NOVEMBER 16 Saturday
ST GERTRUDE
Luke, Chapter 18, Verse 1-8
1
Then he told them a parable about the necessity for
them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, 2
“There
was a judge in a certain town who neither FEARED
God nor respected any human being. 3
And a widow in that
town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my
adversary.’ 4
For a long time the
judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I
neither fear God nor respect any
human being, 5 because
this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she
finally come and strike me.’” 6
The Lord said, “Pay
attention to what the dishonest judge says. 7 Will not God then secure the rights
of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer
them? 8
I tell you, he will
see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man
comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?
We must remain faithful to the gospel of Christ and stand with the Holy Catholic Church.
We must continue to ask Him to come to our assistance against the Philistines of our age.
We must not fail to call out to Him night and day to save us from the wicked and to pray for their conversion and for the souls of the Martyrs of freedom that they have made.
Our enemy is not men but the devil and those are in his control.
We must never become to weary or afraid to take the gospel to those
places that are most devoid of faith, hope and love.
“Only those that see the invisible
can do the impossible.” Tyrese
St. Gertrude[1]
St. Gertrude the Great, a Cistercian nun, is one of the most lovable German saints from medieval times, and through her writings she will remain for all ages a guide to the interior life. When she was twenty-five years old (1281), Christ began to appear to her and to disclose to her the secrets of mystical union. Obeying a divine wish, she put into writing the favors of grace bestowed upon her. Her most important work, Legatus Divinae Pietatis, "The Herald of Divine Love,".
The Gift of Frequent Communion[2]
All too few of us are blessed with the opportunity for daily Mass and Communion. Even St. Gertrude herself had trouble doing that (primarily due to her illnesses). In one of her writings, she relates a conversation with Jesus in which they talked about the graces given to daily communicants…with a surprising statement about when graces are NOT given.
Here’s an excerpt from St. Gertrude’s writings:
·
Gertrude
said, “How far above me in beatitude will those priests be who communicate
every day to fulfill the duties of their ministry!”
o
“It
is true,” replied Our Lord, “that those who celebrate worthily shall shine in
great glory, but the love of him who communicates with pleasure should be
judged of very differently from the exterior magnificence that appears in this
mystery. There will be one reward for him who has
§
approached
with desire and love.
§
There
will be another for him who approaches with fear and reverence.
§
and
another for him who is very diligent in his preparation.
§
But
those who habitually celebrate through custom only shall have no share in My
gifts.”
–The Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great
How many of us Catholics judge our sanctity by the numbers of Masses and Communions we experience? Holiness is not a numbers game, but a “heart game.” The most eloquent prayers–even the Mass itself–are of little value without engagement of the heart. But prayers fueled by love, devotion and confidence will move the highest mountains.
Reflection: At Communion time, we must always be aware of the awesome significance of what we are about to do. Our hearts must be in the game. It is Christ Himself, Creator of the Universe, whom we receive in the form of the Host.
Before
approaching the table of the Lord, we pray to be worthy; we pray to be in the
moment when God blesses us with this indescribable Eucharistic miracle. We pray
to be prepared.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
Day 157
1153 A sacramental celebration
is a meeting of God's children with their Father, in Christ and the Holy
Spirit; this meeting takes the form of a dialogue, through actions and words.
Admittedly, the symbolic actions are already a language, but the Word of God
and the response of faith have to accompany and give life to them, so that the
seed of the Kingdom can bear its fruit in good soil. the liturgical actions
signify what the Word of God expresses: both his free initiative and his
people's response of faith.
1154 The liturgy of the Word is
an integral part of sacramental celebrations. To nourish the faith of
believers, the signs which accompany the Word of God should be emphasized: the
book of the Word (a lectionary or a book of the Gospels), its veneration (procession,
incense, candles), the place of its proclamation (lectern or ambo), its audible
and intelligible reading, the minister's homily which extends its proclamation,
and the responses of the assembly (acclamations, meditation psalms, litanies,
and profession of faith).
1155 The liturgical word and
action are inseparable both insofar as they are signs and instruction and
insofar as they accomplish what they signify. When the Holy Spirit awakens
faith, he not only gives an understanding of the Word of God, but through the
sacraments also makes present the "wonders" of God which it
proclaims. The Spirit makes present and communicates the Father's work,
fulfilled by the beloved Son.
Singing and music
1156 "The musical
tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater
even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that,
as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral
part of solemn liturgy." The composition and singing of inspired
psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked
to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. The Church continues and
develops this tradition: "Address . . . one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart."
"He who sings prays twice."
1157 Song and music fulfill
their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are
"more closely connected . . . with the liturgical
action," according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of
prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments,
and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in
the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the
sanctification of the faithful:
How I wept,
deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your
Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears
distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and
tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good.
1158 The harmony of signs
(song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when
expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who
celebrate. Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be
intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in
liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the
voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be
sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed, they should
be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources."
Daily Devotions/Practices
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The
poor and the suffering.
·
Saturday
Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary.
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