Thursday, December 7, 2023
Vigil Immaculate
conception-Chanuka-Pearl Harbor
Job, Chapter 11, Verse 15
Surely then you may lift up your
face in innocence; you may stand firm and UNAFRAID.
Now Jobs’ other
friend speaks saying that “If iniquity is in your hand, remove it, and do not
let injustice dwell in your tent” then you may be unafraid. Yet, Job has not
been immoral, he hates his life and what is happening to him.
Job Detests His Life[1]
·
Job
continues his bumming out session, asking God why he would oppress the people
who love him. Doesn't really seem like a good business model.
·
Time
for more thoughts from the peanut gallery.
·
Zophar
says that Job must have done
something wrong; God is unfathomable, sure, but he always punishes people less
than they deserve.
·
Some
friend.
10 Steps to Make You Stop
Despising your Life[2]
Life can and is
hard and tough and painful at times. That doesn’t mean it can’t change. Life
goes through ebbs and flows all the time and the key to getting through it all
without cutting off your social circle and eating your local grocery store out
of Ben & Jerry’s, is to cultivate some techniques and methods of going
through life with some stability and grace. It’s not a guarantee against life’s
hardships but take the steps you want to use, and you won’t dislike life.
Step
1) Get plenty of sleep.
Seriously, you’re
obviously going to be grouchy as hell and more inclined towards the more
miserable side, if you’re not getting your recommended seven or more hours of
sleep a night. Start checking how much you sleep and then start taking steps to
go to bed earlier and sleep for longer. It might cure every problem but at
least you’ll be well-rested and less likely to nap throughout the day. If you
are having trouble getting to sleep, try eating right.
Step
2) Eat healthily.
Eating a lot
healthier improves mood and makes you feel better.
Step
3) Write it all down.
Sometimes the
best thing you can do is let it all out. Keeping things that are making you
hate life all bottled up is neither helpful to getting out of that cycle nor
healthy for your overall wellbeing. Grab yourself a notebook, a journal, a
diary, a bit of paper, whatever, and just start writing down how you feel. As
soon as you’ve done that, start thinking about what you could do in theory to
stop this from happening or to stop you from feeling like this.
Step
4) Get some fresh air.
It’s underrated
and we all take it for granted, but really, getting out of your home and going
for a walk can be really beneficial. It gets you outside in the (hopefully)
sunshine and getting to see the whole of life as you walk around can be really
grounding and calming. Believe me, if you’re stuck inside mulling over on the
bad things of your life, grab a pair of sneakers and go for a walk. Plus, it’s
free. Can’t say better than that, can you?
Step
5) Get some exercise.
This is
practically Part II of the previous step, but as someone who used to look at
the gym as something people did when they were feeling particularly
masochistic, I can actually say I enjoy it now. You don’t even have to
subscribe to a fancy gym—go for a run around the block with your headphones in
or lift some heavy boxes to build up muscle tone.
Step
6) Treat yourself.
Hating your life
can be exhausting, and I mean that literally. It drains the energy from you
until all you want to do is lie in bed with a pint of ice cream and the last
five seasons of a TV show on Netflix. Therefore, a good thing to keep your
spirits up can be to treat yourself. Life is too short, after all, to deny
yourself some treats. Go see that movie that looks awesome in the cinema, grab
a gelato with a friend, paint your nails, whatever makes you happy, do it. You
deserve it.
Step
7) Cut out those negative triggers.
Chances are that
if you hate life, something is setting off those triggers in your head. Until
you’re able to deal with them without turning all misanthropic, the best thing
might be just to get rid of all of those negative triggers. If you’re suffering
from what AllGroanUp refer to as “Obsessive Comparison Disorder” (i.e.
obsessively checking out the lifestyles of all your “successful” friends), then
stop using Facebook and Twitter as much. Social media can be a fantastic way to
connect, but it can also be a toxic environment for neuroses and comparisons to
breed. Trust me, I know. If it sets you off, cut it out.
Step
8) Dance.
Yes, you can
dance. No, really, you can. It doesn’t matter if you’re not some breakdancing
dynamo or ballroom extraordinaire, everyone can dance. It’s programmed into the
human race, the ultimate expression of emotion. Dance like no one’s watching,
dance like you don’t care. Tap your feet, sway your hips, go as mad or as wild
as you want to your favorite songs. Nothing quite shakes the cobwebs off than
losing yourself in rhythm and dancing to a song you love.
Step
9) Get organized.
A great way to
start moving forward and looking at what you can change in your life to make it
better, is to get organized. Spend a weekend going through your home and
clearing the hell out of it. Get rid of the stuff you don’t need or don’t want
anymore and start to give everything a space. It doesn’t have to look like it’s
stepped off the pages of Good Housekeeping, but clearing a lot of space and
making sure that your home has a bit of harmony can do wonders for your mental
wellbeing.
Step
10) Pay it forward.
Life is a mystery,
and it can be a minefield to get through. Sometimes you stumble, sometimes you
fall. The important part is picking yourself back up and keeping walking
forward. Paying it forward is simply helping others. Charity is something that
is often thrown around as an accessory to human behavior—how many celebrities
have you read about who have done something heinous, but are defended by the phrase
“but [they] do charity work”?
Go volunteer. If
you think you’re at the breaking point, go help other people. People in the
world out there will be going through the same things that you are going
through and while you might not run into someone who’s going through the exact
same circumstances, you will be helping people who need help. Helping out a
soup kitchen, or at a church bake sale, or at a homeless shelter or wherever
needs help, can make a huge difference to the lives of those individuals
involved, and believe me, it’ll do a hell of a lot for your state of mind.
1274
The
Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of
the Lord ("Dominicus character") "for the day of
redemption." "Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." The
faithful Christian who has "kept the seal" until the end, remaining
faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life
"marked with the sign of faith," with his baptismal faith, in
expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in
the hope of resurrection.
Vigil
of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Day
of Fast and Abstinence[3]
Besides being the feast
day of St. Ambrose, today is the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.
And, consequently, today is traditionally a day of fasting and partial
abstinence from meat.
For today, we as traditional Catholics are called upon to fast and to refrain
from eating any flesh meat, except with the one principal meal allowed on a day
of fasting. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and
fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater
species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted. On
this day one, normal-sized meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the
normal meal are allowed. Eating between meals, however, is prohibited although
fruit juices and milk are allowed. The two smaller meals can not contain flesh
meat.
History of the
Vigil of the Immaculate Conception:
On November 30, 1879,
Pope Leo XIII added the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception to the Universal
Church's calendar, increasing the number of liturgical vigils from 16 to 17,
which not including Holy Saturday, consisted of "the eves of Christmas, the
Epiphany, the Ascension, Pentecost, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption,
the eight feasts of the Apostles, St. John the Baptist, St. Laurence, and All
Saints." At this time, the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception was not yet
a fast day. These 17 vigils mentioned were still in place at the time of the
writing of the Catholic Encyclopedia in 1909.
On July 25, 1957, Pope
Pius XII transferred the fast in the Universal Church from the Vigil of the
Assumption to the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception on December 7, even though
he had previously abrogated the Mass for the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.
Thus, this day starting in 1957 was a day of mandatory fasting and abstinence.
This is preserved in the laws in force in 1962 for instance.
By 1962, the laws of
fasting and abstinence were as follows as described in "Moral
Theology" by Rev. Heribert Jone and adapted by Rev. Urban Adelman for the
"laws and customs of the United States of America" copyright 1961:
"Complete abstinence is to be observed on all Fridays of the year, Ash
Wednesday, the Vigils of Immaculate Conception and Christmas. Partial
abstinence is to be observed on Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays and on the Vigil
of Pentecost. Days of fast are all the weekdays of Lent, Ember Days, and the
Vigil of Pentecost." If a vigil falls on a Sunday, the law of abstinence
and fasting is dispensed that year and is not transferred to the preceding day.
Father Jone adds additional guidance for the Vigil of the Nativity fast:
"General custom allows one who is fasting to take a double portion of food
at the collation on Christmas Eve (jejunium gaudiosum)."
The Importance of the Immaculate Conception:
The Immaculate Conception
is a dogma of the faith stating that Mary was conceived sinless in the womb of
her mother Anne, and Mary remained without sin throughout her entire life.
Remember, Mary is not just an average woman but the Mother of God; she is extraordinary
(Luke 1:42). She is, by no means, divine in anyway, but she certainly is the
greatest of all saints. She is the perfect model of charity. Let us try and
imitate Mary by wearing her Brown Scapular and praying the Rosary. To imitate
Mary, is to grow closer to Jesus Christ, Our Savior.
Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum:
An interval of a few
months will again bring round that most happy day on which, fifty years ago,
Our Predecessor Pius IX., Pontiff of holy memory, surrounded by a noble crown
of Cardinals and Bishops, pronounced and promulgated with the authority of the
infallible magisterium as a truth revealed by God that the Most Blessed Virgin
Mary in the first instant of her conception was free from all stain of original
sin. All the world knows the feelings with which the faithful of all the
nations of the earth received this proclamation and the manifestations of
public satisfaction and joy which greeted it, for truly there has not been in
the memory of man any more universal or more harmonious expression of sentiment
shown towards the august Mother of God or the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
ENCYCLICAL OF
POPE ST. PIUS X ON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FEBRUARY 2, 1904
Mary, Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, pray for us who have
recourse to thee!
Chanukah Begins at Sundown[4]
One wonders if Jesus and Mary celebrated Chanukah.
Chanukah (Hebrew: חנוכה)
is an eight-day Jewish festival, also known as the festival of lights. On each
day a Menorah (an eight branched candelabra) is lit with an ascending number of
candles to match the day. The reason for Chanukah is based on the story
of the Maccabees battle with the Greeks. It is told that one pure bottle
of olive oil lasted for eight days in the Holy Temple. It should have
lasted only for the first day.
Chanukah
Facts
·
It is customary to eat fried foods on Chanukah
because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews,
this usually includes latkes (potato pancakes fried in oil) and doughnuts.
·
A popular game during Hanukkah is dreidel.
The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with one Hebrew letter inscribed
on each face/side. These letters are Nun (like N), Gimel (like G), Hei
(Like H) and Shin (like Sh). These letters stand for the Hebrew
phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, a great miracle happened there, referring to the
miracle of the oil.
·
There is a special prayer called for the
Miracles said during all prayer sessions and grace after meals. In
this prayer the Lord is thanked for allowing the Jewish minority to overcome
their much larger and stronger enemies (a recurrent theme in Jewish survival).
·
Chanukah is not one of the Biblical festivals
and Jews are permitted to work on Chanukah.
Hanukkah
Top Events and Things to Do
·
An event that gathers much attention is the
White House Hanukkah Party. Watch it on TV (some parts are broadcast) or
YouTube.
· Play a dreidel game, which consists of spinning a special four-sided block with Hebrew letters. Once you're out of game pieces, you can either get a loan or you're out until one person collects all of the game pieces.
·
Make latkes and donuts at home. Many
recipes can be found online.
·
Listen to a special song is sung after the
lighting of the candles, called Maoz Zur, 'the Rock of our Salvation'.
Many renditions of it can be found on YouTube
Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day[5]
Today we honor the victims
of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, an American Naval Station. The attack
is often cited as the catalyst for American involvement in the Second World
War, given that President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan the
following day. At 8am on December 7th, 1941, without prior warning, the
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked a Naval Station at Pearl Harbor,
located on Oahu, Hawaii. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighter
planes. In total, 2,403 people perished, another 1,178 were injured, four U.S.
Navy battleships were sunk, and 188 aircrafts were destroyed. The aim of
the attack was to immobilize the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which would allow Japan to
advance into Malaya and Dutch East Indies. On August 23, 1994, the United
States Congress passed Public Law 103-308 to designate December 7 of each year
as the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Facts
& Quotes
·
Within
hours of the attack, Canada was the first nation to declare war on Japan. The
United States declared war the following day.
·
The
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal was established by the United States Congress
on November 5, 1990. U.S. Armed Forces veterans and civilians who served,
were injured or killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor were eligible to
receive the medal to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the attack.
(Public Law 101-510, 104 Stat. 1721 and Public Law. 104-201, 110 Stat.
2654)
·
The
USS Arizona Memorial was built in 1962 to mark the resting place of the 1,102
sailors and marines who died on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
·
...commemoration
of the attack on Pearl Harbor will instill in all people of the United States a
greater understanding and appreciation of the selfless sacrifice of the
individuals who served in the armed forces of the United States during World
War II... (Public Law 103-308)
·
Yesterday,
December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of
America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the
Empire of Japan. - President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This speech by
President Roosevelt is widely cited and referred to as the Infamy Speech or
Pearl Harbor Speech.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Top
Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial on Oahu Island in Hawaii.
·
Spend
some time learning about the Second World War and the US involvement that began
after Pearl Harbor.
·
Attend
a remembrance ceremony at your local naval club, army base, naval base, or
museum of war.
·
Watch
movies about Pearl Harbor and World War II. Here are some
recommendations:
1) Pearl Harbor (2001)
2) Saving Private Ryan (1998)
3) Inglorious Basterds (2009)
4) Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
5) Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
6) Empire of the Sun (1987)
7) The Longest Day (1962)
8) Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
9) Schindler's List (1993)
10) The Pianist (2002)
Father Aloysius H. Schmitt and the USS Schmitt[6]
Aloysius H. Schmitt was born in St. Lucas, Iowa on December 4,
1909, and was appointed acting chaplain with the rank of Lieutenant (Junior
Grade) on June 28, 1939. Serving on his first sea tour, he was hearing
confessions on board the battleship USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked
Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. When the ship capsized, he was
entrapped along with several other members of the crew in a compartment where
only a small porthole provided a means of escape. He assisted others
through the porthole, giving up his own chance to escape, so that more men
might be rescued. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal posthumously for
his courage and self-sacrifice. St. Francis Xavier Chapel, erected at
Camp Lejeune in 1942, was dedicated in his memory. The destroyer escort USS
SCHMITT was laid down on February 22, 1943, launched on May 29, 1943, and
was commissioned on July 24, 1943. The USS Schmitt was decommissioned and
placed in reserve on June 28,1949 and struck from the Navy list on May 1,1967.
Fast
all Day break-fast after sunset for a 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 stop 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.
Today’s
menu is from the State of Hawaii
- Bee’s Knees
- Hawaiian Grilled Cheese
- Avocado-Mango Poke Salad
- Paradise Fried Rice
- Butter Mochi
Jesse Tree[7]
Jesse
Tree Scriptures (The Symbols Are Only Suggestions)
December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun,
moon, stars, animals, earth
December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols:
tree, man, woman
December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols:
tree, serpent, apple with bite
December 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols:
ark, animals, dove, rainbow
December 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword,
mountain
December 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood,
altar, ram in bush
December 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34;
28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE-MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT
CHAPTER
ONE-THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
Article 2-OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE
I.
The Beatitudes
1716 The Beatitudes are at the
heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people
since Abraham. the Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer
merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of
evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
1717 The Beatitudes depict the
countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity. They express the vocation
of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection; they
shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life;
they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of
tribulations; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however
dimly, for Christ's disciples; they have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary
and all the saints.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Holy
Bishops and Cardinals
·
Religion
in the home: Preschool for December
·
do
a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[6]http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/priesthood/priestly-life-and-ministry/us-ships-named-for-catholic-chaplains.cfm
[7]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=545
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