Friday, January 24, 2025
NIC’s Corner
The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
(Numbers 6:24-26)
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· Get creative “International Creative Month”
· Try “Transylvanian Sauerkraut & Sausage”
· Spirit Hour: French Brandy and a fire
· Bucket List trip: Israel
· Get an indulgence
o Visiting the Blessed Sacrament when it is exposed during the weeks between Septuagesima Sunday and Ash Wednesday is a traditional practice that can earn a plenary indulgence.
o Septuagesima Sunday: The third Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and the ninth Sunday before Easter.
o Plenary indulgence: A full remission of sins that can be earned by visiting the Blessed Sacrament during a specified time period.
o Confession and Communion: A requirement for earning the plenary indulgence.
o What to do
§ Visit the Blessed Sacrament when it is exposed in a church.
§ Visit for three days in any church during the specified time period.
§ Visit on the Thursday after Sexagesima Sunday, also known as "Giovedì grasso" in Italy.
o Prayer
§ Some people pray before the Blessed Sacrament, asking for pardon of sins, help from God's grace, and eternal life.
o Generative AI is experimental.
§ [1] http://liturgialatina.org/raccolta/sacrament.htm
§ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagesima
o Wake up with a belly laugh to kickstart your day. Grab some peanut butter toast for breakfast and make a plan to appreciate the simple things like a can of beer. Take a moment to celebrate technology with your Macintosh computer – maybe learn something new online. For lunch, indulge in some lobster thermidor, feeling fancy on a budget.
o During the afternoon, educate yourself on something that interests you. It could be a hobby or a new topic you’ve been curious about. Channel your inner motivation and just do it—whatever it may be that you’ve been putting off. Later, find a friend to talk like grizzled prospectors together, having a good laugh.
o As the day winds down, raise a toast to Paul Pitcher, a friend or family member who deserves some recognition. Maybe share some memories or plan a future get-together. End the day with a feast for Thorrablot, inviting loved ones for a potluck dinner.
· Plan winter fun:
o Soak in hot springs
o Hit the snow slopes
o Ride a snowmobile
o Go for a dog sled ride
o Ride a hot air balloon
JANUARY 24 Friday-Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop
Psalm 85, verse 9-11:
9 I will listen for what God, the LORD, has to say; surely he will speak of peace to his people and to his faithful. May they not turn to foolishness! 10 Near indeed is his salvation for those who FEAR him; glory will dwell in our land. 11 Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss.
Christ is drawing near through Mary and the
Eucharist. We are to rejoice just as Mary did in her Canticle of Praise when
she entered the house of Zechariah.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my
spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s
lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The
Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His
mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his
arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers
from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled
with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped
Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise
to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
The Law of Love[1]
Our Lord Jesus himself clearly taught us the first principles of Catholic morality: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” (Mt 22:37-40) Love, or charity, is the great commandment of the Lord. Love of God and love of neighbor are the source & summary of Catholic morality. “All the law and the prophets” flow from this starting point. This means that what love requires is the essence of all moral rules, all of the Ten Commandments, and all aspects of morality spoken of by the prophets and even by Christ himself. The only things needed are those things which love makes necessary. It is also important to say that love does, indeed, require many things! In fact, it takes only a few simple steps of logic to deduce the Ten Commandments and most of the rest of Catholic morality from this starting point. Those moral precepts describe the minimum that love requires.
“What do you mean the minimum?”
Catholic morality’s basic moral code describes the minimum necessary to live in union with Christ. If we fall below that level, then the life of Christ cannot live within us. That’s the meaning of mortal sin: an action which shows God that we refuse his offer to become “children of God” (John 1:12) and “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4).
So, if that’s the minimum, then what’s the maximum that love requires?
Again, Jesus provides the answer: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) The maximum, then, is to completely give ourselves for others, even as Christ did for us. To put it more simply: there is no maximum! We’ll always find that we can give more.
Love demands we care about human rights, but we must begin with the protection of the unborn
Life First[2]
9 Days for Life
Day Nine:
Intercession: May the tragic practice of abortion come to an end.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be
Reflection: Today, on this anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we mourn the many children’s lives ended by abortion and remember in prayer those who suffer the aftermath. The Church comes together today to pray for the protection of all unborn children and to make reparation for abortion, trusting that the Lord hears our prayers. Pope Saint John Paul II wrote, “A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer” (Evangelium vitae, 100). May that prayer arise in our hearts today and each day forward until every human being is protected in law and welcomed in life.
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
·
Abstain
from snacking today. Eat three meals only.
·
Learn
how to pray the Angelus (www.usccb.org/angelus), and consider saying it every day
for the next week—on awakening, at noon, or at 6 p.m. (or all three times).
·
Offer
some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for
today’s intention.
Saint Francis de Sales[3]
Let
us therefore take the advice of St. Francis and prepare ourselves for every
communion.
St.
Francis de Sales says that Our Savior can never be seen more amiable and more
tender, in all that He has done for us, than in Holy Communion, in which He, so
to say, annihilates Himself and becomes food, that He may unite Himself to the
hearts and bodies of His faithful. Therefore, the learned Gerson used also to
say, that there was no means more efficacious than Holy Communion whereby to
enkindle devotion and the holy love of God in our souls.
And,
indeed, if we speak of doing something agreeable to God, what can a soul do
more agreeable to Him than to receive communion?
St.
Denis teaches us that love always tends towards perfect union; but how can a
soul be more perfectly united with Jesus than in the manner of which He speaks
Himself, saying: “He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, abideth in
Me, and I in him” (John vi. 57) St. Augustine says that if every day you
receive this sacrament, Jesus will be always with you, and that you will always
advance in divine love.
Again,
if there be question of healing our spiritual infirmities, what more certain
remedy can we have than Holy Communion, which is called by the sacred Council
of Trent a remedy whereby we may be freed from daily faults, and be preserved
from mortal sins?
Whence
does it come, asks Cardinal Bona, that in so many souls we see so little fruit
with such frequent communions, and that they constantly relapse into the same
faults?
He
replies: The fault is not in the food, but in the disposition of him who
receives.
Can
a man, says Solomon, hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? (Prov. vi. 27.)
God
is a consuming fire.
He
comes Himself in Holy Communion to enkindle this divine fire; how is it, then,
says William of Paris, that we see such a diabolical miracle as that souls
should remain cold in divine love, in the midst of such flames?
All
comes from the want of proper dispositions, and especially from want of
preparation. Fire immediately inflames dry but not green wood; for this latter
is not disposed to burn. The saints derived great benefit from their communions
because they prepared themselves with great care. St. Aloysius Gonzaga devoted
three days to his preparation for Holy Communion, and three days he spent in
thanksgiving to his Lord. To prepare well for Holy Communion, a soul should be
disposed on two main points: it should
be detached from creatures and have a great desire to advance in divine love.
In the first place, then, a soul should
detach itself from all things, and drive everything from its heart which is not
God. He that is washed, saith Jesus, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is
clean wholly (John xiii. 10); which signifies, as St. Bernard explains it, that
in order to receive this sacrament with great fruit, we should not only be
cleansed from mortal sins, but that our feet also should be washed, that is, be
free from earthly affections; for being in contact with the earth they excite a
sort of repugnance in God, and soiling the soul prevent the effects of Holy
Communion. St. Gertrude asked Our Lord what preparation He required of her for
Holy Communion, and He replied I only ask that thou shouldst come empty of
thyself to receive. In the second place, it is necessary in Holy Communion to
have a great desire to receive Jesus Christ and His holy love. In this sacred
banquet, says Gerson, only those who are famishing receive their fill; and the
most Blessed Virgin Mary had already said the same thing: He hath filled the
hungry with good things (Luke i. 53). As Jesus, writes the venerable Father
Avila, only came into this world after He had been much and long desired, so
does He only enter a soul which desires Him; for it is not becoming that such
food should be given him who has a
loathing for it. Our Lord one day said to St. Matilda: No bee flies with such
impetuosity to flowers, to suck their honey, as I fly to souls in Holy
Communion, driven by the violence of My love. Since then, Jesus Christ has so
great a desire to come into our souls, it is also right that we also should have a great desire to receive
Him and His divine love by Holy Communion. St. Francis de Sales teaches us that
the principal object which a soul should
have in view in communicating should
be to advance in the love of God; since He Who for love alone gives Himself to
us should be received for love.
Catholic Prayer: Novena
for Purification
Description:
This novena prayer, although short, is
sufficient. It would be better of course to add, if time permits, three Hail
Mary’s or say five times the Our Father, Haily Mary and Glory be to the Father,
or to use some of the many well-loved novena prayers from other sources.
Remember that prayers must be said with the lips in order to gain the
indulgences. This novena starts on January 24 and ends on February 2.
Prayer:
O
Blessed Mother of God, who went up to the Temple according to the law with your
offering of little white doves, pray for me that I too may keep the law and be
pure in heart like you.
Sweet
heart of Mary, be my salvation.
300 days. Plenary,
under usual conditions, if said daily for a month. S. C. Indulg., Sept. 30,
1852.
Prayer Source: All Day With God by
Blanche Jennings Thompson
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day 226 1652-1658
The openness to fertility
1652 "By
its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the
procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds its
crowning glory."
Children are
the supreme gift of marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the parents
themselves. God himself said: "It is not good that man should be
alone," and "from the beginning (he) made them male and female";
wishing to associate them in a special way in his own creative work, God
blessed man and woman with the words: "Be fruitful and multiply."
Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results
from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to
disposing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and
Savior, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.
1653 The fruitfulness of conjugal love extends to the fruits of the moral, spiritual, and supernatural life that parents hand on to their children by education. Parents are the principal and first educators of their children. In this sense the fundamental task of marriage and family is to be at the service of life.
1654 Spouses
to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full
of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a
fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice.
VI. The Domestic
Church
1655 Christ
chose to be born and grow up in the bosom of the holy family of Joseph and
Mary. the Church is nothing other than "the family of God." From the
beginning, the core of the Church was often constituted by those who had become
believers "together with all [their] household." When they were
converted, they desired that "their whole household" should also be
saved. These families who became believers were islands of Christian life
in an unbelieving world.
1656 In our
own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families
are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant faith. For this reason,
the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient expression, calls the family the
Ecclesia domestica. It is in the bosom of the family that parents are
"by word and example . . . the first heralds of the faith with regard to
their children. They should encourage them in the vocation, which is proper to
each child, fostering with special care any religious vocation."
1657 It is
here that the father of the family, the mother, children, and all members of
the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way "by
the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy
life, and self-denial and active charity." Thus, the home is the
first school of Christian life and "a school for human
enrichment." Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal
love, generous - even repeated - forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer
and the offering of one's life.
1658 We must
also remember the great number of single persons who, because of the particular
circumstances in which they have to live - often not of their choosing - are
especially close to Jesus' heart and therefore deserve the special affection
and active solicitude of the Church, especially of pastors. Many remain without
a human family often due to conditions of poverty. Some live their situation in
the spirit of the Beatitudes, serving God and neighbor in exemplary fashion.
The doors of homes, the "domestic churches," and of the great family
which is the Church must be open to all of them. "No one is without a
family in this world: the Church is a home and family for everyone, especially
those who 'labor and are heavy laden.'"
Fitness Friday
Recognizing
that God, the Father created man on Friday the 6th day I propose in
this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew yourself in
strength, mind, soul and heart.
25 Ways to Re-Create[4]
·
Saltwater Fishing-As the title indicates, saltwater
fishing takes place out at sea giving fishermen the opportunity to catch large
and exotic fishes such as the Marlin. The big drawback to this activity is that
you have to have access to a boat (either own, know someone who does, or rent),
and own special fishing gear that can handle large catches.
·
Bird Watching- With about 10,000 species of birds
and only a handful of people who can claim having seen over 7000 of them, bird
watching is become a popular recreation activity. It’s believed that bird
watching is an expression of the male hunting instinct while others links it
with the male tendency for “systemizing”. Either way, bird watching is a great,
safe way to enjoy nature.
·
Skiing- Also known as downhill skiing,
Alpine skiing began as a club sport in 1861 at Kiandra in Australia. Today,
most alpine skiing occurs at ski resorts with ski lifts that transport skiers
up the mountain.
·
Snowboarding-An American born sport that is
getting worldwide attention, snowboarding was developed in the 1960’s and
became part of the Olympics in 1998. Like any other extreme sport, snowboarding
does present risks of injury (especially for new participants), in fact, you
are twice as likely to get injured while snowboarding than Alpine skiing.
·
Overnight Backpacking- Not to be confused with
backpacking for traveling purposes, overnight backpacking describes a multi-day
hike that involves camping. Aside from the health benefits, backpacking allows
adventurers to enjoy remote places that are usually un-accessible by any other
means.
·
Snowshoeing-Snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy
the outdoors during winter months while maintaining an active and healthy
lifestyle. In fact, as of 2006, at least 500 American schools have started
offering snowshoe programs in their physical education curriculum to help
combat obesity.
·
Trail running-An increasingly popular sport,
trail runners have increased from 4.5 million to more than 6 million in the
United States alone between 2006 and 2012.
·
Snorkeling-If you want to check out an
underwater world without the mess of complicated equipment and tanks,
snorkeling is for you. Not only is it simpler than scuba diving, but cheaper as
well since you are not required to have a license and or permit to dive.
·
Bowhunting- Unlike hunting with a rifle,
Bowhunting places the hunter in closer proximity to its prey and is more
physical (in that you burn more calories by using a bow rather than firing a
gun). This activity entices many new participants; however, it is a controversial
sport due to the fact that animals tend to die slowly when struck by an arrow.
·
Cross-Country Skiing-Considered to be one of the most
grueling endurance sports out there, cross country skiing promises to test your
fitness. If you are looking for a sport that burns the most calories per hour,
this is it.
·
Wake Boarding-No waves? No problem. Wake
boarding makes up for the lack of waves with a boat by dragging you along. This
activity is relatively safe, popular, and will definitely keep you fit if done
consistently.
·
Fly Fishing-A perfect activity for enjoying the
outdoors, fly fishing requires some technical skill (mainly casting techniques)
but these are relatively easy to learn.
·
Sailing-Probably one the most romantic
outdoor activity on this list, sailing captivates the imagination and offers
participants a chance for a relaxing trip on the seas. The only downfall to
this activity is the price of a sailboat.
·
BMX Biking-BMX bicycling is an impressive
sport to watch, which is probably why so many people attempt to get into it. If
you are thinking of doing the same, be warned, you can’t fear getting hurt as falls, scrapes, and fails are common.
·
Surfing-A challenging sport, surfing
definitely requires some skill development. Nevertheless, many people attempt
this dynamic sport.
·
Scuba Diving-With the opportunity to experience
a rare and stunning encounter with a world outside the norm, it’s not
surprising why so many people try out scuba diving. Just be careful as scuba
diving can get a bit expensive and certification is required for solo divers.
·
Climbing-The danger factor should be obvious
with this one. Nevertheless, climbing appeals to many first-time participants
and many more find it to be a great outdoor activity. If you’re thinking about
giving this a try, I suggest starting out in an indoor climbing facility.
·
White Water Rafting-With six grades of intensity, white
water rafting appeals to veterans and novices alike. With that said, if you
want to try rafting for the first time, be sure to stick to the lower grades
since white water rafting can be dangerous.
·
Sea Kayaking-Kayaking in the sea will allow you
to enjoy an active lifestyle while gliding through open waters. It’s a
relatively easy sport to get into and for the most part safe (unlike the next
item on our list).
·
White Water Kayaking-A surprisingly popular activity for
first time practitioners, white water kayaking is a pretty intense sport. If
you’re not careful, you can end up seriously hurt, or worse…dead. Nevertheless,
35% of first-time participants indicate that this is their sport of choice.
·
Adventure Racing-You just never know what you will
get with adventure racing. As the name suggests, the ‘adventure’ can consist of
swimming, running, climbing, kayaking, etc. There usually is no time limit and
some races can even last days.
·
Triathlon Consisting of three continuous and
sequential endurance disciplines (running, bicycling, and swimming), a
triathlon does not require a particularly high level of skills per se. However,
the training for such an event can be grueling.
·
Windsurfing-An engaging combination of sailing
and surfing, windsurfing takes the #2 spot on our list. If you’re itching to
try this sport, know that it does take some patience and perseverance to become
proficient. You must develop your balance and core stability; acquire a basic
understanding of sailing theory; and learn a few techniques.
·
Stand Up Paddling-Stand up paddling (SUP) is the #1
activity for new time users. Similar to surfing in that you stand on a board.
In SUP, waves are not required, and you can enjoy a tranquil stroll while
enjoying a total body workout.
Friday Fish
This shrimp in marsala
sauce can be served over pasta or rice. This is a delicious Friday night
dinner.
DIRECTIONS
Dredge shrimp in flour;
sauté in oil 3 minutes. Drain shrimp, reserving oil. Add wine to shrimp; simmer
5 minutes or until shrimp is nearly done. Add reserved oil, tomato paste mixed
with water, scallion, salt, and pepper; simmer 5 minutes longer or until shrimp
is done. Stir in lemon juice. Makes 4 servings.
Recipe
Source: Cook's Blessings, The by Demetria Taylor,
Random House, New York, 1965
Daily Devotions/Activities
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The
sanctification of the Church Militant.
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary.
[2]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
[3]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
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