Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire. The Congress actually voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2.
Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.
Dining
Whether one is BBQing in the backyard with family and friends or having something a little more refined, dress your eating area in style!
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[1]
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.
- Bourbon
- Wisconsin
Butter Burgers
- Tater
Tot Casseroles
- Pea
'n' Peanut Salad
- Banana
Split
Best Places to Visit in June
Half Moon Bay,
California
This is a
gorgeous coastal spot to spend a summer weekend or use as a base to explore the
northern Californian coastline. Its compact downtown area is filled with quaint
eateries and attractive shops selling boutique products, from unique arts and
crafts to delicious wine.
There are
many seafood restaurants here, but for a quirky dining experience, I’d
recommend Daddy’Os, housed in an old rail car and serving delicious comfort
food.
Half Moon
Bay is surrounded by protected parks and beaches, including the Mavericks, a
famous stretch of coastline that hosts a world-famous annual surf competition.
Other protected beaches, such as Poplars, are great spots for a sunset picnic,
and the beautiful beaches here don’t get crowded like some neighboring
stretches.
I love
that it’s a place that maintains a calm and relaxed coastal vibe even in the
peak summer months.
Visitor’s Center Address: 235 Main Street
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Average temperature – 64 degrees
My
personal highlights…
Walking along the Coastside Trail, which
stretches nearly 5 miles long and offers gorgeous views overlooking the ocean.
Wandering along Main Street and discovering
an array of shopping boutiques and fun dining options.
Eating a hearty vegetarian lasagna at Half
Moon Bay Joe’s.
Rachel’s
Corner Writer Nathaniel Hawthorne born, 1804
[1] Venerable Mary of Agreda. The
Mystical City of God: Complete Edition Containing all Four Volumes with
Illustrations (p. 770). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition
Thursday
INDEPENDENCE
DAY
Deuteronomy, Chapter 18, Verse
21-22
21 Should you say to yourselves, “How can we recognize that a word is one the LORD has not spoken?”, 22 if a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the word does not come true, it is a word the LORD did not speak. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not FEAR him.
Even saints at times may have spoken presumptuously. Let us meditate on the words of Padre Pio,
“Love and fear must go united
together, fear without love becomes cowardice. Love without fear becomes
presumption. When there is love without fear, love runs without prudence and
without restraint, without taking care where it is going.”
This is the great beauty of the Holy
Spirit for it tells us when even a very holy person speaks not every word they
speak comes from God. We error sometimes in this way, making men into gods; but
a heart that is filled with the spirit of God is filled with quiet joy and even
if the person were to be imprisoned, they can find true freedom; because of the
inner security of the heart. Let us never forget that Satan does his utmost to
destroy mankind. In a thousand ways he plots and wars against God and tries to
usurp His throne. On this subject, the following instruction given by Our
Blessed Mother to Venerable Mary d' Agreda, is worth quoting: "My
daughter," she says, "by no power of human words wilt thou in this
mortal life ever succeed in describing the evil of Lucifer and his demons
against men, or the malice, astuteness, deceits and ruses, with which, in his
wrath, he seeks to bring them into sin and later on to eternal torments. He
tries to hinder all good works . . . All the malice of which his own mind is
capable, he attempts to inject into souls. Against these attacks, God provides
admirable protection if men will only co-operate and correspond on their
part." Among the means provided by God for our protection, is the ready
recourse we may have at all times to the strengthening Blood of Christ.
"This Blood," declares St. John Chrysostom, "has the power to
drive away the evil spirits and to draw to our side the good angels, aye, the
King of Angels, and to blazen the way to Heaven." Fortified by the Precious
Blood, let us place ourselves under the leadership of St. Michael and unfurl
everywhere the banner of our Faith, without fear
of godlessness. If Satan tries to induce us to sin, and promises honors,
riches, happiness on conditions that we omit a good work, or commit an evil
deed, let us ever oppose the tempter with the energetic words: Who is like unto
God? God is my only treasure, my highest Good, His Blood is upon me, and
"though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil." If in time of
temptation, we have the courage to rebuke the evil one and call upon the
assistance of our leader, St. Michael, the enemy will surely be put to flight.
But if we wish to enjoy the great Archangel's protection, we must also imitate
his virtues, particularly his humility and his zeal for God's glory.
"O great St. Michael, take us 'neath thy shield, Thy mighty power in our favor wield!"[1]
Independence Day[2]
Independence Day Facts & Quotes
·
In
July 1776, there were approximately 2.5 million people living in the new
nation.
·
The
first public reading of the Declaration of Independence didn't occur until July
8, 1776. It was sent to the printers on July 4th.
·
The
original Declaration of Independence can be viewed by visiting the National
Archives, Washington D.C. The original copy is severely faded and sits
under special glass in the Rotunda for the Chambers of Freedom.
·
The
Statue of Liberty is a great symbol of American Freedom. It was given to the US
by France in 1886. It was delivered in 214 crates and assembled on what
is known as Liberty Island, in New York Harbor.
· Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. - John F. Kennedy
Independence Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Attend
or host a Barbeque.
·
Watch
Fireworks. Large cities such as New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles all
have large firework displays.
·
Read
or recite the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence.
·
Watch
or attend Nathan's famous Hot
Dog eating contest
in Coney Island.
·
Watch
a Parade. Most local cities host parades to celebrate Independence Day.
·
Contribute
to the independence of a veteran
Catholic
Culture Library Related Articles[3]
·
First Centenary of First American Bishops
·
How Birth Control Changed America — For the Worse
·
The Philosophy of American Patriotism in the Present
Crisis
·
The Relevance of Thomas Jefferson
·
·
Thomas Jefferson and Freedom of Religion
·
Sapientiae Christianae—On Christians as Citizens
Declaration of Independence; 1776.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Prayer[4]
Almighty God, Father of
all nations, for freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1). We
praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human
rights, justice, and the common good. Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect
and promote our liberties; by your grace may we have the courage to defend
them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land. We ask
this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, and in the
name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with
whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Render unto Caesar[5]
This country cannot afford
to be materially rich and spiritually poor.
John F. Kennedy
Have
we become a soulless Nation?
Have we in the pursuit of happiness; ignored the
Gospel of Life. Realizing that if we put success or liberty as greater values
than life that we are serving Caesar and not God. To understand this, we need
to review the US Bishops “The Gospel of Life”.
The Gospel of Life[6]
Brothers and sisters in the Lord:
At the conclusion of the 1998 ad limina visits of the bishops of the United
States, our Holy Father Pope John Paul II spoke these words:
Today I believe the Lord is saying to us all: do not hesitate, do not be afraid to engage the good fight of the faith (cf. I Tim 6:12). When we preach the liberating message of Jesus Christ, we are offering the words of life to the world. Our prophetic witness is an urgent and essential service not just to the Catholic community but to the whole human family.
In this statement we attempt to fulfill our role as teachers
and pastors in proclaiming the Gospel of Life. We are confident that the
proclamation of the truth in love is an indispensable way for us to exercise
our pastoral responsibility.
"Your
country stands upon the world scene as a model of a democratic society at an
advanced stage of development. Your power of example carries with it
heavy responsibilities. Use it well, America!"
--Pope John Paul II, Newark, 1995
When
Henry Luce published his appeal for an "American century" in 1941, he
could not have known how the coming reality would dwarf his dream. Luce
hoped that the "engineers, scientists, doctors . . . builders of roads
[and] teachers" of the United States would spread across the globe to
promote economic success and American ideals: "a love of freedom, a
feeling for the quality of opportunity, a tradition of self-reliance and
independence and also cooperation." Exactly this, and much
more, has happened in the decades since. U.S. economic success has
reshaped the world. But the nobility of the American experiment flows
from its founding principles, not from its commercial power. In this
century alone, hundreds of thousands of Americans have died defending those
principles. Hundreds of thousands more have lived lives of service to
those principles -- both at home and on other continents -- teaching, advising
and providing humanitarian assistance to people in need. As Pope John Paul
has observed, "At the center of the moral vision of [the American]
founding documents is the recognition of the rights of the human person . .
." The greatness of the United States lies "especially [in its]
respect for the dignity and sanctity of human life in all conditions and at all
stages of development."
Now
the word of the Lord came to me saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew
you, before you were born, I consecrated you; a prophet to the nations I
appointed you.
--Jeremiah 1:5
The Patriotic Rosary[7] is prayed everywhere from within cloistered convents, to inside the Pentagon; from dangerous military fields around the globe to the quietness of the Bedroom of Apparitons and the Field of Apparitions at Caritas, which is the home of the Patriotic Rosary. The Patriotic Rosary quickly captured the hearts and attention of millions when first heard and prayed. Inspired by Our Lady of Medjugorje, the Patriotic Rosary is a powerful prayer for divine protection and mercy for our Nation and its rebirth. The history of the writing of the Patriotic Rosary origins back to 1995 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the first promptings of Our Lady was felt and the impulse to form the Patriotic Rosary was given. The Patriotic Rosary, the Prayer to Heal Our Land, and the “Seven Novenas for the Reconciling of Ourselves, our Families and our Nation Back to God,” all for the rebirth of America, have the grounds at Caritas of Birmingham as their home. It is Caritas of Birmingham, whose founder, known as A Friend of Medjugorje, wrote the Patriotic Rosary, and that also operates the Official Medjugorje Site. It was a surprise in 1988, after many prayers near the Pine Tree for the healing of our Nation that Our Lady began to write a beautiful story, through Her Medjugorje apparitions at Caritas, telling us that a Nation and its healing, represented by the Pine in the Field, would come only through the individual, represented by the family bed. In those first apparitions, Our Lady appeared in the Bedroom over the family bed, then on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1988, She appeared near the Pine, then back to the Bedroom for the remaining two months of daily apparitions. This spoke clearly that our Nation would be healed through strong marriages forming strong holy families raising strong individuals which will heal and make a strong nation. Our Nation’s future depends on the healing of the family.
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION
OF FAITH
SECTION ONE-"I
BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"
CHAPTER THREE-MAN'S
RESPONSE TO GOD
Article 2-WE BELIEVE
166 Faith is a personal act - the free response of the
human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an
isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone.
You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. the
believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our
love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our
faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot
believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help
support others in the faith.
167 "I believe" (Apostles' Creed) is the faith of the Church professed personally by each believer, principally during Baptism. "We believe" (Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed) is the faith of the Church confessed by the bishops assembled in council or more generally by the liturgical assembly of believers. "I believe" is also the Church, our mother, responding to God by faith as she teaches us to say both "I believe" and "We believe".
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters
of St. Joseph by joining
them in fasting: An increase of the faithful
·
do a personal eucharistic stations of the
cross.
·
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[3]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2019-07-04
[5] Render unto Caesar, Charles J. Chaput
[6]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/living-the-gospel-of-life.cfm
[8] 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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