Rachel’s Corner-Try “Huevos Estrellados[1]”
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people.
(Luke
2:10)
·
Religion in the Home for
Preschool: February
·
do a personal
eucharistic stations of the cross.
·
Carnival Time begins in Catholic
Countries.
·
Carnival: Part Two, the Final
Countdown
·
Spirit Hour: Burgundy
Wine or Kahlua
·
Writer John
Steinbeck born 1902-1968
·
Bucket List trip:
Shangri la
·
How
to celebrate Feb 27th
o
Rise
and shine! Start your day with a hearty breakfast to fuel the adventures ahead.
Whip up some toast, bacon, eggs, and a steaming cup of coffee – celebrate The Big
Breakfast Day in style. As you savor each bite, consider the importance of
protein in your diet. Pack a protein-packed snack for an on-the-go boost later
in the day to honor National
Protein Day.
o
Feeling
nostalgic? Throw it back with some retro tunes playing in the background. Dress
in your favorite vintage outfit and groove to the music – Retro Day is all about
embracing the past. Take a moment to appreciate the simpler times and maybe
even challenge your friends to a retro-themed trivia game.
o
In
the midst of the fun, don’t forget to indulge your taste buds with some
delicious chili. Whether you prefer it mild or spicy, National Chili Day is
the perfect excuse to whip up a big pot and share with your loved ones. Pair it
with a glass of Kahlua to toast to friendship and good times on National Kahlua Day.
o
Feeling
adventurous? Explore the outdoors and embark on a polar bear plunge to mark International Polar
Bear Day. Embrace the cold water and revel in the refreshing feeling
afterwards. As you dry off, why not whip up a batch of strawberry smoothies to
celebrate National
Strawberry Day? It’s a refreshing way to cap off your chilly adventure.
o
As
the day winds down, wind up your creativity with a fun Pokemon-themed craft.
Create your favorite Pokemon out of paper or clay to commemorate National Pokemon Day.
Unleash your inner artist and let your imagination run wild.
o
To
end the day on a sweet note, treat yourself to a warm slice of khachapuri, a
traditional Georgian cheese bread, on Khachapuri Day.
Indulge in this cheesy delight and savor the unique flavors.
o
And
there you have it – a jam-packed day celebrating a medley of weird national
holidays. So go forth and make the most of these offbeat celebrations!
Best Place to visit in February : St
Augustine, Florida
I think this
is a fine and elegant gem! The easy-on-the-eye historic city was founded in
Florida’s northeastern coast in 1565 and is filled with Spanish heritage,
historic landmarks, gorgeous beaches and a romantic, laid-back vibe.
I found the
weather to be mild and very pleasant this time of year, with 8 hours of
sunshine per day and much less humidity than the summer months. It’s also
off-season which means I found better rates on accommodation and far fewer
crowds and tourists to contend with too – bonus!
Although the
ocean wasn’t quite warm enough to swim comfortably, I relaxed on the beach and
attended the events including the lively Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series, the fun and
family-friendly Old City Pirate Fest and the elegant St. Augustine
Spanish Wine Festival.
On my trip,
I also explored the impressive Spanish masonry fort, the Castillo de San Marcos
National Monument, the interesting St. Augustine
Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, the charming San Sebastian
Winery and the unique and spooky ghost tour!
Visitors’
Center Address: 10 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Average
temperature – 64.4 to 70
My must-do
highlights…
Taking a
wander down St George Street which was filled with a collection of art
galleries, independent shops, and fine restaurants.
Learning
about the history at Oldest House
Museum and discovering what life was like in St Augustine years
ago.
Drinking the
water from Ponce de Leon’s Spring of Eternal Hope at The Fountain of Youth
Archaeological Park!
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
[1] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A Food Lover's Life List (p. 892). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
FEBRUARY 27 Thursday after Sexagesima-Carnival
Daniel,
Chapter 6, Verse 27-28
27
I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced
and FEARED: “For he
is the living God, enduring forever, whose kingdom shall not be destroyed,
whose dominion shall be without end, 28 A savior and deliverer, working
signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who saved Daniel from the lions’
power.”
This
is the summation of the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. In this chapter
Daniel is a type of Christlike figure. He is falsely accused by those who are
jealous of him. They use legal tricks to entrap Daniel and have him condemned
to the lion’s den. He is even put inside; the den is sealed over with a giant
boulder, thus mirroring Christ’s tomb. In the end Daniel is not eaten by the
lions but those who conspired against him are thrown into the lions and eaten.
The story reflects the glory of Christ’s victory over Satan and the demons.
Decision
Making: Choices Confirm or Compromise Values[1]
Daniel
when presented with a law that opposed the laws of God had to decide whether he
would submit or stay true to his convictions. He chose his life principles. He
likely followed the principles of:
1.
Weighting
out the options before you.
2.
Ask
if those choses force you to compromise personal values.
3.
Seek
wise counsel.
4.
Count
the cost.
5.
Decide
based on principles.
6.
Act
on your decision swiftly and firmly.
Daniel
maintained a set of values and principles that enabled him to make decisions
quickly and confidently. If you take too much time making decisions often it is
too late to act. Do not wait to survey the pulse of your people and paralyze
your organization. Do the right thing!
The Mass[2]
The
Mass was the center of life for the disciples of Jesus, and so it has ever
been. The first Christians were Jews, living in a Jewish culture, steeped in
Jewish forms of worship. The liturgy of the new covenant had been foreshadowed
in the rituals of the old. The Mass is explicitly connected with the Passover
meal. There are also parallels between the thank-offering
or todah and the Mass.
A todah
sacrifice would be offered by someone whose life had been delivered from great
peril, such as disease or the sword. The redeemed person would show his
gratitude to God by gathering his closest friends and family for a todah
sacrificial meal. The lamb would be sacrificed in the Temple and the bread for
the meal would be consecrated the moment the lamb was sacrificed. The bread and
meat, along with wine, would constitute the elements of the sacred todah
meal, which would be accompanied by prayers and songs of thanksgiving, such as
Psalm 116.[3]
The
Talmud records the ancient rabbis’ teaching that, when the Messiah has come,
“All sacrifices will cease except the todah.” In fact Greek scriptures rendered
the word todah as eucharistia, the word from which we get
“Eucharist.”
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should, I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
Thursday after Sexagesima-Carnival[4]
It might sound odd that during the period of "Carnival" there occurs some of the most decadent feasting of the liturgical year. There is, however, a pious (if not somewhat convoluted) logic behind this consumption. Because not only meat but lacticinia (dairy products) were originally prohibited during Lent, Christians knew that they had to eat these foods before Ash Wednesday, or they would spoil. The last days before Lent were thus spent in eating copious amounts of fat dishes. From this necessity comes England's famous Shrove Tuesday Pancakes and northern England's Collop Monday (a collop is made of sliced meat and eggs fried in butter). This also gave rise to the most famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) Christian party of all: Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," is the French celebration of the final day before Lent. In this country it is associated mostly with the Cajun and Creole cuisine of New Orleans, two culinary traditions that provide a myriad of spicy, delicious dishes. One of the more interesting customs of the New Orleans Mardi Gras is the baking of a King's Cake, in which is placed a small doll of the Infant Jesus. The person whose piece of cake has the doll must provide the cake for next year's party.
How to Party like a Catholic[5]
Postmodern man—and postmodern
woman—don’t know how to give a good party. It’s up to us Catholics to reclaim
this lost art and share it with the world.
Why?
Because good parties are intrinsic to our
Catholic faith. The liturgical year is punctuated with a wide array of feast
days and celebrations, many of which are Christianized versions of holidays
that once closely tracked the agricultural calendar of planting and harvesting.
The two largest and best-known feasts are, of course, Christmas and Easter, but
there are also the two Christmas and Easter spin-offs, Epiphany and Pentecost.
In addition, there’s the feast of Mary, Mother of God (New Year’s Day); Ascension
Thursday; Corpus Christi; the feast of the Immaculate Conception; All Saints
Day (with Halloween and the Day of the Dead); and, the most famous party of
all, Mardi Gras, which has strayed far from its Catholic origin as the last
celebration before the Lenten fast but still embodies a certain Catholic
sensibility. Above all, every Sunday for Catholics is a feast day on which we
celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Only in Lent and the mini-Lent of Advent is it
not party time, but even in these two seasons, there are exceptions for St.
Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, St. Nicholas’s Day, and other feasts.
Of course, as the Church wisely realizes, feasts are more fun if preceded by fasts. The stricter the fast, the merrier the feast. Truly the Catholic tradition has mastered the art of well-timed, heavily scheduled, carefully orchestrated good times.
The
occasion of a sacrament—baptism, confirmation, or matrimony—is the best
possible opportunity for a good party. In fact, many Catholics take it for
granted that a wedding should be marked by a grand feast. The bigger and more
elaborate the feast, the more it conforms to the biblical model in John 2:1-11
of the wedding feast at Cana. Mary, Jesus, and His disciples all attend. In the
middle of the party, the wine runs out. Mary explains this difficult situation
to her son; after all, the gospel implies, it won’t be much of a party without
wine. After an exchange with His mother, Jesus asks those in charge to fill six
stone pots with water. "And they filled them to the brim," John says.
When the host tastes the water, he is startled to discover that Jesus has
changed it to wine, and not just any wine but the best they will have all
night. Hence, Jesus’ first miracle was not a solemn occasion, as one might
expect, but a celebration.
Party
Poopers
You
might expect that such a remarkable story as this, one that recounts Jesus’
first public display of divine power, would be standard fare in evangelical
Protestant pulpits, where the words of the Bible take precedence over any
liturgical design. Not so. If you have ever attended a Southern Baptist
wedding, for example, you know why: There is no feast. The ceremony lasts
perhaps 20 minutes at most, and then the entire crowd descends to the social
hall under the church to eat pastel butter mints and cake and sip a tiny cup of
fizzy, pink, nonalcoholic punch. Wine is forbidden by tradition, so no one is
looking for any. The whole affair is over in less than an hour. Baptists may be
people of the Book, but they certainly are not people of the party. So much for
living the words of Scripture.
How
did the wedding feast, so joyously celebrated at Cana, come to be the dreary
occasion that it is in the Baptist tradition?
Like members of other non-liturgical faiths,
Southern Baptists tend to reject regularly scheduled intervals of joy, sadness,
celebration, and suffering, less for explicit doctrinal reasons than because it
all just seems too, well, Catholic.
Protestants
have traditionally found the Catholicity of Christian holidays deeply
problematic. During the colonial period, Massachusetts actually outlawed
Christmas, and the controversy about whether to put up a lighted tree in church
still erupts in evangelical congregations. If Protestant Americans had been
left to their own devices, we would celebrate only Thanksgiving (which is
actually a version of St. Martin’s Day, November 11) and the Fourth of July.
This
aspect of the Catholic faith is as conspicuous to outsiders as it is taken for
granted by us: One day we are eating pancakes and throwing parties for Fat
Tuesday, and the next day, Ash Wednesday, we are walking around with ashes on
our foreheads repenting for our sins.
What
is it about us Romanists and our ways?
The
Bible, it turns out, is filled with fabulous parties. Think of the parable of
the prodigal son. When he returns to his father’s home with a contrite heart
after living the high life, he is not given broth and sent to bed. No, his
father says, "bring hither the fatted calf, kill it, and let us eat and be
merry; for this my son," as if to show that home is where the high life
actually is. St. Clement of Alexandria wrote: "The repentant son came to
the pitying father, never hoping for these things—the best robe, and the ring,
and the shoes—or to taste the fatted calf, or to share in gladness, or enjoy
music and dances; he would have been contented with obtaining what in his own
estimation he deemed himself worthy." Instead, he got it all. Given this spirit
of liberality in one of Jesus’ own parables, a good Catholic should be prepared
to throw a great party whenever the opportunity arises. Now, it’s true that
merrymaking cannot be the sum total of the way we live. The ever-stern St.
Francis de Sales, in his Introduction to the Devout Life, warns against
excessive frivolity. But he does affirm that balls and festivities are not evil
in themselves and can even be used for good. "It is lawful to amuse
yourself, to dance, dress, feast, and see seemly plays," he affirms. The
proviso is that the good times must not hinder, but help, devotion.
Boring
Parties
·
What is striking about modern life is how dull
our attempts at frivolity often turn out to be, not only because they are not
interrupted by fasting and prayer, as they should be, but also because we have
lost the art of how to throw a good party.
·
We’ve all had the experience of walking into a
party where we know only a few people, and all the rest are talking among
themselves. We find someone we know and hope he doesn’t mind if we talk
exclusively to him for, oh, the entire length of the party.
·
We know we are supposed to mingle with the
others, but no matter how many tips on that we’ve heard or read, mingling never
seems to work. Some people resent intrusions into their conversations, and in
any case, there usually doesn’t seem to be much to talk about. The most we can
hope for is a good opportunity to make an inconspicuous exit.
·
Thousands of parties like this come and go
without leaving any impression on the guests. The host is left with a huge mess
and not much else to show for it. It’s no wonder that many people are
disinclined to hold parties, or that they do it only when they have to, or that
they invite only the in-crowd when they can get away with it, or that they
never attempt much in the way of food and drink beyond chips and beer.
Find
a Reason to Party
It
doesn’t have to be this way. All parties should have an ostensible reason for
being. This is what makes them communal occasions and provides a reason why all
these people should be together in one spot at the same time. With a theme,
people have a mental hook, so that they can later think: "I loved that St.
Cecilia party" Fortunately, our liturgical calendar provides plenty of
ideas for themes. Saints’ days are the perfect excuses for celebrations, and it
helps that these days rarely step on the more conventional party excuses of
everyone else.
Here’s
why theme parties are out of fashion: We live in a culture obsessed with the
fear of violating someone else’s conscience. We don’t impose our values on
others, and we never assert the superiority of our own or point out problems
with others’ points of view. If we happen to have values, that’s fine, but we
dare not suggest that others should adopt them. That would be bad form. A theme
party is typically seen as an imposition on the conscience. For example, say
you invite guests to your house to celebrate the feast of St. Blaise on
February 3.
What
if they don’t like this saint, or they think saints are generally weird? What
if they aren’t in the mood? Why should your priorities trump theirs? Isn’t it
manipulative to tell people how they should feel?
These are the kinds of deconstructionist fears
that tacitly haunt us and keep us from setting a theme for an evening. The
Catholic liturgy, however, assigns themes to practically every day. We are
supposed to mourn on Good Friday and then two days later shout,
"Alleluia."
Is
this manipulative?
Not at all. Theologian Michael Foley of Boston
College points out that the purpose of gathering together is to experience
something together. He writes in his online liturgy manual (www.holytrinitygerman.org):
"From the exilic pining of Septuagesima to the austerity of Lent, from the
grief of Passiontide to the jubilance of the Pasch, the Church, by staggering
its feasts and observances in a particular order, enables the faithful to
experience a number of holy feelings as one. Indeed, the emotional range of the
traditional Roman rite is perhaps the most variegated in all of
Christendom."
Liturgical
themes for parties are great, especially if they involve a sacrament. But the
theme doesn’t have to be solemn and liturgical. It can be a mere excuse: to
celebrate the opening of a great bottle of wine, to commemorate the hanging of
a new painting, to mark the first day of summer, to eat an unusual food, to
blow off steam after final exams. It takes very little creativity to come up
with a good idea for a party. Even foolish themes are fun, like the "white
elephant" parties of the 1950s, to which guests brought worthless gifts.
The
Big Moment
·
Even more important than the theme of the party
is the central moment of the party: Someone clinks a glass and makes an
announcement that unifies the guests as a group. Ninety-nine percent of parties
do not include this crucial feature, which is why most are unsatisfying. A
group event of some sort underscores the reason for the party and gives people
something to remember about it besides a few isolated conversations.
·
Toasts are invaluable for this purpose. When
making a toast, don’t worry about being eloquent. Something as simple as
"To St. Joseph the Worker" is enough.
Whatever
happened to dinner parties?
Pick
Your Poison
It
happens all the time. You walk into your friends’ house for a party. They ask
you what you want to drink and then run through a list of options: orange
juice, diet and regular Coke and Sprite, Miller Lite, Bud Lite, sparkling
water, V8, cran-apple juice, Fresca, coffee, ten more unappealing liquids, and,
finally, water. You suddenly get this vague sense that maybe the V8 has been
around awhile, or the Sprite may be flat, or the coffee not made, or the
Fresca—do they even make that anymore? In the end, someone finally says,
"Oh, I’ll just have a glass of water." Someone else concurs. Folks,
when that happens, the party is over before it begins.
The
way to avoid this catastrophe is to have one official drink of the evening.
"Tonight," you announce, "I am serving champagne
cocktails."
Who
wouldn’t cheer?
Serve them with a cherry or an orange slice, and
you have created a memorable drink. Alternatively, you could serve martinis, or
mint juleps, or some slushy, fruity concoction from the freezer. Whatever it
is, stick to it. If someone doesn’t drink, he’ll say so. You should always have
some fancy water available for nondrinkers and throw in a slice of lemon or
lime for good measure.
What to Wear?
What people should wear to a party is a tricky
subject. This much is an incontrovertible fact: The best parties feature people
dressing up, or at least not wearing torn cutoffs and worn sneakers. But if you
tell your guests to come casual, cutoffs and sneakers is what you will get.
Such is the nature of the times. Just look at what people wear to Mass these
days! You can hardly expect them to show up at your party dressed any better.
People
act nicer and smarter, however, when they wear nice clothes. They sit
straighter and generally feel as though something special is taking place.
Grubby clothes and truly memorable times just don’t mix, unless you are at the
lake or repairing a house or in some other situation that specifically calls
for casual attire.
Dress
codes can seem like an imposition to some these days. I handle it by telling
guests, "Feel free to dress up" or, "I’ll be in a coat and
tie." It’s a way of leaving their options open while delivering a strong
hint. Finally, don’t rule out telling your guests that the dress is black tie.
If it’s New Year’s Eve, this can make the evening even more joyful.
Can
we have a break from rock music, please?
Classical music is perfectly festive. Try
Schubert’s Trout Quintet, Mozart’s string quintets, Bach’s orchestral
works, or even light operas. Chamber music works better at parties than
symphonies. Pre-World War II jazz has an endless capacity to charm. Old and new
movie soundtracks are always fun. How about bluegrass? The idea is to play
something that is not too intrusive but isn’t boringly familiar either.
Catholic
liturgical music is great, but it should be reserved for Mass and Vespers, not
parties. Always remember Pope St. Clement’s dictum from the first century: no
pagan music at liturgy and no liturgical music at minstrel shows or other
non-sacred occasions. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to and enjoy
Machaut and Byrd at home, but parties aren’t the right times to push this
repertoire.
My
final musical note: If someone in the group can play the piano and there’s one
in your home, it should be compulsory that he play.
It’s
Mokerville
More
important than the specifics of a party are the spirit. The spirit of a good
party is a variant of the spirit of good liturgy: a work of a community of
people that follows a plan. "Every religion has its feasts," the Catholic
Encyclopedia says, "but none has such a rich and judiciously
constructed system of festive seasons as the Catholic Church."
It’s
time we lived up to our religious tradition by putting some effort and thought
into our parties. Given the generally dull tenor of the times, you will
suddenly become a famous and much-heralded host or hostess by making a little
effort at being countercultural. And you will also help demonstrate to others,
in the tradition of Cana, that we Catholics are not always dour and penitent,
but also, at the right time, fun and hospitable people who display our hope
that someday we will join the heavenly banquet, the most wonderful party of
all. It’s part of our heritage and our faith.
5 Best Mardi Gras Celebrations Not in New Orleans[6]
With over-the-top parades, festive music and delicious king cake, it’s easy to see why New Orleans is synonymous with Mardi Gras. You may be surprised to learn, however, that Fat Tuesday, the French translation of Mardi Gras, is actually just one day in a much longer celebration known as Carnival, which spans from the Epiphany (January 6) to Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent).
New Orleans has hosted an official Mardi Gras parade nearly every year since 1837, with only 13 cancellations due mostly to war. With a yearly attendance around 1.4 million, it’s the largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. Size isn’t everything though. Cities around the globe celebrate Carnival in their own special way and we’ve highlighted five of the most unique below.
1: Mobile, Alabama
If you head two hours east from New Orleans you’ll land in Mobile, Alabama, the original home of Mardi Gras in the United States. Mobile’s first Fat Tuesday celebration took place in 1703 and the first masked ball began the following year. At that time, Mobile was the capital of French Louisiana but due to fear of hurricane damage, the capital was moved to New Orleans along with the Mardi Gras tradition in 1718. Nearly 150 years later, the Mardi Gras celebration returned to Mobile and it’s now the second largest Fat Tuesday gathering in the country.
2: Venice, Italy
Estimated to have originated in the 12th century, Venetian Carnival draws millions of visitors each year. The festival is perhaps best known for the elaborate masks worn and sold on the streets of Venice. The expressive masks were worn during Carnival as early as the 13th century and they remain a symbol of the city to this day. The highlight of the Venetian Carnival is the Maschera piu Bella contest, which takes place in Saint Mark’s Square. In the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, masked contestants dressed head-to-toe in decorative costumes are judged by a panel of experts and the winner is chosen on Fat Tuesday.
3: Nice, France
With a history that dates back to 1294, the original Carnival celebration is located in sun-soaked Nice, France. Nice Carnival is the premiere winter event on the French Riviera and draws over a million people each year. The celebration, which has a different theme every year, lasts for 15 days and visitors are treated to an array of floats and over 1,000 musicians and dancers from around the world. Not to be missed are the flower battles in which mimosas, gerberas and lilies are tossed to spectators from decorated floats.
4: Binche, Belgium
The Carnival of Binche is one of Europe’s oldest surviving street carnivals (dating back to the 14th century) and in 2003, it was recognized as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO. The town begins celebrating several weeks before Ash Wednesday, but the carnival officially begins on the Sunday before and culminates on Mardi Gras when masked men known as Gilles parade through town in their traditional costumes consisting of wooden clogs, wax masks and ostrich-feather hats. After the dressing ceremony in the early hours of Mardi Gras, the Gilles lead a procession through town with musicians, dancers and other costumed participants in tow. The highlight of the day, though, is in the evening when the Gilles head to Binche’s Grand Place to dance under a fireworks display.
5: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Known as the Carnival capital of the world,
Rio de Janeiro welcomes approximately 500,000 visitors every year looking to
experience one of the most colorful and artistic celebrations in the world. Rio
Carnival is a five-day celebration that begins with the Rio mayor handing an
oversized key to the city to someone dressed as King Momo (a mythical character
based off Greek mythology and Brazilian folklore). The party takes over the
city and eventually culminates with the Samba Parade at the Sambodromo, a
stadium specifically built in 1984 for this event. The parade is essentially a
competition between samba schools (social clubs with their own colors, flag and
supporters) that involves months of preparation. The highly orchestrated events
take place over the span of a few days and schools are judged in 10 categories
with the results being revealed on Ash Wednesday.
Thursdays
are Sacred.
Why
not made Thursdays Catholic Family Night thus making adequate time for God with
the family.
Thursdays
are next to Sundays the holiest day of the week. Pope John Paul knew this when
he created the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. It was also on Thursday that
our Lord instituted the Mass and last celebrated with the apostles. In a week
also our Lord Ascended into heaven to intercede for us with the Father. It
would be a pious practice to make Thursdays a little special by being in the
Lord’s presence and celebrate Mass.
·
Stations
of the Cross: Thursday before First Friday Devotion
·
Reflection
on making adequate time for God during Lent.
DIRECTIONS
In
seed time the sluggard plows not; when he looks for the harvest it is not there
(Proverbs 20:4).
This
Lent make time for God. Adequate time. Ordinarily we assign only minutes a day
to him. He knocks at the door of our hearts. Like the inhospitable inns of
Bethlehem, we seemingly have no welcome. If we let God in, we crowd him into a
corner. Yet we need him so badly in every area of life.
It
is difficult to find time for family Lenten renewal. Father works overtime and
comes home exhausted. Or he has a pressing evening meeting to attend. Mother is
exhausted, the children cranky.
Frequently
mothers work outside their homes. Finding ten or fifteen minutes a day for
Lenten projects or prayer with the family seems an impossibility. I worked when
our children were small — and remember. But somehow living the Church Year
remained paramount. My mother, fretting over Lenten activities, would say,
"How can you cut out Biblical mobiles when your closets look so? And it's
almost Easter!" The closet may have been hastily tidied later. Those
precious minutes spent with the children are theirs for time and eternity.
Mothers
go out to work because they have to as a rule. In certain professions some have
time for children and home. A few work to escape.
Mother
is happy turning a crank That increases the money in somebody's bank; And I
feel satisfaction that mother is free From the sinister task of attending to
me.
—
G. K. Chesterton, Song for a Crèche
Still
others work to give their children "every advantage." A secular
writer recently passed judgment on the children now "emerging from school,
church, and the station wagon." For him "they face us eloquent with
the tormenting discontent of American youth for which everything is being done,
to which everything is being given, except a reason for living."
St.
Paul and again Pius X have outlined a way of changing this for our children. We
are to restore things in Christ. How many Catholics use only part of the
Church's spiritual riches! This Lent why not take time to tap for your children
the treasuries of its liturgy?
Activity Source: Holy Lent by Eileen O'Callaghan, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1975
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.
Fifth Day
Psalm 5 1, 10-11.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your Face and blot out all my guilt.
Holy
Face of Jesus, Sacred Countenance of’ God, how great is your patience with
humankind, how infinite your forgiveness. We are sinners, yet you love us. This
gives us courage. For the glory of your Holy Face and of the Blessed Trinity,
hear and answer us. 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 Joseph
Dear
Saint Joseph! Adopt us as thy children, take charge of our salvation; watch
over us day and night; preserve us from occasions of sin; obtain for us purity
of body and soul, and the spirit of prayer, through thy intercession with
Jesus, grant us a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial; obtain for
us a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet, tender love
for Mary, our Mother.
Saint
Joseph, be with us in life, be with us in death and obtain for us a favorable
judgment from Jesus, our merciful Savior. 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)
The Devil and Temptations[7]
There
are many and varied ways in which sin and evil are presented to us in an
attractive way.
Curing Sickness by Superstition ("Curanderos" And "Santeros")
·
It doesn't matter if there are statues,
holy water, crucifixes, prayers to Jesus, Mary and the saints, if there is any
superstitious practice it is evil. These are some examples:
o
using charms or a tomato to wash one's
body, putting the remainder under the bed,
o
cleaning one's body with eggs or lemons and
burning the materials with charcoal,
o
Using rose water and alcohol for healing.
(In one case this was prepared by placing a skeleton in the water for six
hours, followed by singing and praying over the water.)
·
Sometimes a "curandero" gives a
special vitamin to take or even prescribes "Catholic" prayers to be
said. None of these "prayers" should be said in these circumstances
because they were prepared under the influence of evil. Other examples include:
o
Taking a special bath prepared with wine,
flowers, bread, cinnamon, black sugar, and water from a river.
o
Wrapping a person in a special bandage,
cutting off piece by piece, and burying it in a recent grave in the cemetery.
·
Sometimes people pray to God and to the
saints and then go off seeking relief through the kingdom of darkness. Many
times, God does not heal through prayer or doctors because He wants the soul to
be healed first of hatred, jealousy, or some other sin. God knows what He is
doing. We have to choose either the power of God or the power of evil. If you
have any objects used in these false cures, destroy them. Renounce Satan,
renounce this sin, ask God's forgiveness and confess your sin to a priest.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day
257 1961-1964
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE-MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT
CHAPTER THREE-GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND
GRACE
Article 1-THE MORAL LAW
II. The Old Law
1961 God, our
Creator and Redeemer, chose Israel for himself to be his people and revealed
his Law to them, thus preparing for the coming of Christ. The Law of Moses
expresses many truths naturally accessible to reason. These are stated and
authenticated within the covenant of salvation.
1962 The Old
Law is the first stage of revealed Law. Its moral prescriptions are summed up
in the Ten Commandments. The precepts of the Decalogue lay the foundations for
the vocation of man fashioned in the image of God; they prohibit what is
contrary to the love of God and neighbor and prescribe what is essential to it.
the Decalogue is a light offered to the conscience of every man to make God's
call and ways known to him and to protect him against evil:
God wrote on
the tables of the Law what men did not read in their hearts.
1963 According to Christian tradition, the Law is holy, spiritual, and good, yet still imperfect. Like a tutor it shows what must be done, but does not of itself give the strength, the grace of the Spirit, to fulfill it. Because of sin, which it cannot remove, it remains a law of bondage. According to St. Paul, its special function is to denounce and disclose sin, which constitutes a "law of concupiscence" in the human heart. However, the Law remains the first stage on the way to the kingdom. It prepares and disposes the chosen people and each Christian for conversion and faith in the Savior God. It provides a teaching which endures forever, like the Word of God.
1964 The Old
Law is a preparation for the Gospel. "The Law is a pedagogy and a prophecy
of things to come." It prophesies and presages the work of liberation
from sin which will be fulfilled in Christ: it provides the New Testament with
images, "types," and symbols for expressing the life according to the
Spirit. Finally, the Law is completed by the teaching of the sapiential books
and the prophets which set its course toward the New Covenant and the Kingdom
of heaven.
There were . . . under the regimen of the Old Covenant, people who possessed the charity and grace of the Holy Spirit and longed above all for the spiritual and eternal promises by which they were associated with the New Law. Conversely, there exist carnal men under the New Covenant still distanced from the perfection of the New Law: the fear of punishment and certain temporal promises have been necessary, even under the New Covenant, to incite them to virtuous works. In any case, even though the Old Law prescribed charity, it did not give the Holy Spirit, through whom "God's charity has been poured into our hearts."
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Protection
of Life from Conception until natural death.
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 13
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[1] John Maxwell, The Leadership
Bible.
[2] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40
Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 4. The Mass.
[3]http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/apologetics/from-jewish-passover-to-christian-eucharist-the-story-of-the-todah.html
[6]https://www.travelchannel.com/roam-blog/food-culture/best-mardi-gras-celebrations-not-in-new-orleans
[8] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods
To Eat Before You Die: A Food Lover's Life List (p. 892). Workman Publishing
Company. Kindle Edition.
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