Monday, January 22, 2024
25 January 2024 invitation to pray with our first Worldpriest Virtual Rosary Thursday for 2024
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Monday Night at the Movies
Frank Capra, Lady for a Day, 1933
VINCENT OF SARAGOSSA-ROE vs. WADE
Luke, Chapter 1, Verse
50
His mercy is from age
to age to those who FEAR him.
We are to rejoice just as Mary did in her
Canticle of Praise when she entered the house of Zechariah.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my
spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s
lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The
Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His
mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his
arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers
from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled
with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped
Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise
to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
I would like to focus on the
words from “age to age”. In physics, spacetime (also space–time, space time or
space–time continuum) is any mathematical model that combines space and time
into a single interwoven continuum.[1] As I understand it what has been done in
the past and in the future continues forever rippling through time and space
from “age to age”. If this is the case let us follow Mary’s example and develop
in ourselves Holy fear through her virtues of: humility, generosity, chastity, patience,
self-control and of course love. Happiness is a choice; just as love is. We
either decide to be happy or we do not. No amount of money or material things
will bring us joy, no amount of pleasure or power either. Mary knew that true
happiness comes from God’s mercy. That is a choice too. God’s mercy is given to
those who fear Him and then in
turn honor the gift of love. We in order to accept the gift of mercy must be
open to receive. We make a choice.
St. Vincent of
Saragossa[2]
I became acquainted with Saint Vincent during a time
I was suffering with a half inch burst in the last disk in my back. I was
almost paralyzed, and the pain was intense with a burning sensation below the
knee on my left leg. I was considering treatment using a VAC-D table that was
then a new treatment, yet I was hesitant. After reading the story of St.
Vincent I asked for his help with my struggle-it then occurred to me to go get
stretched on the rack, which VAC-D resembles as St. Vincent was. After 25 treatments
my disk has now been healed and I have recovered to 90% before the rupture. I
thank the intersession of St. Vincent.
Vincent of Saragossa was
one of the Church's three most illustrious deacons, the other two being Stephen
and Lawrence. He is also Spain's most renowned martyr. Ordained deacon by
Bishop Valerius of Saragossa, he was taken in chains to Valencia during the
Diocletian persecution and put to death. From legend we have the following
details of his martyrdom. After brutal scourging in the presence of many
witnesses, he was stretched on the rack; but neither torture nor blandishments
nor threats could undermine the strength and courage of his faith. Next, he was
cast on a heated grating, lacerated with iron hooks, and seared with hot metal
plates. Then he was returned to prison, where the floor was heavily strewn with
pieces of broken glass. A heavenly brightness flooded the entire dungeon,
filling all who saw it with greatest awe.
After this he was placed
on a soft bed in the hope that lenient treatment would induce apostasy, since
torture had proven ineffective. But strengthened by faith in Christ Jesus and
the hope of everlasting life, Vincent maintained an invincible spirit and
overcame all efforts, whether by fire, sword, rack, or torture to induce
defection. He persevered to the end and gained the heavenly crown of martyrdom.
Roe
vs. Wade[3] Day of Prayer for the Legal
Protection of Unborn Children
January 22 is the
anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the day established by the Church of
penance for abortion, has been formally named as the “Day of Prayer for the
Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” On this day your parish, school or
religious formation program may celebrate the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for
the Gift of Human Life. This Mass, found in our newly translated Missal, may
now be used on occasions to celebrate the dignity of human life. In addition to
this special Mass on this day, perhaps your parish, school or religious
formation program could encourage traditional forms of penance, host pro-life
and chastity speakers, lead informative projects that will directly build up
the culture of life, show a pro-life film, raise funds for local crisis
pregnancy centers or offer additional prayer services.
Attend Mass today.
Celebration of Life Day[4]
is when we take a step back and truly appreciate our children and
grandchildren. Granted, some may do this on an everyday basis, but it’s an
opportunity to look at our young ones’ lives from a different angle, think
about what it is that makes them truly special, and of course, to lavish treats
upon them if we so wish, be it an ice cream or a trip to Disneyland. It can be
easy to forget that our children and grandchildren are people in their own
right. You’ve helped them to discover themselves over the years, but you can’t
take all the credit. Their life choices are ultimately down to them; sometimes
they’ll do you proud, and other times, as is the case with us all, they’ll make
mistakes. So be the one who’s there to offer congratulations, or encouragement
to pick themselves up when they fall. And above all else, as cheesy as it may
sound, show that you love them.
Life First[5] 9 Days for
Life
9 Days
for Life is a "digital pilgrimage" of prayer and action focused
on cherishing the gift of every person's life. A multi-faceted novena
highlighting a different intention each day provides reflections, bonus
information, and suggested actions. Join to receive the novena through the
9 Days for Life app, daily emails, or daily texts. See below for information on
how else you can get involved! #9DaysforLife
#OurPrayersMatter
Day Seven:
Intercession: May those who long to welcome a child into their family be filled with trust in God’s loving plan.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be
Reflection:
It can be very
difficult and painful when the Lord doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we
hope. A couple that finds themselves unable to bring a child into the world
through their loving union can experience this disappointment very deeply.
During such times of trial, we may wonder why we face the particular challenges
that we do. Yet even though suffering is often shrouded in a sense of mystery,
we believe that the Lord loves us with great tenderness and compassion that is
beyond our imagination. Knowing this, we can trust that “all things work for
good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom
8:28).
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
·
Smile.
Ask God today for the grace to be extra joyful and share Christ’s love with
those who need encouragement the most today.
·
Offer
the Prayer for Those Hoping to Conceive
or Adopt a Child,
and spend some time reflecting on the accompanying excerpt from Psalm 145.
·
Offer
some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for
today’s intention.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE-MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT
CHAPTER TWO-THE HUMAN
COMMUNION
Article 3-SOCIAL JUSTICE
IN BRIEF
1943
Society ensures social justice by providing the conditions that allow
associations and individuals to obtain their due.
1944
Respect for the human person considers the other "another self." It
presupposes respect for the fundamental rights that flow from the dignity
intrinsic of the person.
1945 The
equality of men concerns their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from
it.
1946 The
differences among persons belong to God's plan, who wills that we should need
one another. These differences should encourage charity.
1947 The
equal dignity of human persons requires the effort to reduce excessive social
and economic inequalities. It gives urgency to the elimination of sinful
inequalities.
1948
Solidarity is an eminently Christian virtue. It practices the sharing of
spiritual goods even more than material ones.
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.
·
Carnival: Part Two, the Final
Countdown
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Monday: Litany of
Humility
· Rosary
[2]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-01-23
[5]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
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