Quiet Day[1]
Noise is everywhere, on the crowded train, in the busy
office, in the pub, the school playground, and even at home. We simply can’t
seem to get away from the buzz of everyday life. Sometimes it’s just all too
much. We know that peace and quiet are good for the both the body and the mind,
but it’s increasingly difficult in today’s world to experience real quiet, and
that’s why a National Quiet Day is so important.
” Everything
that’s created comes out of silence. Your thoughts emerge from the nothingness
of silence. Your words come out of this voice. Your very essence emerged from
emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.”
~ Wayne Dyer
Every day we are surrounded by the chatter of TV, the
radio, even our friends and family. Few are the opportunities we have to engage
in a little quiet contemplation, giving our vocal chords a rest to simply
listen to the world around us and simply experience it. Quiet Day is dedicated
to taking a little time to free your voice and mind from the rigors of
conversation.
History of Quiet Day
Quiet Day was established to remind us to slow down and
give silence a chance. During this celebration, you are encouraged to simply
not speak, and preferably to take a chance to not communicate at all. The
sounds of our voices, and in fact our active interaction with others has served
to keep us spiritually silent and separated from the world around us, and in
some odd ways from the very people we interact with every day. Quiet Day allows
you to engage the world around you by removing the shield that is the wall of
words we use every day. In India, there are meditation retreats where time is
spent kneeling and in contemplation, sometimes as many as 10 days in
succession. These are called Vipassana retreats, a word which means “to see
things as they really are” and comes from ancient Buddhist practices. While
Quiet Day is just one day, the principles included in these retreats can be
applied to your one Day of Silence. The peace and clarity it can bring has the
possibility of opening your mind to things about your life that have long since
been buried in verbal noise.
How to Celebrate Quiet Day
The best way to celebrate Quiet Day is to head somewhere to
experience your time in silence uninterrupted. If the weather is pleasant, you
can head out to a park or to walk among the trees, just getting out in nature
and letting your mind wander and find peace. If you must go in and go to work
or encounter other people, carry a card that says “I’m spending a day in
silence.” that you can flash, letting people know that you are attempting to
not speak for the day. Let Quiet Day be your vacation from vocalization!
Peace and quiet is good for you, both physically and mentally. Studies have
shown that taking time for quiet can have a positive effect on your body and in
some cases can even lower blood pressure and reduce the heart rate. However, it
is increasingly difficult in today’s world to experience real quiet, and that’s
why we are establishing the first ever Quiet Day. In these busy times, more
people are suffering from stress. Often made worse by the relentless invasion
of unwanted noise in our lives, stress levels can be lowered by reducing your
exposure to noise and taking a little sanctuary in silence.
Silence is often the sound of humility.[2]
We don’t pretend to have experience that we actually don’t.
We don’t presume to instruct someone who hasn’t asked for our help. We don’t
assume that our own lives and experiences are as interesting to others as they
are to ourselves (hint: they usually aren’t). The person who only asks one good
question or makes one insightful comment often does so to encourage others to
participate or to enrich the conversation.
When we have an accurate assessment of our own abilities
and an active interest in others’ talents or experiences, we will frequently be
silent.
[2]https://www.worldchallenge.org/silence-study-humility-and-strength
Dara’s Day
· How to celebrate Sep 11th
o Start your day with a moment of peace and quiet. Embrace National Quiet Day by taking a few minutes to meditate or simply sit in stillness.
§ Move on to National Hot Cross Bun Day by baking up a batch of these delicious treats – a perfect way to enjoy a cozy breakfast or snack.
§ Then, pay tribute to Libraries Remember Day by diving into a good book from your local library or arranging a book swap with friends.
§ Patriot Day can be honored by writing thank you notes to service members or flying the flag in your yard to show support.
o September 11 National Day of Service can be marked by giving back to your community in a meaningful way. Consider volunteering at a local shelter or organizing a neighborhood clean-up.
§ National SUP Day encourages you to get outdoors and try stand-up paddleboarding if you’re near the water, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll by a lake or river.
o On No News is Good News Day, take a break from the constant stream of information and indulge in some digital detox. Disconnect from social media and news websites, and spend quality time with loved ones instead.
o Wrap up the day by celebrating National Make Your Bed Day – a simple act that can bring a sense of accomplishment and order to your space. Plus, climbing into a well-made bed at the end of the day is always a treat. Who knew that embracing these seemingly unrelated holidays could result in such a fulfilling and varied day of activities?
· MTV Video Music Awards[6]
o Today is MTV music awards; sadly, most of the music awarded much like the academy awards promote evil and the ways of the world; the degradation of the flesh and the promotion of the New World Order.
· Classical Music Month-If MTV is not your bag; try the classical or try playing a classical instrument: My daughter plays the violin.
PATRIOT DAY-MTV Video Music
Awards
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12, Verse 5-7
5
When one is AFRAID
of heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the
locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because mortals go
to their lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; 6 Before the silver
cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at
the spring, and the pulley is broken at the well, 7 And the dust returns
to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
This chapter of Ecclesiastes is a tribute to life and is a poem on old age and death. The poem’s mysterious imagery has often been interpreted symbolically. Above all it seeks to evoke an atmosphere as well as an attitude toward death and old age. The poet references to the human body—“guardians”: the arms; “strong men”: the legs; “women who grind”: the teeth; “those who look”: the eyes; “the doors”: the lips; “daughters of song”: the voice; “the almond tree blooms”: resembling the white hair of old age; “the locust…sluggish”: the stiffness in movement of the aged; “the caper berry”: a stimulant for appetite. The golden bowl suspended by the silver cord is a symbol of life, the snapping of the cord and the breaking of the bowl, a symbol of death. The pitcher…the pulley: another pair of metaphors for life and its ending. Death is portrayed in terms of the description of creation in the body corrupts in the grave, and the life breath (“spirit”), or gift of life, returns to God who had breathed upon what he had formed.[1]
How to Finish Well[2]
By God’s grace we
all hope to finish well. The poet gives us his plan on how to finish well.
1.
Don’t
lose sight of the big picture (entire situation), especially when you are
young.
2.
Do
what is right before it is too late to correct yourself.
3.
Use
your words like tools to shepherd and add value to others.
4.
Don’t
try to master everything in life, just what is important.
5.
Trust
and obey God, because He is the ultimate judge.
Resurrection People[3]
“We are an Easter
people, and ‘Alleluia’ is our song!”
These words are
attributed to St. John Paul II during an address at
a black parish in Harlem in 1979, and again before leading the
congregation in the Angelus at a Mass in
Adelaide, Australia, in 1986. However, the Pope was paraphrasing a
quote from St. Augustine of Hippo, some 1,500 years before: “We are a
resurrection people, and our song is ‘Alleluia’.” If you don’t hear or read
these words again this Easter, you probably will next year. If nothing else
separates the post-Vatican II Catholic from the traditionalist, it’s the trope
of “the resurrection people”. I’m not trying to import what’s been called the
“hermeneutic of rupture”, the belief that the Second Vatican Council changed
the DNA of the Catholic Church or the substance of Catholic dogma. However,
it’s not an exaggeration to say that the Council created, or at least promoted,
a different style — a different perspective from which to view our doctrine and
expound it. And the “resurrection people” trope is a key to that difference.
Error usually begins with the emphasis of one doctrine, or a collection of
related doctrines, over the rest. For instance, had Martin Luther truly
understood what St. Paul meant by works, he might have ended his days
still an Augustinian priest in communion with the Church. Far be it from me to
suggest that either Ss. John Paul or Augustine were in error by saying “we are
a resurrection people”; for both men were well-versed in the evangelium.
However, the saying can be easily misunderstood. For it would be just as true,
if not more, to say we are the “people of the crucifixion”.
For our goal is to
follow him where he leads us for Christ is stronger than life or death!
Patriot Day[4]
Patriot Day is a day the US remembers the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This day is commonly referred to as 9-11 (Nine-Eleven). It is believed that 2,977 people died in the attacks. President George W. Bush proclaimed September 11th Patriot Day in 2002.
Patriot Day (Sept
11) Facts
·
On
September 11th, US Flags should be flown at half-mast - both on US soil and
abroad.
·
A
moment of silence is held at 8:46 a.m. (EST) across the nation - commemorating
the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on
September 11, 2001.
·
The
National September 11 Memorial and Museum takes up over half of the destroyed
World Trade Center site. It contains bronze parapets inscribed with the names
of those killed on September 11, 2001, and those killed in the 1993 World Trade
Center attack.
·
Cleaning
up Ground Zero, as the World Trade Center was renamed, took 18 months and 19
days, and was completed in May of 2002.
·
The
Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were once the tallest buildings in the
world and contained enough concrete to build a sidewalk from New York City to
Washington D.C
Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Visit
the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City.
·
Observe
a moment of silence.
·
Attend
a 9/11 Memorial Service.
·
Share
with a group of children your memories of 9/11 and how the events of the day
forever changed America.
·
Show
support for local police and firemen as a way to honor the emergency personnel
who gave their lives on 9/11.
·
Firemen
on that day climbed 2200 steps in the stairs of the towers to save lives;
perhaps today would be a good day to climb 2200 stair steps and donate one cent
for each step ($22.00) to a 911 fund that supports the widows and orphans.
Total Consecration to Jesus through
Mary[5]
Mary asks that in order for us to be happy in this life and the next
that we follow her example of prayer, sacrifice and devotion to her son Christ
by making a total consecration to her immaculate heart. This consecration takes
33 days of prayer and reflection. As it is exactly 33 days from 9/11 to 10/13 (miracle
of the sun in Fatima 1917)
Consider making a gift of yourself to Christ through Mary for
the protection of America and the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
St. Louis de Montfort
(1673 – 1716) had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and wrote extensively on the
virtues of Our Lady, what true devotion to her consists in, and how the
faithful need to turn to her as the way to her Son, Jesus Christ. In his
classic writings (The Secret of Mary, The Secret of the Rosary, and True Devotion to Mary) he recommends that the faithful
formally consecrate themselves to the Blessed Mother. For this end he developed
a specific 33-day program consisting of various prayers and readings to help
the faithful detach themselves from the world and bond themselves more closely
with Christ through the example and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St. Louis de Montfort stands in a long tradition of saints completely devoted
to Our Lady, and his work has been influential in the lives of many other
saints, notable among them is Pope St. John Paul II who took his papal motto,
"Totus Tuus" (Totally Yours) from de Montfort. This "Total
Consecration of Jesus through Mary" consists of an initial 12-day
preparation followed by a period of three consecutive weeks, each week focusing
on a different theme. It is recommended that the consecration be done on a
major feast day of Our Lady, meaning that the preparation would begin 33 days
prior. That is, after the 33-day program is completed, the Act of Consecration
is made on a Marian feast day. Once you make the consecration, it is for life.
It can then be renewed annually. Keep in mind that this is a formal
consecration to Our Lady, not unlike a vow, that is to be done in a solemn
manner. Through this 33-day program you are giving Mary all of yourself -
heart, mind, and soul - in order to bring you to her Son, Jesus Christ. Also,
that she may use you as a holy instrument in her battle with Satan - i.e., this
consecration allows her the free reign in your life to make you holy (as she
assists you, through the Holy Spirit, to conform to her virtues) and to use
your prayers, sacrifices, and sufferings for the greater glory of God.
“The Immaculata alone has from God the
promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves
entirely to her, that will become in her hand’s forceful instruments for the
defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom."
- St.
Maximilian Kolbe
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION
OF FAITH
SECTION
TWO-I. THE CREEDS
CHAPTER TWO
I
BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD
Article 4-"JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS
CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED"
Paragraph
3. JESUS CHRIST WAS BURIED
Day 89
624 "By the grace of
God" Jesus tasted death "for everyone". In his plan of
salvation, God ordained that his Son should not only "die for our
sins" but should also "taste death", experience the
condition of death, the separation of his soul from his body, between the time
he expired on the cross and the time he was raised from the dead. the state of
the dead Christ is the mystery of the tomb and the descent into hell. It is the
mystery of Holy Saturday, when Christ, lying in the tomb, reveals God's
great sabbath rest after the fulfilment of man's salvation, which
brings peace to the whole universe.
Christ in the tomb in his body
625 Christ's stay in the tomb
constitutes the real link between his passible state before Easter and his
glorious and risen state today. the same person of the "Living One"
can say, "I died, and behold I am alive for evermore":
God [the
Son] did not impede death from separating his soul from his body according to
the necessary order of nature, but has reunited them to one another in the
Resurrection, so that he himself might be, in his person, the meeting point for
death and life, by arresting in himself the decomposition of nature produced by
death and so becoming the source of reunion for the separated parts.
626 Since the "Author of
life" who was killed is the same "living one [who has]
risen", The divine person of the Son of God necessarily continued to
possess his human soul and body, separated from each other by death:
By the fact that at Christ’s
death his soul was separated from his flesh, his one person is not itself
divided into two persons; for the human body and soul of Christ have existed in
the same way from the beginning of his earthly existence, in the divine person
of the Word; and in death, although separated from each other, both remained
with one and the same person of the Word.
"You will not let your
Holy One see corruption"
627 Christ's death was a real
death in that it put an end to his earthly human existence. But because of the
union his body retained with the person of the Son, his was not a mortal corpse
like others, for "divine power preserved Christ's body from corruption." Both
of these statements can be said of Christ: "He was cut off out of the land
of the living", and "My flesh will dwell in hope. For you will
not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let your Holy One see corruption." Jesus'
Resurrection "on the third day" was the proof of this, for bodily
decay was held to begin on the fourth day after death.
"Buried with Christ. .
."
628 Baptism, the original and
full sign of which is immersion, efficaciously signifies the descent into the
tomb by the Christian who dies to sin with Christ in order to live a new life.
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk
in newness of life."
IN BRIEF
629 To the benefit of every
man, Jesus Christ tasted death (cf Heb 2:9). It is truly the Son of God made
man who died and was buried.
630 During Christ's period
in the tomb, his divine person continued to assume both his soul and his body,
although they were separated from each other by death. For this reason the dead
Christ's body "saw no corruption" (Acts 13:37).
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·
Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: End
Sex Trafficking, Slavery
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
No comments:
Post a Comment