Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Candace’s Corner-Try “Paella”
· Bucket List trip: Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen Denmark
· Pray Day 9 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
· Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· Spirit Hour: Arise My Love Cocktail
· Plan winter fun:
· Soak in hot springs
· Hit the snow slopes
· Ride a snowmobile
· Go for a dog sled ride
· Ride a hot air balloon
· How to celebrate Jan 21st
i. Start the day by wearing your favorite cheesy socks for an instant mood lift. Embrace the spirit of National Hugging Day by sharing warm embraces with loved ones or even offering free hugs to strangers. Keep hunger at bay with a DIY granola bar-making session. Show some love to your furry friends on National Squirrel Appreciation Day by creating a cozy outdoor feeding station.
ii. Inject humor into your day by crafting clever one-liners to share with friends and family. Arrange a playdate with friends or family to celebrate International Playdate Day with games and laughter. Lounge comfortably in your favorite pair of sweatpants for International Sweatpants Day.
iii. Get creative and visit a local museum for Museum Selfie Day, where you can pose with your favorite exhibits. Indulge in some skincare pampering on National Hyaluronic Acid Day with a DIY hyaluronic acid face mask. End the day by hosting a soup swap with friends, where everyone brings a homemade soup to trade and enjoy together.
January 21 Tuesday-Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Psalm 111, verse 5
He gives food to those who FEAR him, he remembers his covenant forever.
This is probably a reference to the manna in the desert, which elsewhere is seen as a type of the Eucharist. In the Gospel of John Christ states, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So, the disciples said to one another,
“Could someone have brought him something to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4: 32-34). We like our Lord should have the same desire to build the Kingdom of God; to create a New Jerusalem in our home, at our work and in our communities. Our Lord asks that we prepare ourselves for the work by eating the food he gives us which is the new covenant. We need this food to create a change in us from the old man to become sons of God in and through Christ which is the new covenant of His blood. Those who love him frequent Mass and take the food He gives us through His Priests. For this is real food indeed. It is not food to give pleasure to the body, but it is intended by God to give joy to the soul. According to the late Bishop Fulton Sheen, "You can quickly become tired of pleasures, but you can never tire of joys." Joy comes by finding God. You cannot satisfy a soul with husks![1]
Saint Agnes[2]
Today
we honor the martyrdom of Saint Agnes, a God-fearing child of 12, when she
faced her death. Here is St. Ambrose’s account of her demise.
This
treatise has a favorable beginning, since it is the birthday of the holy Virgin
Agnes, of whose name, modesty, and martyrdom St. Ambrose speaks in
commendation, but more especially of her age, seeing that she, being but twelve
years old, was superior to terrors, promises, tortures, and death itself, with
a courage wholly worthy of a man.
And
my task begins favorably, that since today is the birthday of a virgin, I have
to speak of virgins, and the treatise has its beginning from this discourse. It
is the birthday of a martyr, let us offer the victim. It is the birthday of St.
Agnes, let men admire, let children take courage, let the married be astounded,
let the unmarried take an example.
But
what can I say worthy of her whose very name was not devoid of bright praise?
In
devotion beyond her age, in virtue above nature, she seems to me to have borne
not so much a human name, as a token of martyrdom, whereby she showed what she
was to be.
But
I have that which may assist me. The name of virgin is a title of modesty. I
will call upon the martyr, I will proclaim the virgin. That panegyric is long
enough which needs no elaboration but is within our grasp. Let then labor
cease, eloquence be silent. One word is praise enough. This word old men and
young and boys chant. No one is more praiseworthy than he who can be praised by
all. There are as many heralds as there are men, who when they speak proclaim
the martyr.
She
is said to have suffered martyrdom when twelve years old. The more hateful was
the cruelty, which spared not so tender an age, the greater in truth was the
power of faith which found evidence even in that age.
Was
there room for a wound in that small body?
And
she who had no room for the blow of the steel had that wherewith to conquer the
steel. But maidens of that age are unable to bear even the angry looks of
parents and are wont to cry at the pricks of a needle as though they were
wounds. She was fearless under the
cruel hands of the executioners, she was unmoved by the heavy weight of the
creaking chains, offering her whole body to the sword of the raging soldier, as
yet ignorant of death, but ready for it. Or if she were unwillingly hurried to
the altars, she was ready to stretch forth her hands to Christ at the
sacrificial fires, and at the sacrilegious altars themselves, to make the sign
of the Lord the Conqueror, or again to place her neck and both her hands in the
iron bands, but no band could enclose such slender limbs.
A
new kind of martyrdom! Not yet of fit age for punishment but already ripe for
victory, difficult to contend with but easy to be crowned, she filled the
office of teaching valor while having the disadvantage of youth. She would not
as a bride so hasten to the couch, as being a virgin, she joyfully went to the
place of punishment with hurrying step, her head not adorned with plaited hair,
but with Christ. All wept, she alone was without a tear. All wondered that she
was so readily prodigal of her life, which she had not yet enjoyed, and now
gave up as though she had gone through it. Everyone was astounded that there
was now one to bear witness to the Godhead, who as yet could not, because of
her age, dispose of herself. And she brought it to pass that she should be
believed concerning God, whose evidence concerning man would not be accepted.
For that which is beyond nature is from the Author of nature.
What
threats the executioner used to make her fear him, what allurements to persuade
her, how many desired that she would come to them in marriage! But she
answered: It would be an injury to my spouse to look on any one as likely to
please me. He who chose me first for Himself shall receive me.
Why
are you delaying, executioner?
Let
this body perish which can be loved by eyes which I would not. She stood, she
prayed, she bent down her neck. You could see the executioner tremble, as
though he himself had been condemned, and his right-hand shake, his face grow
pale, as he feared the peril of
another, while the maiden feared not
for her own. You have then in one victim a twofold martyrdom, of modesty and of
religion. She both remained a virgin and she obtained martyrdom.
Pray that we may emulate Agnes who was martyred rather than forsake her betrothal to Christ and exhibited the traits of a true marriage.
Life First[3] 9 Days
for Life
9 Days for Life is a "digital pilgrimage" of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person's life. A multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each day provides reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions. Join to receive the novena through the 9 Days for Life app, daily emails, or daily texts. See below for information on how else you can get involved! #9DaysforLife #OurPrayersMatter
Day Six:
Intercession: May all victims and survivors of human trafficking find freedom, refuge, and healing.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be
Reflection: Those who are vulnerable are most at risk for being lured into situations where they are trafficked. Migrants and refugees often face increased risk factors like changes to language and culture, lack of support systems, and the burden of poverty. Young people on the margins, especially runaway and homeless youth, are targeted for sex trafficking and may subsequently be forced to have abortions. Easily tempted by the false promises of traffickers, victims often find themselves enslaved with no means of escape. Christ came “to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Is 61:1, cf. Luke 4:18). May all who are trapped in situations of slavery be released from their chains of captivity and find freedom, refuge, safety, and healing in Christ and His Church.
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
·
Give
up sleeping on your pillow tonight. Allow this small sacrifice to remind you of
the sufferings endured by those in our world who are enslaved.
·
St.
Josephine Bakhita, who was born in Sudan and sold into slavery, has become
known as the patron saint of human trafficking victims. Pray for victims and survivors of human
trafficking, asking the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita.
·
Offer
some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for
today’s intention.
2-SEVEN GLORIA PATRI'S, ETC., SAID BY
THREE PERSONS CONJOINTLY.
The power of a
three-strand rope
The twisting of the
three strands creates a rope that is much stronger than a single strand of the
same diameter. Another advantage of a three-strand rope is its ability to
absorb shock.
· Pope Pius VI., in order to sanction the devout exercise begun in France with the approbation and under the auspices of Monsignor Beaumont, Archbishop of Paris, of happy memory, granted, by a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated May 15, 1784 -
· An indulgence of 100 days, daily, and an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every Sunday, to all the faithful who, with contrite hearts, shall recite three several times a day (that is, morning, noon, and evening) seven Gloria Patri’s and one Ave Maria, in honor of the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, of the Incarnation of the Divine Word, and His most holy Mother Mary;
·
A
plenary indulgence to those who shall recite every day, three times a day as
above, seven Gloria Patri’s and one Ave Maria to be gained twice
a month, that is, on any two Sundays in the month, when, after Confession and
Communion, they shall visit some church, and pray according to the intention of
the Sovereign Pontiff.
·
It
is, however, requisite, in order to gain these Indulgences, that there should
be a pious union of three persons, who civilly agree amongst themselves to
recite, either together or by themselves, the said seven Gloria Patri’s
and one Ave Maria; and that, should any one of the three die, or in some
other way fail to say these prayers, then the other two should find a
substitute, so that the pious union of three persons may be always maintained.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day 223
Mixed marriages and disparity
of cult
1633 In many
countries the situation of a mixed marriage (marriage between a Catholic and a
baptized non-Catholic) often arises. It requires particular attention on the part
of couples and their pastors. A case of marriage with disparity of cult
(between a Catholic and a nonbaptized person) requires even greater
circumspection.
1634
Difference of confession between the spouses does not constitute an
insurmountable obstacle for marriage, when they succeed in placing in common
what they have received from their respective communities, and learn from each
other the way in which each lives in fidelity to Christ. But the difficulties
of mixed marriages must not be underestimated. They arise from the fact that
the separation of Christians has not yet been overcome. the spouses risk
experiencing the tragedy of Christian disunity even in the heart of their own
home. Disparity of cult can further aggravate these difficulties. Differences
about faith and the very notion of marriage, but also different religious
mentalities, can become sources of tension in marriage, especially as regards the
education of children. The temptation to religious indifference can then arise.
1635 According
to the law in force in the Latin Church, a mixed marriage needs for liceity the
express permission of ecclesiastical authority. In case of disparity of
cult an express dispensation from this impediment is required for the validity
of the marriage. This permission or dispensation presupposes that both
parties know and do not exclude the essential ends and properties of marriage
and the obligations assumed by the Catholic party concerning the baptism and
education of the children in the Catholic Church.
1636 Through
ecumenical dialogue Christian communities in many regions have been able to put
into effect a common pastoral practice for mixed marriages. Its task is to help
such couples live out their particular situation in the light of faith,
overcome the tensions between the couple's obligations to each other and
towards their ecclesial communities, and encourage the flowering of what is
common to them in faith and respect for what separates them.
1637 In
marriages with disparity of cult the Catholic spouse has a particular task:
"For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the
unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband." It is a great
joy for the Christian spouse and for the Church if this
"consecration" should lead to the free conversion of the other spouse
to the Christian faith. Sincere married love, the humble and patient
practice of the family virtues, and perseverance in prayer can prepare the
non-believing spouse to accept the grace of conversion.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase in Religious and consecrated life.
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[1] Fulton Sheen, Finding True Happiness.
[3]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
Comments
Post a Comment