Wednesday, November 22, 2023
SAINT
CECILIA
Luke, Chapter 19, Verse 20-21
20
Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it
stored away in a handkerchief, 21 for I was AFRAID of you,
because you are a demanding person; you take up what you did not lay down and
you harvest what you did not plant.’
When
I read this verse; I thought of Mathew Kelly’s writing from his book,
“Rediscovering Catholicism.” Kelly speaks about the various attitudes and
philosophies which shape and define the mindset of the modern secular world. He
identifies three key lifestyles: individualism, hedonism, and minimalism.
First, what’s individualism?
Individualism
is an attitude whereby I come to see myself as the center of the universe. The
individualist will typically go through the course of his or her day asking
himself or herself one question: “What’s in it for me?”
Secondly, what’s hedonism?
Essentially,
it is an attitude whereby I come to see the pursuit of my own personal pleasure
as my primary concern in life. The hedonist will typically ask himself or
herself this question: “How
can I maximize the amount of pleasure in my life while minimizing the amount of
pain and inconvenience which I must endure?”
Thirdly, what is minimalism?
This
is a attitude whereby I look to put in the minimum amount of effort that I
possibly can into life, while reaping the maximum amount of reward. The
minimalist will typically ask himself or herself questions such as these:
·
“What’s the least amount I can possibly
do at the workplace and still keep my job?” Or perhaps:
·
“What’s the least amount I can possibly
do at school and still get a good grade?”
There
are many people in the world today who might “self-identify” as being
“Christian”, if not “Catholic”, who are still giving their hearts very much to
the so-called “spirit
of the world”;
whether we’re talking about the spirit of individualism, hedonism or
minimalism. For instance, we can say that there are many Catholics in the world
who go to Mass, say their prayers, and perhaps even occasionally eat fish on
Fridays – who still govern most of their conduct by asking themselves this one
simple question: “What’s in it for me?” Many of these
people might still be very “kind” and “generous” to certain persons that they
happen to know. Who isn’t from time to time? But perhaps, this sense of
“kindness” and “generosity” is still governed by a pervasive sense of
selfishness and self-interest. In other words: “I’ll be kind to you, but only
insofar as you’re being kind back onto me!” And what is that but the spirit of
individualism. Let’s take a different example. Again, we can say that there are
many Catholics in the world today who go to Mass, say their prayers, and
perhaps belong to certain religious clubs or organizations who still govern the
bulk of their conduct by asking: “How can I get through the course of my day
while incurring the least amount of pain or inconvenience to myself?” Many of these people might still
be saying their prayers, perhaps even every day, but what’s often the real substance behind
these prayers? “O Lord give me the things that I want, the things that I
desire, the things that I believe to be essential to my own sense of happiness
and well-being. But Lord, whatever you do: do not make me suffer, do not give
me inconvenience, and do not give me pain! In other words, do not give me the
Cross!” And
that is the spirit of hedonism: the relentless and almost single-minded pursuit
of one’s own personal pleasure as one’s ultimate concern. This takes us to our
third example. Again, there are many Catholics in the world who go to church,
go to confession, and even follow the Commandments who still perhaps ask
themselves this question repeatedly: “How can I get myself into the kingdom of
heaven, while putting the least amount of effort into my relationship with God?” These people might try their very
best to avoid all sorts of serious sin. But, as we know from personal
experience, there is a huge difference between simply trying to avoid “serious sin”, and actually trying our very best
to please the Lord in all things, especially in those little details which
perhaps no one else would ever notice, except Christ Himself! But that’s really
the difference between being a “lukewarm Catholic” (or a “minimalist”) and
being a true disciple of the Lord.[1]
St. Cecilia[2]
Her martyrdom probably occurred during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus, about the year 230. In 1599 her grave was opened, and her body found in a coffin of cypress wood. It lay incorrupt, as if she had just breathed forth her soul. Since the Middle Ages, Cecilia has been honored as patroness of Church music. Cecilia led a life of prayer and meditation and had vowed lifelong virginity, but a youth by the name of Valerian, relying upon the approval of her parents, hoped to marry her. When the wedding night arrived, she confided to Valerian, "There is a secret, Valerian, I wish to tell you. I have as a lover an angel of God who jealously guards my body." Valerian promised to believe in Christ if he would be enabled to see that angel. Cecilia explained how such was impossible without baptism, and Valerian consented to be baptized. After he was baptized by Pope Urban and had returned "He found Cecilia in her little room lost in prayer, and next to her the angel of the Lord was standing. When Valerian saw the angel, he was seized with great terror." The angel handed to them a bouquet of fiery red roses and snow-white lilies as a reward for Cecilia's love of chastity, a bouquet that would not wither, yet would be visible only to those who love chastity. As a further favor Valerian besought the conversion of his brother Tiburtius. Upon arriving to congratulate the newlyweds, Tiburtius was astounded by the unspeakably beautiful roses and lilies. As soon as he was informed regarding their origin, he too asked for the waters of baptism. "St. Cecilia said to Tiburtius: Today I acknowledge you as a brother-in-law, because the love of God has made you despise the idols. Just as the love of God gave me your brother as a spouse, so it has given you to me as a brother in-law."
When Almachius, the
prefect, heard of the conversions, he ordered Maximus, his officer, to arrest
and imprison all of them. Before being put to death, they instructed Maximus
and his family, and baptized them during the night preceding execution. At dawn
Cecilia roused the two brothers to struggle heroically for Christ, as the glow
of morning disappeared, Cecilia called: "Arise,
soldiers of Christ, throw away the works of darkness and put on the armor of
light." Cecilia pursued her victory as the soldiers willingly
listened, "We believe that Christ is the true Son of God, who has chosen
such a servant." Led before the prefect, she professed her faith in
Christ, "We profess His holy Name and we will not deny Him."
In order to avoid further
show, the prefect commanded her to be suffocated in the baths. She remained
unharmed and prayed, "I thank You, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ that
through Your Son the fire was extinguished at my side." Beheading was next
in order. The executioner made three attempts (the law prohibited more) and let
her lie in her blood. She lived for three days, encouraging the poor and
dedicating her home into a church.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN
SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER THREE-THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF
COMMUNION
Article 7-THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
V. The Goods and Requirements of Conjugal Love
1643 "Conjugal love
involves a totality, in which all the elements of the person enter - appeal of
the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration of the
spirit and of will. It aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond
union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul; it demands
indissolubility and faithfulness in definitive mutual giving; and it is open to
fertility. In a word it is a question of the normal characteristics of all
natural conjugal love, but with a new significance which not only purifies and
strengthens them, but raises them to the extent of making them the expression
of specifically Christian values."
The unity and indissolubility
of marriage
1644 The love of the spouses
requires, of its very nature, the unity and indissolubility of the spouses'
community of persons, which embraces their entire life: "so they are no
longer two, but one flesh." They "are called to grow continually
in their communion through day-to-day fidelity to their marriage promise of
total mutual self-giving." This human communion is confirmed,
purified, and completed by communion in Jesus Christ, given through the
sacrament of Matrimony. It is deepened by lives of the common faith and by the
Eucharist received together.
1645 "The unity of
marriage, distinctly recognized by our Lord, is made clear in the equal
personal dignity which must be accorded to man and wife in mutual and
unreserved affection." Polygamy is contrary to conjugal love which is
undivided and exclusive.
The fidelity of conjugal love
1646 By its very nature
conjugal love requires the inviolable fidelity of the spouses. This is the
consequence of the gift of themselves which they make to each other. Love seeks
to be definitive; it cannot be an arrangement "until further notice."
the "intimate union of marriage, as a mutual giving of two persons, and
the good of the children, demand total fidelity from the spouses and require an
unbreakable union between them."
1647 The deepest reason is
found in the fidelity of God to his covenant, in that of Christ to his Church.
Through the sacrament of Matrimony the spouses are enabled to represent this
fidelity and witness to it. Through the sacrament, the indissolubility of
marriage receives a new and deeper meaning.
1648 It can seem difficult,
even impossible, to bind oneself for life to another human being. This makes it
all the more important to proclaim the Good News that God loves us with a
definitive and irrevocable love, that married couples share in this love, that
it supports and sustains them, and that by their own faithfulness they can be
witnesses to God's faithful love. Spouses who with God's grace give this
witness, often in very difficult conditions, deserve the gratitude and support
of the ecclesial community.
1649 Yet there are some
situations in which living together becomes practically impossible for a
variety of reasons. In such cases the Church permits the physical separation of
the couple and their living apart. the spouses do not cease to be husband and
wife before God and so are not free to contract a new union. In this difficult
situation, the best solution would be, if possible, reconciliation. the
Christian community is called to help these persons live out their situation in
a Christian manner and in fidelity to their marriage bond which remains
indissoluble.
1650 Today there are numerous
Catholics in many countries who have recourse to civil divorce and contract new
civil unions. In fidelity to the words of Jesus Christ - "Whoever divorces
his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces
her husband and marries another, she commits adultery" The Church
maintains that a new union cannot be recognized as valid, if the first marriage
was. If the divorced are remarried civilly, they find themselves in a situation
that objectively contravenes God's law. Consequently, they cannot receive
Eucharistic communion as long as this situation persists. For the same reason,
they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities. Reconciliation through
the sacrament of Penance can be granted only to those who have repented for
having violated the sign of the covenant and of fidelity to Christ, and who are
committed to living in complete continence.
1651 Toward Christians who live
in this situation, and who often keep the faith and desire to bring up their
children in a Christian manner, priests and the whole community must manifest
an attentive solicitude, so that they do not consider themselves separated from
the Church, in whose life they can and must participate as baptized persons:
They should
be encouraged to listen to the Word of God, to attend the Sacrifice of the
Mass, to persevere in prayer, to contribute to works of charity and to
community efforts for justice, to bring up their children in the Christian
faith, to cultivate the spirit and practice of penance and thus implore, day by
day, God's grace.
The openness to fertility
1652 "By its very nature
the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and
education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds its crowning
glory."
Children are
the supreme gift of marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the parents
themselves. God himself said: "It is not good that man should be
alone," and "from the beginning (he) made them male and female";
wishing to associate them in a special way in his own creative work, God
blessed man and woman with the words: "Be fruitful and multiply."
Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results
from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to
disposing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and
Savior, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.
1653 The fruitfulness of
conjugal love extends to the fruits of the moral, spiritual, and supernatural
life that parents hand on to their children by education. Parents are the
principal and first educators of their children. In this sense the fundamental
task of marriage and family is to be at the service of life.
1654 Spouses to whom God has
not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in
both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of
charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice.
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·
Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
“Charger
of Love the Gift of God”.
Please
pray for his and his father’s intentions Christopher Gabriel “Bearer of
Christ with the strength of God”
May
our King make use of them! El Cristo Rey!
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in
the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase in Religious and consecrated life.
·
Go to
Mass
· Rosary
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