Rachel’s Corner-Try “Maple Apple Pandowdy[3]”
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
(Luke 2:11)
· Spirit Hour: Fat Friar in Honor of St. Aquinas tomorrow
· Religion in the Home for Preschool: March
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
· Bucket List trip: Guadalupe Basilica Mexico
· Total Consecration to St. Joseph Day 21
· Saint Collette recipe: Coq au Riesling
o Start your day by embracing your inner Dude. Put on your comfiest loungewear, abide like The Big Lebowski, and take it easy with a movie marathon. Fuel up with a White Chocolate Cheesecake – maybe not the most nutritious choice, but it’s a treat-yourself kind of day. Next, make sure to dress the part for National Dress Day. It’s a great excuse to experiment with your style or wear your favorite outfit. Don’t forget to grab some extra Oreos – it’s National Oreo Cookie Day, after all. Need a break from all the snacking? Celebrate Alamo Day by learning a bit of Texan history online. Name Tag Day is perfect for
getting to know your neighbors – create DIY name tags and start a friendly conversation. National Frozen Food Day is a convenient excuse to take it easy in the kitchen – pop a frozen meal in the oven and relax. In between, honor the importance of dental health on National Dentist’s Day – brush, floss, and maybe even schedule that check-up. Later, combat fraud on National Report GSA Fraud Day by learning how to protect yourself from scams and identity theft. National Slam the Scam Day encourages spreading awareness – share tips with friends and family. Lastly, acknowledge the hard work of hospitalists and healthcare workers on Hospitality Workers in HealthCare Day. Write a thank you note or donate to a healthcare charity. Embrace the weird and wonderful with these offbeat celebrations – it’s a day like no other!
Best Place to visit in March: Washington, D.C.
I think this place is a gem! This attractive man-made reservoir is located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington D.C.
Every spring, I’m in awe of the scenic spot which is transformed into a breathtaking spectacle as acres of pink and white cherry blossoms – gifted by Japan – burst into bloom. The peak bloom typically occurs from late March through early April, and I felt honored to witness the magical display.
I visited the Tidal Basin early in the morning and captured the stunning views without the crowds and also to watch the sun rise over the striking marbled monuments and the Japanese Pagoda, both of which added to the area’s serene beauty!
Then I explored rest of the city, which was filled with iconic landmarks, outstanding museums, and attractive green spaces. My favorite parts were the charming historic neighborhood of Georgetown, the iconic steps of Georgetown University famously featured in The Exorcist, the vibrant nightlife of DuPont Circle, and the stunning artwork in The Phillips Collection.
- Visitor’s Centre Address: 1501 Maine Ave SW, Washington, Phone (202) 479-2426
- Map Location
- Average temperature – 55
My favorite highlights…
- Going for a scenic bike ride around the picturesque Tidal Basin Loop – I loved how the calm waters of the Tidal Basin reflected the sky, blossoms and monuments, creating picture-perfect views!
- Spending the day at the enchanting National Cherry Blossom Festival, held throughout March and April – I really enjoyed the interesting taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, and dance performances!
- Going on an open-top bus which took me around all the famous presidential monuments – my favorites were the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the Washington Monument.
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
MARCH 6 Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Daniel,
Chapter 10, Verse 19
“Do not FEAR, beloved. Peace! Take courage and be strong.” When he spoke to me, I grew strong and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
Read this verse again and imagine Christ saying this to you the next time you receive communion. Perhaps it would be a good idea to commit this verse to memory and repeat it to yourself at communion or on visits to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. “Do not fear, beloved. Peace! Take courage and be strong.”
Yes, we are beloved and if we are beloved, we
must share the love Christ gives us
with others, especially our families and spouses.
Thursday After Ash Wednesday[1]
EPISTLE. Isaias xxxviii. 1-6
IN those days Ezechias was sick even
to death, and the prophet Isaias, the son of Amos, came unto him, and said to
him: Thus, saith the Lord: Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die and
not live. And Ezechias turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord,
and said I beseech Thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before Thee in
truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.
And Ezechias wept with great weeping. And the word of the Lord came to Isaias,
saying: Go and say to Ezechias: Thus, saith the Lord the God of David thy
father: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold I will add
to thy days fifteen years: and I will deliver thee and this city out of the
hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect it, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL.
Matt. viii. 5-13.
At that time: When Jesus had entered into Capharnaum, there came to Him a centurion, beseeching Him, and saying: Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented. And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him. And the centurion, making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it. And Jesus, hearing this, marveled, and said to them that followed Him: Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the East and the West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion, Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was healed at the same hour.
Prayer.
O God, Who by sin art
offended, and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people,
making supplications to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thy anger, which we
deserve for our sins.
Prayer for Help against Spiritual Enemies[2]
Glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, who stands always ready to give assistance to the people of God, who fought with the dragon, the old serpent, and cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defends the Church of God that the gates of hell may never prevail against her, I earnestly entreat you to assist me also, in the painful and dangerous conflict which I sustain against the same formidable foe. Be with me, O mighty Prince! That I may courageously fight and vanquish that proud spirit, whom you, by the Divine Power, gloriously overthrew, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature, completely overcome; so having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may with you and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God who, having refused mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man. Amen.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day
263 2002
2002 God's
free initiative demands man's free response, for God has created man in his
image by conferring on him, along with freedom, the power to know him and love
him. The soul only enters freely into the communion of love. God immediately
touches and directly moves the heart of man. He has placed in man a longing for
truth and goodness that only he can satisfy. the promises of "eternal
life" respond, beyond all hope, to this desire:
If at the
end of your very good works . . ., you rested on the seventh day, it was to
foretell by the voice of your book that at the end of our works, which are
indeed "very good" since you have given them to us, we shall also
rest in you on the sabbath of eternal life.
2003 Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church. There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning "favor," "gratuitous gift," "benefit." Whatever their character - sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues - charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.
2004 Among the
special graces ought to be mentioned the graces of state that accompany the
exercise of the responsibilities of the Christian life and of the ministries
within the Church:
Having gifts
that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy,
in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his
teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in
liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with
cheerfulness.
2005 Since it
belongs to the supernatural order, grace escapes our experience and cannot be
known except by faith. We cannot therefore rely on our feelings or our works to
conclude that we are justified and saved. However, according to the Lord's
words "Thus you will know them by their fruits" - reflection on
God's blessings in our life and in the lives of the saints offers us a
guarantee that grace is at work in us and spurs us on to an ever greater faith
and an attitude of trustful poverty.
A pleasing
illustration of this attitude is found in the reply of St. Joan of Arc to a
question posed as a trap by her ecclesiastical judges: "Asked if she knew
that she was in God's grace, she replied: 'If I am not, may it please God to
put me in it; if I am, may it please God to keep me there.'"
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Authentic Feminism
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[1]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896
[3] 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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