Thursday, September 21, 2023
DAY 38 - MARY, QUEEN OF ANGELS, 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!!
LOVE DEMANDS EFFORT
Throughout all of salvation history we see such cries as “Let his face shine upon you” (Nm 6:25) and “Do not hide your face from me” (Ps 27:9, 69:17, 102:3). This face-to-face, “look-me-in-the-eye” bonding is essential in understanding the necessity for making a semper fi connection with Christ. This kind of face-to-face encounter with God changes everything as it calls forth, quite literally, a transformation that cannot be undone. It marks a major shift away from a “face-in-the-crowd,” “Christian in name only,” “do-only-what’s-minimally-
Pope John Paul II said, “Real love is demanding. For it was Jesus — our Jesus himself — who said: ‘You are my friends if you do what I command you’ (Jn 15:14). Love demands effort and a personal commitment to the will of God. It means discipline and sacrifice, but it also means joy and human fulfillment.” Mother Teresa said of love: “Love to be real, it must cost — it must hurt — it must empty us of self.”
“We have a tendency to think only about self-protection, safety, and avoidance of trouble,” says Bishop Robert Barron, “This tends to be our primary frame of reference. But God thinks relentlessly in terms of love, even when that love entails suffering. So, we ask ourselves, what is our final frame of reference? Is it, ‘How do I avoid pain?’ or is it, ‘How do I love?’ So, if I wake up every morning and my basic question is ‘How am I going to avoid pain?’ then I am going to live my life in a certain way — ultimately, a selfish way. But if when I wake up in the morning I say, ‘How do I love today?’ then I will live the life of a saint.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual).
PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA
THE SORROWFUL 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, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose 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 blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose 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 Agony in the Garden – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Scourging at the Pillar – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Crowning with Thorns – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Carrying of the Cross – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Crucifixion – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies 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.
FEAST-Thursday
FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW International Day of Peace
Blessed are you, for you have made me happy; what I FEARED did not happen. Rather you have dealt with us according to your abundant mercy.
Peace can
only come when we confront the truth.
Jesus declared “I am the truth”
(John 14: 6) and told Pontius Pilate “For this I was born and for this I came
into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18: 37). Because he is the Son
of God, Jesus is the truth about who God is, and, because he is fully human, he
is the truth about the human person.
What is
that truth?
First, that God is Love, love that is
willing to give all, even life itself, for the good of the beloved.
Second, that the human person is precious
to God, precious enough to die for. When this truth is denied, the human person
becomes subhuman, an object, or a threat. It becomes easy to destroy a mass of
cells viewed as a threat. The human person may seem like a cancer on humanity
and be treated as such, rather than as an individual for whom Jesus suffered
and died. We are created in the image and likeness of God, and we have a
choice: To do good or to do evil. Daily we must decide if we are for ourselves and pursue the things of the
world or are we going to follow Christ by picking up our cross daily and freely
live under the flag of Christ.
Father
John Parks [1]
states that the flag we choose to live under determines everything.
He
asks, “Whose flag are you under? Do we consciously choose to serve, or do we
just let it happen?
We
have a choice here and indecision is a decision itself. Whose flag will you
follow Christ’s or Satan’s. True freedom comes not from doing what you want but
doing the things you were created to do. Father John recommends we follow the
flag of Christ (poverty, chastity, obedience) and not that of Satan (greed,
lust, pride) by having a battle plan.
1.
Be
in the state of grace at all times-Go to Mass if you fall get up go to
confession.
2.
Pray-we
know who we are by knowing who’s we are. Remember Saint Joseph is known as the
terror of demons.
3.
Do
your daily duty; there is great heroism in finishing the daily tasks.
4.
Be
Humble and obey. When you break a commandment, you do not break it as
much as it breaks you.
5. Seek a community where there is strength in numbers “Iron sharpens iron”. Remember the Holy Spirit is what sets us free.
Feast of Saint Matthew[2]
Put your hope in Christ and not in money, possessions, or position as did the Apostle Matthew.
MATTHEW, also called Levi, a son of Alpheus, and brother of the holy apostle James the Less, was a receiver in the Roman customhouse on Lake Tiberius. Such officers were hated by the Jews for their injustice, and were called publicans, or public sinners. While he was sitting at the receipt of custom, he was called by Christ to be one of His disciples, and immediately leaving his lucrative office and all that he had, followed Him. On account of his distinguished zeal he was afterwards received into the number of the apostles. After the descent of the Holy Ghost he remained in Judea, preached the Gospel, wrote the passion of Our Lord as contained in his gospel, and lived strictly in the fear of God. At a later day he travelled through Persia, Ethiopia, and other countries. At last he was killed at the altar, by command of King Hirtacus, for opposing his marriage with the Princess Iphigenia, who, by St. Matthew’s direction, had vowed to God perpetual virginity. His holy remains were brought to Salerno, Italy in the tenth century. Thus, may great sinners become great saints by following faith fully, like St. Matthew, the voice of God.
At the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment; the laws of God is in his heart.
Prayer. May we be assisted, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed apostle Matthew, that what of ourselves we are unable to obtain may be given to us by his intercession.
EPISTLE. Ezech. i. 10-14.
The likeness of the face of the four living creatures: the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the face of an ox on the left side of all the four: and the face of an eagle over all the four. And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies: and every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse of the spirit was to go, thither they went: and they turned not when they went. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the fire. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of lightning.
GOSPEL. Matt. ix. 9-13.
At that time Jesus saw a man sitting in the customhouse, named Matthew: and He saith to him: Follow Me. And he rose up and followed Him. And it came to pass as He was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. And the Pharisees seeing it, said to His disciples: “Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
Explanation. This gospel teaches us:
1. That when God calls, we should obey at once, lest, by not giving heed to His voice, he should cease to call us, or withdraw from us His grace.
2. To forsake the occasions of sin; as St. Matthew not only left the place where he sinned, but abandoned entirely the very house and office which had led him into sin.
3. That we should not only cease to sin, but, like St. Matthew, should follow Christ in poverty, humility, meekness, patience, if we would enter the kingdom of God.
Prayer. O holy apostle, who hast made ready for us a glorious feast in thy gospel, pray for me that thy gospel may be in truth food for my soul; pray that in it I may devoutly consider the life, virtues, passion and death of Jesus Christ, that I may faithfully follow, in all things, thy words, written by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and by the operation of the same Spirit may be able to exclaim: How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth.
St Matthew Facts[3]
·
Tax collectors worked for Rome, and not only did
Jews pay Roman taxes to them, the collectors received a percentage for their
own profit. Jews in good standing did not associate with publicans.
·
Once Matthew begins to follow Jesus, he holds a
dinner for other tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10). The
Pharisees, the strict Jewish law abiders that were leaders in the community,
complained about Jesus, a teacher eating with sinners. Jesus said,
"For I have come to call the not the righteous but the sinners."
(Matthew 9:13)
·
Early church writers claim that after Jesus'
death and resurrection that Matthew preached Christianity in Persia, Macedonia,
and Syria.
·
In the Orthodox Church, tradition says that St.
Matthew refused to die even after several attempts. He was first placed
upside down and lit on fire, then sunk in a coffin in the sea overnight.
The ruler of Ethiopia, who tried to kill Matthew, apologized to the
apostle and converted to Christianity.
·
St Matthew was one of Jesus' 12 disciples and
writer of the Gospel of Matthew. His feast day is held on September 21 in
the Roman Catholic Church and November 16 in the Orthodox faith.
Things to Do[4]
·
Do something for the needy: money for missions,
donations of clothing or toys, canned goods drive, etc.
·
Take time to read St. Matthew's Gospel, keeping
in mind that St. Matthew depicts the humanity of Christ and emphasizes His
physical sufferings. He makes frequent reference to the fulfillment of
prophecies because he wrote to Jews and to Jewish Christians.
·
Discuss St. Matthew's call from Christ "Follow
me" with your children and how we are all called to belong to the
family of God.
· Pray for people who work for financial institutions.
·
Make Silver Dollar Pancakes, you can use this recipe on Catholic Cuisine's website or one of the
suggestions we offer under recipes.
International Day of Peace[5]
International Day of Peace seeks to promote peace among nations and peoples. Peace is recognized as both an innate state of being, and a dynamic evolutionary process wherein constructive growth can occur and the children of this and future generations may gain hope for a better world to inherit. International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations in 1981. In 2002, the United Nations declared it a permanent holiday. Through education and public awareness events, the UN endeavors to strengthen the ideals of peace among all of the world's inhabitants. International Day of Peace is observed on September 21st each year. On this day, the UN urges all hostilities to stop, worldwide.
Inner Peace of Christ[6]
On Dec. 14, 1989, the Vatican's Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith released its "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic
Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation." This document, approved
by Pope John Paul II, recognizes that some Christians, experiencing a
"spiritual restlessness arising from a life subjected to the driving pace
of a technologically advanced society," have investigated certain Eastern
techniques of prayer, seeking "a path to interior peace and psychic
balance." Eastern methods of prayer often depart from Christian principles
by "abandoning not only meditation on the salvific works accomplished in
history by the God of the Old and New Covenant, but also the very idea of the
One and Triune God." Instead, inner peace and union with the Absolute is
attained by "immersion 'in the indeterminate abyss of the divinity'";
hence, a person can lose his identity by being "swallowed up" by the
Deity. Contemporary Catholics seeking inner peace need not dive headlong into
Eastern mysticism. A host of Catholic writers has advocated ways by which
spiritual happiness may be realized. One of the best but least recognized
guides is Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751), a Franciscan friar known
for his preaching in defense of the Immaculate Conception. He offered four
"rules" to help achieve peace of soul.
1.
To be attached only to God. Status and
wealth may be beneficial, but to be overly concerned about them is to invite
inner spiritual havoc. The soul's primary need is communication with its
Creator. One needs to view objects and persons in reference to God and His will
if peace is to reign. To be "dead" to the world and creatures is
paramount.
2.
To surrender to Divine Providence. All
Catholic spiritual writers are unanimous on this point: Sanctity and inner
peace are attained only when God's will holds sway. The Lord knows best. Humbly
accepting His will is vastly different from reluctantly putting up with it.
When a person yields to the divine plan, he demonstrates a belief that God will
sustain him--come what may.
3.
To welcome suffering and hardship. Human
nature tends to resist difficulties. Yet, spiritual perfection entails carrying
the cross of Jesus. Scorn and rejection from others--while hardly
pleasant--must be seen as an opportunity to experience solidarity with the
suffering Christ.
4.
To undertake only that which our
situation in life demands. Often a person takes upon himself too many
activities at once. "The more, the better" does not necessarily apply
in the realm of good works. Prudence dictates what one can accomplish. Inner
turmoil may spring from a plethora of activities, even when they are morally
good acts. Prayer and counsel will determine what to undertake and what to
forego.
When thousands are turning to Eastern methods of
prayer in search of peace, Catholics should take heed of the advice offered
nearly three centuries ago by this Italian preacher. Happiness of soul occurs
when a person conforms himself to Christ through acceptance of the Father's
will. Only then may one experience the peace which the world cannot give (cf.
John 14:27).
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
IV. Who can Receive Baptism?
1246 "Every person not yet
baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized."
The Baptism of adults
1247 Since the beginning of the
Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the
Gospel is still new. the catechumenate (preparation for Baptism) therefore
occupies an important place. This initiation into Christian faith and life
should dispose the catechumen to receive the gift of God in Baptism,
Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
1248 The catechumenate, or
formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to
maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial
community. the catechumenate is to be "a formation in the whole Christian
life . . . during which the disciples will be joined to Christ their teacher.
the catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and
the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the
life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred
rites."
1249 Catechumens "are
already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and
are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and
charity." "With love and solicitude mother Church already
embraces them as her own."
The Baptism of infants
1250 Born with a fallen human
nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in
Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of
the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer
gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant
Baptism. the Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of
becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.
1251 Christian parents will
recognize that this practice also accords with their role as nurturers of the
life that God has entrusted to them.
1252 The practice of infant
Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony
to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that,
from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households"
received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.
Faith and Baptism
1253 Baptism is the sacrament
of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within
the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. the faith
required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is
called to develop. the catechumen or the godparent is asked: "What do you
ask of God's Church?" The response is: "Faith!"
1254 For all the baptized,
children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church
celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises.
Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the
source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs
forth.
1255 For the grace of Baptism
to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather
and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly
baptized - child or adult on the road of Christian life. Their task is a
truly ecclesial function (officium). The whole ecclesial community bears
some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at
Baptism.
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week
that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last
supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of
the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the
blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one.
Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a
special meal. Be at Peace.
The menu for today comes
from Salerno, Italy where St. Thomas’ body lies in repose.
- Italian Wine
- Minestrone
- Salad
- Pasta
- Tiramisu
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: For
the intercession of the angels and saints
·
September 21 - 23, 2023 The
Arizona Elvis Festival
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
do
a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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