Saturday, February 10, 2024
FEAST
OF ST. SCHOLASTICA-Carnival-Chinese New Year
Psalm 119, Verse 74
Those who FEAR you rejoice to see me, because I
hope in your word.
How cheering is the sight of a man of God! How refreshing his
converse! How satisfactory and enlivening is the exhibition of his faith! The
goodness of God to one becomes thus the joy and comfort of all. What an
excitement is this to close communion with our God that the light which we thus
receive will shine on those around us! What a comfort will it be even in our
own hour of temptation, that the hope, which we may then be enabled to maintain
in the word of God, shall prove the stay, not only of our own souls, but of the
Lord's people! Many a desponding Christian, oppressed with such fears as this —
"I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul"—when he hears of one and
another exercised in the same trials, and who have hoped in God's word, and have
not been disappointed, will be glad when he sees them. Thus, David recorded his
conflicts that we may not despair of our own; and his triumphs, that "in
the name of our God we might set up our banners." "I had fainted,
unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the
living. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine
heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Thus also, under affliction, he was
comforted with the thought of comforting others with the history of his own
experience —"My Soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall
hear thereof and be glad. O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify his
name together. He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.
Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Bring my soul out of
prison, which I may praise thy name; the righteous shall compass me about, for
thou shalt deal bountifully with me." In this view, the believer, who has
been "sifted in the sieve" of temptation, without the least
"grain" of faith or hope "falling upon the earth", stands
forth as a monument of the Lord's faithfulness, to strengthen the weak hands,
and confirm the feeble knees, and to say to them that are of fearful heart, Be
strong, fear not." Those that are "fearful, and of little
faith," are glad when they see him. They "thank God" for him,
and "take courage" for themselves. What a motive is this to keep us
from despondency; that, instead of destroying by our unbelief, those who are
already "cast down," we may enjoy the privilege of upholding their confidence
and ministering to their comfort! And how should the weak and distressed seek
for and prize the society of those who have been instructed by the discipline
of the Lord's school! Believer!
What have you to tell to your discouraged
brethren of the faithfulness of your God? Cannot you put courage into their hearts
by declaring that you have never been "ashamed of your hope?" Cannot
you tell them from your own experience, that Jesus "is for a foundation-stone,
a tried stone, a sure foundation?" Cannot you show them that, because he
has borne the burden of their sins, he is able to "bear their griefs, and
to carry their sorrows"? That you have tried him, and that you have found
him so?
Oh! Be animated to know more of Christ yourself let your hope in
him be strengthened, that you may cause gladness in the hearts of those that,
see you; so that, "whether you be afflicted, or whether you be comforted,
it may be for their consolation and salvation." But O my God! How much
cause have I for shame, that I impart so little of thy glorious light to those
around me! Perhaps some poor trembling sinner has been glad when he saw me,
hoping to hear something of the Savior from my lips, and has found me
straitened, and cold, and dumb. Oh! that I may be so "filled with the
Spirit," so experienced in thy heavenly ways, that I may invite "all
that fear thee to come to me," that I may "declare what thou hast
done for my soul" so that, "when men are cast down, they may say, there
is lifting up."[1]
Feast of St. Scholastica[2]
St. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict, the Patriarch of Western monasticism. She was born in Umbria, Italy, about 480. Under Benedict's direction, Scholastica founded a community of nuns near the great Benedictine monastery Monte Cassino. Inspired by Benedict's teaching, his sister devoted her whole life to seeking and serving God. She died in 547 and tradition holds that at her death her soul ascended to heaven in the form of a dove.
Things to Do
·
Tell
your children about the "holy twins": St. Scholastica and the tender
love she had for her brother St. Benedict. Ask them how they can help one
another to become saints.
·
Make
an altar hanging or window transparency in the shape of a dove to honor St.
Scholastica.
·
If
you are traveling to Italy, try to visit St. Benedict's Abbey of Monte Cassino.
Carnival Saturday
Il Ballo del Doge 2024, XXXI edition — Saturday the 10th of February[3]
Do you want to be part of the celebration — parading around St Mark’s Square in a classic Venetian mask? Well, the Best Mask Contest is a chance for you to get out onto the streets of Venice with your most impressive mask! This event starts on the 20th of February from 15:30 to 17:00, but it occurs daily, afterwards. Winners from the daily Best Mask Contests will be entered into the finals! If you’d like to enter the Best Mask Contest, it is absolutely free, but you will need to fill out an application form which will be available from December 2019 onwards!
If you’re looking for an authentic Venetian masquerade, then the Il Ballo del Doge 2024, XXXI edition on the 10th of February is most important date on your calendar! Is an artistic event, a social appointment, an unforgettable experience that unites people from all over the world. A production that goes beyond the notion of a party and becomes an international happening lived by celebrities and by all those of us in search of a dream.
On Saturday 10th February 2024, in the majestic setting of the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the gears of time will go mad with joie de vivre! A carousel of music, lights, characters and emotions awaits you that will trigger your fantasy, imagination and that art of amazement that everyday life sometimes robs us of.
Il Ballo del Doge is the most lavish costume party of the Venice Carnival. Il Ballo del Doge is a festive masquerade, a refined society gala, an opulent banquet and an astonishing show. All this and much more…Il Ballo del Doge is an intriguing collective game, orchestrated by the Venetian Antonia Sautter, charming stylist and world-famous luxury event planner, which has always taken place in the dreamlike setting of a Venetian palace. Il Ballo del Doge is a flight of fancy, a triumph of the senses, the luxury of inhabiting a beautiful dream that lasts an entire night.
Il Ballo del Doge is a kind of magic! Il Ballo del Doge is the most exclusive international event of the Venetian Carnival, in which all the guests participate in splendid costumes of sartorial excellence wearing typical Venetian masks. Il Ballo del Doge is a memorable, one-of-a-life experience that will enchant all your senses.
Are you ready to dream?
·
Carnival
in Venice and its recipes
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival celebrates a year of hard work and gives people the opportunity to wish for a lucky new year. It is China's most important festival and involves family reunions, elaborate decorations and giving red envelopes. Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar and usually falls between January 21 and February 20. The Calendar functions on a 12-year animal cycle that many associate with the celebration.
Chinese
New Year Facts & Quotes
·
Chinese New Year in 2024 will be the Year of the
Dragon. In 2022 it was the Year of the Tiger, and in 2021 it was the Year of
the Ox. The names of the Chinese calendar are repeated every 60 years.
·
Every child receives a monetary gift for New
Year. The gift is wrapped in a red envelope.
·
I wish you happiness that comes from within, the
best of luck to keep you pushing and peace in all days of the New Year. - Gong
Xi Fa Cai, Popular New Year song.
Chinese
New Year Top Events and Things to Do
·
Sing a popular Chinese New Year song called Gonf
Xi Fa Cai.
·
Clean your house. It is customary for Chinese to
clean their homes in preparation for the New Year and the fresh start.
·
Prepare your red envelopes for the kids. This is
considered lucky money for children.
·
Attend a Chinese New Year Festival in a town
near you. Most large cities in the US have a Chinatown district that will host
events and pageants.
·
Get together with friends and create a long
dragon on sticks. One person gets to create the head, and the remainder creates
the long flowy tail. Remember to use bright colors.
·
25+
Lunar New Year Recipes for 2024
NOVENA TO THE HOLY
FACE
DAILY
PREPARATORY PRAYER
O Most Holy and
Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced
through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son, we
ask your help in making a perfect Novena of reparation with Jesus, united with
all His sorrows, love and total abandonment.
We now implore all the
Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most
Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seventh
Day
Psalm 51, 14-15.
Give me again the joy of your help, with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I
may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you.
Lord Jesus! After
contemplating Thy features, disfigured by grief, after meditating upon Thy
passion with compunction and love, how can our hearts fail to be inflamed with
a holy hatred of sin, which even now outrages Thy Adorable Face! Lord, suffer
us not to be content with mere compassion, but give us grace so closely to
follow Thee in this Calvary, so that the opprobrium destined for Thee may fall
on us, O Jesus, that thus we may have a share, small though it may be, in
expiation of sin. Amen. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us, Saint Joseph pray
for us.
Through the merits of your
precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, Pardon and
Mercy.
Prayer
in Honor of Mary
Hail Mary, Daughter of God
the Father! Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son! Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy
Spirit! Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity! Hail Mary, our mistress,
our wealth, our mystic rose, Queen of our hearts, our Mother, our life, our
sweetness and our dearest hope! We are all Thine, and all we have is Thine. O
Virgin blessed above all things; may Thy soul be in us to magnify the Lord; may
Thy spirit be in us to rejoice in God. Place Thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a
seal upon our hearts, that in Thee and through Thee we may be found faithful to
God. Grant, most gracious Virgin, that we may be numbered among those whom Thou
art pleased to love, to teach and to guide, to favor and to protect as Thy
children. Grant that with the help of Thy love, we may despise all earthly
consolation and cling to heavenly things, until through the Holy Spirit, Thy
faithful spouse, and through Thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
be formed within us for the glory of the Father. Amen. (St. Grignon de
Montfort)
Pray one (1) Our Father,
(3) Hail Mary’s, (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times)
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION TWO-THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
CHAPTER
ONE-YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR
SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND
2083 Jesus summed up man's duties toward God in this saying: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This immediately echoes the solemn call: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD."
God has loved us first. the love of the One God is recalled in the first of the
"ten words." the commandments then make explicit the response of love
that man is called to give to his God.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring
the Constitution
·
Saturday Litany of the Hours
Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Litany of the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
"Faith cannot
save without virtue"
·
Rosary
[1]https://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/ted_hildebrandt/otesources/19-psalms/text/books/bridges-psalm119/bridges-ps119.pdf
[2]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-02-10
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