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St. Ignatius Universal Man Plan

St. Ignatius Universal Man Plan
You must give yourself away to begin

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Porters of St. Joseph

Porters of St. Joseph
Men of Virtue

Monday, October 21, 2024

Monday Night at the Movies

Black Robe 

Christopher’s Corner

 

This day in 1964 was the release date of the movie, “My Fair Lady.” It is one of my Sister Nicole’s favorite movies.

·         Have something with Apple today

·         How to celebrate Oct 21st

·         National Massage Therapy Awareness Week

·         You wake up to a day filled with buttons, technology, history, writing, medication, reptiles, nachos, apples, and pumpkin cheesecake.

o   Begin by counting your buttons and decluttering your virtual desktop.

o   Dive into the past with a Back To The Future movie marathon or read about Trafalgar Day online.

o   Challenge yourself to write something creative or pen a letter to a friend on Everyone Writes Day.

o   Take a moment to organize your meds and ensure everything is up to date.

o   Research reptiles and their importance on National Reptile Awareness Day.

o   Treat yourself to some loaded nachos or create your own nacho masterpiece.

§  Snack on an apple or bake an apple pie to celebrate National Apple Day.

·         End your day by indulging in a slice of pumpkin cheesecake or bake your own for a sweet finish. Enjoy the medley of activities and embrace the unexpected fun these weird holidays bring.

Go see the fall leaves



OCTOBER 21 Monday

Trafalgar Day

 

1 Chronicles, Chapter 21, Verse 29-30

29 The tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar for burnt offerings were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go into his presence to inquire of God, for he was FEARFUL of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

 

The sword of the Angel is another way of saying divine justice. When we sin, we all fear the sword of the Angel, for all have sinned; yet when we sin, we fear the thing that can save us-trusting that God is bigger than our sin. We, like David, are fearful of punishment for our sins and that we will get exactly what we did not count on. Yet, know; Gods mercy is greater that His justice. Trust is central to salvation.

 

Census of Sin[1]

 

King David had ordered a census to be taken. David’s general Joab strongly cautioned the King against such a measure, but David insisted on it anyway. Upon completion of the census the Prophet Gad informed David of God’s anger and intention to punish David and all Israel for this sin.

 

What’s wrong with a Census?

 

In effect David’s lack of trust. For God had called David to trust in God, not in man, not in numbers. We have a tendency to rely too much on numbers. We tend to think that something is good, or right or successful, based on how many people attend, or how many support a cause or view. Of this tendency we must be very careful.


 

Is our power or rightness rooted in numbers, in popularity, in profit, or in God?

 

David in counting his people is, it would seem, seeking confidence in his numbers, rather than God, and this is a sin. For, David could well have considered with pride the fact that he had amassed a large number of people in reuniting the Israel and Judah, in conquering the Philistines and the Hittites et al. Thus, taking a census was a way of flattering himself, and making a name for himself. The numbers ARE quite impressive. So impressive, in fact that we moderns doubt them: 800,000 men fit for military service in Israel, and 500,000 men in Judah. This number of over 1 million men does not include women, children or the elderly. Hence the full census number may be closer to 5 million.

 

This seems an unlikely number and opens up the great debate among biblical scholars about biblical numeration but for here, let it be said, David was enthroned over a numerous nation and his census is a likely indication that he was quite proud of his accomplishment, and wanted that accomplishment recorded for history and/or his contemporaries: “David: King of multitudes!” These are not David’s people to number; they are God’s people. Since counting hints at accomplishment and control, David sins in trying to know a number that is none of his business, a number that is for God alone to know.

 

God numbers the people and calls them by name (cf Gen 15:15). Note that David is delivered a number of men “fit for military service.” Hence in the ancient world, a census was often a tool of military draft. It was also a tool used to exact taxes, and for Kings to measure power, and manipulate and coerce based on that power.

 

Even in our own time the taking of the Census every ten years is often steeped in power struggles, political gerrymandering, tax policy, spending priorities, the number of seats in the legislature, and the pitting of certain ethnic and racial groups against each other. A lot of mischief and political power struggles are tied back to the census, because numbers are powerful things.

 

Those that have “the numbers on their side” get seats at the table.

 

Those who do not can wait outside.

 

Thus, David, in amassing numbers, amasses power and the capacity to manipulate his people in sinful or unjust ways. 


Trafalgar Day[2]

A British commemoration of the victory of the Royal Navy over the French and Spanish fleets, Trafalgar Day seeks to pay honor to this important occasion that was a pivotal point in history. History buffs, navy fans, and just average people can all find ways to learn more and enjoy marking this momentous event! 

Responsibility-Lord Horatio Nelson

Lord Nelson who was the personification of a person who displays the characteristic of RESPONSIBILITY. Nelson was a man who did not play small he took to heart the adage that to be responsible one must respond with their ability (response/ability). Sometimes he disobeyed orders when he knew there was a better and smarter way to defeat the enemy; he had all faith and all courage. McCain said of Lord Nelson that he was, “The bold and brave admiral who taught men how to fight and made the British Navy the most powerful in the world” Nelson was known for his creative disobedience that is the courage to disobey if the situation was warranted. Nelson never just ran head long into battle. No, if he disobeyed it was daring and would not have wasted the precious lives of his men. His men knew this and they had the greatest trust and regard in him. Lord Nelson also had the greatest affectionate regard for those with which he served. His men loved him and followed him into battle willingly.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

SECTION TWO-I. THE CREEDS

CHAPTER THREE-I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

ARTICLE 8-"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"

Paragraph 5. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

                   Day 130

946 After confessing "the holy catholic Church," the Apostles' Creed adds "the communion of saints." In a certain sense this article is a further explanation of the preceding: "What is the Church if not the assembly of all the saints?" The communion of saints is the Church.

947 "Since all the faithful form one body, the good of each is communicated to the others.... We must therefore believe that there exists a communion of goods in the Church. But the most important member is Christ, since he is the head.... Therefore, the riches of Christ are communicated to all the members, through the sacraments." "As this Church is governed by one and the same Spirit, all the goods she has received necessarily become a common fund."

948 The term "communion of saints" therefore has two closely linked meanings: communion in holy things (sancta)" and "among holy persons (sancti).

"Sancta sancti's! ("God's holy gifts for God's holy people") is proclaimed by the celebrant in most Eastern liturgies during the elevation of the holy Gifts before the distribution of communion. the faithful (sancta) are fed by Christ's holy body and blood (sancta) to grow in the communion of the Holy Spirit (koinonia) and to communicate it to the world.

I. COMMUNION IN SPIRITUAL GOODS

949 In the primitive community of Jerusalem, the disciples "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers."
Communion in the faith. the faith of the faithful is the faith of the Church, received from the apostles. Faith is a treasure of life which is enriched by being shared.

950 Communion of the sacraments. "The fruit of all the sacraments belongs to all the faithful. All the sacraments are sacred links uniting the faithful with one another and binding them to Jesus Christ, and above all Baptism, the gate by which we enter into the Church. the communion of saints must be understood as the communion of the sacraments.... the name 'communion' can be applied to all of them, for they unite us to God.... But this name is better suited to the Eucharist than to any other, because it is primarily the Eucharist that brings this communion about."

951 Communion of charisms. Within the communion of the Church, the Holy Spirit "distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank" for the building up of the Church. Now, "to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

952 "They had everything in common." "Everything the true Christian has is to be regarded as a good possessed in common with everyone else. All Christians should be ready and eager to come to the help of the needy . . . and of their neighbors in want." A Christian is a steward of the Lord's goods.

953 Communion in charity. In the sanctorum communio, "None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself." "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." "Charity does not insist on its own way." In this solidarity with all men, living or dead, which is founded on the communion of saints, the least of our acts done in charity redounds to the profit of all. Every sin harms this communion.

Daily Devotions

·         Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: For the intercession of the angels and saints

·         Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels

·         Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

·         Monday: Litany of Humility

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood

·         Universal Man Plan

·         Rosary


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