Claire’s Corner-Try your hand at making a Michaelmas Dinner
· How to celebrate Sep 29th
o Feeling like mixing things up a bit today?
§ Start with a strong cup of joe for National Starbucks Day, perhaps paired with a homemade biscotti for that extra touch.
§ Why stop there when you can show appreciation for law enforcement with a moment of silence on National Police Remembrance Day?
§ Honor the memory of fallen officers on National Police Memorial Day by writing letters of gratitude for their service.
o Take care of your heart next on World Heart Day by incorporating heart-healthy habits like dancing to silent movies or taking a brisk walk.
§ In the spirit of Michaelmas, consider doing a good deed for someone in need.
§ Happy Goose Day by spending time outdoors bird-watching or feeding the local waterfowl.
o Reduce food waste on the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste by creating a meal plan using items in your pantry.
o Embrace wisdom and learning on Confucius Day by diving into a book or podcast on a new topic.
o Cap off your day of celebration by indulging in a warm cup of coffee under the stars, reflecting on the beauty of life’s little pleasures. Make sure to put some grey goose in it.
SEPTEMBER 29 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
FEAST
OF SAINT MICHAEL
1 Samuel, Chapter 23, Verse 1-4
1 David was informed that the
Philistines were attacking Keilah and plundering the threshing floors. 2 So
he consulted the LORD, asking, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The
LORD answered, Go, attack them, and free Keilah. 3 But
David’s men said to him: “Even in Judah we have reason to FEAR. How much more so if we go to Keilah against the forces of the
Philistines!” 4
Again David consulted the LORD, who
answered: Go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your
power.
Again, we see David protecting the
people; even the people who are the friends of Saul. The same Saul who, out of
his envy, is seeking David and his follower’s deaths. David’s faith makes his
actions beyond those of rational fairness; and David’s action show the very
mercy of God.
ON KEEPING THE
LORD'S DAY HOLY[1]
My
esteemed Brothers in the Episcopate
and the Priesthood,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Introduction
7. The duty to keep Sunday holy, especially by
sharing in the Eucharist and by relaxing in a spirit of Christian joy and
fraternity, is easily understood if we consider the many different aspects of
this day upon which the present Letter will focus our attention.
Sunday is a day which is at the very heart of the
Christian life. From the beginning of my Pontificate, I have not ceased to
repeat: "Do not be afraid! Open, open wide the doors to Christ!". In
the same way, today I would strongly urge everyone to rediscover Sunday: Do
not be afraid to give your time to Christ! Yes, let us open our time to
Christ, that he may cast light upon it and give it direction. He is the One who
knows the secret of time and the secret of eternity, and he gives us "his
day" as an ever-new gift of his love. The rediscovery of this day is a
grace which we must implore, not only so that we may live the demands of faith
to the full, but also so that we may respond concretely to the deepest human
yearnings. Time given to Christ is never time lost, but is rather time gained,
so that our relationships and indeed our whole life may become more profoundly
human.
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost[2]
IN the Introit of the Mass God
promises to hear the people who observe His law, and to help them in all their
tribulations. “I am the salvation of the people, saith the Lord; in whatever
tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord
forever. Attend, O My people, to My law; incline your ears to the words of My
mouth.”
Prayer.
O’almighty and merciful God graciously defend us
from all that is hurtful, that, free in mind and body, we may with ready mind
perform all that belongs to Thy service.
EPISTLE.
Eph. iv. 23-28.
Brethren: Be renewed in the spirit of
your mind: and put on the new man, who, according to God, is created in
justice, and holiness of truth. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak ye the
truth every man with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be angry,
and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Give not place to the
devil. He that stole, let him now steal no more, but rather let him labor,
working with his hands the thing, which is good, that he may have something to
give to him that suffereth need.
Explanation.
The epistle of to-day particularly
concerns such as live in falsehood, hatred, anger, injustice, impurity, or
other sins. Perhaps we have often renewed our spirit at a jubilee, or a
mission, or a spiritual retreat; we seemed then to be converted, and to have
become new men, but how long did our spiritual renovation last? Alas, how soon
were we sinners again! We thought that, after making a general confession,
everything was done ; instead of zealously using all means to preserve
ourselves in this happy state of spiritual renewal, we allowed ourselves once
more to resort to bad company and dangerous occasions, and gave ourselves up,
as before, to idleness and indulgence. When shall we be lastingly converted?
GOSPEL.
Matt. xxii. 2-14.
At that time Jesus spoke to the chief priests and
Pharisees in parables, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who
made a marriage for his son. And he sent his servants to call them that were
invited to the marriage: and they would not come. Again, he sent other
servants, saying: Tell them that were invited: Behold, I have prepared my dinner;
my beeves (plural form of beef) and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready:
come ye to the marriage. But they neglected, and went their ways, one to his
farm, and another to his merchandise. And the rest laid hands on his servants,
and, having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king
had heard of it, he was angry, and, sending his armies, he destroyed those
murderers, and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants: The marriage
indeed is ready: but they that were invited were not worthy. Go ye therefore
into the highways; and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage. And his
servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both
bad and good: and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to
see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. And he
saith to him: Friend, how earnest thou in hither not having on a wedding
garment? But he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands
and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Remark. ---This parable is, in many respects, the same as that for the Second
Sunday after Pentecost, and has the same meaning. See, therefore, the
explanation of that gospel; in addition to this, consider also the following
Explanation.
1. In the present parable the king is
our heavenly Father, Who has espoused His only-begotten Son to the Church.
2. The feast is made up of the
doctrines of the Gospel, the holy sacraments, with the other means of
salvation, and of eternal joys.
3. The servants sent to invite the guests are
the prophets, apostles, and disciples of Christ.
4. Those invited are the Jews, who,
despising the honor intended for them, put to death the prophets and apostles.
5. In their place others, that is, the
heathen, were called from all quarters of the earth, who, having been in the
broad road to destruction, now occupy the place of the Jews in the marriage
-feast of the Church, and will one day occupy their place in heaven.
6. The wedding garment signifies
charity, which shows itself by good works; without this, faith avails nothing.
That the man without a wedding garment was silent when questioned by the king
shows us that no one will be able to excuse himself before God for not having
charity, since everyone may have it if he only ask it from God, and be willing
to practice it.
Aspiration.
I thank Thee, O Jesus, that, through Thy
incarnation, passion, and death, Thou hast gained for me eternal happiness;
give me also the wedding garment of charity, that I may be admitted to the heavenly
marriage-feast, and not be cast into the exterior darkness.
Lessons
of Consolation from the Joys of Heaven[3]
In what these joys consist, St.
Paul himself, though more than once caught up to heaven and allowed to see and
taste them, could not describe. He only says that eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath
prepared for them that love Him. In heaven all beauties, all delights, all
joys, are found in the highest and most perfect degree free from all evil, free
from all anxiety and disgust, and free from all fear of ever losing them. In a
word, in heaven man shall possess God Himself, the source of all joy and
happiness, and shall, with Him, enjoy God s own happiness for all eternity. We
shall be like to Him (i. John iii. 2). Is there need of anything more to give
us the highest conception of heaven? How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of
hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my
flesh have rejoiced in the living God (Ps. Ixxxiii). How weary of the world am
I when I contemplate heaven!
Feast of Saint Michael[4]
SAINT MICHAEL is the prince of the heavenly armies,
who first contended against the proud Lucifer. The holy Church honors him as a
particular defender, and the faithful call upon him in all dangers of soul and
body, but they particularly implore his intercession at the hour of death, in
order that, after having, according to his example, courageously fought against
Satan, they may receive the crown of victory, and that their souls may by him
be brought before the throne of God. Let us also venerate him, and, full of
confidence, cry out with the holy Church, “Holy archangel Michael, protect us
in battle that we may not perish in the tremendous judgment.”
Prayer
to St. Michael the Archangel
Great prince of heaven, St.
Michael, to thy protection I commend my soul and body, and, by the glory which
thou possesses in heaven, I beseech thee that thou wouldst ever assist me, particularly
at the close of my life; that thou wouldst strengthen my faint-heartedness, and
obtain for me from God the remission of my sins, and an entire submission to
His holy will, that my soul may depart full of comfort. Then receive it, and
bring it, under the guidance of the holy angels, before the face of God, to
enjoy the contemplation of Him for all eternity. Amen.
St. Michael, Champion of the
Church[5]
The
Church of God has always considered Saint Michael as its special protector. The
archangel himself has acknowledged this to Constantine after the completion of
a church in his honor saying,
“I am
Michael, the chief of the angelic legions of the Lord of hosts, the protector
of the Christian religion, who whilst thou wast battling against godless
tyrants, placed the weapons in thy hands.”
Assuredly,
St. Michael will not fail to come to the aid of our Holy Church. His assistance
shall be forth coming in these troubled times when legions of evil are visible
throughout the world exciting the minds of men. We behold their activities in
the events of the media and the world-wide propaganda against morality and
religion everywhere. Yet, despite this we are beneath his mighty leadership and
with the aid of his own unvanquishable legions we shall not fail.
Michaelmas
(September 29th) [6]
The
anniversary of the dedication of St. Michael the Archangel's basilica outside
of Rome by Pope Boniface II in 530 A.D. affords the Church the opportunity to
honor one of its most significant
saints. Tradition holds that Michael is the heavenly spirit who cast
Satan and his minions into Hell after their revolt from God. As the
"Governor of Heaven" (Praepositus Paradisi), he is ranked only
below the Mother of God in the Confiteor. The Roman church also
identifies him as the angel whom St. John saw in heaven standing near the altar
of God and offering the prayers of the saints like an odor of sweetness (see
the offertory blessing of incense at a High Mass). He is also singled out in
the Requiem Mass as the banner-bearer who leads the departed to purgatory and
heaven (see offertory prayers). Finally, Michael's victory over the devil's
army renders him not only the patron saint of souls, but of Christian soldiers.
All of this leads to the conclusion that Michael is one of our most potent
allies and helps us see why the Roman rite has traditionally venerated him with
such affection and respect.
Consequently,
Michaelmas (pronounced
"mikk-el-mes") was one of the great public holidays and religious
feasts of early and medieval Europe. Saint
Michael's parades, Michael's fairs, Michael's Plays, etc. would
in many places constitute the climax of autumn harvest celebrations. Michaelmas
also coincided with the "quarter
days" in Northern Europe, one of the four times in the year
when free men would sit in court, make laws, and pay rents.
Things to do:[7]
·
This is a good feast to learn more about the
angels. Children especially are fascinated by these celestial beings. The best
place to start is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 328-336 to see the teachings of the Church on angels. John Paul II also did
a Catechesis on the Angels during his General Audiences from July 9 to
August 20, 1986.
·
Find the passages in the Bible about angels, in
particular the passages about Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
·
Read the section on angels in the Directory on Popular Piety
and Liturgy. The document
examines the doctrine and devotions of the angels. Devotion to angels is good,
but also can have deviations.
Devotion to the Holy Angels gives rise to a
certain form of the Christian life which is characterized by:
·
devout gratitude to God for having placed these
heavenly spirits of great sanctity and dignity at the service of man.
·
an attitude of devotion deriving from the
knowledge of living constantly in the presence of the Holy Angels of God —
serenity and confidence in facing difficult situations, since the Lord guides
and protects the faithful in the way of justice through the ministry of His
Holy Angels. Among the prayers to the Guardian Angels the Angele Dei is
especially popular, and is often recited by families at morning and evening
prayers, or at the recitation of the Angelus.
217.
Popular devotion to the Holy Angels, which is legitimate and good, can,
however, also give rise to possible deviations:
·
when, as sometimes can happen, the faithful are
taken by the idea that the world is subject to demiurgical struggles, or an
incessant battle between good and evil spirits, or Angels and daemons, in which
man is left at the mercy of superior forces and over which he is helpless; such
cosmologies bear little relation to the true Gospel vision of the struggle to
overcome the devil, which requires moral commitment, a fundamental option for
the Gospel, humility and prayer;
·
when the daily events of life, which have
nothing or little to do with our progressive maturing on the journey towards
Christ are read schematically or simplistically, indeed childishly, so as to
ascribe all setbacks to the devil and all success to the Guardian Angels. The
practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in
the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy
Scripture.
·
Also read All About the Angels.
·
Memorize the prayer to St. Michael the
Archangel. Although no longer formally recited after Mass, our Holy Father John
Paul II has encouraged us to recite this prayer daily. Read about this prayer. Here is the Regina Caeli message from
April 24, 1994 during which the
pope encouraged this prayer.
·
In honor of St. Gabriel, Learn the Angelus and recite it daily. Traditionally, the prayer
is prayed at the 6:00 and 12:00 hours (am and pm). There is a partial
indulgence attached to those who pray this prayer.
·
Read the Book of Tobit for the story of St. Raphael helping Tobit and Tobias.
·
Make some recipes related to Michaelmas. Of
special mention is the St. Michael Bannock from Scotland, roast goose and
stuffing from Britain, waffles from France, and roast duck from Germany or
France, gnocchi from Italy. Blackberries, apples and carrots also play a large
role on this feast in various countries. Other ideas: make an angel food cake,
devil's food cake or angel hair pasta. Decorate with white, symbolizing the
angels, or use other symbolic colors (see above). Non-dessert items: deviled
eggs, deviled meats, etc.
·
Try to find the Michaelmas daisy, a purple
aster, to use for decoration. It also comes in other colors, including white,
but purple is the most popular. It usually blooms in late summer until October.
The official name is Aster novi-belgii, but is also known as New York
aster. If you find plants or seeds to plan for next year's garden. This site
has photos and gardening information for the Michaelmas daisy.
·
Folklore in the British Isles suggests that
Michaelmas day is the last day that blackberries can be picked. It is said that
when St. Michael expelled Lucifer, the devil, from heaven, he fell from the
skies and landed in a prickly blackberry bush. Satan cursed the fruit, scorched
them with his fiery breath, and stamped and spat on them, so that they would be
unfit for eating. A traditional Irish proverb says:
On Michaelmas Day the devil puts his foot on the blackberries.
If
you have access to blackberries, make this the last picking and eating. Perhaps
make a blackberry pie? See Michaelmas Pie
for a great recipe.
The
Catholic Tradition of Harvest Feasts of Thanksgiving[8]
- Feast of St. Michael
or Michaelmas, September 29—In England this was a “quarter day” and
huge harvest feast, with a roasted
goose as the centerpiece.
Feast of the
day: Vodka
Sauce Chicken Parmesan (Couldn’t
find a goose for a tradition St. Michael’s day feast-Vodka sauce is made with
Grey Goose Vodka)
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
Day 108
The Church - revealed by the
Holy Spirit
767 "When the work which
the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was
sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the
Church." Then "the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and
the spread of the Gospel among the nations, through preaching, was
begun." As the "convocation" of all men for salvation, the
Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to
make disciples of them.
768 So that she can fulfill her
mission, the Holy Spirit "bestows upon [the Church] varied hierarchic and
charismatic gifts, and in this way directs her." "Henceforward
the Church, endowed with the gifts of her founder and faithfully observing his
precepts of charity, humility and self-denial, receives the mission of
proclaiming and establishing among all peoples the Kingdom of Christ and of
God, and she is on earth the seed and the beginning of that kingdom."
The Church - perfected in glory
769 "The Church . . . will
receive its perfection only in the glory of heaven," at the time of
Christ's glorious return. Until that day, "the Church progresses on her
pilgrimage amidst this world's persecutions and God's consolations." Here
below she knows that she is in exile far from the Lord, and longs for the full
coming of the Kingdom, when she will "be united in glory with her
king." The Church, and through her the world, will not be perfected
in glory without great trials. Only then will "all the just from the time
of Adam, 'from Abel, the just one, to the last of the elect,' . . . be gathered
together in the universal Church in the Father's presence."
III. THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH
770 The Church is in history,
but at the same time she transcends it. It is only "with the eyes of
faith" that one can see her in her visible reality and at the same
time in her spiritual reality as bearer of divine life.
The Church - both visible and
spiritual
771 "The one mediator,
Christ, established and ever sustains here on earth his holy Church, the
community of faith, hope, and charity, as a visible organization through which
he communicates truth and grace to all men." The Church is at the
same time:
- a "society structured with hierarchical organs and the mystical body of
Christ;
- the visible society and the spiritual community;
- the earthly Church and the Church endowed with heavenly riches."
These dimensions together constitute "one complex reality which comes
together from a human and a divine element":
The Church
is essentially both human and divine, visible but endowed with invisible
realities, zealous in action and dedicated to contemplation, present in the
world, but as a pilgrim, so constituted that in her the human is directed
toward and subordinated to the divine, the visible to the invisible, action to
contemplation, and this present world to that city yet to come, the object of
our quest.
O humility!
O sublimity! Both tabernacle of cedar and sanctuary of God; earthly dwelling
and celestial palace; house of clay and royal hall; body of death and temple of
light; and at last both object of scorn to the proud and bride of Christ! She
is black but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, for even if the labor and
pain of her long exile may have discolored her, yet heaven's beauty has adorned
her.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The
Sick, afflicted, and infirmed.
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[2]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[3]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
[4] Goffine’s Devout Instructions,
1896.
[5] St. Michael and the Angels, Tan
Books, 1983.
[7]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-09-29
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