Friday, February 7, 2025
February 7 First Friday
MARRIAGE WEEK-Ballet
Hebrews, Chapter 13, Verse 1-8
1
Let mutual love continue. 2Do
not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained
angels. 3Be mindful of prisoners as if
sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you
also are in the body. 4Let
marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God
will judge the immoral and adulterers. 5Let
your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he
has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” 6Thus we may say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper, [and] I will not be AFRAID. What can
anyone do to me?” 7Remember
your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their
way of life and imitate their faith.
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
today, and forever.
Hebrews, Chapter 13, Verse’ 1-6 show the following ways of living to demonstrate true love
or charity.
The true meaning of
love is to seek the good of the other as other.
· In all that you do be an agent of hospitality.
·
Do
what you can to free others of their prisons whether these are
self-imposed i.e. addictions or through ignorance.
·
A
good guide is the corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry; give drink to the
thirsty; clothe the naked; harbor the harbor-less; visit the sick; ransom the
captive; bury the dead.
·
Marriage
is the physical reality of our soul’s marriage to God through the Holy Spirit;
therefore.
·
If
married love and honor your wife; be chase in spirit whether married or single
knowing that marriage is the physical sign of your union with God. Disdain any
kind of sexual defilement.
·
Avoid
the love of money.
·
Seek
simplicity and contentment. Treat all the wealth you have as if it were Gods;
on loan to you to build the Kingdom; which it is. You can do this if you know
and trust God will never forsake you or abandon you.
Render unto Caesar[1]
This country cannot afford to be materially rich and
spiritually poor.
John F. Kennedy
Have
we become a soulless Nation? Have we in the pursuit of happiness; ignored the
Gospel of Life. Realizing that if we put success or liberty as greater values
than life that we are serving Caesar and not God. To understand this, we need
to review the US Bishops “The Gospel of Life”.
The Gospel of Life[2]
Brothers and sisters in the Lord:
At the conclusion of the 1998 ad limina visits of the bishops of the United
States, our Holy Father Pope John Paul II spoke these words:
Today I believe the Lord is saying to us all: do not hesitate, do not be afraid to engage the good fight of the faith (cf. I Tim 6:12). When we preach the liberating message of Jesus Christ we are offering the words of life to the world. Our prophetic witness is an urgent and essential service not just to the Catholic community but to the whole human family.
In this statement we attempt to fulfill our role as teachers
and pastors in proclaiming the Gospel of Life. We are confident that the
proclamation of the truth in love is an indispensable way for us to exercise
our pastoral responsibility.
"Your country stands upon the world scene as a
model of a democratic society at an advanced stage of development. Your
power of example carries with it heavy responsibilities. Use it well,
America!" --Pope John Paul II, Newark, 1995
When
Henry Luce published his appeal for an "American century" in 1941, he
could not have known how the coming reality would dwarf his dream. Luce
hoped that the "engineers, scientists, doctors . . . builders of roads
[and] teachers" of the United States would spread across the globe to
promote economic success and American ideals: "a love of freedom, a
feeling for the quality of opportunity, a tradition of self-reliance and
independence and also cooperation." Exactly this, and much
more, has happened in the decades since. U.S. economic success has
reshaped the world. But the nobility of the American experiment flows
from its founding principles, not from its commercial power. In this
century alone, hundreds of thousands of Americans have died defending those
principles. Hundreds of thousands more have lived lives of service to
those principles -- both at home and on other continents -- teaching, advising
and providing humanitarian assistance to people in need. As Pope John Paul
has observed, "At the center of the moral vision of [the American]
founding documents is the recognition of the rights of the human person . .
." The greatness of the United States lies "especially [in its]
respect for the dignity and sanctity of human life in all conditions and at all
stages of development."
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying: Before I
formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I consecrated you; a
prophet to the nations I appointed you.
--Jeremiah 1:5
First Friday[3]
Learn
about devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the graces that come from
observing First Fridays.
It
is no wonder, therefore, that our predecessors have constantly defended this
most approved form of devotion — the pious devotion of the faithful toward the
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus [and] the custom of receiving Holy Communion on the
first Friday of every month at the desire of Christ Jesus, a custom which now
prevails everywhere.—Pope
Pius XI Miserentissimus
Redemptor
What’s so special about First Fridays?
Our parents grew up going to church every First Friday
of the month and taking part in Sacred Heart devotions, but in recent decades
the pious practice has fallen out of practice and is dismissed by some as an “old-fashioned” anachronism. A main reason for the
decline in interest in this devotion is probably rooted in simple ignorance:
people don’t know
what First Fridays all are about; families and parishes may not have adequately
passed down their importance to the next generation. Here are five things
to know.
How did the First Friday Devotion begin?
While some saints referenced the Heart of Jesus in their writings even centuries
earlier, in 1673, a French Visitandine (Visitation) nun named Margaret
Mary Alacoque had visions of Jesus, wherein he asked the Church to honor His
Most Sacred Heart. In particular, Jesus asked the faithful to “receive Communion on the First
Fridays, for nine consecutive months.”
The request was connected to a specific promise made to all who venerated and
promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart. After Margaret Mary’s death, the First Friday practice
steadily spread in the Church —
endorsed by popes and promoted by
saints — but
it greatly increased in popularity when Margaret Mary was canonized a saint in
1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Why nine consecutive months?
The number nine is traditionally associated with a
novena and finds its origin in the nine days that the apostles spent in prayer
before Pentecost. A novena provides an extended amount of time for preparation
and interior renewal.
What am I supposed to do on First Fridays?
Go to Mass and receive Holy Communion with the
intention of honoring Christ’s
Sacred Heart. If you are not in a state of grace, and thus unable to receive,
you will also need to go to confession.
What are the “promises” connected to this devotion?
Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary, “In the excess of the mercy of my
heart, I promise you that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who will
receive communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace
of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving
the sacraments; and my heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.” This means that if a person
faithfully receives communion for nine consecutive months on First Fridays,
Jesus will grant that person extra graces at the time of their death, making it
possible to repent of their sins and receive the last rites (if needed).
This
promise is the last of 12 promises connected to the Devotion to the Sacred
Heart, particularly attached to the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in one’s home:
(1) I will give them all the graces necessary in their
state of life.
(2) I will establish peace in their homes.
(3) I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
(4) I will be their secure refuge during life, and
above all, in death.
(5) I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their
undertakings.
(6) Sinners will find in my heart the source and
infinite ocean of mercy.
(7) Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
(8) Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
(9) I will bless every place in which an image of my
heart is exposed and honored.
10) I will give to priests the gift of touching the
most hardened hearts.
(11) Those who shall promote this devotion shall have
their names written in my Heart.
(12) I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart
that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on
the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance;
they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My
divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Are the First Fridays a “ticket” to heaven?
It is not as simple as going to Mass for nine months
and then clocking out, never going to Mass again and leading a sinful life! The
entire purpose of this devotion is to draw a person closer to the heart of
Christ. If a person fulfills these obligations with sincere faith, it is
natural for he or she to be closer to God and better prepared for death.
The moment that this devotion is observed in a superstitious manner, neglecting
the need to live a virtuous life, all bets are off and Jesus’ promise is null and void. Jesus
wants us to rest on his heart, like St. John, and the First Friday devotion is
an opportunity for us to encounter him more than just on Sundays and to deepen
our love of him. Coming to know, love and trust that we may take rest in the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, and place our anxieties within, is what the First
Fridays are all about.
Marriage Week[4] February 7-14
Simon Peter and the other fishermen are astonished at the catch that reveals Jesus as Lord. Jesus’ response to Simon Peter is reassuring: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men”. Once again, the fisherman of Galilee places his trust in the words of Jesus and leaves everything to follow Him. James and John also do the same; from now on, they will be ‘fishers of men’. Jesus invites them to share in His mission, the mission of the Church. As baptized, we all partake in the mission of Jesus Christ, priest, prophet, and king. As married men and women, the calling is lived out in a concrete home and family. How does your life as a couple, as parents, as godparents, or in another way, touch the lives of your family? How are you witnesses and bearers of the Gospel?
What Is Marriage?[5]
Marriage
is a lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive
fidelity, established by mutual consent between a man and a woman, and ordered
towards the good of the spouses and the procreation of offspring. As the Second
Vatican Council reminds us, marriage is not a purely human institution: the
intimate partnership of life and the love which constitutes the married state
has been established by the creator and endowed by him with its own proper
laws. . .. For God himself is the author of marriage. Moreover, God has endowed
marriage with certain essential attributes, without which marriage cannot exist
as he intends.
The
Church has taught through the ages that marriage is an exclusive relationship
between one man and one woman. This union, once validly entered and
consummated, gives rise to a bond that cannot be dissolved by the will of the
spouses. Marriage thus created is a faithful, privileged sphere of intimacy
between the spouses that lasts until death.
Marriage
is not merely a private institution, however. It is the foundation for the
family, where children learn the values and virtues that will make good
Christians as well as good citizens. The importance of marriage for children
and for the upbringing of the next generation highlights the importance of
marriage for all society.
Conjugal love, the love proper to marriage, is present in the commitment to the complete and total gift of self between husband and wife. Conjugal love establishes a unique communion of persons through the relationship of mutual self-giving and receiving between husband and wife, a relationship by which ―a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body [flesh]‖(Gn 2:24).The Second Vatican Council speaks about conjugal love in words of great beauty: The Lord, wishing to bestow special gifts of grace and divine love on married love, has restored, perfected, and elevated it. A love like that, bringing together the human and the divine, leads the partners to a free and mutual self-giving, experienced in tenderness and action, and permeating their entire lives; this love is actually developed and increased by its generous exercise in conjugal love one can see something of how Christ loves his Church (Eph 5:25).
Resources
·
On marriages in crisis –For Your Marriage list
of ministries that help married couples in difficulty or crisis.
·
On healthy sexuality within marriage –Paul VI,
Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae,1968.
·
On divorce –USCCB, Divorce and the Church’s Healing
Ministry, 2010.
·
On lust and pornography –USCCB: Create in Me a
Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography, 2015 and Clean Heart series of
pamphlets, 2016.
·
USCCB, Pastoral Letter Marriage: Love and Life
in the Divine Plan, 2009.
·
USCCB, For Your Marriage website:
foryourmarriage.org.
·
USCCB, Por Tu Matrimonio website:
portumatrimonio.org.
Great
relationships don’t happen by accident[6]
Just like that sweet little vegetable patch in your backyard, the more you nurture and nourish your relationship the happier you’ll both be. And what does that look like? Quality nourishment requires pausing, listening, and paying attention to your partner. It requires that you learn to love people in ways that are meaningful to them and listen when they tell you what their needs are.
Here are 10 ways you can
nudge your relationship into a happier, healthier, more fulfilling version of
itself.
1.
Stop
pretending to be someone you’re not and just be yourself instead.
When we are who we
really truly are – weird hobbies and all – magic happens. Being true to
ourselves allows us to navigate life and relationships free of hang-ups,
emotional baggage, or expectations. In the beginning stages of relationships,
many of us focus on showcasing our best selves in an attempt to garner love and
affection. We become ridiculously, painfully focused on making a good
impression. But being who you really are and being who you think someone wants
you to be – it’s hard to do those two things simultaneously. Take a deep
breath, release those shoulders, and stop pretending and polishing yourself.
Just be right here, who you are, today.
2.
Smile at
your loved one
To the best of your
ability, greet your partner with a smile when you see each other for the first
time that day. Imagine how good that would feel – after a tough day at work and
sitting in traffic, you walk through the door and are greeted with a smile and
a kiss from the person you love most. Wouldn’t that be an amazing way to start
your evening? This is not to say you’re never allowed to share the low points
of your day, but maybe save them for dinner – rather than the first five
minutes that you see your sweetie. Other great times to smile at your partner:
across a crowded party, before you part ways for the day, when you know they
need encouragement.
3.
Realize
things change.
We’re living, breathing
organisms – subject to the changing tides of emotion and circumstance. It can
be emotionally crippling to get too attached to the “status quo” – not just in
your romantic relationships but in life. Change is inevitable. Next week your
partner might wake up and want to change careers, move to the east coast, or
have kids (like, soon). Can you allow space for that? Could you create a new
life with him while he pursued something new? And, of course, things will
change for you – your passions, your career, your family, your health. When
your partner tells you that they’ve got some big changes in mind – a new
workout plan, a move to the country, no more dairy – do your best to listen
with an open mind and heart.
4.
Work out
together.
Exercise gives you
energy and is a wonderful way to show your partner that you’re
interested in your health and you want to stay healthy for them. Trying new
workouts together also helps you bond! Take a couple’s yoga class, a hip-hop
dance class, or try rock climbing. Even if you’re terrible, later you’ll be
able to laugh together about his terrible downward dog or your total failure to
pop ‘n lock.
5.
If you
want quality time with your significant other, plan it.
You’ve heard this advice
before and that’s because it works! Make time for thrilling exciting things –
not just birthdays and anniversaries. As your weekend winds down, take a few
minutes to schedule at least one fun date each week – whether that’s trying a
new restaurant, going for a hike, or catching a movie at the second-run
theater. Fun things happen when you make time and space for them.
6.
Express
your needs.
Some people like to text
every day. Some people need a lot of alone time. Some people want their partner
to plan exciting dates. All of these needs are equally legitimate. But
your partner will never know what your needs are if you don’t tell them. You
don’t need to open a first date with a checklist, but once things are clicking
along, it’s okay to say, “I want you to feel loved and appreciated. How can I
do that?” and when you’ve heard their suggestions, you can share yours. When
they do what you asked? Offer lots and lots of acknowledgement and
appreciation.
7.
Give
without any expectations.
I know it’s incredibly
tempting (so tempting!) to keep a mental list of all the nice things you’ve
done for your sweetie.
·
Picked up a new yoga mat because I saw hers
was deteriorating.
·
Made a reservation for dinner Friday.
·
Bought his mom’s birthday present.
This mentality will only
end in tears and resentment. We can nourish our relationships by removing the
expectation that they to do the same things that we have done for them. Let
your partner give to you because they want to, not because they feel as though
they owe you.
8.
Don’t
stop caring about how you look!
Male or female, we’ve all
done this, right? Constantly hanging out in our old gym clothes and dirty hair,
eating pizza for dinner three times a week. You want to find your partner
attractive and – not surprisingly – they want to find you attractive.
Help them do that by keeping up with your workouts and saving sweatpants for
alone time.
9.
Cultivate
intimacy and independence.
It might sound
counterintuitive, but you can connect while also retaining autonomy.
Don’t stop doing the things that filled you up now that you’ve found a partner.
Keep attending those pottery classes, keep working on your novel – and keep
telling your partner all about it and why you love it. Just as important? Give
them the space to pursue a few passions without you. You’ll both be that much
more excited to come home and tell each other about your adventures.
10. Inspire your partner by loving yourself fiercely.
The more you love
yourself; the more others will follow your lead. We’ve all witnessed it: the
confident woman who maintains healthy boundaries always seems to attract
amazing partners. Do your best to identify your needs and meet those needs
yourself. Need creative inspiration? Rather than trying to date an artist or
force your accountant boyfriend to take drawing classes, buy a DSLR and get to
shooting. Crave a more active social life? Don’t hassle your introverted
girlfriend into house parties and nights out. Call up your most outgoing
friends and schedule a night out, complete with cute shoes and cocktails. We
teach people how to treat us and when you nourish yourself with love and
respect, the world – and your partner – take notice.
Ballet Day[7]Beauty
is the Foretaste of Heaven
When
life takes me on a new journey, I simply remember the smile my first ballet
recital put on my face, and I move forward.
– Andrea Thompson
There’s
something magical about going to ballet. The music, the outfits, the utter
passion of the dance as the ballet artists lose themselves to the performance,
all of it comes together to create a beautiful, otherworldly experience for
those in attendance. There is an almost magical power in their graceful
movements across the stage, like flower petals on a stiffening breeze. Ballet
Day encourages you to get out and see the ballet again, or for the first time
if you haven’t already. Ballet found its origins during the Renaissance
throughout Italy and France, though it had yet to evolve into the form we know
it today. There were no tutus, no ballet slippers, and the iconic pointe work
of ballet were all things to come in the future. It found roots in court
dances, and thus incorporated the proper dance dress of women at the time,
formal gowns that descended to the ankle. Unlike modern performances, the
audience would join the dance as it came to a close. Later, it would come to
take influences from the French ballet de cour, a form of performance which
were performed strictly by the nobility, and would blend dance with speech,
music, verse, song, and a great amount of pageantry. Ballet was beginning to
take the shape we know of today, and it was here that it developed into a true
art form. Since then, it has spread throughout the world, from Russia to
Germany, and is loved everywhere for its intrinsic beauty. Since then, it has
been driven to new artistic heights and embraced multiple cultures, and Ballet
Day encourages you to get out and experience its beauty for yourself.
How to celebrate Ballet Day
Go to the ballet! That’s the first and best way. World Ballet Day is a yearly organized event that
celebrates the beauty of ballet and what it’s become in the world today. Events
are held all over the world, and videos are taken, so don’t think you have to
miss out on this beautiful expression of the arts simply because you aren’t
able to get out to see them. Ballet will come home to you! So, get out there
and get yourself some culture!
When the fast is over
make some Minestrone di riso.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Holy
Bishops and Cardinals
·
Religion in
the Home for Preschool: February
·
Make Minestrone
·
Rosary
[1] Render unto Caesar, Charles J. Chaput
[2]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/living-the-gospel-of-life.cfm
[3]https://aleteia.org/2016/04/29/5-things-catholics-should-know-about-first-fridays/
[4]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/upload/preaching-resource-nmw-2019.pdf
[5]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/marriage/love-and-life/upload/pastoral-letter-marriage-love-and-life-in-the-divine-plan.pdf
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