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Frank Sinatra, Singer died 1998
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
May 14
The month of Mary: A Marian Month
Saint of the day:
Saint Matthias
Patron Saint of alcoholics; carpenters; Gary, Indiana;
Great Falls-Billings, Montana; smallpox; tailors; hope; perseverance
Feast of Saint Matthias,
Apostle
Novena St. Rita-Chicken Dance
Exodus, Chapter 1, Verse 21
And because the midwives FEARED God, God built up families for
them.
God’s
mercy is just like the drops of water which grooves stones to make gorges and
canyons; small acts of mercy have a similar effect on the hearts of sinners
making them into monoliths of strength. Therefore, they resisted
Pharaoh’s decree to kill the children of Israel. Likewise, we must resist the laws that are enacted
that defy the law of God.
The Compendium
of the Social Doctrine of the Church[1]
addresses the issue of when and how St. Peter's teaching that obedience to
God comes before obedience to men applies in the modern Christian's life.
Presciently, or perhaps better, prophetically, Pope Benedict XVI foresaw and
foresees increasing conflict between American Catholics and a public authority
increasingly secularized and increasingly hostile to the moral values of its
Catholic citizens. The conflict is caused by the increasing demands of the
State to "to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of
Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in
intrinsically evil practices." The aggressive secularist State wants
freedom of religion to be limited to "mere freedom of worship," and
not to "freedom of conscience" which extends beyond the realm of the
four walls of a Church into the "public square" of social, civil,
political, and economic life." Christians may conscientiously object to
civil laws if they infringe upon one or more of three things:
(1) the law
violates the moral order, that is, the natural moral law.
(2) the law violates fundamental human
rights; or
(3) the law violates the teachings of the
Gospel, which is to say the teachings of the Church. Laws that trespass against
one or more of these three things may not be obeyed, and obedience to them must be refused. In fact, the Christian
has both a duty and a right to refuse such a law. And though it may be
unrecognized, it is a right that he must
exercise regardless of the consequences to him.
The full
text of the Compendium on this issue merits quotation:
"Citizens
are not obligated in conscience to follow the prescriptions of civil
authorities if their precepts are contrary to the demands of the moral order,
to the fundamental rights of persons or to the teachings of the Gospel. Unjust
laws pose dramatic problems of conscience for morally upright people:
When they
are called to cooperate in morally evil acts they must refuse. Besides being a moral duty, such a refusal is also a
basic human right which, precisely as such, civil law itself is obliged to
recognize and protect. 'Those who have recourse to conscientious objection must
be protected not only from legal penalties but also from any negative effects
on the legal, disciplinary, financial and professional plane.'" "It
is a grave duty of conscience not to cooperate, not even formally, in practices
which, although permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to the Law of God.
Such cooperation in fact can never be justified, not by invoking respect for
the freedom of others nor by appealing to the fact that it is foreseen and
required by civil law. No one can escape the moral responsibility for actions
taken, and all will be judged by God himself based on this responsibility (cf.
Rom 2:6; 14:12)." (Compendium, No. 399)
The right
of conscientious objection is not the right of resistance,
and the two should be carefully distinguished. Moreover, resistance which can
be expressed in "many different concrete ways" should be
distinguished from the last and desperate recourse of "armed resistance."
The right to resist an oppressive law or an oppressive government is one that
is found in the natural law. It is a right which precedes a government, and so
is one that is inalienable. Resistance generally is something to be avoided, and
it is justified only if there is a "serious" infringement or
"repeated" and chronic infringements of the natural moral law, a
fundamental human right, or a Gospel precept. "Recognizing that natural
law is the basis for and places limits on positive law means admitting that it
is legitimate to resist authority should it violate in a serious or repeated
manner the essential principles of natural law. Saint Thomas Aquinas writes
that 'one is obliged to obey . . . insofar as it is required by the order of justice.'
Natural law is therefore the basis of the right to resistance." The right
of resistance is not one that necessarily has the overthrow of government in
mind. There may be many ways in which resistance may be expressed, and there
may be many ends which resistance may have in mind: "There can be many
different concrete ways this right may be exercised; there are also many
different ends that may be pursued. Resistance to authority is meant to attest
to the validity of a different way of looking at things, whether the intent is
to achieve partial change, for example, modifying certain laws, or to fight for
a radical change in the situation." (Compendium, No. 400)
Resistance
in the sense of armed resistance is something which is a last resort.
The Church has identified five conditions all of which must be met before armed
resistance is morally justified:
"1) there is certain, grave and prolonged
violation of fundamental rights,
2) all
other means of redress have been exhausted,
3) such
resistance will not provoke worse disorders,
4) there is
well-founded hope of success; and
5) it is
impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution."
As the
Church observes, armed resistance, even if morally justified, is generally to
be avoided, and passive resistance is to be preferred. Armed resistance is
often a Pandora's Box which unleashes as much or more evil as it intended to
avoid. "Recourse to arms is seen as an extreme remedy for putting an end
to a 'manifest, long-standing tyranny which would do great damage to
fundamental personal rights and dangerous harm to the common good of the country.'
The gravity of the danger that recourse to violence entails today makes it
preferable in any case that passive resistance be practiced, which is 'a way
more conformable to moral principles and having no less prospects for
success.'" (Compendium, No. 401)
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
The
feast of Saint Matthias[2]
was included in the Roman Calendar in the 11th century and celebrated on
the sixth day to the Calends of March (24 February usually, but 25 February in
leap years). In the revision of the General Roman
Calendar in
1969, his feast was transferred to 14 May, so as not to celebrate it in Lent but instead in Eastertide close to the Solemnity of the
Ascension, the
event after which the Acts of the Apostles recounts that Matthias was selected
to be ranked with the Twelve Apostles.
OF[3]
this apostle nothing certain is known beyond what is contained in the epistle.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: “To me Thy friends, O God, are
made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me; Thou hast known my sitting down and my
rising up.”
Prayer. O God, Who didst associate blessed
Matthias to the company of the apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that, by his
intercession, we may ever experience Thy tender mercy towards us.
Prayer
to St. Matthias. O
St. Matthias, glorious apostle and martyr of Jesus Christ, who, by the special
providence of God, wast added to the eleven apostles in the room of the
traitor, I humbly beseech thee to obtain for us the grace of Him Who chose thee
from all eternity, that, assisted thereby, we may, after thy example, keep the
commandments of God, practice good works, and thus merit to be numbered with
the elect. Amen.
Novena of St. Rita[4]
This novena prayer,
although short, is sufficient. It would be better of course to add, if time
permits, three Hail Mary’s or say five times the Our Father, Hail Mary and
Glory be to the Father, or to use some of the many well-loved novena prayers
from other sources. Remember that prayers must be said with your lips in order
to gain the indulgences. This novena begins on May 14 and ends on May 22. Rita
is the patron of the impossible.
Prayer:
O
glorious St. Rita! You who so wonderfully participated in the Passion of our
Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for me the grace to suffer with patience the pains of
this life and protect me in all my needs.
Today
it is my daughter Dara Hope’s
birthday; (her name means: House of Compassion and Hope) please pray the Novena
of St. Rita for her. Also today is National Chicken Dance Day! Yes, she loves
to do the chicken dance.
Chicken Dance Day[5]
We’ve all seen it, it’s
utterly ridiculous and usually performed in a bout of intoxicant driven lunacy.
You tuck your hands into your armpits to make ‘wings’, and then you flap like
an idiot in time with some particularly unfortunate music. All that aside,
you’re having complete giggle fits with a bunch of your friends while you
behave in a fashion that has the local sanitarium eyeballing you for
membership. What are we talking about? The Chicken Dance of course! Chicken
Dance Day commemorates this dance and its origins, and even gives you a chance
to learn WHY anyone would do this terrible, terrible thing.
History of Chicken
Dance Day
“Der Ententanz” was the
name of the song that inspired all of this, and while the dance has come to be
called “The Chicken Dance”, the song itself is called The Duck Dance.
At least that was its original name, and now it has spread all over the world,
undergoing multiple name changes in the process. It has been known as
everything from The Little Bird Dance to De Vogeltjesdans, or
“The dance of the little birds.” This rendition was actually the B-Side of a
single released by a band called “De Electornica’s”. The A-Side simply wasn’t
being well received by the radio station’s audiences, so they flipped it over.
At that moment, history was made, and it rocketed to the Dutch charts and
stayed there for nearly a year. So much has its popularity exploded that it has
been recorded in no less than 140 versions with over 40,000,000 records
published over its lifetime. In 1981 the dance brought to Oktoberfest in the
United States, and due to a complete lack of duck costumes anywhere near the
event, they had to settle for chicken costumes instead. The result of which is
the name by which it is now known. The song responsible gets new covers done
almost every year, with new lyrics added all the time. That’s right, there’s
lyrics. You’re welcome.
How to Celebrate
Chicken Dance Day
Need we say it? The best
way to celebrate Chicken Dance Day is by getting out there and doing the
Chicken Dance! It’s quite simple, and it all starts with making a beak with
your hands, and ‘squawk’ them four times in beat with the music, then you make
wings as described earlier, and flap them four times in time with the music.
Then… ya know what? Just watch this: How to Chicken Dance.
US
Marine Corp[6]
Where the mighty go; God goes with
them!
·
At
Iwo Jima, Marine Chaplain Father Charles Suver celebrated Holy Mass shortly
before the raising of the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi by the Marines. Debate
has been inconclusive whether it was the first less known or the second more
well-known raising of the flag that is now immortalized in history. Regardless
of which flag raising it was Father Suver could still hear
Japanese voices in the nearby caves as he said the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!
·
Fr.
Charles Watters in Vietnam shortly before his death in November, 1967. Chaplain
Watters was awarded the Medal of Honor
for bravery under fire. Once he linked up with the Marines they told him to
leave as it was too dangerous. Father McGonigal refused and ministered aid and
Last Rites to the wounded and dying. He was killed on February 17, 1968 trying
to rescue a wounded Marine. The Marines later dedicated a chapel at Camp
Pendleton in his honor to the service he gave to the Marines at Hue.
PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION TWO-THE LORD'S PRAYER
Article 1-"THE
SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE GOSPEL"
2761 The Lord's Prayer "is
truly the summary of the whole gospel." "Since the Lord . . .
after handing over the practice of prayer, said elsewhere, 'Ask and you will
receive,' and since everyone has petitions which are peculiar to his
circumstances, the regular and appropriate prayer [the Lord's Prayer] is said
first, as the foundation of further desires."
Apostolic
Exhortation[7]
Veneremur
Cernui – Down in Adoration Falling
of The Most
Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix,
to Priests, Deacons, Religious and the Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix
on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
My beloved Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
1. I wish to speak to you about
the most important and central teaching of our faith. What I share is “not too
high for you.” It is not theology that is only meant for theologians and
priests. This concerns the most important reality of our lives – the saving
presence of our Lord. This is not a teaching that can be dumbed down or over
simplified. This is a truth that we need to be clear and certain about. Be
bold, then! Take up and read, drink in the truth, discuss and share it with
others and allow Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, to conform you further
to Himself and fulfill the deepest longings of your heart.
2. From the time I was a little
child, I knew Jesus was present in every Catholic Church. I could not have
explained it, but I was certain He was there. The way my father genuflected
before the Tabernacle, the quiet reverence of my mother, the way our pastor
Father Daly sang the Tantum Ergo with such gusto and a thick Irish
brogue, it was these actions and God’s grace, more than words, that imbedded in
my heart a solid conviction about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
And because our farm family prayed together every evening, during thunderstorms
or blizzards, whether we had a bumper crop or hardly anything at all from
drought-stricken soil, no matter what, we knew that the Lord Jesus we received
at Mass was with us, every day and night, and that whatever we faced, all would
be well because of Him.
3. Of course, that faith in the
Eucharist has been tested many times over the years. As a seminarian in Tours,
France, for example, during two months of intensive French language study, some
classmates learning of my practice of daily Mass accosted me, sneering with
venom, “You really believe Jesus is present in that piece of bread?” Shocked by
their hate-filled tone, I could say nothing for what seemed like eternity; but
after probably less than a minute, I managed to stammer, “Yes… I do.” That
shocking and embarrassing moment, to my surprise, led ever so gradually to new
gratitude for the gift of the Eucharistic faith and a deeper conviction about
daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration. It also taught me to expect my faith in
our Eucharistic Savior to face scorn and contradiction.
4. I invite you in this
Exhortation to “put out into the deep” (Lk 5:4). Whether your faith in
the Eucharist is strong or weak, whether you consider the Church your Home or
you have recently decided to disassociate, or even if you have no faith at all,
my sincere hope is that a true “Eucharistic amazement” will be ignited within
you.
5. The People of Israel faced
many obstacles, challenges, and sufferings as they crossed the desert and
entered the Promised Land. But God had assured them of His presence and
guidance on their arduous sojourn. In the Ark of the Covenant, they recognized the
presence of God. Into battles and in dangerous lands, wherever the Israelites
went, the Ark went with them because it assured them that God would be with
them to fight their battles, to care for them and protect them. For this
reason, the Ark became a powerful and enduring image of God’s presence.
6. When the People of Israel
were preparing to cross the Jordan river and enter the Promised Land, Joshua
stressed the importance of following the Ark: “When you see the ark of the
covenant of the Lord being carried, you are to set out from your positions and
follow it… so that you can see the way to go, since we have never been this way
before” (Josh. 3:2-4). This instruction was addressed to a people who would
face the dangers of the crossing and the challenges and threats that awaited
them in an unknown land.
To be continued…
Candace’s Corner-Marine Hunks and Movies
Alexi’s Grill
Welcome to
Alexi’s Grill, a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been a treasured
Phoenix tradition for more than a quarter-century. Opened by Christo and Connie
Panagiotakopoulos, of Christo’s Ristorante, in 1994, has since become a Midtown
Phoenix landmark and highly acclaimed fine dining establishment. Now, nearly 30
years after our founding, Alexi’s Grill is dedicated to continuing our longtime
legacy of fantastic food, outstanding service, and a welcoming, upscale
ambiance.
We are proud to
have created an ideal environment for any occasion, including business lunches,
special celebrations, and even romantic dates. Besides our dine-in and take-out
services, we also offer catering for a wide range of events. Intimate and chic,
yet decidedly relaxed, Alexi’s Grill provides a dining experience unlike any
other in the Valley.
Happy Hour
Mon – Fri,
3:00PM – 7:00PM
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Catholic Politian’s and Leaders
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday
Devotion
·
Pray Day 7 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
·
Rosary
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