Rachel’s Corner-Try grilled ‘Cevapi
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, (and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)
· Celebration of Life Month-Life, Liberty and Happiness but life first
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
· Try a buffet, it is national buffet day.
· Bucket List trip: Midsummer Eve Sweden
Best Place to visit in January: Utah, USA
Catch a feature flick at America’s largest independent film festival. Sundance was founded in 1978 to showcase indie filmmakers and has since ballooned into an 10-day celebration of cinematic storytelling. Each January, the festival sprawls across snow-capped Park City, high in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. Many iconic filmmakers have early roots in Sundance, including Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson.
When you’ve caught up on the year’s most anticipated movies, stretch your legs on the slopes. Utah is a winter sport wonderland with frequent fresh dustings across its craggy mountain ranges. Snowboard straight down to Main Street from Park City Mountain Resort or head to skiers-only Deer Valley Resort. Pow Mow (Powder Mountain), meanwhile, is the spot for night riding and remote snowcat skiing across 1,200 acres of off-piste powder.
(Combine skiing with a US road trip in Utah's Wasatch Mountains.)
Sustainable tip: Go green by hopping on one of the city’s complimentary zero-emission electric buses and supporting shops that stock locally made products. Browse cosmetics and glass art at Made in Park City or bourbon barrel-aged chocolate at small-batch maker Ritual. More locally owned pit stops can be found on Visit Park City’s website.
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace.
Dinner Menu
January 2 Thursday-Saint Basil the Great
9th Day of Christmas-Motivation
Psalm 23, verse 4:
4 Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will FEAR no
evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.
Saint Pope John
Paul II was an example of someone who walked through the valley of the shadow
of death and feared no evil. The Lord’s rod and staff sustained him through the
nightmare of the Nazis and the Communists. Both were evil empires devoted to
the destruction of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all except
for the few selected elite. These
empires systematically replaced God with the rule of the chosen ones of the
State. People from both the Fatherland and the Motherland sat by and watched
the evil grow without taking decisive action, making the adage ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of
evil is that good men (or women) do nothing.’ Remember to measure our
nation and our politics with Gods Rod
(Rods were often used in ancient times to measure) and not the political States
or the media nor the opinion of the rich and the powerful. Let us be ever ready
to speak up for what is righteous using Gods rod, which are His laws of justice
and mercy, working tirelessly and remember Saint Pope John Paul II words of
encouragement, “I plead with
you – never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become
discouraged. Be not afraid.”
Let us also carry with us for the journey the
Staff of God which is truth, not worldly truth but Gods truth. “The word of
truth, publicly, indeed almost liturgically, proclaimed was the antidote the
Rhapsodic Theater sought to apply to the violent lies of the Occupation. The
tools for fighting evil included speaking truth to power.” [1]
9th day of Christmas
The
nine lady’s dancing is a sign of the fruits of the Holy Spirit for those who
are not afraid: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It also reminds us of the nine
choirs of angels which are commanded by God to assist us in our journey. Today
reflect on the nine choirs and call upon their aid. Devotion to the Angels.
Read: Today we read about St. Basil the Great, revered as a Doctor of the
Church.
Reflect: "St. Basil, in a much-quoted
homily, once declared that the bread we clutch in our hands belongs to the
starving, the cloak we keep locked in our closet belongs to the naked, the
shoes we are not using belong to the barefooted. In these ways in the post-biblical
age Christians strove to keep a religious perspective on their use of material
things."
Pray: As many prepare to return to work
after this Holy season, say a prayer for
work.
Act: St. Basil once wrote, "Do
everything possible to make yourself worthy of the Kingdom. Do not disdain the
invitation you have received" (Exhortation to Baptism, 7-8).
When
I think of all this, I am left terrorized and swallowed up with fear that,
because of fickleness of heart or preoccupation with things of no importance, I
may weaken in my love of God and even become a reason of shame or disorder for
Christ.”
St. Basil’s Bread[3]
In the Eastern Churches St. Basil's Bread is blessed on his feast day. This blessing has been adapted for home use. The family gathers at the table where the bread is placed along with an icon of St. Basil (if available). The parts marked leader are done by the father or other suitable person.
Prayer
Leader: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us!
All: Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty,
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times) Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Most holy Trinity, have
mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us of our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions.
Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (three
times)
Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it
is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but
deliver us from evil.
Leader: For
Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and forever.
All: Amen.
Troparion - Tone 1 Your voice resounds throughout the world * which has
excepted the lessons so well taught by you. * You have given explanation of
divine truths. * You have clarified the nature of created things. * You have
made a rule of life for men. * By your royal priesthood, O venerable father
Basil, * intercede with Christ to save our souls.
Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Kondakion - Tone 4 O venerable and heavenly inspired
Basil, * you were a firm foundation of the Church * by giving to all treasure *
and impressing them with your teachings.
Leader: Let
us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.
Prayer of
Blessing
Leader: O
Lord, King of the Ages and Creator of all things; You are abounding in mercy
and plenteous in goodness! You accepted the gifts of the Wise Men in Bethlehem.
You are the Bread of Life Who came down from heaven. You put times and years
under Your authority and hold our lives in Your hands. Hear us on this
auspicious day of the beginning of this New Year of (name the year) and bless +
this sweet bread which is offered for Your glory and honor and in memory of our
Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodocia.
O Generous One, look down from heaven and send down Your heavenly gifts upon
us, those who prepared this bread and all who shall partake of it, because we
have placed our hope in You, the Eternal Living God! Bless our coming and
going, enrich our lives with Your abundant blessings and direct our steps in
the working of Your Divine commandments, because we shall not live by bread
alone. Through the intercessions of Your all-pure and holy Mother, of our
Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, and of all Your Saints, who have
pleased You over the ages.
All:
Amen.
The leader takes a
knife and incises the sign of the Cross in the bottom of the loaf. It is then
cut. It is eaten after the prayers are complete.
Closing
Prayers
All:
Lord, have mercy. (three
times)
Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
More honorable than the
Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who, a virgin,
gave birth to God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify you!
Leader: Lord
Jesus Christ, our true God, circumcised in the flesh, through the prayers of
His most pure Mother, of Saint Basil the Great, whom we honor this day and of
all the saints, have mercy on us and save us.
All:
Amen.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER TWO-THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
Article 4-THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
IN BRIEF
Day
204
1485 "On the evening of that day, the first day of the
week," Jesus showed himself to his apostles. "He breathed on them,
and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained"' (Jn
20:19, (22-23).
1486 The forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism is conferred
by a particular sacrament called the sacrament of conversion, confession,
penance, or reconciliation.
1487 The sinner wounds God's honor and love, his own human dignity
as a man called to be a son of God, and the spiritual well-being of the Church,
of which each Christian ought to be a living stone.
1488 To the eyes of faith no evil is graver than sin and nothing
has worse consequences for sinners themselves, for the Church, and for the
whole world.
1489 To return to communion with God after having lost it through
sin is a process born of the grace of God who is rich in mercy and solicitous
for the salvation of men. One must ask for this precious gift for oneself and
for others.
1491 The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three
actions of the penitent and the priest's absolution. the penitent's acts are
repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and the intention
to make reparation and do works of reparation.
1492 Repentance (also called contrition) must be inspired by
motives that arise from faith. If repentance arises from love of charity for
God, it is called "perfect" contrition; if it is founded on other
motives, it is called "imperfect."
1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with
the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he
remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of
venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly
recommended by the Church.
1494 The confessor proposes the performance of certain acts of
"satisfaction" or "penance" to be performed by the penitent
in order to repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting
a disciple of Christ.
1495 Only priests who have received the faculty of absolving from
the authority of the Church can forgive sins in the name of Christ.
1496 The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are:
- reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
- reconciliation with the Church;
- remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
- remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
- peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
- an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.
1497 Individual and integral confession of grave sins followed by
absolution remains the only ordinary means of reconciliation with God and with
the Church.
1498 Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of
temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in
Purgatory.
Motivation and
Inspiration Day[4]
It’s January 2nd, the beginning of a whole new year, and you’ve just gotten over your hangover—what time could possibly be better to be motivated and inspired?
You
have a whole 365 days ahead of you, and now is the time to start making them
count! Even though to many, January 2nd is in fact just about finally getting
over your New Year’s Party hangover, the history of Motivation and Inspiration
Day is much more somber. National Motivation & Inspiration Day was passed
by The United States Congress on December 18th, 2001, after the tragic events
of September 11th, 2001. That was when Kevin L. McCrudden became the first and
so far, only motivational and leadership speaker to ever have had such a day
passed by Congress, acknowledging the importance of “motivation” and
“inspiration” in our daily lives. After the tragedy that was September 11th,
2001, McCrudden felt that all Americans needed something to remind them that
there were still many things to live on for. The reality was bleak at that
time, and many people felt sad, scared or lost—especially those whose family
members or friends had gotten killed suddenly in the World Trade Center attacks
of just a few months before. McCrudden originally intended for this day to
be dedicated to helping people become the best they can be and maximize
their potential through the creation of annual goals. The idea caught on quite
quickly, and Motivation and Inspiration Day is now celebrated in different
places across the world as well as in the United States, encouraging people
everywhere to change their lives for the better.
How to Celebrate
Motivation and Inspiration Day
There are a few things you
can do to celebrate this special day. Firstly, taking into consideration the
events of September 11th, 2001 that led to the creation of Motivation and
Inspiration Day, it would be good to just spend a minute or two in silence out
of respect for the men and women who lost their lives to terrorism so suddenly
that day. And then honor their memory by appreciating your own life and
making it better! There are many ways to do this. One is to think of someone in
your life who inspires you, whether it’s your mother, father, spouse or friend
and find a way to show them an appreciation for being who they are. The gesture
doesn’t have to be a grand one—take your mother, father or friend out to lunch
and talk about their life and what helped to make them as strong as
they are, thank them for showing you how to deal with life’s challenges.
Buy a nice bottle of wine for your spouse and be sure to spend the evening with
him or her, telling them how glad you are to be able to share your life with them.
All too often in life, people take their close ones for granted, but we should
never miss a chance to tell people who are special and inspirational to us just
how much we appreciate them. You can also start doing something you’ve wanted
to do for a long time but have kept putting off. Sign up for a martial arts
class, start learning a new language, make a list of books to read, or buy a
cookbook full of healthy recipes to make for your family instead of eating
takeout every evening. Whatever way you decide to celebrate Motivation and
Inspiration Day, make sure it changes your life for the better and helps you
appreciate life more!
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring
the Church
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
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