Vinny’s Day Try “Callaloo”
· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
- Bucket Item trip: St. John’s Antigua and Barbuda
- Spirit hour: Pomegranate Margarita
o In honor of Saint John of God
- How to celebrate Mar 8th
- So you wake up on Be Nasty Day. Start the day with some retro video games. Challenge your friends to a friendly competition, loser buys peanut clusters! Then, head outdoors for a walk to appreciate the forests of Oregon. Try your hand at urban ballroom dancing in a park. It’s all about having fun and getting moving. Learn about the amazing women who have shaped history on International Women’s Day. Take time to celebrate their accomplishments. Grab a red pen and celebrate National Proofreading Day by proofreading your favorite book or poem. Dive into your family history on National Genealogy Day. Share stories and memories with your loved ones.
- National Retro Video Game Day
o Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain March 1-19 Enjoy a high-spirited fiesta in Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city. The annual bash, held in commemoration of Saint Joseph, sees neighborhoods transformed into lively parties over a boisterous five-day period.
March 8 Saturday after Ash Wednesday
International
Women's Day
Psalm
112, Verse 1
Hallelujah! Blessed the man who FEARS the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands.
This psalm is detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children, wealth that enables them to be magnanimous, and virtue by which they encourage others. The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled.[1]
Hallelujah is a conjunction of two Hebrew words which mean
“Praise the Lord”. Yes, praise God for men who have Holy fear and follow his
commands for such person’s help to create a Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Hallelujah! If you know such people, follow, and emulate them.
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
EPISTLE. Isaias Iviii. 9-14.
THUS, saith the Lord God: If thou wilt take away the chain out of the midst of thee, and cease to stretch out the finger, and to speak that which is good for nothing. When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise up in darkness, and thy darkness shall be as the noonday. And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and will fill thy soul with brightness, and deliver thy bones, and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a fountain of water whose waters shall not fail. And the places that have been desolate for ages shall be built in thee: thou shalt raise up the foundations of generation and generation: and thou shalt be called the repairer of the fences, turning the paths into rest. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy own will in My holy day, and call the Sabbath delightful, and the holy of the Lord glorious, and glorify Him, while thou dost not thy own ways, and thy own will is not found, to speak a word : then shalt thou be delighted in the Lord, and I will lift thee up above the high places of the earth, and will feed thee with the inheritance of Jacob thy father. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
GOSPEL. Mark vi. 47-56.
At that time: When it was late, the ship was in the midst
of the sea, and Jesus alone on the land. And seeing them laboring in rowing
(for the wind was against them), and about the fourth watch of the night He
cometh to them walking upon the sea, and He would have passed by them. But they
seeing Him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried
out. For they all saw Him, and were troubled. And immediately He spoke with
them, and said to them: Have a good heart, it is I, fear ye not. And He went up
to them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were far more astonished
within themselves: for they understood not concerning the loaves; for their
heart was blinded. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of
Genesareth, and set to the shore. And when they were gone out of the ship,
immediately they knew Him: and running through that whole country, they began
to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was. And
whithersoever He entered, into towns or into villages or cities, they laid the
sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch but the hem of His
garment: and as many as touched Him were made whole.
Prayer.
May Thy faithful, O Lord, be confirmed by Thy gifts, that,
receiving them, they may seek them, and seeking may receive them forever.
Through Christ,
Doing Small Things Well[2]
First, while it is true that fasting is not the most important thing in the world, this does not make fasting irrelevant or unimportant. There are, certainly, more urgent things to abstain from than food or drink, such as maliciousness, backbiting, grumbling, etc. But a person is mistaken to conclude that he therefore does not need to fast. He should not believe that he can ignore fasting and instead abstain in more important matters. Rather, fasting and avoiding those other vices go hand in hand. Fasting must accompany efforts to abstain in greater matters. For one thing, fasting teaches a person how to abstain in the first place.
Moreover, it is presumptuous for a
person to try to practice the greater virtues without first paying attention to
the smaller ones. As Our Lord says, "He who is faithful in a very little
is faithful also in much"1
and so can be trusted with greater things. Therefore, if a person wants to be
able to abstain in greater matters he must not neglect to abstain in smaller
matters, such as through fasting.
Finally, there is a subtle form of
pride present in the person who says that because something is not very
important, he does not need to do it. Whoever makes such a claim implies that
he does only important things. But the average person is rarely called to do
very important things. Accordingly, each person is more likely to be judged on
how he did the little, everyday things. Even when, rarely, a person is called
to do a great work, how often does he fall short? All the more reason, then,
for a person to make sure that he at least does the small things well.
Furthermore, if he truly loves the Lord, he will gladly do anything—big or
small—for him. So, in the end, saying that fasting is not the most important
thing is not a good excuse for avoiding it.
What, then, is the reason for
fasting?
To answer this let us
first clarify what fasting entails. It involves more than the occasional fast,
such as on Good Friday. To be effective, fasting requires disciplined eating
habits all the time. There are certainly days when a person should make a greater
effort at abstaining from food and drink. These are what we usually consider
days of fasting and they must be practiced regularly. But, still, there are
never days when a person is allowed to abandon all restraint. A person must
always practice some restraint over his appetites, or those periodic days of
fasting are valueless. Always keeping a check on his desires, a person develops
good habits, which foster constancy in his interior life. So, in addition to
practicing days of fasting on a regular basis, a person should continuously
restrain his desires, such as those that incline him to eat too much, to be too
concerned with what he eats, or to eat too often.
We might, then speak of the discipline
of fasting in order to avoid the impression that fasting is sporadic. The
operative principle behind the discipline of fasting is simple: to limit
yourself to only what is necessary for your physical and psychological
health—no more, no less. St. Augustine puts it concisely when he teaches:
"As far as your health allows, keep your bodily appetites in check by
fasting and abstinence from food and drink." So, fasting is meant only to
keep a person's unnecessary wants in check. A person is not— nor is he
permitted—to deny himself what is necessary for his health. The discipline of
fasting instead asks a person to check his desires for what is superfluous and
not necessary.
International Women's Day[3]
International Women’s
Day celebrates women’s achievements throughout the world. Its purpose is
to promote women’s equality, encourage support for repressed women and promote
appreciation toward women everywhere. Many organizations, including the United Nations,
use this day to also celebrate extraordinary achievements of ordinary women.
International Women's Day was initially promoted by the Socialist Party of
America. In 1909, it designated this day in remembrance of a major
strike by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union. The holiday is
now recognized internationally and is an Official National Holiday for many
countries, including China, Russia and Ukraine. It is observed annually
on March 8th.
International Women's Day Facts & Quotes
·
In
2016, the theme for International Women's Day as promoted by the United Nations
was Planet
50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality.
·
On
the eve of World War I, women across Europe and Russia celebrated the holiday
by protesting the war and campaigning for peace.
·
On
this day, the US Dept. of State and the First Lady award the International
Women of Courage Awards. Ten women are given the award - who have
exemplified exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights,
women’s equality, and social progress, often at great personal risk.
· There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable. - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
International Women's Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Organize
a sporting
event for women. Numerous studies have shown many benefits for women that
play sports. A recent study by the EY Women Athletes Business Network
even found that women that play sports were more likely to excel in business.
·
If
you're a woman, try learning a task that is typically done by men. Such a
chore may be: changing the oil on your car, computer programming, mowing the
lawn, painting, and any home improvement project.
·
If
you’re a man, show appreciation by performing a chore for your special lady
that is typically done by her. This may include cooking, cleaning, child
care or anything that the special woman in your life does.
·
Watch
a movie that portrays strong empowered women. Our favorites: Bend
It Like Beckham (2002), Elizabeth (1998), Erin Brockovich (2000), The Help
(2011), A League of Their Own (1992), Mulan (1998), My Fair Lady (1964), Norma
Rae (1979), Volver (2006).
The Church gives thanks for all the manifestations of the feminine "genius" which have appeared in the course of history, in the midst of all peoples and nations; she gives thanks for all the charisms which the Holy Spirit distributes to women in the history of the People of God, for all the victories which she owes to their faith, hope and charity: she gives thanks for all the fruits of feminine holiness.
-John Paul II, Apostolic Letter
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day
265 2012-2016
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
IV. Christian Holiness
2012 "We know that in
everything God works for good with those who love him . . . For those whom he
fore knew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order
that he might be the first-born among many brethren. and those whom he
predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and
those whom he justified he also glorified."
2013 "All Christians in
any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to
the perfection of charity." All are called to holiness: "Be perfect,
as your heavenly Father is perfect."
In order to
reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by
Christ's gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they
may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of
their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful
abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives
of so many saints.
2014 Spiritual progress tends toward ever more intimate union with Christ. This union is called "mystical" because it participates in the mystery of Christ through the sacraments - "the holy mysteries" - and, in him, in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. God calls us all to this intimate union with him, even if the special graces or extraordinary signs of this mystical life are granted only to some for the sake of manifesting the gratuitous gift given to all.
2015 The way of perfection
passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and
spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification
that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes:
He who
climbs never stops going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that
have no end. He never stops desiring what he already knows.
2016 The children of our holy
mother the Church rightly hope for the grace of final perseverance and the
recompense of God their Father for the good works accomplished with his grace
in communion with Jesus. Keeping the same rule of life, believers share
the "blessed hope" of those whom the divine mercy gathers into the
"holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Protection
of Traditional Marriage
·
Catholic
Activity: Religion in the Home for Preschool: March
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 24
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
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