PLEASE JOIN ME!!!
Hi All,
This is what I am doing. Please consider joining me.
I am inviting all of you to join me and many others in a 54-Day Rosary Novena for Mercy that goes from Ash Wednesday to Divine Mercy Sunday.
Here is the Prayer Aid I developed that shows how to pray this novena: RosaryNovenaWorshipAid
This is led by the Coalition of Eucharistic and Marian Apostolates. Here is the link to the novena: MercySundayMomentum.
There is so much to pray for, during this time of restoration of faith in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
For example, in our State of Wisconsin, we will be voting for the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 1. This is critically important for pro-life in our State. This race will determine if the WI Court has a progressive or conservative Court majority.
This is why, I believe, the Holy Spirit has called me to pray this 54-day novena every morning at 6am in a rosary walk around the Wisconsin State Capitol. While I am letting others know I am doing this, I fully expect to be walking alone.
My prayers will extend to all those governing in our country.The prayer intentions I've added for this novena are for …
LIFE: End to Abortion
LIBERTY: Freedom of Religion
HOPE: The vanquishing of evil and restoration of faith in our Church and throughout the land.
I am adding much fasting.
I will also be seeking Plenary Indulgences on each day of this novena.
I will be using this AMAZING tool (I wrote this
) throughout: https://Let’s all pray with GREAT HOPE!!
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14
God Bless!!
Fr. Rick
Dara’s Corner Try “Pastitsio”
· Bucket List Trip: Banff National Park
· Spirit hour: Ash Wednesday
o Start your day by learning the meaning of your name. Delve into the history and significance behind your name to gain a deeper understanding of your identity and roots. This can be a fun and enlightening exercise that doesn’t require any resources other than an internet connection.
o Next, celebrate Reel Film Day by hosting a movie marathon with friends or family. Choose a theme or genre, grab some popcorn, and enjoy a day filled with cinematic delights. You can easily find classic films or new releases to stream online or rent at a minimal cost.
o For a quirky twist, embrace National Cheese Doodle Day by indulging in this cheesy snack while watching the films. Make it a taste test challenge by trying different flavors or brands of cheese doodles and voting on your favorites.
o During the day, take a moment to reflect on International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness. Consider ways in which you can promote peace and understanding in your community, whether through volunteering, raising awareness, or simply engaging in meaningful conversations with others.
o As the day winds down, commemorate Stop Bad Service Day by treating yourself to some self-care. Whether it’s a relaxing bath, a homemade spa treatment, or simply taking time to unwind with a good book, prioritize your well-being and pamper yourself.
o End your day on a meaningful note by learning about Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day. Take the time to educate yourself about this important topic, show support for those affected by the disorder, and advocate for mental health awareness in your circles.
Seabee Anniversary
Daniel, Chapter 10, Verse 11-14
11“Daniel, beloved,” he said to me, “Understand the words which I am speaking to you; stand up, for my mission now is to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12“Do not FEAR, Daniel,” he continued; “from the first day you made up your mind to acquire understanding and humble yourself before God, your prayer was heard. Because of it I started out, 13but the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood in my way for twenty-one days, until finally Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia, 14and came to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the last days; for there is yet a vision concerning those days.”
When I read this verse I hear the Lord saying this to us all-Stay with me-do not be afraid. Today go to the Blessed Sacrament and spend some time with the Lord. There our Lord will pull us to Himself and transform us into warriors and conquerors. Daniel’s vision charges him with engaging him is spiritual warfare; as are we by Christ. Daniel learns the lessons every leader who confronts evil in the world must master.[1]
1.
Spiritual
leaders lead not only God’s family, but God’s army.
2.
Prayer
ignites spiritual warfare invisible to us.
3.
Both
spiritual kingdoms seem to have princes.
4.
Spiritual
warfare can delay victories.
5.
We
must not fear spiritual warfare.
6.
Understanding
warfare enables us to cooperate with God’s purposes.
Wisely
face an invisible spiritual world around you. Draw near to Christ and He will
transform your disenchantment with the world and help you along the road to
holiness and sainthood.
Our lives are songs; God writes the words and we set them to music at pleasure; and the song grows glad, or sweet or sad, as we choose to fashion the measure. Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Ash Wednesday[2]
The solemn season begins with a reminder of our mortality and our profound need for repentance and conversion.[3]
Why is this day so called?
Because on this day the Catholic Church blesses ashes and puts them on the foreheads of the faithful, saying, “Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust shalt thou shall return” (Gen. iii. 19).
Why are the ashes blessed?
1. That all who receive them with a contrite heart may be preserved in soul and body.
2. That God may give them contrition and pardon their sins.
3. That He may grant them all they humbly ask for, particularly the grace to do penance, and the reward promised to the truly penitent.
Why are the faithful sprinkled with ashes?
The sprinkling with ashes was always a public sign of penance as such God enjoined it upon the Israelites (Jer. xxv. 34). David sprinkled ashes on his beard (Ps. ci. 10). The Ninevites (Jonas iii. 6), Judith (Jud. ix. 1), Mordechai (Esther iv. 1), Job (xlii. 6), and others, did penance in sackcloth and ashes. To show the spirit of penance and to move God to mercy, the Church, at the Introit of the Mass, uses the following words: “Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest none of the things which Thou hast made, and winkest at the sins of men for the sake of repentance, and sparing them, for Thou art the Lord our God” (Wis. xi. 24, 25).
Prayer. Grant to Thy faithful, O Lord, that they may begin the venerable solemnities of fasting with becoming piety and perform them with undisturbed devotion.
EPISTLE. Joel ii. 12-19.
Therefore, saith the Lord: Be converted to Me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. And rend your hearts and not your garments and turn to the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bride-chamber. Between the porch and the altar, the priests, the Lord s ministers, shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare Thy people; and give not Thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathens should rule over them; why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been zealous for His land, and hath spared His people: and the Lord answered and said to His people: Behold I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them: and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations, saith the Lord Almighty.
Explanation. The prophet, in these words, calls upon the Israelites to be converted, reminding them of the great mercy of God, and exhorting them to join true repentance for their sins with their fasting and alms. They should all, without exception, do penance and implore the mercy of God, Who would then forgive them, deliver them from their enemies, and bring peace and happiness upon them.
GOSPEL. Matt. vi. 16-21.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: When you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad: for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father Who is in secret: and thy Father, Who seeth in secret, will repay thee. Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.
Instruction on Lent
Under the Old Law the Jews fasted by the command of God; thus, Moses fasted forty days and forty nights, on Mount Sinai, when God gave him the Ten Commandments; Elias, in like manner, fasted in the desert. Jesus also fasted and commanded His apostles to fast also. The Catholic Church, says St. Leo, from the time of the apostles, has enjoined fasting upon all the faithful.
Why has the Church instituted the fast before Easter?
1. To imitate Jesus Christ, who fasted forty days.
2. To participate in His merits and passion; for as Christ could only be glorified through His sufferings, so in order to belong to Him we must follow Him by a life answering to His.
3. To subject the flesh to the spirit, and thus,
4, prepare us for Easter and the worthy reception of the divine Lamb.
5. Finally, to offer to God some satisfaction for our sins, and, as St. Leo says, to atone for the sins of a whole year by a short fast of the tenth part of a year.
Was the fast of Lent kept in early times as it is now?
Yes, only more rigorously; for:
1. The Christians of the early ages abstained not only from flesh-meat, but from those things which are produced from flesh, such as butter, eggs, cheese, and also from wine and fish.
2. They fasted during the whole day, and ate only after vespers, that is, at night.
How shall we keep the holy season of Lent with advantage?
We should endeavor not only to deny ourselves food and drink, but, still more, all sinful gratifications. And as the body is weakened by fasting, the soul, on the other hand, should be strengthened by repeated prayers, by frequent reception of the holy sacraments, attending Mass, spiritual reading, and good works, particularly those of charity. In such manner we shall be able, according to the intention of the Church, to supply by our fasting what we have omitted during the year, especially if we fast willingly, and with a good intention.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, I offer up to Thee my fasting and self-denial, to be united to Thy fasting and sufferings, for Thy glory, in Gratitude for so many benefits received from Thee, in satisfaction for my sins and those of others, and to obtain Thy holy grace that I may overcome my sins and acquire the virtues which I need. Look upon me, O Jesus, in mercy. Amen.
Ash Wednesday Top Events and Things to Do[4]
·
Go
to your local parish to get ashes and reflect on your own mortality and sinfulness.
Non-Christians are also welcomed to get ashes.
·
Fast
during Ash Wednesday to commemorate Jesus fasting for forty days in the desert.
Catholics are specifically instructed to not eat meat and are only
permitted to eat one full meal. However, they may have 2 snacks in the
form of some food in the morning and evening.
·
Make
fiber-rich vegetarian versions of popular dishes. Some good ideas are
Veggie Burgers, Vegetarian Chili and salads with Tempeh. The fiber will
help keep you feeling full - useful if you fast for the rest of the day!
·
Rent
a movie that reflects on Mortality or Repentance. Some suggestions: Les
Misérables (2012),
Dorian
Gray (2009), What
Dreams May Come
(1998), Flatliners
(1990) and The Seventh Seal (1957).
· Discuss mortality, repentance and the meaning of life with your friends or with a church group.
Of all the observances of Lent, the chief among these is the Great Fast. So, intertwined are the words Lent and the Great Fast, that in fact the Fathers of the Church sometimes used the terms interchangeably. This solemn obligation is believed to be of Apostolic origin and takes its precedent, as we mentioned above, from the examples of Moses, Elias, and Jesus Christ. The Great Fast used to consist of both abstinence and fasting. Christians were expected to abstain not only from flesh meat, but from all things that come from flesh, e.g. milk, cheese, eggs, and butter. Eastern rite Christians still observe this practice, while the Western church gradually kept only abstinence from meat (reference to all lacticinia, or "milk foods," was dropped in the 1919 Roman Code of Canon Law). Both East and West, however, agree on the importance of fasting. Originally this meant taking only one meal a day, though the practice was modified over the centuries. The preconciliar practice in the U.S. was for all able-bodied Catholics ages 21 to 60 to have one full meal a day which could include meat, and two meatless meals which together could not equal one full meal. Snacking between meals was prohibited, though drinking was not. Ash Wednesday, Fridays and the Ember Days were days of total abstinence from meat, while Sundays were completely exempted from all fasting and abstaining. The idea behind the Great Fast -- as well as other periods of fasting -- is that by weakening the body it is made more obedient to the soul, thereby liberating the soul to contemplate higher things. St. Augustine gives perhaps the best example: if you have a particularly high-spirited horse, you train it at the times when it is too weak to revolt. It is our opinion that this venerable practice should still be taken seriously. Even though current ecclesiastical law has reduced the fast from forty days to two and eliminated the thirty-three days of partial abstinence, this does not mean that observing the Great Fast is not salubrious or praiseworthy. This said, however, the Great Fast should not be adhered to legalistically. In the words of St. John Chrysostom: "If your body is not strong enough to continue fasting all day, no wise man will reprove you; for we serve a gentle and merciful Lord who expects nothing of us beyond our strength."
Lent-10 Things
to Remember for Lent[6]
1. Remember
the formula. 10 Commandments, 7 sacraments, 3 persons in the
Trinity. For Lent, the Church gives us almost a slogan—Prayer, Fasting and
Almsgiving—as the three things we need to work on during the season.
2. It’s a time of prayer. As we pray, we go on a journey over 40 days, one that hopefully brings us closer to Christ and leaves us changed by the encounter with him.
3. It’s
a time to fast. With the fasts of Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday, meatless Fridays, and our personal disciplines interspersed, Lent is
the only time many Catholics these days actually fast. And maybe that’s why it
gets all the attention. “What are you giving up for Lent? Hotdogs? Beer?
Jellybeans?” It’s almost a game for some of us, but fasting is actually a form
of penance, which helps us turn away from sin and toward Christ.
4. It’s
a time to work on discipline. Set time to work on personal
discipline in general. Instead of giving something up, it can be doing
something positive. “I’m going to exercise more. I’m going to pray more. I’m
going to be nicer to my family, friends and coworkers.”
5. It’s
about dying to yourself. The more serious side of Lenten discipline
is that it’s about more than self-control – it’s about finding aspects of
yourself that are less than Christ-like and letting them die. The suffering and
death of Christ are foremost on our minds during Lent, and we join in these
mysteries by suffering, dying with Christ and being resurrected in a purified
form.
6. Don’t
do too much. It’s tempting to make Lent some ambitious period
of personal reinvention, but it’s best to keep it simple and focused. There’s a
reason the Church works on these mysteries year after year. We spend our entire
lives growing closer to God. Don’t try to cram it all in one Lent. That’s a
recipe for failure.
7. Lent
reminds us of our weakness. Of course, even when we set
simple goals for ourselves during Lent, we still have trouble keeping them.
When we fast, we realize we’re all just one meal away from hunger. Lent shows
us our weakness. This can be painful but recognizing how helpless we are makes
us seek God’s help with renewed urgency and sincerity.
8. Be patient with yourself. When we’re confronted with our own weakness during Lent, the temptation is to get angry and frustrated. “What a bad person I am!” But that’s the wrong lesson. God is calling us to be patient and to see ourselves as he does, with unconditional love.
9. Reach
out in charity. As we experience weakness and suffering during Lent,
we should be renewed in our compassion for those who are hungry, suffering or
otherwise in need. The third part of the Lenten formula is almsgiving. It’s
about more than throwing a few extra dollars in the collection plate; it’s
about reaching out to others and helping them without question as a way of
sharing the experience of God’s unconditional love.
10. Learn to love like Christ. Giving of ourselves in the midst of our suffering and self-denial brings us closer to loving like Christ, who suffered and poured himself out unconditionally on the cross for all of us. Lent is a journey through the desert to the foot of the cross on Good Friday, as we seek him out, ask his help, join in his suffering, and learn to love like him.
Lenten Calendar[7]
Read: Take inspiration for your Lenten journey from prayer and the reading of Scripture, from fasting and from giving alms. – Lent is essentially an act of prayer spread out over 40 days. As we pray, we are brought closer to Christ and are changed by the encounter with him. Fasting – The fasting that we all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Almsgiving – The giving of alms is an effort to share this world equally—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents.
Reflect: “Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning” (Joel 2:12, Lectionary)
Pray: As we begin Lent, we pray for the strength to commit ourselves to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving so that we may grow to love God more each day.
Act: Have you picked up your Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl for Lent this year? Make a commitment to dropping in spare change every day. Another way to give alms today is by giving to the National Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe.
Prayer
before the Crucifix[8]
This prayer is designed to be said within the family before a Crucifix from Ash Wednesday to Saturday at the beginning of Lent.
Prayer
Mother or a child: From the words
of St. John the Evangelist (14:1-6).
Let not your
hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's
house there are many mansions. Were it not so, I would have told you, because I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am
coming again, and I will take you to myself, that where I am, there you also
may be. And where I go, you know, and the way you know.
Father:
We ought to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
Family: in whom is our salvation,
life and resurrection.
Father: Let us pray. Grant to your faithful, Lord, a
spirit generous enough to begin these solemn fasts with proper fervor and to
pursue them with steadfast devotion. This we ask of you through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son.
Family: Amen. Favor this dwelling,
Lord, with your presence. Far from it repulse all the wiles of Satan. Your holy
angels—let them live here, to keep us in peace. And may your blessing remain
always upon us. This we ask of you through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Father: Let us bless the Lord.
Family: Thanks be to God.
Father: May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.
Family: Amen.
Prayer Source: Holy Lent by Eileen O'Callaghan,
The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1975
Fasting – a word we normally reserve for Lent. Once Easter
comes, we box it up and package it away until the next Lent. Yet this should
not be so among Catholic men. A while ago, Sam discussed the great benefits of fasting.
http://www.40daysofprayerandfasting.org/live-the-fast/
Now you may be thinking … Fasting sounds great, but where do
I start? … Let’s take some time to look at the basics of fasting well.
Preparation: It is important to develop a
strategy before beginning to fast. This starts with setting a realistic goal.
For example, you should start simple, such as a bread and water fast for one
meal, one day a week. Also, select your fast day. I recommend Wednesday or
Friday, as these are the two traditional Catholic days to fast, commemorating
Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion. As you grow in fasting discipline, you could
increase your fast to multiple meals on fast day or even multiple days a week.
Water: Water helps purify our bodies of
toxins, while providing only the basic hydration we need to survive. When
fasting, make sure to bring a water bottle with you throughout the day and
drink frequently to stay hydrated. One temptation may be to slip in a cup of
coffee or soft drink during the day. However, stay strong against this
temptation. The bread and water will satisfy your basic needs even if they do
not bring the comfort of your favorite food or beverage.
Fasting Bread
Taken from Sr. Emmanuels' book[9], "Healing and Liberation
Through Fasting".
This bread is very hearty and really sustains one who chooses to fast on bread
and water.
3 cups white flour
4 cups wheat flour
1 pkg dry yeast
1/2 cup of lukewarm water
2 cups of very hot water
1 beaten egg
1 Tablespoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Sugar or Honey
2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
1 teaspoon of butter
1 cup Raisins (or fresh apple peeled and cut)
1 cup Almonds or Walnuts
1 cup Plain Oats
In a medium sized bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm
water. Cover with a plate and wait a few minutes until bubbly. In a large bowl,
combine the flours. Make a well in the flour and add the yeast mixture. Mix a
bit.
Reusing the now empty medium bowl, combine Salt, Sugar, Butter,
Oil, Raisins, Nuts, 1 beaten egg, and the two cups of very hot water. Pour this
over the yeast mixture. Mix/knead the dough, adding flour and or water as
needed.
Knead the dough until it comes clean from the bowl. Cover with a
plate or towel and let it rise ten minutes. (I often skip this step and the
bread still tastes fine) Knead it again until it has spring to it. Place in
well-greased bowl and cover, letting it rise until doubled in size, 45 minutes
to 1 hour, depending on room temp.
Form into desired shapes. This will make two large or three
medium loaves. Place in greased pan. Brush the top with remaining egg (if you
did not use it in recipe) and sprinkle with sesame seeds, oats or poppy seeds,
if desired.
Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes, until done and golden brown.
Bread:
Selecting the proper fasting bread is crucial to a successful fast. Since the typical bread we eat is processed and devoid of most nutritional value, I recommend the bread made by the group, Live the Fast. As a bonus, if you are a priest, seminarian or religious, they will send you bread free! Their bread is all-natural. They bake the bread, freeze it, and then ship it to your home along with a booklet of fasting instructions. Once you receive it, you place it in the freezer. On fast day, you take the bread out of the freezer and heat it in the oven for a few minutes. The bread is filling but austere; to give the one fasting the nutrition needed to complete the day’s tasks and nothing more.
Prayer: While you are heating up the
bread, grab a notebook and write down your prayer intentions for the day. Maybe
a friend has lost a job, a relative is sick, or someone has asked for your
prayers. Keep the list with you and offer up prayers for these people throughout
the day. After the bread is finished baking, take it out of the oven, say a
prayer and then eat your first piece. As you go throughout the day, look for
extra opportunities to pray, especially during mealtimes. Maybe you could
attend daily Mass or stop to visit the Blessed Sacrament during your lunch
break. Intentional prayer during fasting helps remind us that fasting is not
purely an ascetical practice. We forgo food to grow closer to God, not to show
how tough we can be on our bodies. The hunger we experience while fasting
instills in us the truth that nothing in this world can satisfy us but God
alone.
Temptations: You will undergo many temptations
while you fast, so stay close to God in prayer. One may be to boast to your
friends about how great you are for fasting. Jesus warned us in the Gospel that
those kinds of people are hypocrites. The purpose of fasting is to draw us
closer to Christ, not draw others closer to us for our own greatness. Another
temptation may be free food. Just like during Lent when meat becomes more
available and appealing on Fridays, expect more temptations to eat during the
fast. A co-worker may offer you a snack or tell you about some leftovers from a
department’s lunch in the break room. Stay vigilant against these temptations
and focus your mind on other things. The
less you think about food during the day, the easier it will be to fast.
Breaking
the Fast: End your fast day with a prayer.
Thank God for the day and then prepare a normal sized meal. The temptation can
be to gorge yourself with food after eating less during the day, but this is
not beneficial. Eat your meal slowly and mindfully. Thank God for the gift of
food and the grace he gave you to fast well. Just like any other habit, fasting
can be difficult to begin and you may want to quit. You will have days where
you fast well and others where you give into hunger easily. Do not be
discouraged but persevere! God has great graces for those who fast and will
help draw near to him those who seek him through the discipline of fasting.
“Fasting purifies the soul. It lifts up the mind, and it
brings the body into subjection to the spirit. It makes the heart contrite
and humble, scatters the clouds of desire, puts out the flames of lust and
enkindles the true light of chastity.” (St. Augustine)
First Wednesday[1]
Our Heavenly Father
desires all three hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to be honored. And so along
with devotion to Jesus on First Fridays, and to Mary on First Saturdays, Our
Father longs for us to add devotion to St. Joseph on each First Wednesday of the
month.
"The Sacred
Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph have been chosen by the Most Holy Trinity to
bring peace to the world." It is at God's request that "special love
and honor be given to them" to help us "imitate" their love and their
lives, as well as "offer reparation" for the sins committed against
them and their love.
The St. Joseph First Wednesday devotion is:
1. Pray the Joyful
Mysteries of the Rosary - remembering St. Joseph's love, his life, his role and
his sufferings
2. Receive Holy
Communion - in union with the love St. Joseph had for Jesus the first time and
each time he held him - his son, his God and Savior - in his arms.
In the approved
apparitions of Our Lady of America, St. Joseph revealed:
·
"I
am the protector of the Church and the home, as I was the protector of Christ
and his Mother while I lived upon earth. Jesus and Mary desire that my pure
heart, so long hidden and unknown, be now honored in a special way.
·
Let my
children honor my most pure heart in a special manner on the First Wednesday of
the month by reciting the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary in memory of my life
with Jesus and Mary and the love I bore them, the sorrow I suffered with them.
·
Let them
receive Holy Communion in union with the love with which I received the Savior
for the first time and each time I held Him in my arms.
·
Those
who honor me in this way will be consoled by my presence at their death, and I
myself will conduct them safely into the presence of Jesus and Mary."
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Day
262 1996-2001
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE-MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT
CHAPTER THREE-GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND
GRACE
Article 2-GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION
II. Grace
1996 Our
justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and
undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of
God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.
1997 Grace is
a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of
Trinitarian life: by Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ,
the Head of his Body. As an "adopted son" he can henceforth call God
"Father," in union with the only Son. He receives the life of the
Spirit who breathes charity into him and who forms the Church.
1998 This
vocation to eternal life is supernatural. It depends entirely on God's
gratuitous initiative, for he alone can reveal and give himself. It surpasses
the power of human intellect and will, as that of every other creature.
1999 The grace
of Christ is the gratuitous gift that God makes to us of his own life, infused
by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. It is
the sanctifying or deifying grace received in Baptism. It is in us the source
of the work of sanctification:
Therefore if
any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold,
the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to
himself.
2000 Sanctifying grace is an habitual gift, a stable and supernatural disposition that perfects the soul itself to enable it to live with God, to act by his love. Habitual grace, the permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call, is distinguished from actual graces which refer to God's interventions, whether at the beginning of conversion or in the course of the work of sanctification.
2001 The
preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This
latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification
through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion
in us what he has begun, "since he who completes his work by cooperating
with our will began by working so that we might will it:"
Indeed we also work, but we are only collaborating with God who works, for his mercy has gone before us. It has gone before us so that we may be healed, and follows us so that once healed, we may be given life; it goes before us so that we may be called, and follows us so that we may be glorified; it goes before us so that we may live devoutly, and follows us so that we may always live with God: for without him we can do nothing.
Seabees[10]
The Navy Construction Battalion – better known as the Seabees – is responsible for building much of the temporary and permanent infrastructure at U.S. military locations around the world.
With roots dating back to World War II, the Seabees were formally established on March 5, 1942, to meet the Navy’s growing need to build bases, camps and other structures as part of the war effort. In the over seven decades since its founding, Seabees have gone on to serve in most major U.S. conflicts.
Here are nine things to know about the Seabees’ monumental history:
1. The Seabee Motto is “Construimus, Batuimus.”
The Latin phrase, which means “We build, We fight,” was the brainchild of Rear Adm. Ben Moreell, who is considered the father of the Seabees.
2. The Nickname “Seabee” Comes From the First Letters of the Words That Make Up the Unit’s Formal Name, “Construction Battalion.”
When said together as one word, the letters “C” and “B” sound like the word “Seabee,” hence the battalion’s iconic nickname.
3. True to Their Motto, Seabees Can Build Just About Anything, Anywhere.
“The men and women of the Seabees have been deployed globally in every theater around the world constructing bases, building airfields, conducting underwater construction and building roads, bridges and other support facilities while providing protection for themselves and those around them,” wrote Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Heather Salzman in a 2020 DVIDShub.net story.
4. The Seabees Have One Medal of Honor Recipient, Marvin G. Shields.
During the Vietnam War in 1965, Navy Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields, then just 25 years old, showed great heroism when a camp he and his fellow Seabees were constructing suddenly came under attack. Despite being wounded several times, Shields continually ignored his own injuries to defend the area and stay in the fight for roughly 14 hours. His actions helped save 15 Seabees and Green Berets who were at the camp. Ultimately, Shields’ injuries proved fatal, and he died before the survivors were rescued. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1965, which his wife and young daughter accepted on his behalf.
5. Seabees Used to Celebrate the Battalion’s Birthday With a “Seabee Ball” That Featured a “Seabee Queen.”
The tradition started in 1943 at Port Hueneme, California, and featured Susan Hayward, who co-starred alongside John Wayne in the film “The Fighting Seabees,” as the first queen. As time went on and the tradition expanded to other areas where Seabees were stationed, Seabee Queens grew to include other famous faces or relatives of the Seabees themselves. This tradition was discontinued in 1992.
6. Seabee Units Were Some of the First Fully Integrated Units in the Navy at the end of WWII.
During World War II, Seabees erect a steel tank constructed deep in the jungles of one of the South Pacific bases.
During WWII, over 12,500 Black service members enlisted in Seabee battalions – notably the 34th, 20th (Special) and 80th. Many of these units deployed all around the world. As they fought for our nation, these pioneering Black sailors also fought against racial prejudices and paved the path toward a fully integrated U.S. military.
7. Seabees Helped Build Some of the First Structures at the South Pole.
After WWII, Seabees first traveled to Antarctica in 1946 to help the Navy establish a research base on the continent.
As part of Deep Freeze 73, Seabees deployed to Antarctica to construct a six-story high dome at South Pole Station. The dome covered and protected most of the buildings at South Pole Station.
Over the next several decades, Seabees continued to deploy to the harsh frozen environment to build the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, which features the iconic South Pole dome. This remote research area is extremely isolated and is located 1,000 miles away from the continent’s larger McMurdo Station.
8. There is a Seabees Memorial.
Located just outside of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, the Seabees Memorial was dedicated in 1972 and was sculpted by Felix de Weldon, a Seabee veteran himself. De Weldon also sculpted the United States Marine Corps Memorial, which is also located in Arlington, Virginia.
9. You Can Spot Seabees by Looking Closely at Their Uniforms.
Seabees sport a unique sewn-in logo, or patch, on their left chest pocket. The embroidered patch features the battalion’s official “Fighting Bee” logo along with the word “Seabees.”
Daily Devotions
· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: True Masculinity
· Religion in the Home for Preschool: March
· Total Consecration to St. Joseph Day 20
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[1] John Maxwell, The Leadership
Bible.
[2]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896
[6]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/journey-to-the-foot-of-the-cross-10-things-to-remember-for-lent.cfm
[7]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/march-6.cfm
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