Academy Awards[1]
Sadly, the annual live Oscar is a husk of its former glamorous self. The tired, soap-opera essence of the Academy’ s annual celebration of mediocrity lies in the predictable moral preening of its amoral participants. What used to be a shimmering celebration of widely accepted great films and great stars has degenerated into a cesspool of dirt, sleaze and depravity, made worse by its obvious contempt for the average American. The only mystery and excitement that remains is guessing which Hollywood one-percenters will seize the microphone to dish out some PC political rant, complete with a righteous torrent four-letter words. Worse, this alleged celebration of film entertainment has become all about politics all the time. Each year it reminds those of us still aware of world history that the Long March of Marxism continues to infect every American institution it invades. Hollywood fell to the leftists’ long march a long time ago. More recently, NFL football and the just-concluded Winter Olympics joined the lefty crowd by marching in lockstep to the same seductive tune. Every time this happens in the entertainment industry (which now includes sports), it’s box office death. (Just look at the annually declining numbers.) But the one-percenters who run these entertainment entities apparently don’t care, even as the flow of red ink increases.
march 2 Quinquagesima
Sunday
Daniel,
Chapter 8, Verse 23-25
23 At the end of their
reign, when sinners have reached their measure, there shall arise a king,
impudent, and skilled in intrigue. 24 He shall be strong and powerful, bring about FEARFUL ruin, and succeed in his
undertaking. He shall destroy powerful peoples; 25 his cunning shall be
against the holy ones; his treacherous conduct shall succeed. He shall be proud
of heart and destroy many by stealth. But when he rises against the Prince of
princes, he shall be broken without a hand being raised.
This
verse brings out images of how Christ’s love won over the Roman Empire and
through Rome was spread throughout the entire world. Rome controlled with human
fear.
When
we fear the Lord our contentment does not come from any absence of problems but
from knowingly choosing how to respond to them righteously. God does not want
to squash our dreams with His commandments.
No,
he listens and smiles like we do when we see and hear the dreams of a child.
Yet,
He knows that all dreams must be founded in reality and the truth. When our
dreams work against His commandments; our dreams work against us. Every dream
must have a foundation of love and in some way must increase the life, liberty
or the happiness of others.
Yes,
on the Day of Judgment the homes of the poor will be honored more than the
great mansions of the rich. Simple obedience to His laws will be more highly
praised than the brilliance of all the Kings, Presidents and couriers
throughout the world.
Strive
therefore for dreams which provide earthly gain without the surrender to sin.
So, the only real wealth is a clear conscience; of a life well lived.
To
live righteously, to love chastely, to learn the truth and to leave a legacy to
others is the only true riches. Jesus experienced the utmost depths of human fear. Yet he found the strength even in
that hour to trust the Father.
“Abba,
Father, all things are possible to you; remove this chalice from me; yet not
what I will, but what you will.” (Mk. 15:34)
Can
we at the final hour have the peace of Christ to say,
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. (Lk. 23:46)[1]
ON KEEPING
THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[2]
CHAPTER II
DIES CHRISTI
The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit
The eighth day: image of
eternity
26. By contrast, the Sabbath's
position as the seventh day of the week suggests for the Lord's Day a
complementary symbolism, much loved by the Fathers. Sunday is not only the
first day, it is also "the eighth day", set within the sevenfold succession
of days in a unique and transcendent position which evokes not only the
beginning of time but also its end in "the age to come". Saint Basil
explains that Sunday symbolizes that truly singular day which will follow the
present time, the day without end which will know neither evening nor morning,
the imperishable age which will never grow old; Sunday is the ceaseless
foretelling of life without end which renews the hope of Christians and
encourages them on their way. Looking towards the last day, which fulfils
completely the eschatological symbolism of the Sabbath, Saint Augustine
concludes the Confessions describing the Eschaton as "the peace of
quietness, the peace of the Sabbath, a peace with no evening". In
celebrating Sunday, both the "first" and the "eighth" day,
the Christian is led towards the goal of eternal life.
·
Devotion
of the Seven Sundays: St Joseph-5th Sunday
Quinquagesima
Sunday[3]
"We
are going up to Jerusalem" -- a setting of the stage for the pilgrimage of
Lent, and the one thing we must bring with us: charity. [Also, traditional time
for going to confession]
In
the Roman Catholic Church, the terms for this Sunday (and the two immediately
before it — Sexagesima and Septuagesima Sundays) were eliminated in the reforms
following the Second Vatican Council, and these Sundays are part of Ordinary
Time. According to the reformed Roman Rite Roman Catholic calendar, this Sunday
is now known by its number within Ordinary Time — fourth through ninth,
depending upon the date of Easter. The earlier form of the Roman Rite, with its
references to Quinquagesima Sunday, and to the Sexagesima and Septuagesima
Sundays, continues to be observed in some communities. In traditional
lectionaries, the Sunday concentrates on Luke
18:31–43,
"Jesus took the twelve aside and said, 'Lo, we go to Jerusalem, and
everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man shall be fulfilled' ...
The disciples, however, understood none of this," which from verse 35 is
followed by Luke's version of Healing
the blind near Jericho.
The passage presages the themes of Lent and Holy Week.
ON[4]
this Sunday the Church, in the Introit, calls upon God for help, with a
sorrowful but confident heart. Be Thou unto me a protector and place of refuge;
save me, for Thou art my strength and refuge, and for Thy name’s sake Thou wilt
be my leader, and wilt nourish me. In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never
be confounded; deliver me in Thy justice, and set me free; (Ps. xxx. 3, 4, 2).
Mercifully hear our prayers, O
Lord, we beseech Thee, and, absolving us from the bonds of sin, preserve us
from all adversity. Amen.
EPISTLE, i. COT. xiii. 1-13.
Brethren:
If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal; and if I should have prophecy,
and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all
faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should
deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is
not puffed up, is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger,
thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth:
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things. Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or
tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. For we know in part, and
we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in
part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood
as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away the
things of a child. We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face
to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known. And now
there remain, faith, hope, charity: these three, but the greatest of these is
charity.
Explanation. St. Paul here teaches the Romans,
and us in them, the necessity, the qualities, and the advantages of charity:
The necessity because all natural and supernatural gifts all good works,
virtues, and sacrifices even martyrdom itself cannot save us if we have no
charity. By charity only are we and our works pleasing to God. The qualities of
charity which are good-will without envy, suspicion, perversity, or malice;
pure intention without selflove, ambition, immodesty, or injustice; untiring
patience without hastiness; and, finally, humble submission to God, Who is all
to him that possesses charity. The advantages of charity in that it gives to
good works their value, and that it never fails; for while all things else
cease while faith passes into seeing, hope into possession, knowledge in part
into knowledge of the whole charity is ever lasting, and therefore the greatest
of the three. Faith, “says St. Augustine,”; lays the foundation of the house of
God; hope builds up the walls; charity covers and completes it.”
Aspiration.
O God of love pour into my heart the spirit of charity, that, according to the
spirit of St. Paul, I may always endeavor to be in the state of grace, that so
all my works may be pleasing to Thee, and of merit to me. Amen.
GOSPEL. Luke xviii. 31-43.
At that time: Jesus took
unto Him the twelve, and said to them: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and all
things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the
Son of man; for He shall be delivered to the gentiles, and shall be mocked, and
scourged, and spit upon: and after they have scourged Him they will put Him to
death, and the third day He shall rise again. And they understood none of these
things, and this word was hid from them, and they understood not the things
that were said. Now it came to pass when He drew nigh to Jericho, that a
certain blind man sat by the wayside, begging. And when he heard the multitude
passing by, he asked what this meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth
was passing by. And he cried out, saying Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
And they that went before, rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But he
cried out much more: Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus standing
commanded him to be brought unto Him. And when he was come near, He asked him,
saying: What wilt thou that I do to thee? But he said: Lord, that I may see.
And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole. And
immediately he saw, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people when
they saw it gave praise to God.
Why
did Our Savior so often predict His sufferings to His apostles?
1.
To show that He already knew of them, thereby indicating His omniscience; and
that,
2.
He desired to suffer.
3.
In order that His disciples should not be scandalized at His humiliation, nor
think evil of Him as if He had deceived them, but by remembering His words, be
rather confirmed in their belief in Him as the Son of God and Redeemer of the
world.
Did not the apostles understand
anything of what He thus predicted in regard to His sufferings?
They may have known that He was to suffer, for St.
Peter undertook to dissuade Him from it (Matt. xvi. 22), but they could not
reconcile these predictions with their expectation of a future glorious
kingdom. Nor would we be able to cast off our prejudices, and understand the
truths of the faith, however plainly taught, were we not enlightened by the
Holy Ghost.
What should we learn from this
history of the blind man?
1. The inexpressible misfortune of blindness of the
heart a state in which we know not our God, our Redeemer and Sanctifier, and
see neither the way of divine life, nor the hindrances to our salvation, but
grope about in the darkness of ignorance and sin.
2. Where to find One Who will save us from this awful
condition, in Jesus Christ healing and enlightening us through and in His
Church.
3. The holy zeal and perseverance with which we should
seek and call upon Him for deliverance, disregarding alike the bad examples,
persecutions, and mockery of the world.
4. How fervently we should thank God, and how
faithfully we should follow Him, after He has opened the eyes of our soul and
freed us, by His grace, from the spiritual blindness of sin.
Pork Sunday[5]
It is for this reason that
Quinquagesima has been known as “Pork Sunday” since the Middle Ages because
this was a day when Christians tried to use up their remaining pork, one of the
most heavily consumed meats within Christian culture at the time. Likewise, the
Monday after Quinquagesima was called Pork Monday, although it later came to be
known as Shrove Monday or Collop Monday in countries like England.
On these two days, most of
the remaining meat found in Christian homes and businesses was to be consumed,
as they needed to get rid of it before they began fasting on Wednesday. If any
meat was unable to be eaten on these two days, it was typically dried and
salted in an attempt to preserve it for after Easter. Although meat was also
consumed on Fat Tuesday, that day was more dedicated to the final consumption
of dairy, fats, and sugars.
The recipe that we chose
to share with you today is for pork chops, made with a sweet and smoky rub. Not
only does this recipe nod to Quinquagesima’s alternative name, but is also uses
a sugary topping, something that is forgone during the Lenten season.
NOVENA TO THE HOLY
FACE
DAILY
PREPARATORY PRAYER
O Most Holy and
Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced
through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son, we
ask your help in making a perfect Novena of reparation with Jesus, united with
all His sorrows, love and total abandonment.
We now implore all the
Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most
Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Start novena)
Eighth
Day
Psalm 51, 16-17.
O rescue me, God my helper, and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. O Lord,
open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
Most merciful Face of
Jesus, who in this vale of tears was so moved by our misfortunes to call
yourself the healer of the sick, and the good Shepherd of the souls gone
astray, allow not Satan to draw us away from you, but keep us always under your
loving protection, together with all souls who endeavor to console you. Mary,
our Mother, intercede for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Through the merits of your
precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, Pardon and
Mercy.
Prayer
to Saint Peter
O glorious Saint Peter,
who in return for thy lively and generous faith, thy profound and sincere
humility and thy burning love, was honored by Jesus Christ with singular
privileges, and in particular, with the leadership of the other apostles and
the primacy of the whole church, of which thou was made the foundation stone,
do thou obtain for us the grace of a lively faith, that shall not fear to
profess itself openly in its entirety and in all of its manifestations, even to
the shedding of blood, if occasion should demand it, and to the sacrifice of
life itself in preference to surrender. Obtain for us likewise a sincere
loyalty to our Holy Mother the Church. Grant that we may ever remain most
closely and sincerely united to the Holy Father, who is the heir of thy faith
and of thy authority, the one true visible head of the Catholic Church. Grant,
moreover, that we may follow, in all humility and meekness, the Church’s
teaching and counsels and may be obedient to all her precepts, in order to be
able here on earth to enjoy a peace that is sure and undisturbed, and to attain
one day in heaven to everlasting happiness. Amen.
Pray
one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary’s, (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times)
Manhood of the Master[6]
In 1913 the renowned Harry
Emerich Fosdick wrote a 12-week study on the
Manhood of Jesus Christ. Fosdick writes, “This work is not a portrait of the
life of the Master or a study of his teaching. It is an endeavor to understand
and appreciate the quality of his character. Neither this this work an
attempted to contribution to the theology; it is an endeavor, rather, to get
back behind the thoughts of the centuries about him, and to see the Man Christ
Jesus himself as he lives in the pages of the gospels.
During the
Lenten period we will utilize the work to come closer to Christ’s manhood using
this source as fruit for a study of Christ. Hopefully our study will help us
rise with Christ and become true sons of Mary and the Church.
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 2 day 1
Blessed Charles the
Good[7]
Count Charles of Flanders
was called "the good" by the people of his kingdom. They named him
for what they found him to truly be. He was the son of St. Canute, king of
Denmark. Charles was just five years old when his father was murdered in 1086.
When Charles grew up, he married a good young woman named Margaret. Charles was
a mild and fair ruler. The people trusted him and his laws. He tried to be an
example of what he expected the people to be.
Some nobles accused
Charles of unjustly favoring the poor over the rich. He answered kindly,
"It is because I am so aware of the needs of the poor and the pride of the
rich." The poor of his realm were fed daily at his castles.
Charles ordered the
abundant planting of crops so that the people would have plenty to eat at
reasonable prices. Some wealthy men tried to hoard grain to sell at very high
prices. Charles the Good found out and forced them to sell immediately and at
fair prices. An influential father and his sons had been reprimanded by Charles
for their violent tactics. They joined the little group of enemies who now
wanted to kill him.
The count walked every
morning barefoot to Mass and arrived early at the Church of St. Donatian. He
did this in a spirit of penance. He longed to deepen his own spiritual life
with God. His enemies knew that he walked to church and also that he prayed often
alone before Mass. Many people who loved Charles feared for his life. They
warned him that his walks to St. Donatian could lead to his death. He replied,
"We are always in the middle of dangers, but we belong to God." One
morning, as he prayed alone before the statue of Mary, his attackers killed
him. Charles was martyred in 1127.
—Excerpted from Holy
Spirit Interactive
Patronage: counts; Crusaders; diocese of Burges, Belgium
Symbols and
Representation: nobleman with a purse and a sword;
depicted after his martyrdom in the cathedral; sword
Highlights and Things
to Do:
- Read
more about Bl. Charles:
- His
remains are in the Sint-Salvatorskathedraal or Saint-Salvator Cathedral
of Bruges, Flanders, in present-day Belgium.
I went to Bruges
with my family when I was stationed in Belgium, I believe I was in this church.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring
the Church
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 17
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[1] Youth Catechism of
the Catholic Church http://www.youcat.org/
[4]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
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