Monday, November 6, 2023
Monday Night at the Movies
Alejandro Monteverde, Bella, 2006.
1 Maccabees, Chapter 12, Verse 52
This
is true if you are sheep, and you look to the leadership of man to save you. To
a true Israelite their leader was Yahweh. Israel knew that if they followed His
covenant, He would never abandon them. All true leadership comes from God.
A True Leader[1]
Jesus summoned the twelve and
said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them
felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great
among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be
the slave of all.”
This is certainly easier said than done. This passage reveals one serious temptation that those “who are recognized as rulers” may fall into. This is the temptation of an abuse of power and a lack of humble leadership.
For example, tradition states that at
the heart of the fall of lucifer and the demons was a desire for power.
“I will not serve” are the words attributed to lucifer. In other words,
the desire for power and to be served by others was real and very powerful for
these fallen angels. So, it is with each one of us.
Though we may not be in a position of
great power over others, we will most likely all struggle with the desire for
power. This can happen in just about any context. Take, for
example, a friendship. Very often when there is the slightest
disagreement on something, we want our own way. We want to be in
charge. Or take the example of home life. How many enter into
family life with a desire to serve the others and to humbly submit to the
others’ wills? This is hard to do. It’s much easier to want to be
the boss and to dictate to others what is to happen in this or that situation.
In the passage above, Jesus makes it
clear to His Apostles that when they exercise their “authority” over others
they are not to make it “felt” by others. In other words, Jesus was not
calling His Apostles to be leaders by brute force, intimidation, manipulation
or by any other severe exercise of their authority. The authority that
Jesus wanted was much different.
Christian authority is centered in
love and humility. It’s a “leadership” that is lived in true
humility. This leadership wins over hearts, minds and wills of others and
invites them to follow in charity and love. This must happen within the
family, among friends, at church and within society.
Reflect, today, upon how you lead
others. Do you expect to be the “boss” and expect others to follow you
because of your authority? Or do you lead others by humility and love
drawing them to Christ through your goodness? Commit yourself to
Christian leadership as Jesus intended and you will be amazed at the effect it
has within your family, among friends and within the larger community.
Lord, help me to be a humble
leader. Help me to let Your heart of love and mercy shine forth and to
lead by the goodness and kindness of Your merciful heart. Help me to set
aside all pride and egotism and to become a servant of all. Jesus, I
trust in You.
Purgatory[2]
Father Gerard, that the custom of having thirty masses said for the dead is also widely spread in Italy and other Christian countries. These Masses are called the Thirty Masses of St. Gregory, because the pious custom seems to trace its origin back to this great Pope. It is thus related in his Dialogues (Book 4, chap. 40): A Religious, named Justus, had received and kept for himself three gold pieces. This was a grievous fault against his vow of poverty. He was discovered and excommunicated. This salutary penalty made him enter into himself, and some time afterwards he died in true sentiments of repentance. Nevertheless, St. Gregory, in order to inspire the brethren with a lively horror of the sin of avarice in a Religious, did not withdraw the sentence of excommunication: Justus was buried apart from the other monks, and the three pieces of money were thrown into the grave, whilst the Religious repeated all together the words of St. Peter to Simon the Magician, Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditionem—“Keep thy money to perish with thee.” Sometime afterwards, the holy Abbot, judging that the scandal was sufficiently repaired, and moved with compassion for the soul of Justus, called the Procurator and said to him sorrowfully, “Ever since the moment of his death, our brother has been tortured in the flames of Purgatory; we must through charity make an effort to deliver him. Go, then, and take care that from this time forward the Holy Sacrifice is offered for thirty days; let not one morning pass without the Victim of Salvation being offered up for his release.” The Procurator obeyed punctually. The thirty Masses were celebrated in the course of thirty days. When the thirtieth day arrived and the thirtieth Mass was ended, the deceased appeared to a brother named Copiosus, saying, “Bless God, my dear brother, today I am delivered and admitted into the society of the saints.” Since that time the pious custom of celebrating thirty Masses for the dead has been established.
A Guide to Plenary Indulgences for the All Souls'
"Octave", November 1-8
Visiting a Cemetery: An indulgence, applicable only
to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a
cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. The indulgence is plenary
each day from November 1-8; on other days of the year it is a partial
indulgence.
Visiting a Church on November 2:
A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is
granted to the faithful who, on All Souls' Day (or, according to the judgment
of the ordinary, on the Sunday preceding or following it, or on the solemnity
of All Saints), devoutly visit a church or an oratory and recite an Our Father
and the Creed.
Praying for the Faithful Departed:
A partial indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is
granted to the faithful who,
- devoutly
visit a cemetery and at least mentally pray for the dead;
- devoutly
recite lauds or vespers from the Office of the Dead or the prayer Eternal
rest. (Manual of Indulgences, fourth edition, 1999)
Indulgence Requirements:
- To
gain a plenary indulgence, in addition to excluding all attachment to sin,
even venial sin, it is necessary to perform the indulgent work and fulfill
the following three conditions: sacramental Confession, Eucharistic
Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.
- A
single sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary
indulgences, but Holy Communion must be received and prayer for the
intention of the Holy Father must be recited for the gaining of each
plenary indulgence.
- The
three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the
performance of the prescribed work; it is, however, fitting that Communion
be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on
the same day the work is performed.
- The
condition of praying for the intention of the Holy Father is fully
satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. A plenary
indulgence can be acquired only once in the course of the day, a partial
indulgence can be acquired multiple times.
- If
a visit to a Church or an oratory is required to obtain an indulgence
attached to a particular day, this may be accomplished from noon of the
preceding day until midnight of the particular day.
Manual of Indulgences, fourth edition, 1999 (Enchridion
Indulgentarium)
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER TWO-THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
Article 5 THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
IN BRIEF
1526
"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the
prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if
he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (Jas 5:14-15).
1527 The
sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a
special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the
condition of grave illness or old age.
1528 The
proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the
believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.
1529 Each
time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick,
and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.
1530 Only
priests (presbyters and bishops) can give the sacrament of the Anointing of the
Sick, using oil blessed by the bishop, or if necessary by the celebrating
presbyter himself.
1531 The
celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing
of the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite) or of other
parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the
liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this
sacrament.
1532 The
special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
- the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and
that of the whole Church;
- the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the
sufferings of illness or old age;
- the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through
the sacrament of Penance;
- the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
- the preparation for passing over to eternal life.
World
Saxophone Day[3]
November 6 is Saxophone
Day, an unofficial holiday that celebrates the woodwind instrument popularly
used in jazz, classical music, and military ensembles. The day honors
saxophonists and commemorates the birth anniversary of its inventor Adolphe
Sax. Born in Belgium in 1814, Sax was an instrument maker and musician who
designed and introduced the Saxophone in 1840. It was first adopted for use in
military bands and soon became a popular instrument played in a concert band
and in chamber music. Chamber music is a type of music played by a group of
small instruments - ones that usually can fit into a small room or chamber.
Today, the Saxophone is used extensively in jazz and other kinds of dance music
and in symphony orchestras around the world.
Many Different Types
The Saxophone comes in
many different varieties, though most saxophonists usually use one of the four
most popular types. These are tenor, baritone, alto, and soprano saxophones.
The tenor saxophone is usually used in jazz and rock music bands, while the
baritone saxophone tends to be reserved for jazz solos. The Alto Saxophone is
easy to play and therefore used to train beginners. The Soprano plays the
highest pitch among all saxophones and is also often played in jazz bands.
Other saxophones include Mezzo Soprano, Sopranino, Tubax, Bass and Contrabass.
How to Celebrate?
·
Are you a saxophonist? Bring out your instrument
and play some music with a band or solo for your family and friends.
·
Attend a chamber music, jazz or symphony
orchestra concert. Keep an ear out for the Saxophone notes.
·
If you have always wanted to learn how to play
the Saxophone, today is the day to get started.
Don't forget to pray for the Poor
Souls in Purgatory from November 1 to
the 8th.
November 6-12 San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite yourself in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Authentic
Feminism
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Monday: Litany of
Humility
·
Rosary
[2]Schouppe
S.J., Rev. Fr. F. X.. Purgatory Explained (with Supplemental Reading: What Will
Hell Be Like?)
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