. After completing the 15 hourly prayers you may break your
fast.
b. The Chase man or woman should pray and ask the aid of
God and his angels and saints.
- Upon
waking and during the day make a prayers of Purity
Prayers of The Angelic
Warfare Confraternity[10]
V. In the Name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
The Prayer to St. Thomas for
Purity
Chosen lily of innocence, pure St. Thomas,
who kept chaste the robe of baptism,
and became an angel in the flesh after being girded by two angels,
we (I) implore you to commend us (me) to Jesus, the Spotless Lamb,
and to Mary, the Queen of Virgins.
Gentle protector of our (my) purity, ask them that we (I),
who wear the holy sign of your victory over the flesh,
may also share your purity,
and after imitating you on earth
may at last come to be crowned with you among the angels. Amen.
The Prayer of St. Thomas for
Purity
Dear Jesus,
I know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, I beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of my body and soul.
And if I have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain my chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of my powers,
that I may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering myself on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of my life. Amen.
Opening Prayer of St. Thomas
for Purity
Dear Jesus,
we (I) know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, we (I) beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of our (my) bodies (body) and souls (soul).
And if we (I) have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain our (my) chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of our (my) powers,
that we (I) may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering ourselves (myself) on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of our (my) lives (life). Amen.
Petitions for Chastity with
15 Hail Mary’s: say hourly
1. Dear
Jesus, bless our social and cultural climate. Grant that it may be purified of
everything contrary to chastity, and that we may have the strength to resist
the pressures of prevailing ideologies. “In the world you have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33) “In
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37) Hail Mary…
2.
Dear Jesus, bless our relationships. Grant that they
may be holy, healthy, and honorable at all times. “Having purified your souls
by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one
another earnestly from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22) Hail Mary…
3.
Dear Jesus, bless our modesty in our dress and
movement. Grant that the way we dress and carry ourselves may veil the mystery
of our being, and that we may have the strength to resist the allurements of
fashion and the glamour of sin. “Do not be conformed to this age, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom. 12:2) Hail Mary…
4.
Dear Jesus, bless our five senses. Grant that the
things we see, the music and jokes we hear, the food we eat, what we drink, the
fragrances we smell and the encounters we have through touch may all be pure
and holy. “Seek the things that are above” (Col. 3:1) Hail Mary…
5.
Dear Jesus, bless our sensuality. Grant that our
impulses may not be captivated by base pleasures, but freed by wisdom and
inflamed for what is good. “In your struggle against sin you have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb. 12:4) Hail Mary…
6.
Dear Jesus, bless our imagination, Grant that we may be
preserved from any fantasies that defile us, that all impure images may vanish,
and that we may be protected from all the assaults of demons. “Be renewed in
the spirit of your minds…Put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 4:23, 6:11) Hail Mary…
7.
Dear Jesus, bless our memory. Grant that no memories of
past experiences may disturb us in any way, but that the Lord may touch and
heal us through hope for a better future. “And every one who thus hopes in him
purifies himself as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:1) Hail Mary…
8.
Dear Jesus, bless our estimation. Grant that we may
quickly sense dangers to chastity and instinctively flee from them, that we may
never turn away from higher, more difficult, and more honorable goods for the
sake of sinful self-indulgence. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Mt. 6:19-20) Hail Mary…
9.
Dear Jesus, bless our affectivity. Grant that we may
love chastity and rejoice in it, that all of our emotions may cooperate in its
growth, and that no sadness, discouragement, fear, insecurity, or loneliness
may afflict us unto sexual sin. “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live
temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-12) Hail Mary…
10. Dear
Jesus, bless our intellect. Grant that it may be purged of all false beliefs
and misunderstandings about human sexuality and that the good angels may flood
our intellects with thoughts that are gracious, pure, lovely, honorable, and
true. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is
any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things.” (Phil. 4:8) Hail Mary…
11. Dear
Jesus, bless our will. Grant that it may never be opposed by our sensuality,
that it may never be divided or conflicted in the moment, but may hold fast to
chastity no matter how difficult it may be. “For the Son of God, Jesus
Christ…was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of
God find their Yes in him.” (2 Cor. 1:19-20) Hail Mary…
12. Dear
Jesus, bless our conscience. Grant that it may be swift to judge what is the
chaste thing to do, swifter to execute it, and wholly preserved from the
suggestions of demons. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14) Hail Mary…
13. Dear
Jesus, bless our hearts. Grant that the place where Christ abides in us with
the Father and the Spirit may become the place where we live with the Holy
Trinity in friendship. “Jesus answered him, ‘If a man loves me, he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him.’ ” (Jn. 14:23) Hail Mary…
14. Dear
Jesus, give us the grace of self-surrender. Grant that we may hand over to God
nothing less than our whole lives. “Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit” (Lk. 23:46) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3) Hail Mary…
15. Dear
Jesus, give us Your love. “In this is love, not that we loved God but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10) “But
God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for
us” (Rom. 5:8) Hail Mary…
Closing Prayer
Heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, You who are
everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of all that is good,
Choirmaster of Life, Come, dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save
our souls O Good One. Amen
V. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN
SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE-THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN
INITIATION
Article 1-THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
VI. The Necessity of Baptism
1257 The Lord himself affirms
that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to
proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is
necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and
who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does
not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal
beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has
received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of
water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of
Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
1258 The Church has always held
the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith
without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with
Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the
fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.
1259 For catechumens who die
before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with
repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they
were not able to receive through the sacrament.
1260 "Since Christ died
for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny,
which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the
possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal
mystery." Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of
his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his
understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would
have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.
1261 As regards children who
have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of
God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God
who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children
which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder
them," allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children
who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to
prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase
in the Religious and Consecrated Life.
· Saturday Litany of the Hours
Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[4]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-09-23
[5]http://www.wincalendar.com/Fall-Begins
[7] http://www.icemanforchrist.org/p/the-way-of-purity.html
[9] http://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/cis/cis322.pdf
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