2 Maccabees, Chapter 15, Verse 8
He urged his men not to FEAR the attack of the Gentiles, but mindful of the help they had received in the past from Heaven, to expect now the victory that would be given them by the Almighty.
As an old, retired military man it was common for us to say while we were loading our magazines with bullets, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. We knew that without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Optimists see steppingstones where pessimists see stumbling blocks.
Heavenly Intercession[1]
"Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him, he said 'Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall crush your adversaries.' " —2 Maccabees 15:15-16
Nicanor planned to slaughter the Jews on the Sabbath. Because they would not break the Sabbath by fighting, they would be easily killed. "Nevertheless, he did not succeed in carrying out his cruel plan" (15:5). "Maccabeus remained confident, fully convinced that he would receive help from the Lord" (15:7). He had a dream that Onias the high priest and Jeremiah the prophet were interceding in heaven for the Jews. "Nicanor and his men advanced to the sound of trumpets and battle songs. But Judas and his men met the army with supplication and prayers. Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they laid low at least thirty-five thousand, and rejoiced greatly over this manifestation of God's power" (15:25-27).
Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
St. Stanislaus[2]
I shall
content myself with relating the history of St. Stanislaus, Bishop of Cracow,
Poland, who restored to life a man who had been dead for three years, attended
by such singular circumstances, and in so public a manner, that the thing is
beyond the severest criticism.... This incident was known by countless persons
and by all the court of King Boleslaus II (reigned 1058-1080) St. Stanislaus,
bought from a man named Piotr [Peter] an estate situated on the banks of the
Vistula in the territory of Lublin for the use of his church at Cracow. The
Prelate gave the full price of it to the seller. This was done in the presence
of witnesses, and with the solemnities required in that country, but without
written deeds, for written accounts of transactions of this kind were seldom
made in Poland at that time. They contented themselves with having witnesses.
Stanislaus took possession of this estate, and his church enjoyed it peaceably
for about three years. In the interim, Piotr, who had sold it, happened to die.
The King of Poland, Boleslaus, had conceived an implacable hatred against the
holy Bishop because he had frequently reproved him for his excesses. Therefore,
seeking to cause him trouble, the King excited the three sons of Piotr, his
heirs, against their father and told them to claim the estate which their
father had sold, on the pretense that it had not been paid for. He promised to
support their demand, and to cause the estate to be restored to them. Thus,
these three men had the Bishop cited to appear before the King, who was then at
Solec, occupied in rendering justice under some tents in the country, according
to the ancient custom of the land, in the general assembly of the nation. The
Bishop was cited before the King and maintained that he had bought and paid for
the estate in question. The day was beginning to close, and the Bishop ran
great risk of being condemned by the King and his counselors. Suddenly, as if
inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Bishop promised the King to bring before him
in three days Piotr, the deceased man who had sold it to him. The condition was
accepted mockingly, as a thing impossible to be executed. The holy Bishop
retired to his Church a distance away, where
he prayed and fasted with his household for three days. On the third day,
he went in his pontifical robes, accompanied by his clergy and a multitude of
people, ordered the gravestone to be raised, and made them dig until they found
the corpse of the defunct, all fleshless and corrupted. Then St. Stanislaus commanded
him to come forth and bear witness to the truth before the King's tribunal. The
Bishop touched the bones with his crosier, and they filled out with flesh. The
dead Piotr rose; they covered him with a cloak. The Saint took him by the hand
and led him alive to the feet of the King. No one had the boldness to
interrogate him. But Piotr himself spoke out freely and declared that he had in
good faith sold the estate to the Prelate and that he had received the value of
it. After stating this, he severely reprimanded his sons, who had so
maliciously accused the holy Bishop. Stanislaus asked Piotr if he wished to
remain alive to do penance. Piotr thanked him and said he would not expose
himself anew to the danger of sinning. Stanislaus re-conducted him to his tomb,
where he again fell asleep in the Lord. It may be supposed that such a scene
had numerous witnesses, and that all Poland was quickly informed of it. The
King was only the more irritated against the Saint. Sometime after [on May 8,
1079], he killed the Bishop with his own hands as he was coming from the altar
in Wawel Castle outside the walls of Cracow. He then ordered that the Prelate’s
body be hacked into 72 pieces so that they might never be collected together to
be paid the honor due to them as the body of a martyr for the truth and for
pastoral liberty. St. Stanislaus was canonized in 1253 by Pope Innocent IV. He
is the patron of Poland and of the city and Diocese of Cracow and is invoked in
battle.
Things to Do:[3]
Sometimes
evil has to be confronted boldly, whatever the consequences. Brave men like St.
Stanislaus of Cracow risked death in facing evil. There is little chance today
that we will ever be in that danger, but we must always be willing to defend
the truth, and it should be very clear, in the face of genuine evil, where we
stand. Christ our Lord can expect no less from us. Say an extra prayer today
for the gift of fortitude.
Learn
a little more about the city of Kracow where both St. Stanislaus and Pope John Paul II came
from.
For
those who are extremely interested in knowing more about Polish history this
online book, Polish Americans and Their Communities of Cleveland may prove
to be a good source of information.
The final work of Franz Liszt is the unfinished oratorio St. Stanislaus, for which he left two scenes (one and four) and two polonaises. Learn more about this oratorio here and if you are able find a copy and listen.
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION ONE-PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
2558
"Great is the mystery of the faith!"
The Church
professes this mystery in the Apostles' Creed (Part One) and celebrates it in
the sacramental liturgy (Part Two), so that the life of the faithful may be
conformed to Christ in the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father (Part
Three).
This
mystery, then, requires that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate
it, and that they live from it in a vital and personal relationship with the
living and true God. This relationship is prayer.
WHAT IS
PRAYER?
For me, prayer is a surge of the heart;
it is a simple look turned toward heaven,
it is a cry of recognition and of love,
embracing both trial and joy.
Prayer as
God's gift
2559
"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of
good things from God."
But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or
"out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart?
He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of
prayer,
Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we
ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer.
"Man is a beggar before God."
2560
"If you knew the gift of God!"
The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water:
there, Christ comes to meet every human being.
It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking
arises from the depths of God's desire for us.
Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with
ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him.
2561
"You would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."
Paradoxically our prayer of petition is a response to the plea of the living
God:
"They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn out
cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water!"
Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a
response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God.
Prayer as
covenant
2562 Where
does prayer come from?
Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who
prays.
But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or
the spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times).
According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays.
If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.
2563 The
heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic
or Biblical expression, the heart is the place "to which I withdraw."
The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others;
only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully.
The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives.
It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death.
It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation:
it is the place of covenant.
2564
Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ.
It is the action of God and of man, springing forth from both the Holy Spirit
and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union with the human will of
the Son of God made man.
Prayer as
communion
2565 In the
New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with
their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the
Holy Spirit.
The grace of the Kingdom is "the union of the entire holy and royal
Trinity . . . with the whole human spirit."
Thus, the life of prayer is the habit of being in the presence of the
thrice-holy God and in communion with him.
This communion of life is always possible because, through Baptism, we have
already been united with Christ.
Prayer is Christian insofar as it is communion with Christ and extends
throughout the Church, which is his Body.
Its dimensions are those of Christ's love.
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
How
to prepare for a Sick Call[4]
When a person is homebound, bedridden, or suffering from a severe ailment, Catholics are taught to call the priest. Decades ago the sacrament reserved for the very ill or dying was known as Extreme Unction (last anointing) or more commonly “Last Rites.” Today we know it as the Anointing of the Sick, and it is not given exclusively to those who are on their deathbed. It is one of the seven sacraments and invokes God’s divine aid for those suffering in a physical way.
In days when
people more often died at home, there developed the custom of having a “sick call” crucifix on hand for
emergency visits by a priest. This type of crucifix was hung on the wall of a person’s
home (usually above the bed). The crucifix contained a hidden compartment,
revealed by sliding the face of the cross downward. Within the compartment were
two candles, a small bottle of holy water and sometimes a white cloth.
The purpose
of the sick-call crucifix — they are still made today — is to facilitate the
ritual connected to the Anointing of the Sick, making the bedside a sacred
space for the sacrament. Interestingly, it used to be a popular wedding present, meant to be hung over the bed of
a married couple, ready to be of used
when a spouse was in need of an anointing. It reminded the couple of their commitment to be true to each other “in
sickness and in health.”
Here is
brief instruction on how to prepare for a home visit by a priest to celebrate
the Anointing of the Sick.
Prepare a small table next to the bed
This can
often be a nightstand or a collapsable table that is small and easy to move.
The table will be there to hold all of the various elements of the ritual.
Place a white cloth on the table
It is
appropriate to place a white cloth over the table, similar to the white cloth
covers the altar at Mass. If the sick person is near death, or has requested to
receive Holy Communion as part of the Anointing, the priest will bring a small
container called a pyx with a consecrated Eucharistic host in it. The priest
will place the pyx on the table and so the white cloth adds greater reverence
and respect to the King of Kings who is truly present in the host. (This is
also the case when an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion brings the
Eucharist to a person who is hospitalized or homebound.)
Set up the crucifix on the table
A sick-call
crucifix is constructed so that, when opened, the face of the crucifix can be
set upright in a slot in the base. This creates a focal point of the sacrament,
encouraging the sick person to unite their sufferings with Christ on the cross.
Place one candle on each side of the crucifix
The crucifix
will also have two slots, one on either side. This is where the candles are to
be placed and lit when the priest arrives. Again, this is to mimic the altar at
Mass, reminding all present that Christ is truly present in the Eucharistic
host that the priest brings with him.
Other (optional) items to have
The holy
water bottle can be placed on the table as well, though often the priest will
bring his own with him. This is used to bless the sick person. After the priest
administers the anointing with the Oil of the Sick (which he will bring, from
the parish’s store of oils consecrated at the Chrism Mass each year, in a
container called a stock), he will need a white cloth or cotton ball to wipe
his fingers. (Sock sick-call crucifixes include these items, or the priest may
bring his own.) Another variation of the sick-call set has a small bell to be
set on the table for use after confession, signaling that family members may
return to the room.
The
sick-call crucifix is a beautiful tradition, one that adds a greater solemnity
for the occasion, reminding all in the room of God’s presence among them.
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 stopping 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.
According to Mary Agreda[5] in her visions
it was on a Thursday at six o'clock in the evening and at the approach of night
that the Angel Gabriel approached and announced her as Mother of God and she
gave her fiat.
Best Places to Visit
in April
Palm Springs,
California[6]
I love this place for the sun and hot weather this month, as
temperatures reach 31 degrees. It has always been famous as a retreat for
showbiz stars, retirees, and snowbirds escaping cold winters.
There is entertainment, spas, and shopping aplenty, as well
as many retro-styled
hotels and about 100 golf courses. There are lots of other
opportunities, especially for outdoor experiences.
The area is well-provided with hiking trails, but I highly
recommend going on a fun Jeep adventure and cultural experiences like the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.
I would also suggest going on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which rotates on its short journey to the Monte San Jacinto State Park.
Visitor’s Centre Address: Palm Springs Visitor
Information Center, 2901 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262,
Phone: 800-347-7746 | 760-778-8418
My highlights…
Strolling down the city sidewalks to discover the famous
Palm Springs Walk of Stars, created in 1992.
Checking out the Palm Springs Art Museum, which displays
contemporary and modern art and I loved the stunning sculpture garden.
Wandering through the Sunnylands and explore 12 acres of
beautiful botanic gardens.
Today’s Menu is from Palm Springs
Moroccan Salmon Quinoa & Vegetable Sauté
Grain Bowl
Rachel’s Corner
The working Mom’s need help. What about a Nanny?
How to Choose and Hire a Nanny For Your Family
Now what about Hiring a Family Teacher to homeschool the kids. Catholic schools are iffy and public schools are a disaster.
Daily
Devotions
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in
fasting: Today's Fast: End Sex
Trafficking, Slavery
Make
reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday
Devotion
Pray Day 6 of
the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
Tuesday:
Litany of St.
Michael the Archangel
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
30 Days with St. Joseph Day 23
[3]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2019-04-11
[5] Venerable Mary of Agreda. The
Mystical City of God: Complete Edition Containing all Four Volumes with
Illustrations (p. 770). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition
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