NIC’s Corner Tomorrow is the end of the church year
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)
· Iceman’s 40 devotion
· Operation Purity
· How to celebrate Nov 29th
o Black Friday mayhem can be avoided by supporting small businesses or organizing a clothing swap.
o National Square Dancing Day invites you to have a hoedown wherever you are – just kick up your heels and dance!
§ Back in the day (1960’s) square dancing was a class in public schools in Arizona
o International Jaguar Day advocates for wildlife conservation; research ways to protect endangered species.
o Electronic Greetings Day is perfect for reaching out to friends and family online
o Maize Day celebrates an essential crop; try your hand at cooking with corn or visit a local farm.
§ National Lemon Cream Pie Day challenges you to bake a zesty dessert.
· National Chocolates Day is a sweet indulgence – treat yourself to a decadent chocolate dessert or host a tasting party.
o Lastly, Throw Out Your Leftovers Day encourages a fridge cleanout and creative leftover recipes. Embrace the spirit of these unique holidays by adapting activities to fit your interests and resources.
NOVEMBER 29 Friday
in the Octave of
Christ the King
VIGIL OF ST. ANDREW
Tobit, Chapter 8, Verse 18
Blessed are you, for you have made me happy; what I FEARED did not happen. Rather you have dealt with us according to your abundant mercy.
Peace can
only come when we confront the truth.
Jesus declared “I am the truth”
(John 14: 6) and told Pontius Pilate “For this I was born and for this I came
into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18: 37). Because he is the Son
of God, Jesus is the truth about who God is, and, because he is fully human, he
is the truth about the human person.
What is that truth?
First, that God is Love, love that is
willing to give all, even life itself, for the good of the beloved.
Second, that the human person is precious
to God, precious enough to die for. When this truth is denied, the human person
becomes subhuman, an object, or a threat. It becomes easy to destroy a mass of
cells viewed as a threat. The human person may seem like a cancer on humanity
and be treated as such, rather than as an individual for whom Jesus suffered
and died. We are created in the image and likeness of God, and we have a
choice: To do good or to do evil. Daily we must decide if we are for ourselves and pursue the things of the
world or are we going to follow Christ by picking up our cross daily and freely
live under the flag of Christ.
Father
John Parks [1]
states that the flag we choose to live under determines everything.
He
asks,
“Whose
flag are you under?
Do
we consciously choose to serve, or do we just let it happen?
We
have a choice here and indecision is a decision itself. Whose flag will you follow
Christ’s or Satan’s. True freedom comes not from doing what you want but doing
the things you were created to do. Father John recommends we follow the flag of
Christ (poverty, chastity, obedience) and not that of Satan (greed, lust,
pride) by having a battle plan.
1.
Be
in the state of grace at all times-Go to Mass if you fall get up go to
confession.
2.
Pray-we
know who we are by knowing who’s we are. Remember Saint Joseph is known as the
terror of demons.
3.
Do
your daily duty; there is great heroism in finishing the daily tasks.
4.
Be
Humble and obey. When you break a commandment, you do not break it as
much as it breaks you.
5. Seek a community where there is strength in numbers “Iron sharpens iron”. Remember the Holy Spirit is what sets us free.
Friday in the Octave of Christ the King
·
Meditate
on the virtues of Mary (Humility, Generosity, Chastity, Patience, Temperance,
Understanding/love and Wisdom. One for each day.
·
attend
Mass daily or via EWTN or the internet
·
Fast
doing the Daniel fast (Monday-Saturday).
· Exercise-Universal Man Plan.
God’s Handiwork[2]
Every Christmas although the same in many ways is
always new for each Christmas expresses a hope learned from a lifetime of
praising God. For every Christmas if we open our eyes to truth we will see the
handiwork of God; the rock of our salvation. Perhaps in these final days of
anticipation it would do us well to reflect on the virtues of Mary Christ’s
very own mother and in these final days in some way reflect them in our own
lives.
Temperance the power of the soul
The virtue of temperance
is necessary to the Christian who would live according to the law of God. When
this virtue is wanting, the spirit becomes the slave of the flesh. It can no
longer relish things divine; for, says St. Paul, "the sensual man
perceiveth not the things that are of the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. ii, 14.)
In fact, gluttony and gross living naturally tend to the obscuring of the
intellect and to the quenching of spiritual light. It is vain, therefore, to look
for wisdom among those that live in luxury and abundance: "Wisdom is not
found in the land of them that live in delight." (Job, xxviii, 18.)
Moreover intemperance, by exciting a wild gaiety, often provokes bickering and
dissensions, and it is a known fact that gluttony takes a greater toll of human
lives than does disease. But what is still worse, intemperance excites in man
all kinds of impure thoughts, which find vent in words, gestures and actions
contrary to holy modesty; it hardens the heart and prepares the way to eternal
perdition.
THE
Church teaches us that the Christian must
all submit in expiation of our sins. Our divine Redeemer Himself impressed upon
us this great truth when He said: "Unless you shall do penance, you shall
all likewise perish." (Luke xiii. 3.)
The
object of penance is, in the first place, to lead us to refrain ourselves, in
so far as reason and faith demand, from the inordinate desire of sensual
pleasure to which our fallen nature is inclined. So strong is this inclination
that we are ever in danger of falling into the slough of vice. How many
Christians, alas, by following their unbridled imagination, lose both soul and
body together!
Wherefore,
Holy Church imposes upon us the obligation of fasting, putting us in mind of
the advantages which accrue from this salutary penance to which
we practice. Fasting, in effect, "represses vices, raises our
thoughts heavenward, makes easy the practice of virtue, and is a constant
source of merit." (Preface for Lent.)
As
Mary was not tainted with original sin, she did not experience in herself this
disorderly proneness to the pleasures of sense, the baneful consequence of the
sin of our first parents. Being full of grace, she maintained always the just
balance of the powers of her soul. She performed all her actions with ease and
delight, not having to use violence with herself, in order to preserve that
even poise of the faculties, which reason arid the law of God demand.
Nevertheless, Mary subjected herself willingly to the law of penance and
mortification, denying herself those. Her life was one long series of
privations and self-denials. Her fasting and abstinence was continual. She only
allowed herself what was necessary to maintain life. She mortified all her
senses, so that it was hard to say in what particular kind of
mortification she excelled, in modesty of the eyes, in lowliness of demeanor,
in the sparingness of her words or in the dignity of her gestures. It was
natural, then, that her Heavenly Bridegroom should find in her all His delight.
And as the fruit of this temperance, Mary acquired an extraordinary facility in
conversing familiarly with her Well-Beloved, a heavenly joy which was depicted
on her countenance, a virginal beauty which radiated from her whole presence, a
something so indescribably sweet and majestic, that it gave to her an aspect
rather divine than human: "How beautiful art thou my love, how beautiful
art thou! Thine eyes are as doves' eyes, besides what is hid within!"
(Cant. iv, 1.)
Mass Proper’s for the Vigil of St.
Andrew:
INTROIT. Dominus secus mare. St. Matt. 4.
JESUS our Lord walking by the sea of Galilee saw two brethren, Peter and Andrew, and he called them saying: Follow me; and I will make you fishers of men. Ps. 19. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handy work.
V. Glory be.
COLLECT.
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that as we do prevent the festival of thy
holy Apostle Saint Andrew, so he may implore thy mercy for us; that we, being
delivered from all our iniquities, may likewise be defended against all
adversities. Through.
EPISTLE Ecclus. 44: 25-27; 45, 2-4; 6-9 1-6
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. The blessing of the Lord was upon the head of the just man. Therefore, the Lord gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes: and he found grace in the eyes of all flesh. He magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words He made prodigies to cease. He glorified him in the sight of kings and gave him commandments in the sight of his people and showed him His glory. He sanctified him in his faith and meekness and chose him out of all flesh. And He gave him commandments before His face, and a law of life and instruction: and He exalted him. He made an everlasting covenant with him and girded him about with a girdle of justice: and the Lord crowned him with a crown of glory. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL John 1: 35-51
At that time, John stood, and two of his disciples: and beholding Jesus walking, he saith, "Behold the Lamb of God." And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turning, and seeing them following Him, He saith to them,
"What seek you?"
Who said to Him, "Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest Thou?"
He saith to them, "Come and see." They came, and saw where He abode, and they stayed with Him that day: now it was about the tenth hour. And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard of John, and followed him. He findeth first his brother Simon, and saith to him, "We have found the Messias" (which is, being interpreted, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus; and Jesus, looking upon him, said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas," which is interpreted, Peter. On the following day, He would go forth into Galilee: and He findeth Philip. And Jesus saith to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathamel, and saith to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth." And Nathanæl saith of him,
"Can anything of good come from Nazareth?"
Philip saith to him, "Come, and see." Jesus saw Nathanæl coming to Him: and He said to him, "Behold an Isrælite indeed, in whom there is no guile." Nathanæl saith to Him,
Whence knowest Thou me?
Jesus answered, and said to him, "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." Nathanæl answered Him, and said, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Isræl." Jesus answered, and said to him, "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou See." And He saith to him, "Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
OFFERTORY. Ps. 8.
Thou hast crowned him with glory and worship: thou hast
made him to have dominion of the works of thy hands, O Lord.
SECRET.
GRANT, O Lord, that this oblation, which we, remembering the festival of thy blessed Apostle Saint Andrew, do offer to be hallowed unto thee, may likewise avail to the cleansing of our souls from all evil.
COMMUNION. St. John 1:41.
Andrew saith unto his brother Simon: We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ: and he brought him to Jesus.
POSTCOMMUNION.
O LORD, who hast vouchsafed to feed us with these holy sacraments, we humbly pray thee: that, at the intercession of thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, the mysteries which we have offered in remembrance of his glorious passion may be profitable unto us for the healing of our souls.
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[3]
Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day 3
On this 3rd day seek with all your
soul to be faithful to the resurrection of Christ.
Copilot:
Devoting yourself
wholeheartedly to the resurrection of Christ is a profound way to anchor your
faith and live a life of purpose. Here are some suggestions to help you stay
faithful:
Deepen Your
Understanding
- Study Scripture: Focus on passages that discuss the resurrection,
such as 1 Corinthians 15 and the Gospel accounts. Reflect on their
meanings and how they apply to your life.
- Theological Books: Read works by theologians who explore the
significance of the resurrection, like N.T. Wright's "Surprised by
Hope".
Live Out Your Faith
- Prayer: Make prayer a central part of your day. Seek to connect
with Christ, asking for guidance and strength to live faithfully.
- Service: Follow Christ’s example by serving others. Volunteer in
your community, help those in need, and show kindness and compassion.
Join a Faith Community
- Worship: Regularly attend church services to celebrate the
resurrection and be part of a supportive community.
- Fellowship: Join small groups or Bible studies to share your faith
journey and grow together with others.
Reflective Practices
- Meditation: Spend quiet time each day reflecting on the
resurrection and its impact on your life.
- Journaling: Write about your faith experiences and how you see God
working in your life.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN
SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE-THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN
INITIATION
Article 1-THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
IV. Who can Receive Baptism?
Day
170
1246 "Every person not yet
baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized."
The Baptism of adults
1247 Since the beginning of the
Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the
Gospel is still new. the catechumenate (preparation for Baptism) therefore
occupies an important place. This initiation into Christian faith and life
should dispose the catechumen to receive the gift of God in Baptism,
Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
1248 The catechumenate, or
formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to
maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial
community. the catechumenate is to be "a formation in the whole Christian
life . . . during which the disciples will be joined to Christ their teacher.
the catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and
the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the
life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred
rites."
1249 Catechumens "are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and charity." "With love and solicitude mother Church already embraces them as her own."
The Baptism of infants
1250 Born with a fallen human
nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in
Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of
the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer
gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant
Baptism. the Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of
becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.
1251 Christian parents will
recognize that this practice also accords with their role as nurturers of the
life that God has entrusted to them.
1252 The practice of infant
Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony
to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that,
from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households"
received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.
Black Friday
Black Friday is
one of the busiest shopping days in the United States. It is marked by massive
crowds and discounted prices that mean the beginning of the Christmas shopping
season. Black Friday events in the United States date back to 1932. There are two ideas as to the origin of the
name Black Friday, the first one is thought to have originated in Philadelphia,
where it was used to describe the burden of traffic that left black track marks
on roads. The second claims that Black
Friday may also have stemmed from business accounting in the 1930s. During this time, businesses noted losses
using red ink and their profits in black ink.
Therefore, Black Friday may have been used to imply that businesses
became profitable on this day as they go from being in the red to the black.
Black Friday is the fourth Friday of November or the day after Thanksgiving Day
in the US.
Black Friday Facts
& Quotes
• According to IBM, for the first time
in history smartphones and tablets outpaced desktop computers for generating
consumer traffic to websites during Black Friday in 2015.
• According to consumerreports.org,
heavily discounted televisions and other electronic items sold on Black Friday
can be derivative models. Derivatives
are products that have been manufactured specifically for sale at events like
Black Friday. These products vary in
specifications, quality and have less features than standard merchandise sold
all-year long.
• Mall of America located in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the largest mall in the US with 4,870,000 square
feet retail space and more than 520 stores. The mall is also home to the
largest indoor amusement park in the US.
• With a net worth of more than $136
billion, the six @Wal-Mart heirs own more wealth than the bottom 42% of
Americans. #BlackFriday, @Walmart shouldn’t be allowed to pay workers wages so
low that many qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, and government housing.
#BlackFriday . - Tweets by Senator Bernie Sanders in 2015
Black Friday Top
Events and Things to Do
• Thanksgiving is a time to express
gratitude. Given that Black Friday
follows Thanksgiving Day, use this day to spread gratitude and cheer to
others. If you have leftover turkey from
Thanksgiving Day, then use it to make sandwiches. You and your family can deliver these to the
homeless people in your community.
• Hours before Black Friday sales, most
retailers send emails and secret offers to their subscribers. Sign up and subscribe to your favorite
retailers mailing list before this date.
Most stores will also send coupons specifically to use for Black Friday.
• Make sure you have sufficient funds
in cash or on credit cards. Given that
many will be shopping on Black Friday, ATM machines may run out of funds or
bank networks can be down intermittently.
Make sure to carry some cash in case this happens.
• In 2015, more than 11 states across
the U.S. provided free access to State Parks.
Rather than Black Friday shopping, explore the great outdoors with free
passes to State Parks. Our top parks
picks:
1)
Olympic Park, Washington
2)
Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California
3)
Nickerson State Park, Massachusetts
• Carpool or take an Uber to your favorite shopping destination. There will be limited parking spaces available on Black Friday and some bus routes will be operating on a holiday schedule.
Fitness Friday- “on the sixth day God created man”
Charles Atlas Inspired Workout[4]
While several of these movements aren’t very familiar to today’s generation of athletes and fitness enthusiasts, it can be argued that dynamic tension can have a place in the modern fitness program.
Below is a workout that
can challenge the entire body and be performed in around 25 minutes. This
workout will include movements and time for each. Squeeze and contract the
muscle like you would with resistance. Feel a stretch before performing the
next rep. Take 30 seconds of rest between each exercise before moving on to the
next.
|
Exercise |
Sets |
Reps |
|
Pushup (2 Sec Hold) |
1 |
10 |
|
Standing Chest Fly (2 Sec Hold) |
1 |
10 |
|
Row Squeeze (2 Sec Hold) |
1 |
10 |
|
Vertical Pull |
1 |
10 |
|
High Elbow Row |
1 |
10 |
|
Shoulder Press |
1 |
10 |
|
Bicep Curl (1 Sec Hold) |
1 |
10 |
|
Close Grip Push Up (1 Sec Hold) |
1 |
10 |
|
Squat |
1 |
15 |
|
Good Morning |
1 |
15 |
|
Seated Toe Raise |
1 |
15 |
|
Standing Calf Raise |
1 |
15 |
|
Crunch |
1 |
10 |
|
Single Lying Leg Raise |
1 |
10 Each |
Give the program a shot
for yourself. It can be performed as a beginner routine for up to 6 weeks.
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.
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[1] John Parks, Lecture at Catholic Men’s
Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, 3/21/2015.
[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
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