Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
August 8
Saint of the day:
Patron Saint of Astronomers; astronomy, Dominican Republic;
falsely accused people; Santo Domingo Pueblo, Valletta, Birgu (Malta), Managua
Rachel’s
Corner-Aspen is not just for snow bunnies.
May your mercy, LORD, be upon us as
we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:22
·
Let Freedom Ring Day 33 Freedom from Theft
o Dear family, most of us - excluding the rioters,
looters, burners and shooters - know that we should not steal tangible things.
How about for today let us ponder how so many of us steal intangible things -
like time - like God's time? As part of our next Confession - how about
if we examine our consciences and ask ourselves how much time have we stolen.
That is an important examination, dear family, because stealing time makes us
thieves. To help with that examination - let us ask ourselves if we have made
it a point to do what Jesus told us to do: spend an hour a day with our
Lord in this life, so we really can spend an eternity with Him in the next.
Then let us, in these troubled, troubled times, resolve to be free from our
attachment to time, and start giving back the Lord one hour for every 23 other
hours of the day He gives us.
·
Global Sleep Under the Stars Night
·
Dustin Hoffman’s
birthday
Best
Place to visit in August: Aspen, Colorado
Easily one of the best places to visit in the
USA in August, Aspen is a posh mountain town in Colorado that is known for its
incredible skiing. But dare to visit Aspen in August, and you’ll be treated to
an incredible array of wildflowers that come to life between June and August.
In
particular, the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop in the Snowmass Wilderness is a great
place to spot species like Wild Geranium, Indian Paintbrush, and Bush
Sunflowers. After all, it’s a 1.9-mile hike that will take you an hour to
complete and that requires advanced reservations from May through
October. Additionally, other great wildflower hikes in Aspen include
Lost Man Loop, Midway Trail, Grizzly Lake Trail, and Willow Lake
Trail.
However,
when you’re ready to get off the trails, enjoy impressive views from the Silver
Queen Gondola before attending one of The Free Snowmass Thursday Night
Concerts. You can also go paddleboarding on the Roaring Fork and jump off a
rock cliff into the water at Devil’s Punch Bowl. Just don’t leave the area
without mountain biking along The Rio Grande Trail. After all, this track is
suitable for all skill levels and takes you past Woody Creek Tavern, which is a
great place to stop for lunch.
- Where to Stay: The Little Nell
- Nearest Airport: Denver International Airport
- Average Temperatures: 77°F // 48°F
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[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.
KC
BBQ Menu
AUGUST 8 Thursday
SAINT DOMINIC
1
Corinthians, chapter 2, Verse 3-5
3I came to you in weakness and FEAR and much trembling, 4and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive (words of) wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
It
is God’s desire that we be wise not in the way of the world but in the ways of
eternity.
Human wisdom[1]
Greek tradition of wisdom was based in argumentations. The Greeks lived to argue. Arguments (discussions) & logics were entertainments. Interests in philosophies and rhetoric was based not only what is said, but how it is said. Always looking for something profound (deep meaning)
Jews have their
wisdom tradition which includes the wisdom Literatures.
1. Job – story of a man who did right
& suffers
2. Psalms – classic wisdom, praise,
laments, etc
3. Proverbs – classic wisdom: do right
& no suffering
4. Ecclesiastes – meaning of life
5. Song of Songs – intimate relationship with God
Gnostics
tradition of wisdom and knowledge was a heresy in the early church, a bad
theology based on “Secret knowledge” that is needed for salvation. All matters
are evil, spirit is good. Gnostics denied the humanity of Christ “For Christ
did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel –not with words of (human)
wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power (made void)” “For the
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved, it is the power of God.” The Cross – is the Message. “For the
foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is
stronger than man’s strength.”
Saint Dominic[2]
St. Dominic had for many years preached against the errors of the Albigenses and other heretics, with such zeal and profound ability that they were often convinced. But nevertheless, the results were unimportant; but few returned to the bosom of the Catholic Church. In this discouraging state of things St. Dominic redoubled his prayers and works of penance, and in particular besought Mary for support and assistance. One day Mary appeared to him and taught him the Rosary. He zealously labored to introduce everywhere this manner of prayer, and from that time preached with such success that in a short period more than one hundred thousand heretics and sinners were converted. The divine origin of the Rosary is testified to by the bull of Gregory XIII. of the year 1577.
In his life Christ prayed the Shema Israel every day stating worship of God must be with the whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Now using Mary’s Rosary given to St. Dominic we can meditate on the mysteries of the rosary and see how Christ and Mary lived the Shema and follow their lead.
Mind=Joyful mysteries
Heart=the Luminous mysteries
Soul=the Glorious mysteries
Strength=the Sorrowful mysteries
Ten Reasons to Pray the Rosary[3]
Motivation is the key to carrying out any worthy
enterprise. Great men and great women have clear goals and strong motivations.
They know what they want, and they have a clear plan before their eyes.
CEOs in successful companies know what they want, have goals, deadlines, and concrete steps to attain those goals. Professional athletes have a determined determination to win. They study their opponents’ weak points, capitalize on their own strengths and play for victory. Therefore, to attain any goal there must be a clear plan and strong motivations.
Spiritual Goals and Objectives
Even more important for the human person created in the image and likeness of God should be the goal and the motivation to attain that goal. Our goal is very clear—to get to heaven. One of the most efficacious means to attain eternal salvation with God in heaven is through prayer. Prayer is the key to salvation. What oxygen is to our lungs so is prayer to the life of our soul. For that reason, Saint Augustine asserted: “He who prays well lives well; he who lives well dies well; and he who dies well, all is well.”
Still there is a powerful means and intercessor before the throne of God who can help us to get to heaven and to help us in our prayer life and motivate us to focus our energies on God and God alone—the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary’s Favorite Prayer
Our Lady has a prayer that fills her heart with joy—the Hail Mary and the most Holy Rosary. Every time the Hail Mary is prayed with attention and sincere heart, Our Lady’s heart is filled with joy. Therefore, let us offer ten points to motivate us to pray the most Holy Rosary.
1. Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady of Fatima appeared in Fatima, Portugal six times to three little shepherd children: Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia. In every one of these six apparitions Our Lady said: “Pray the Rosary.”
2. Her Title. Finally at the end of her apparitions Our Lady gave herself the title: “Our Lady of the Rosary.” Therefore, if Our Lady insisted six times to pray the Rosary and actually called herself “Our Lady of the Rosary,” common sense tells us that she really wants us to pray the Rosary!
3. Pope St. John Paul II. This great modern saint, as well as spiritual giant, strongly encouraged the world to pray the most Holy Rosary. In his writing The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary, the Vicar of Christ insisted that we pray the Rosary. He himself said at the start of his pontificate that the Rosary was his favorite prayer.
4. For the Sake of the Family. In this same document Saint Pope John Paul II insisted that we pray the Rosary for the sake of the family which is under attack and in crisis. With the growing numbers of separations and divorces, with the legalization of same-sex unions, with so many children without the warmth of the family, now more than ever we must pray the most Holy Rosary. The Holy Father quotes the Rosary-priest, Father Patrick Peyton: “The family that prays together stays together.”
5. For World Peace. The document of Saint Pope John Paul II came in the wake of the terrorist attack in New York City with the Twin Towers. Therefore, another reason to pray the Rosary now, more than ever, is for the sake of world peace. With the threat of ISIS, nuclear arsenals, and general tensions growing among nations, the Rosary can be our shield and safeguard. At the end of the First World War Our Lady of Fatima stated clearly that wars come as a result of sin; and if people did not stop sinning, then a worse World War would erupt. Within twenty years, the Second World War broke out. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen states that world wars are the net result of many individual wars waging in the hearts of sinners, that spread out to towns, cities, countries and continents, and then boom—the huge war explodes. Sin produces war; prayer produces peace of heart, mind and soul and harmony among peoples!
6. To Save our Children. Never have we lived in a society with so many dangers, especially with respect to our children and teens. Of great importance is the virtue of purity. The mass media, the modern electronics media, the modern school and teaching agenda, billboards and posters, modern movies and TV programs militate fiercely against the virtue of purity. And to be honest, we live in a pornographic society! Devotion to Our Lady and the family Rosary can serve as a shield against this onslaught and deluge of filth that is descending upon the world, especially our children and young people. In a word, we must shield our children in the most pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary; she is an oasis, a refuge, and ark of safety and protection! If you like Noah and his family as well as the animals sought refuge and protection from the deluge in the Ark. We must find refuge in the ark of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart—most certainly a safe refuge!
7. To Order our Disorders. As a result of the Original Sin that we all inherit in the moment of our conception, our life is marked with disorder. Our thought process, our will, our emotional state of being, our soul, our intentions, our family and social life—all have a certain disorder. Saint Ignatius of Loyola suggests that we do the Spiritual Exercises so as to order the disordered in our lives. Sin causes disorder; prayer brings order. Prayer to Our Lady communicates to our soul and lives the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is a God of order. Our Lady of Guadalupe with her own hands ordered the roses in the tilma of Saint Juan Diego. By praying the most holy Rosary Our Lady can help to order the disordered in our lives.
8. For Interior Peace of Mind and Soul. Another wonderful effect of praying the most Holy Rosary is peace of mind, heart and soul. We all desire peace and Our Lady of the Rosary also known with the title “Queen of peace” can definitely attain for us this peace that our hearts so ardently yearn. Saint Augustine defines peace as the tranquility of order. As the hymn reminds us: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
9. It’s a Biblical Prayer. Pope St. John XXIII stated that the Rosary is a summary of the whole of the Gospel. They are truly based on the Bible, even the prayers of the Our Father and the Hail Mary have their foundation in the Gospels. Therefore, by praying the Rosary fervently, we get to know Jesus and Mary better and better as presented from the Word of God, we fall in love with them and then we become their fiery and ardent Apostles in a world marked with so much coldness and indifference. As Pope Francis reminded us in his Lenten message: There is a widespread globalization of indifference because there is a lack of love of God in the world. This love can be planted and ignited through love of Our Lady and the Holy Rosary—a summary of the Gospels and a true Biblically centered prayer.
10. To Conquer
our Adversities. David had to fight against the ferocious and
malicious giant Goliath. Strategically, there was no way that the smaller,
inexperienced, unprepared shepherd boy could conquer the giant Goliath. It was
like an ant against an elephant. However, the Bible teaches us a very certain
truth: Nothing is impossible with God. David went with a total trust
in His God, the Lord of heaven and earth. We all know the ending! David shot a
stone from his slingshot; the stone riveted itself in the brow of Goliath, who
cascaded to the ground unconscious. David quickly drew the sword of Goliath and
cut off his head! Victory, due to the intervention of God! Today we are
surrounded by so many “Goliaths”, almost too many to count! However,
our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Let us turn to
the Queen of Heaven and earth and pull out our spiritual slingshot which is the
most Holy Rosary and win the battle. Jesus is the King of Heaven and earth and
Our Lady is the Queen. Let us find sure refuge under her heavenly mantle!
The Fourteen Holy Helpers[4]
The Fourteen Holy Helpers are invoked
as a group because of the Black Plague which devastated Europe from 1346 to
1349. Among its symptoms were the black tongue, a parched throat, violent
headache, fever, and boils on the abdomen. The victims were attacked without
warning, robbing them of their reason, and killed within a few hours; many died
without the last Sacraments. No one was immune, and the disease wreaked havoc
in villages and family circles. The epidemic appeared incurable. The pious
turned to Heaven, begging the intervention of the saints, praying to be spared
or cured. Each of these fourteen saints had been efficacious in interceding in
some aspect for the stricken during the Black Plague. The dates are the
traditional feast days; not all the saints are on the General Roman Calendar.
Let us invoke these 14 Holy Helpers for help during the current real and political afflictions that are assaulting us during the COVID 19 crisis.
- St.
Blaise (also Blase and Blasius) (February 3rd), bishop and martyr. He is
invoked against diseases of the throat. Blessing of the throats takes
place on his feast day.
- St.
George (April 23rd), soldier-martyr. Invoked for protection for domestic
animals and against herpetic diseases. Also, patron of soldiers, England,
Portugal, Germany, Aragon, Genoa and Venice
- St.
Acathius (also Acacius) (May 8th), martyr. Invoked against headaches and
at the time of death's agony
- St.
Erasmus (also St. Elmo) (June 2nd), bishop and martyr. He is invoked
against diseases of the stomach and intestine, protection for domestic
animals and patron of sailors.
- St.
Vitus (also St. Guy) (June 15th), martyr. Invoked in epilepsy, chorea
("St. Vitus' dance"), lethargy, and the bites of poisonous or
mad animals and against storms. Also, protection for domestic animals.
Patron of dancer and actors.
- St.
Margaret of Antioch (July 20th), virgin and martyr. Invoked against
backache. Patron for women in childbirth.
- St.
Christopher (also Christophorus) (July 25th), martyr. Invoked against the
plague and sudden death. He is the patron of travelers, especially
motorists, and is also invoked in storms.
- St.
Pantaleon (July 27th), bishop and martyr. Invoked against consumption,
protection for domestic animals and patron of physicians and midwives.
- St. Cyriacus (also Cyriac) (August 8th), deacon and martyr. Invoked against diseases of the eye and diabolical possession. Also interceded for those in temptation, especially at the time of death.
- St.
Giles (also Aegidius) (September 1st), hermit and abbot. Invoked against
the plague, panic, epilepsy, madness, and nightmares and for a good
confession. Patron of cripples, beggars, and breastfeeding mothers
- St.
Eustace (also Eustachius, Eustathius) (September 20th), martyr. Invoked
against fire — temporal and eternal. Patron of hunters. Patron in all
kinds of difficulties, and invoked in family troubles.
- St.
Denis (also Dionysius) (October 9th), bishop and martyr. Invoked against
diabolical possession and headaches.
- St.
Catherine of Alexandria (November 25th), virgin and martyr. Invoked
against diseases of the tongue, protection against a sudden and unprovided
death. Patroness of Christian philosophers, of maidens, preachers,
wheelwrights and mechanics. She is also invoked by students, orators, and
barristers as "the wise counselor."
- St.
Barbara (December 4th), virgin and martyr. Invoked against fever and
sudden death. Patron of builders, artillerymen and miners. Also invoked
against lightning, fire and sudden death.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day 55
II. THE FALL OF THE ANGELS
391 Behind the disobedient
choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which
makes them fall into death out of envy. Scripture and the Church's
Tradition see in this being a fallen angel, called "Satan" or the "devil". The
Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The
devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they
became evil by their own doing."
392 Scripture speaks of a sin
of these angels. This "fall" consists in the free choice of
these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably rejected God and his
reign. We find a reflection of that rebellion in the tempter's words to our
first parents: "You will be like God." The devil "has
sinned from the beginning"; he is "a liar and the father of
lies".
393 It is the irrevocable
character of their choice, and not a defect in the infinite divine mercy, that
makes the angels' sin unforgivable. "There is no repentance for the angels
after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death."
394 Scripture witnesses to the
disastrous influence of the one Jesus calls "a murderer from the
beginning", who would even try to divert Jesus from the mission received
from his Father. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy
the works of the devil." In its consequences the gravest of these
works was the mendacious seduction that led man to disobey God.
395 The power of Satan is,
nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that
he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of
God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his
kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of
a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature - to each man and
to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength
and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that
providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in
everything God works for good with those who love him."
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Protection
of Traditional Marriage
·
do
a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions,
1896.
[4]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-08-08
[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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