Christopher’s Corner-
· How to celebrate Sep 23rd
o You wake up on a day filled with appreciation, awareness, and celebration. Start by learning a few basic phrases in sign language to honor International Day of Sign Languages.
§ Next, head to a local bakery to pick up ingredients for a pot pie in recognition of National Great American Pot Pie Day.
· As the pot pie cools, indulge in some snack sticks for National Snack Stick Day.
o Then, challenge a friend to a game of checkers for National Checkers Day.
§ As you play, discuss the importance of education technology on Education Technology Day.
· For a midday break, brew some za’atar tea for Za’atar Day. Pair it with a snack and appreciate the flavors.
· Padre Pio's five maxims for living a devout life
§ 'All things work together for the good of those who love God' (Rom 8:28).
o "The second maxim that I desire you to keep forever engraved on your heart is that God is our Father; and what do you have to fear as the daughter of such a father whose providence would not let a hair of your head be harmed?
o "The third maxim is that you must observe what the divine Master teaches his disciples: '
o What do you lack?'
§ The disciples answered that they lacked nothing.
o When you were troubled even at the time when you unfortunately did not feel much confidence in God, tell me, were you never oppressed by anxiety?
§ You will answer, 'No'.
o So, I will reply, 'Why do you not have the strength to overcome all the other trials?'.
· "The fourth maxim concerns eternity. Living these brief and fleeting moments should not matter much to the children of God, since they will live for eternity in glory with God."
· "The fifth maxim that I implore you to keep fixed in your mind is that of the Apostle St Paul: 'Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Gal 6:14). Treasure in your heart the crucified Jesus Christ and all the crosses of the world will seem like roses. Those who have been pricked by the crown of thorns of the Savior, who is our Head, do not feel the other wounds.
SEPTEMBER 23 Monday-Saint Pius of Pietrelcina
Bisexual Day
1 Samuel, Chapter 18, Verse 15
Seeing
how he prospered, Saul FEARED David.
Insecure
people spend a lot of time on job justification.
Think
about it how much time do you or people you know spend in justifying rather
than striving to break free of fears and be all God has envisioned them to be?
Often insecure people are trapped in a cycle of fear
that retards their ability to give power and grace to others.
The law of Empowerment[1]
Saul
was insecure.
The Law
of Empowerment says that only secure leaders give power to others.
But
what does it mean to be secure?
Using
the analogy of personal finance, let’s look at what’s missing from the lives of
insecure leaders. This will help us better understand where security comes from
and why it matters.
Paupers,
debtors, and hoarders lack the real or perceived financial security necessary
to give generously to others.
· Paupers have no source of income aside from the financial assistance they receive from someone else. Penniless and dependent, they’re clearly unable to help others financially.
o
Leaders without purpose
are like paupers.
§
They
have no passion, low energy, and little drive to grow in influence.
§
Usually,
their only source of power is the position they have been given by somebody
else.
§
In
terms of personal authority, they’re impoverished.
·
Debtors may have nice salaries, but their
expenses exceed their income. They’ve maxed out credit cards and taken out
hefty loans. Consequently, they’re stuck paying exorbitant interest rates on
the amounts they have borrowed. In an upside-down financial situation, they’re
in no position to give generously to others.
o Leaders without authenticity are like
debtors.
§
Someone deeply in debt may appear wealthy,
even though they’re secretly on the verge of bankruptcy. The closer you inspect
their life, the more signs of dysfunction you see.
§
Similarly,
inauthentic leaders may seem to have all the tools to lead with excellence.
However, they are missing the crucial component of moral authority.
§
They
do not practice the values they preach, and they prefer to keep others at arm’s
length to hide their shortcomings.
·
Hoarders are sitting on a pile of wealth,
but they think only of protecting it rather than of sharing it with others.
They have plentiful resources but are unwilling to part with them.
o
Leaders without humility resemble hoarders.
§
Having
put their talents to work, they enjoy a significant amount of power. However,
they’re worried about others taking it from them or gaining more of it than
they have. So, instead of using their influence to empower others, they keep it
for their own benefit.
As
leaders, we can only lift others up when we’re standing on a firm foundation.
Purpose, authenticity, and humility give us a secure, stable base from which to
lead.
Purpose is the answer to the question:
Why
do you want to lead?
The
best leaders have a purpose that is greater than they are. Their “why” involves
more than accumulating money or seeking self-actualization. They see leadership
as a calling rather than a career, relishing the opportunity to use their
unique talents to accomplish something significant that will outlive them.
Authenticity means being comfortable in your
own skin. Authentic leaders have self-awareness, self-respect, self-confidence,
and emotional maturity. They prize integrity above image, and they seek to
build trust with others on the basis of their personal character.
Humility is often wrongly associated with
depreciating and downgrading ourselves. However, true humility flows out of
gratitude and comes when we credit God for our blessings and others for our
successes. As Rick Warren teaches, a humble leader doesn’t deny his strengths;
he’s simply honest about his limitations. Humble leaders feel no need to
trumpet their status, are unthreatened by criticism, and revel in the
accomplishments of others. They put their pride aside so that others have room
to shine.
Modern man at times
out of an inability to cope with the stress of everyday life seeks relief via
the vices of sex, drugs and rock and roll. I wonder what would happen to our
world if instead of dealing with stress with the distractions of pleasure and entertainment;
we acknowledged our dependence on the grace of God; found our purpose and had
true gratitude for our blessings...
Feast of St. Pio
Padre Pio was born
Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, into a simple
peasant family. At the age of 15 he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, and
was ordained a priest in 1910. In September 1916 he was assigned to the Friary
in San Giovanni Rotondo in central Italy, where he lived for the rest of his
life. After celebrating morning Mass on September 20, 1918, during his prayers
of thanksgiving before the Crucifix, Padre Pio received the
"Stigmata". His hands, feet and side were pierced with the nail marks
and the lance wound of the Crucified Christ. Doctors estimated that for the
next 50 years he lost a cup of blood every day. His five wounds were deep,
bleeding and painful, but completely free of inflammation and swelling. News of
his holiness spread rapidly. Millions of people attended his Masses. He
received letters from believers all over the world who asked for his saintly
counsel in their times of distress and misfortune. Countless were attracted to
his confessional, where he celebrated the Sacrament of Penance for as many as
16 hours a day. People waited as much as two weeks to have him hear their
confession, for they perceived in Padre Pio the true heart and soul of the
Gospels, expressed in a simple and uncomplicated manner. His whole life was
marked by long hours of prayer, continual sacrifice, and strict austerity. He
had a very deep union with God, a burning love for the Holy Eucharist, and a
fervent devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Worn out by half a century of intense
suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio
was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968. He was canonized a
Saint by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002. Today his tomb is the most visited
shrine in Europe, surpassing even Fatima and Lourdes — a place of extraordinary
holiness for those in search of inspiration.
Things to Do:[2]
· St. Pio is a saint of the last century, so there
are many pictures and biographies to read more about his life. Having this gift
of the stigmata was very hard on his life — both physically and emotionally. Find
out more about the stigmata and
his other mystical gifts, such as bilocation. St. Pio also had great devotion
to his guardian angel.
·
From the Catholic Culture
library: Biography of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, The Devil and Padre Pio, Five Maxims for Living a Devout Life and His Wounds Spoke of God's Love for
All. There are many other
documents in the library which may be found by searching for "pio".
Prayer
Gracious God, you generously
blessed Your servant, Padre Pio, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his
body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the
saving Passion and Death of Your Son, and as a stirring inspiration to many
people of Your infinite mercy, forgiveness and love.
In the confessional, Padre Pio
labored endlessly for the salvation of souls. Through his prayerful
intercession, many who suffered were healed of sickness and disease. Endowed
with the gift of discernment, he could read people's hearts. From the blood of
his wounds came a perfumed fragrance, a special sign of Your Holy Presence.
With dignity and intense devotion, he celebrated daily Mass, inviting countless
men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of the
Holy Eucharist.
Through the intercession of Saint
Pio, I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of (here state your petition). Help me to imitate his example of
prayerful holiness and compassion, so that I, too, may faithfully follow the
Risen Lord, and one day rejoice in the Kingdom, where You live and reign
forever and ever. Amen.
Bisexuality Day[3] another pagan celebration of sexuality
Celebrate Bisexuality Day was established by Wendy Curry,
Michael Page, and Gigi Raven Wilbur to raise awareness of the challenges faced
by bisexuals all over the world. “Ever since the Stonewall rebellion, the gay
and lesbian community has grown in strength and visibility.” observed Wilbur,
“The bisexual community also has grown in strength but in many ways are
invisible.” It was this vision, and experiences of marginalization and
prejudice experienced from both the straight and LGBTQ community, that inspired
them to create this new holiday. Inspired by Freddy Mercury of Queen, they
decided that his birthday would be the perfect day to establish Celebrate
Bisexuality Day. This served two purposes, the first being to establish a day
that was dedicated to raising awareness of bisexuals everywhere, the second
being to help reduce the prejudice faced by bisexuals and work to legitimize it
as a sexual orientation. Since then, it has been celebrated every year with
teach-ins, poetry reading, parties, picnics, and festivals.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
2332 Sexuality
affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of
his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and
to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of
communion with others.
2336 Jesus came to restore creation to the purity of
its origins. In the Sermon on the Mount, he interprets God's plan strictly:
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I
say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart." What God has joined together, let not man
put asunder. The tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment
as encompassing the whole of human sexuality.
2337 Chastity
means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the
inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's
belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and
truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to
another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman. The
virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the
integrality of the gift.
2353 Fornication
is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried
woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality
which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and
education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption
of the young.
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between
women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward
persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the
centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely
unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts
as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual
acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law.
They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a
genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they
be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated
homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively
disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with
respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in
their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will
in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the
Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the
virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support
of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and
should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
2360 Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and
woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and
pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are
sanctified by the sacrament.
2361 "Sexuality,
by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts
which are proper and exclusive to spouses, is not something simply biological,
but concerns the innermost being of the human person as such. It is realized in
a truly human way only if it is an integral part of the love by which a man and
woman commit themselves totally to one another until death."
2362 "The acts in marriage by which the intimate and chaste union of the spouses takes place are noble and honorable; the truly human performance of these acts fosters the self-giving they signify and enriches the spouses in joy and gratitude." Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure:
The Creator himself. . .
established that in the [generative] function, spouses should experience
pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing
evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment. They accept what the Creator has
intended for them. At the same time, spouses should know how to keep themselves
within the limits of just moderation.
2370 Periodic continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality. These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In contrast, "every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" is intrinsically evil:
Thus, the innate language that expresses
the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through
contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not
giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal
to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal
love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . .
The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and
recourse to the rhythm of the cycle.. . involves in the final analysis two
irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.
2395 Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.
2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.
Operation-Purity[4]
1. Situation.
Make no mistake, we are in a battle for our soul and the
soul of the world.
The Secret[5]
It’s no secret
that porn usage has increased drastically over the years. Things that are
considered mainstream used to be blatantly considered porn. We also know not
only is this a moral problem but studies have shown more porn use correlates
with less grey matter in the reward circuit (dorsal striatum).
Matt Fradd says, “when you are at your best, you must prepare for your
worst” in regard to fighting pornography addiction. We must flee from sexual
immorality as St. Paul says. Leaving a porn addiction behind involves life
changes in several aspects. “The secret of change is to focus all your energy,
not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates. Integrity
Restored has a great website to helping overcome porn. They list 7
steps in recovering from porn addiction.
1. Honest, Self-knowledge and
Commitment
2. Purifying your Life
3. Support and
Accountability
4. Counseling
5. Spiritual Plan
6. Education and
7. Virtue. We encourage you to
visit their website for more information.
The Chase Man or Woman gives to God
true worship by dedicating to God's will their Mind, Heart, Soul and
Strength-This is to Love God above all things. This is the Shema Israel
Modern Men and Women are in a battle with the World, the Flesh and the Devil-We are all Soldiers of Christ.
THE VIRTUES OF A
SOLDIER OF CHRIST[6]
Another way to illustrate the virtues of a genuine man of God is by reference to a good soldier. The relation between a man of God and a soldier will seem either somewhat obvious or a stretch depending upon your larger views of the military and military interventions. If you do not see the connection at this point, I ask you to bear with me briefly, because I think its relevance will soon become apparent.
A good soldier, especially one fit for battle, generally has
the following ten traits, among others:
1.
He is willing to give his life to protect others.
·
Jesus willingly gave his life to save us. He is
the Good Shepherd who made good on his promise to give his life for his sheep
(John 10:11). Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he handed himself over, he
demanded that his disciples be let go (John 18:8).
2.
He is task-oriented, and lets his actions speak for
themselves.
·
From his earliest days, when he announced he was
“about the Father’s business” (Luke 2:49), his whole life was dedicated to
accomplishing that mission. He lived by the same principles he taught, not to
be distracted from his purpose (Luke 10:4), which not even the devil could do
by promising him all the power of the world (Matthew 4:9). He let his actions
also speak more loudly than his words. As he said once when challenged by the
Pharisees, “Even if you do not believe me, believe the works” (John 10:25, 37;
14:10). He backed up each of his discourses with miracles that testified to his
power, the greatest miracle and message of all being what he said from the
pulpits of the Cross and the empty tomb.
3.
He does his duty, even when it is unappreciated.
·
Jesus fulfilled his mission even when one of his
apostles thought he was less valuable than 30 silver pieces, when the rest of
his hand-picked men ran away, when he was hammered to wood by those for whom he
was dying, when he was mocked by four different groups as he agonizingly hung
from the Cross, wondering all the while, “When the Son of man comes, will he
find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). He was the “grain of wheat” that fell to the
ground and died, knowing that that seed would hit hardened, rocky, weedy soil
in addition to good, but he did it anyway (John 12:24; Luke 8:5ff). Yet, at the
end of it all, he cried out in triumph, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) which
was the equivalent of “mission accomplished.”
4.
He is a man of honor, who is loyal to others and to his
principles.
·
Jesus kept his dignity, even when being tempted
by the devil, tested by the hypocritical Pharisees, beaten by the brutal
guards, and mocked by thieves and passersby. He was loyal to his disciples,
never abandoning them though they abandoned him; to Israelites, despite the
many times they broke God’s covenant; to sinners, no matter what their sin. He
was knightly in his protection and care for women in need and danger, like the
woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well in Samaria, and the woman who
washed his feet with her tears in the house of Simon the Pharisee.
5.
He is rooted in discipline and strength.
·
He called himself the “stronger man” who would
overpower the devil and divide his spoils (Luke 11:22), who could calm even the
winds and the sea (Matthew 8:27), who would repeatedly say to his frightened
followers, “Do not be afraid. It is I!” (Matthew 14:27). His strength was shown
most when out of discipline he did not use it, when tempted in the desert or on
the Cross. His power was always used not for his own benefit but for others, to
teach them the discipline that makes disciples.
6.
He may be tender and compassionate but never soft.
·
He who was “meek and humble of heart,” who cared
compassionately for parents and widows, for the woman caught in adultery, for
the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 11:29; Luke 7:12;
John 8:3; Mark 6:34), was also capable
of driving the money changers from the temple with a whip, calling the
Pharisees “whitewashed sepulchers” and telling forgiven sinners to “go and sin
no more” (John 2:14; Matthew 23:27; John 8:11).
7.
He sees himself as part of a unit, a band of brothers,
greater than himself.
·
Jesus came from heaven to earth to form a family
with the same Father in heaven (Matthew 12:50). To that family, the Church, he
gave his whole mission. To the twelve whom he associated most intimately in
this task, he gave his own power to turn bread and wine into his Body and Blood
and to forgive sins in his name (Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 16:19; John 20:19-23).
To the Church he gave his whole message (Matthew 28:18-20). He said that all
members of the Church were a part of him, as branches on the vine (John 15:5).
8.
He follows the chain of command, without considering it
demeaning.
·
Jesus said simply, “I seek not my own will but
the will of him who sent me,” “I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus
as the Father taught me” and “not my will, but thine, be done” (John 5:30; John
8:28; Luke 22:42).
9.
He is courageous, even and especially when heroism is
required.
·
Courage is doing what ought to be done in spite
of one’s fears, a virtue Jesus showed us time and again, but especially during
his agony and on Good Friday. Despite asking for the cup of suffering to pass
from him, he drank it to the dregs, sweating blood-filled perspiration, being
beaten, scourged and crucified for our sake (Matthew 26:39).
10. He
sees sacrifice as an opportunity to show his character and demonstrate love
·
“Greater love has no man than this,” he said,
“that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) and he evinced that
love in hundreds of little ways and unforgettably through his supreme
sacrifice. The real Christian man will seek to embody these same virtues. They
will help him to become a real soldier of Christ. They will help form him to be
another Christ and train him to love others as Christ loves.
2. Mission: To love God with all your mind, heart, soul
and strength and your neighbor as yourself.
3. Execution:
a. The Chase man or woman should fast once a week on the
day of their choice (suggestion Fridays) giving their total mind, heart, soul
and strength to God. After completing the 15 hourly prayers you may break your
fast.
b. The Chase man or woman should pray and ask the aid of
God and his angels and saints.
- Upon
waking and during the day make a prayers of Purity
Prayers of The Angelic
Warfare Confraternity[7]
V. In the Name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
The Prayer to St. Thomas for
Purity
Chosen lily of innocence, pure St. Thomas,
who kept chaste the robe of baptism,
and became an angel in the flesh after being girded by two angels,
we (I) implore you to commend us (me) to Jesus, the Spotless Lamb,
and to Mary, the Queen of Virgins.
Gentle protector of our (my) purity, ask them that we (I),
who wear the holy sign of your victory over the flesh,
may also share your purity,
and after imitating you on earth
may at last come to be crowned with you among the angels. Amen.
The Prayer of St. Thomas for
Purity
Dear Jesus,
I know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, I beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of my body and soul.
And if I have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain my chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of my powers,
that I may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering myself on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of my life. Amen.
Opening Prayer of St. Thomas
for Purity
Dear Jesus,
we (I) know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, we (I) beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of our (my) bodies (body) and souls (soul).
And if we (I) have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain our (my) chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of our (my) powers,
that we (I) may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering ourselves (myself) on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of our (my) lives (life). Amen.
Petitions for Chastity with 15 Hail Mary’s: say hourly
1. Dear
Jesus, bless our social and cultural climate. Grant that it may be purified of
everything contrary to chastity, and that we may have the strength to resist
the pressures of prevailing ideologies. “In the world you have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33) “In
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37) Hail Mary…
2.
Dear Jesus, bless our relationships. Grant that they
may be holy, healthy, and honorable at all times. “Having purified your souls
by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one
another earnestly from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22) Hail Mary…
3.
Dear Jesus, bless our modesty in our dress and
movement. Grant that the way we dress and carry ourselves may veil the mystery
of our being, and that we may have the strength to resist the allurements of
fashion and the glamour of sin. “Do not be conformed to this age, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom. 12:2) Hail Mary…
4.
Dear Jesus, bless our five senses. Grant that the
things we see, the music and jokes we hear, the food we eat, what we drink, the
fragrances we smell and the encounters we have through touch may all be pure
and holy. “Seek the things that are above” (Col. 3:1) Hail Mary…
5.
Dear Jesus, bless our sensuality. Grant that our
impulses may not be captivated by base pleasures, but freed by wisdom and
inflamed for what is good. “In your struggle against sin you have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb. 12:4) Hail Mary…
6.
Dear Jesus, bless our imagination, Grant that we may be
preserved from any fantasies that defile us, that all impure images may vanish,
and that we may be protected from all the assaults of demons. “Be renewed in
the spirit of your minds…Put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 4:23, 6:11) Hail Mary…
7.
Dear Jesus, bless our memory. Grant that no memories of
past experiences may disturb us in any way, but that the Lord may touch and
heal us through hope for a better future. “And every one who thus hopes in him
purifies himself as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:1) Hail Mary…
8.
Dear Jesus, bless our estimation. Grant that we may
quickly sense dangers to chastity and instinctively flee from them, that we may
never turn away from higher, more difficult, and more honorable goods for the
sake of sinful self-indulgence. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Mt. 6:19-20) Hail Mary…
9.
Dear Jesus, bless our affectivity. Grant that we may
love chastity and rejoice in it, that all of our emotions may cooperate in its
growth, and that no sadness, discouragement, fear, insecurity, or loneliness
may afflict us unto sexual sin. “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live
temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-12) Hail Mary…
10. Dear
Jesus, bless our intellect. Grant that it may be purged of all false beliefs
and misunderstandings about human sexuality and that the good angels may flood
our intellects with thoughts that are gracious, pure, lovely, honorable, and
true. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is
any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things.” (Phil. 4:8) Hail Mary…
11. Dear
Jesus, bless our will. Grant that it may never be opposed by our sensuality,
that it may never be divided or conflicted in the moment, but may hold fast to
chastity no matter how difficult it may be. “For the Son of God, Jesus
Christ…was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of
God find their Yes in him.” (2 Cor. 1:19-20) Hail Mary…
12. Dear
Jesus, bless our conscience. Grant that it may be swift to judge what is the
chaste thing to do, swifter to execute it, and wholly preserved from the
suggestions of demons. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14) Hail Mary…
13. Dear
Jesus, bless our hearts. Grant that the place where Christ abides in us with
the Father and the Spirit may become the place where we live with the Holy
Trinity in friendship. “Jesus answered him, ‘If a man loves me, he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him.’ ” (Jn. 14:23) Hail Mary…
14. Dear
Jesus, give us the grace of self-surrender. Grant that we may hand over to God
nothing less than our whole lives. “Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit” (Lk. 23:46) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3) Hail Mary…
15. Dear
Jesus, give us Your love. “In this is love, not that we loved God but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10) “But
God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for
us” (Rom. 5:8) Hail Mary…
Closing Prayer
Heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, You who are
everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of all that is good,
Choirmaster of Life, Come, dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save
our souls O Good One. Amen
V. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
"Rejoice, you who are full
of grace”!
721 Mary, the all-holy
ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the
Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and
because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where
his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's
Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to
Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat
of Wisdom."
In her, the "wonders of God" that the Spirit was to fulfill in Christ
and the Church began to be manifested:
722 The Holy Spirit prepared
Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom "the
whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" should herself be "full
of grace." She was, by sheer grace, conceived without sin as the most
humble of creatures, the most capable of welcoming the inexpressible gift of
the Almighty. It was quite correct for the angel Gabriel to greet her as the
"Daughter of Zion": "Rejoice." It is the thanksgiving
of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church, which Mary in her canticle lifts
up to the Father in the Holy Spirit while carrying within her the eternal Son.
723 In Mary, the Holy Spirit
fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. With and through the Holy
Spirit, the Virgin conceives and gives birth to the Son of God. By the Holy
Spirit's power and her faith, her virginity became uniquely fruitful.
724 In Mary, the Holy Spirit
manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the
burning bush of the definitive theophany. Filled with the Holy Spirit she makes
the Word visible in the humility of his flesh. It is to the poor and the first
representatives of the gentiles that she makes him known.
725 Finally, through Mary, the
Holy Spirit begins to bring men, the objects of God's merciful love, into
communion with Christ. and the humble are always the first to accept him:
shepherds, magi, Simeon and Anna, the bride and groom at Cana, and the first
disciples.
726 At the end of this mission
of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the new Eve ("mother of the
living"), the mother of the "whole Christ." As such, she
was present with the Twelve, who "with one accord devoted themselves to
prayer," at the dawn of the "end time" which the Spirit was
to inaugurate on the morning of Pentecost with the manifestation of the Church.
Christ Jesus
727 The entire mission of the
Son and the Holy Spirit, in the fullness of time, is contained in this: that
the Son is the one anointed by the Father's Spirit since his Incarnation -
Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.
Everything in the second chapter of the Creed is to be read in this light.
Christ's whole work is in fact a joint mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Here, we shall mention only what has to do with Jesus' promise of the Holy
Spirit and the gift of him by the glorified Lord.
728 Jesus does not reveal the
Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and
Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his
teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food
for the life of the world. He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to
Nicodemus, to the Samaritan woman, and to those who take part in the
feast of Tabernacles. To his disciples he speaks openly of the Spirit in
connection with prayer and with the witness they will have to bear.
729 Only when the hour has
arrived for his glorification does Jesus promise the coming of the Holy Spirit,
since his Death and Resurrection will fulfill the promise made to the
fathers. The Spirit of truth, the other Paraclete, will be given by the Father
in answer to Jesus' prayer; he will be sent by the Father in Jesus' name; and
Jesus will send him from the Father's side, since he comes from the Father. the
Holy Spirit will come and we shall know him; he will be with us for ever; he
will remain with us. the Spirit will teach us everything, remind us of all that
Christ said to us and bear witness to him. the Holy Spirit will lead us into
all truth and will glorify Christ. He will prove the world wrong about sin,
righteousness, and judgment.
730 At last Jesus' hour
arrives: he commends his spirit into the Father's hands at the very
moment when by his death he conquers death, so that, "raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father," he might immediately give the Holy
Spirit by "breathing" on his disciples. From this hour onward,
the mission of Christ and the Spirit becomes the mission of the Church:
"As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase
in the Religious and Consecrated Life.
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Monday: Litany of
Humility
·
Rosary
[4] http://www.icemanforchrist.org/p/the-way-of-purity.html
[6] http://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/cis/cis322.pdf
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