Sunday, March 17, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Lent-Passiontide
FEAST OF ST. PATRICK
1 Maccabees, Chapter 10, Verse
75-76
75 He encamped near
Joppa, but the people of the city shut him out because Apollonius had a
garrison in Joppa. When they attacked it, 76
the people of the city became AFRAID and opened the gates, and so
Jonathan took possession of Joppa.
After Jonathan becomes the
high priest, Demetrius (Greek) attempts to win back the Jews with offering them
stuff. Jonathan and his supporters do not take the bait and the Hellenizing
Jews are ignored. Jonathan takes to the offer and forms and alliance with Egypt
(Rome) and Jonathan is honored by Alexander. Demetrius appoints Apollonius as
governor to hold Joppa which is crucial to his campaign. Joppa switches sides
and opens the gates to Jonathan. Checkmate.
Victory over
Apollonius[1]
Demetrius tried to win back his father's throne (147), and
Apollonius Taos, governor of Cœle-Syria, who probably had joined Demetrius,
challenged Jonathan to battle, saying that the Jews might for once leave the
mountains and venture out into the plain. Thereupon Jonathan and Simeon
appeared, with 10,000 men, before Joppa, where the forces of Apollonius lay and
the gates of which were opened to them out of fear. Reinforced from Azotus, Apollonius appeared with 3,000 men in
the plain, relying on his cavalry, and forced Jonathan to engage in battle. The
missiles of the horsemen rebounded from the shields of Simeon's men, who
successfully resisted the enemy's onslaughts. Jonathan in the meantime
vanquished the infantry, scattered it in wild flight, and pursued it to Azotus,
which city he took by assault, burning it and its villages, including the
Temple of Dagon.
Devotion of the Seven Sundays: St
Joseph-7th Sunday
ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[2]
CHAPTER II
DIES CHRISTI
The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit
The day of the gift of the
Spirit
28. Sunday, the day of light, could
also be called the day of "fire", in reference to the Holy Spirit.
The light of Christ is intimately linked to the "fire" of the Spirit,
and the two images together reveal the meaning of the Christian Sunday. When he
appeared to the Apostles on the evening of Easter, Jesus breathed upon them and
said: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (Jn
20:22-23). The outpouring of the Spirit was the great gift of the Risen Lord to
his disciples on Easter Sunday. It was again Sunday when, fifty days after the
Resurrection, the Spirit descended in power, as "a mighty wind" and
"fire" (Acts 2:2-3), upon the Apostles gathered with Mary.
Pentecost is not only the founding event of the Church but is also the mystery
which forever gives life to the Church. Such an event has its own powerful
liturgical moment in the annual celebration which concludes "the great
Sunday", but it also remains a part of the deep meaning of every Sunday,
because of its intimate bond with the Paschal Mystery. The "weekly
Easter" thus becomes, in a sense, the "weekly Pentecost", when
Christians relive the Apostles' joyful encounter with the Risen Lord and receive
the life-giving breath of his Spirit.
Fifth Sunday of Lent-First
Passion
Sunday
The Jews' growing hatred of Christ
recorded in today's Gospel makes plain His imminent death.
Passion
Week[3]
FROM
this day, called Passion Sunday, until Easter the Church--gives herself up
entirely to meditation on the passion of Jesus. Today the crucifixes are
covered, in remembrance that from this time until His entrance into Jerusalem
Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews. From to-day the Glory Be to the
Father is omitted in the Mass, because in the person of Jesus Christ the Most
Holy Trinity was dishonored. As on this day the high priests held council about
Our Lord, the Church says, at the Introit of the Mass, in the name of the
suffering Jesus, the words of the psalmist: Judge me, O God, and distinguish my
cause from the nation that is not holy; deliver me from the unjust and
deceitful man, for Thou art God, my strength. Send forth Thy light and Thy truth,
they have conducted me and brought me unto Thy holy hill, and into Thy
tabernacles (Ps. xlii. 1-3). Prayer. We
beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully look upon Thy family, that by Thy bounty
it may be governed in body, and by Thy preservation be kept in mind.
EPISTLE.
Heb. ix. 11-15.
Brethren:
Christ, being come a high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and
more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation:
neither by the blood of goats, nor of calves, but by His own blood, entered
once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of
goats and of oxen, and the ashes of a heifer being sprinkled, sanctify such as
are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of
Christ, Who by the Holy Ghost offered Himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our
conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?
And
therefore, He is the mediator of the New Testament: that by means of His death,
for the redemption of those transgressions, which were under the former testament,
they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance, in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Explanation. St. Paul here teaches that Jesus
Christ has given full satisfaction for the sins of men and opened to all the
entrance into the sanctuary. The Church proposes this epistle to us in order
that we may thank God for the great mercy of the redemption, love and praise
Him, and be encouraged to share in His sufferings by fasting, prayer, and
penitential works.
Aspiration. Give us Thy grace, O meekest
Jesus, that by true sorrow for our sins, and by the practice of good works, we
may become partakers of Thy bitter sufferings, and obtain the promised in
heritance of eternal life. Amen.
GOSPEL. John viii.
46-59.
At that time
Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews: Which of you shall convince Me of
sin? If I say the truth to you, why do you not believe Me?
He that is of God
heareth the words of God. Therefore, you hear them not because you are not of
God. The Jews therefore answered, and said to Him: Do not we say well that Thou
art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Jesus answered: I
have not a devil: but I honor My Father, and you have dishonored Me. But I seek
not My own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth. Amen, amen, I say to
you: if any man keep My word, he shall not see death forever. The Jews therefore
said: Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets;
and Thou sayest: If any man keep My word, he shall not taste death forever. Art
Thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead.
Whom dost Thou make Thyself?
Jesus answered:
If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father that glorifieth Me,
of Whom you say that He is your God. And you have not known Him, but I know
Him. And if I shall say that I know Him not, I shall be like to you, a liar.
But I do know Him, and do keep His word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he
might see My day. He saw it, and was glad. The Jews therefore said to Him: Thou
art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said to
them: Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. They took up
stones therefore to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and went out of the
temple.
Explanation.
When Our Savior
said: He that is of God heareth God’s words, He meant to point out to the Jews
the cause of their stubborn unbelief. He that is of God hears and loves that
which is Godlike. When, therefore, we gladly hear the word of God and strive to
do what we have heard, we testify that we are the children of God. Instead of
reflecting on Our Savior’s words the Jews poured out their offended pride and
abuse, and called Him a Samaritan, and one having a devil. The same thing
happens to-day. Instead of listening to the truth; the proud man answers with
calumny and contempt. Our Savior hid Himself from the Jews to teach us to
forgive and avoid our enemies rather than to oppose them and take revenge on
them.
Ponder: Have we advanced any since
Christ’s time? Reflect on our news, social media, and politics. Do they speak
the truth-or say Truth! What is truth.
Consolation
under Insults
O
friend, what insult can be given to you which your Savior has not suffered?
He
was called a glutton and a drunkard, a heretic and a rebel, a friend and
associate of sinners, and one who had a devil; He was even told that He cast
out devils by the prince of devils (Matt. ix. 34). He, therefore, comforts His
disciples with the words, “If they have called the good man of the house
Beelzebub, how much more them of his household? (Matt. x. 25)
There
is no sorrow so bitter that He has not borne it, for what was more painful and
grievous than the death of the cross? Christians, “think diligently upon Him
that endured such opposition from sinners against Himself, that you be not
wearied, fainting in your minds, at contempt and insult.” (Heb. xii. 3)
Passiontide Customs[4]
The main custom for
Passiontide is the veiling of all sacred images in home and church with purple
cloth. This custom originated in ancient times, when the images in the papal
chapel of the Vatican were covered after the words of the Passion Sunday Gospel,
"Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple" (Jn 8.59), were
pronounced.
Passiontide:
- (First)
Passion Sunday. The Jews' growing hatred of Christ recorded in
today's Gospel makes plain His imminent death.
- Friday
after Passion Sunday: Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. A special commemoration, one week before Good
Friday, of Mary's compassion for (literally, "suffering with")
Her innocent son.
- (Second
Passion or) Palm Sunday. Christ's triumphant entrance
into Jerusalem and the account of His Passion according to St. Matthew.
Mourning& Veiling[5]
Akin to
the asceticism of Lent is its mournful tone.
The Church is traditionally draped in purple or black, its organ silenced, and
its altar bereft of any flowers. At home medieval Catholics would avoid
frivolity or hilarity and would wear black during either Holy Week or Good
Friday.
There
is a special mourning custom that also begins on Passion Sunday (Fifth
Sunday of Lent (Passion Sunday) and
ends when the Gloria is sung during the Easter Vigil Mass: covering all sacred images
(crucifixes, statues, etc) with purple cloth in both church and home. This
might seem counterintuitive, since one would expect to gaze at a crucifix more
during the season when the Passion is being considered. Yet the Roman rite
teaches by absence as well as by presence. In an odd way, being denied access
to the sacred images alerts you to their presence all the more, in the same way
that not having the sacrifice of the Mass on the one day you would expect it
the most, i.e., Good Friday, makes one all the more aware of the Sacrifice that
took place on that day. Covering sacred images also adds immensely to the sense
of sorrow and compunction that should naturally accompany this somber period.
Passion
Fruit Cheesecake for Passion Sunday[6]
Since the 3rd Century,
today (5th Sunday in Lent) has been known as Passion Sunday.
Passion Fruit Cheesecake
Ingredients:
Crust
1 1/2 cups all purpose
flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons nuts, finely
chopped
6 ounces butter, melted
Cheesecake Filling
1 1/2 pound cream cheese
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
3 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup passion fruit
puree.
Directions:
Make
crust by combining dry ingredients in a large bowl. Melt butter and add to dry
ingredients. Mix thoroughly. When incorporated, press evenly into nine-inch
springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Combine
cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add corn starch and blend. Add eggs and
mix thoroughly, scraping the sides of the bowl. Add vanilla and sour cream. Mix
until smooth and fold in passion fruit puree. Pour batter into a springform pan
and bake at 300 degrees for approximately one hour and thirty minutes, or until
set. Cool slowly and completely refrigerate for several hours.
Aids in Battle[7] Help from Saints
Saints
are veterans of the spiritual war that continues to rage in this world. Their
insights, born of long experience in combat with the Enemy, can make us wise
and strong in battle.
·
God has fashioned and shaped only one enmity, and that an
irreconcilable one, which will endure and even increase, until the end: It is
that between the Virgin Mary and the Devil, between the children and servants
of the Blessed Virgin and the children and accomplices of Satan; so that the
most terrible of the enemies of Satan created by God is Mary, his Blessed
Mother. ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT
·
Men do not fear a powerful, hostile army as much as
the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary. ST. BONAVENTURE
·
You, O Lady, by the simple invocation of your most powerful name,
give security to your servants against all the assaults of the Enemy. ST.
GERMANUS
·
By invoking the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under
Pontius Pilate, Satan is driven out of men. ST. IRENAEUS
·
We are all inclined to sin, my children; we are idle, greedy,
sensual, given to the pleasures of the flesh. We want to know everything, to
learn everything, to see everything. We must watch over our mind, over our
heart, and over our senses, for these are the gates by which the Devil
penetrates. See, he prowls round us incessantly; his only occupation in this
world is to seek companions for himself. All our life he will lay snares for
us; he will try to make us yield to temptations. We must, on our side, do all
we can to defeat and resist him. We can do nothing by ourselves, children. But
we can do everything with the help of the good God. Let us pray Him to deliver
us from this enemy of our salvation, or to give strength to fight against him.
With the Name of Jesus, we shall overcome the demons; we shall put them to
flight. With this name, though they may sometimes dare to attack us, our
battles will be victories, and our victories will be crowns for heaven, all
brilliant with precious stones. ST. JOHN VIANNEY
ST. PATRICK[8] was born towards the close of the fourth century, but the place of his birth is not positively known. Britain and Scotland both claim the honor, but the best authorities seem to agree upon Brittany, in France. In his sixteenth year he was carried into captivity by certain barbarians, who took him into Ireland, where he was obliged to keep cattle on the mountains and in the forests, in hunger and nakedness, amidst snows, rain, and ice. The young man had recourse to God with his whole heart in fervent prayer and fasting and from that time faith and the love of God acquired continually new strength in his tender soul. After six months spent in slavery under the same master St. Patrick was admonished by God in a dream to return to his own country, and informed that a ship was then ready to sail thither. He went at once to the seacoast, though at a great distance, and found the vessel. After three days sail, they made land, but wandered twenty-seven days through deserts, and were a long while distressed for want of provisions. Patrick assured the company that if they would address themselves with their whole hearts to the true God He would hear and succor them. They did so, and on the same day met with a herd of swine. From that time provisions never failed them, till on the twenty-seventh day they came into a country that was cultivated and inhabited. Some years afterwards he was again led captive but recovered his liberty after two months. When he was at home with his parents, God manifested to him, by divers’ visions, that He destined him to the great work of the conversion of Ireland. The writers of his life say that after his second captivity he travelled into Gaul and Italy, and saw St. Martin, St. Germanus of Auxerre, and Pope Celestine, and that he received his mission and the apostolical benediction from this Pope, who died in 432. Great opposition was made to his episcopal consecration and mission, both by his own relations and by the clergy; but the Lord, whose will he consulted by earnest prayer, supported him, and he persevered in his resolution. He forsook his family, sold his birthright and dignity to serve strangers, and consecrated his soul to God, to carry His name to the ends of the earth. In this disposition he passed into Ireland to preach the Gospel, penetrating into the remotest corners; and such was the fruit of his preaching’s and sufferings that he baptized an infinite number of people. He ordained everywhere clergymen, induced women to live in holy widowhood and continence, consecrated virgins to Christ, and instituted monks. He took nothing from the many thousands whom he baptized, but gave freely of his own, both to pagans and Christians, distributed large alms to the poor in the provinces where he passed, and maintained and educated many children, whom he trained to serve at the altar. The happy success of his labors cost him many persecutions. He died and was buried at Down, in Ulster. His body was found there in a church of his name in 1185 and translated to another part of the same church.
A
WARRIOR’S BREASTPLATE[9]
I
bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, his
might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need; the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward; the word of God to give me speech, his
heavenly host to be my guard. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ
behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to
comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger, Christ in the hearts of all that love me, Christ in the mouth
of friend and stranger. Amen
Things
to Do[10]
·
This
is a good day to honor St. Patrick by trying typical Irish fare: corned beef
and cabbage, soda bread, scones, stew, Shepherd's pie, potatoes in various
forms and the famous beer and spirits of Ireland. For dessert, try making the
Irish Porter Cake.
·
Read
the Lorica (Breastplate) of St. Patrick. Here is an older translation — pray it with your family after your rosary tonight.
·
From
the Catholic Culture library: The Conversion of Ireland by Warren Carroll, The Irish Soldiers of Mexico by Michael Hogan, The Irish Madonna of Hungary by Zsolt Aradi and Our Lady in Old Irish Folklore and Hymns by James F. Cassidy.
·
Don
your friendliest green for St. Patrick’s Day. Boston is the place to be, with the city’s official
St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million people
every year.
Saint
Patrick's Day Facts & Quotes[11]
·
St.
Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Trinity to non-Christians.
The leaves stood for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
·
Approximately
5.5 million pints of Irish Guinness stout are consumed on an average day. On
St. Patrick's Day, nearly 13 million are consumed.
·
Wearing
the shamrock, a three-leaf clover is a St. Patrick's Day tradition. The
official three-leaf clover is known scientifically as Trifolium dubium however
clovers can also have more leaves. Four-leaf clovers are said to be lucky,
however the odds of finding one are about 1 to 10,000.
·
The
love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my
soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred
prayers and in the night, nearly the same. - St. Patrick
·
Sláinte!
- used when clinking glasses with friends at a bar (equivalent of Cheers or
Health!)
Saint
Patrick's Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Wear
green! In some parts of the world, the custom is to pinch people who aren't
wearing the color of shamrocks.
·
Attend
a St. Patrick's Day parade. Major cities like Chicago, New York, San
Francisco, Dallas, and Boston host marching bands and floats.
·
The
heart of any Irish neighborhood is its local pub. Share a couple of green
Guinness beers
with friends at a local Irish pub or try Magner's (Bulmer's) apple cider as an
alternative.
· St. Patrick was a brave and humble man. Have you been putting off something because you are afraid to do it? Do it today in honor of St. Patrick's Day.
Ireland has a long tradition of holy pilgrimages, dating back to St. Patrick’s fast on what is now known as Croagh Patrick in 441. In the pasts few years, the Pilgrim Paths foundation has been restoring the ancient penitential paths and has so far created five guided walks. After pilgrims get their “passports” stamped after completing each of the five routes, they receive an Irish Pilgrim Paths completion certificate from Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo.
Gaelic Prayers
· Patrick’s Day March 17th Don your friendliest green for St. Patrick’s Day. Boston is the place to be, with the city’s official St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million people every year.
Almsgiving[12]
When we consider God valued the human person as so precious enough to die for, we should make a concerted effort to aid others.
The giving of Alms has everything to do with devotions and piety. Almsgiving is a powerful form of prayer. “Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness…It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life” (Tob 12:8-9) To give alms is to give to God. If we are giving alms righteously then most likely we are doing it though some form of fasting giving from our substance. The giving of Alms should not philanthropy with a smiling photo op and boost to our pride. The earliest Christians knew they could not make a good Communion if they neglected the poor. St. Ignatius noted that the twin marks of heresy are the neglect of the poor and neglect of the Eucharist. “The mystery of the poor is this: that they are Jesus and what you do for them you do to him.” (Dorothy Day) The Eucharist is the key to a civilization of love. It saves us from misguided tenderness and feel-good philanthropy, because it gives us the grace to sacrifice as Jesus did. Our main focus must be widows and orphans. (Single parents and children) “Widows and orphan are to be revered like the altar of sacrifice.” (Pope Paul VI) We should give as much as we can and we should give it responsibly making sure the alms are not wasted.
Mormons in their
almsgiving, for example, do fast offerings in addition to tithing. This
offering accompanies a monthly 24-hour fast. All the money that would have been
spent to buy food during those 24 hours is donated to the Church for the
purpose of feeding the hungry and caring for the needy.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION TWO-THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
CHAPTER
TWO-YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
Article 7-THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
I. The Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of
Goods
2402 In the beginning God
entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to
take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods
of creation are destined for the whole human race. However, the earth is
divided up among men to assure the security of their lives, endangered by
poverty and threatened by violence. The appropriation of property is legitimate
for guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of persons and for helping each of
them to meet his basic needs and the needs of those in his charge. It should
allow for a natural solidarity to develop between men.
2403 The right to private
property, acquired by work or received from others by inheritance or gift, does
not do away with the original gift of the earth to the whole of mankind. The
universal destination of goods remains primordial, even if the promotion of the
common good requires respect for the right to private property and its
exercise.
2404 "In his use of things
man should regard the external goods he legitimately owns not merely as
exclusive to himself but common to others also, in the sense that they can
benefit others as well as himself." The ownership of any property
makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful
and communicating its benefits to others, first of all his family.
2405 Goods of production -
material or immaterial - such as land, factories, practical or artistic skills,
oblige their possessors to employ them in ways that will benefit the greatest
number. Those who hold goods for use and consumption should use them with
moderation, reserving the better part for guests, for the sick and the poor.
2406 Political authority has
the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to
ownership for the sake of the common good.
Claire’s Corner
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Individuals
with Mental Illness note: We pray for
Politian’s separately
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
· Total Consecration to St. Joseph Day 30
·
National
Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
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