Claire’s Corner
· Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
· Spirit Hour: White Lion or a Red Lion in honor of Pope Leo the Great
· Designing A 20 Acre Homestead Layout
· Try[7]: Danish Fruit Stuffed Pork Roast
· Bucket List trip: Viking River Cruises
· 30 Days with St. Joseph Day 18
APRIL 6 Fifth Sunday of Lent-First Passion Sunday
Malachi, Chapter 1, verse 6
6 A son honors his father, and a servant FEARS his master; If, then, I am a father, where is the honor due to me? And if I am a master, where is the fear due to me?
To honor someone is to live by the principles they have given us. That is we follow those doctrines whether they are watching us or not, but a servant who fears his master will not live by the values given but will only follow them if they are being watched or if there is a reward. If you love someone you honor them by being true to them, your trust and faith in them and the principles they give are incorruptible.
"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him."
ON KEEPING
THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[1]
CHAPTER II
DIES CHRISTI
The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit
An indispensable day!
30. It is clear then why, even in our
own difficult times, the identity of this day must be protected and above all
must be lived in all its depth. An Eastern writer of the beginning of the third
century recounts that as early as then the faithful in every region were
keeping Sunday holy on a regular basis. What began as a spontaneous practice
later became a juridically sanctioned norm. The Lord's Day has structured the
history of the Church through two thousand years: how could we think that it
will not continue to shape her future? The pressures of today can make it
harder to fulfil the Sunday obligation; and, with a mother's sensitivity, the
Church looks to the circumstances of each of her children. In particular, she
feels herself called to a new catechetical and pastoral commitment, in order to
ensure that, in the normal course of life, none of her children are deprived of
the rich outpouring of grace which the celebration of the Lord's Day brings. It
was in this spirit that the Second Vatican Council, making a pronouncement on
the possibility of reforming the Church calendar to match different civil
calendars, declared that the Church "is prepared to accept only those
arrangements which preserve a week of seven days with a Sunday". Given its
many meanings and aspects, and its link to the very foundations of the faith,
the celebration of the Christian Sunday remains, on the threshold of the Third
Millennium, an indispensable element of our Christian identity.
Fifth Sunday of Lent-First
Passion
Sunday
The Jews' growing hatred of Christ
recorded in today's Gospel makes plain His imminent death.
Passion
Week[2]
FROM
this day, called Passion Sunday, until Easter the Church--gives herself up
entirely to meditation on the passion of Jesus. Today the crucifixes are
covered, in remembrance that from this time until His entrance into Jerusalem
Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews. From to-day the Glory Be to the
Father is omitted in the Mass, because in the person of Jesus Christ the Most
Holy Trinity was dishonored. As on this day the high priests held council about
Our Lord, the Church says, at the Introit of the Mass, in the name of the
suffering Jesus, the words of the psalmist: Judge me, O God, and distinguish my
cause from the nation that is not holy; deliver me from the unjust and
deceitful man, for Thou art God, my strength. Send forth Thy light and Thy truth,
they have conducted me and brought me unto Thy holy hill, and into Thy
tabernacles (Ps. xlii. 1-3). Prayer. We
beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully look upon Thy family, that by Thy bounty
it may be governed in body, and by Thy preservation be kept in mind.
EPISTLE.
Heb. ix. 11-15.
Brethren:
Christ, being come a high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and
more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation:
neither by the blood of goats, nor of calves, but by His own blood, entered
once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes
of a heifer being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of
the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who by the Holy Ghost
offered Himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to
serve the living God?
And therefore, He is the mediator
of the New Testament: that by means of His death, for the redemption of those
transgressions, which were under the former testament, they that are called may
receive the promise of eternal inheritance, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Explanation.
St.
Paul here teaches that Jesus Christ has given full satisfaction for the sins of
men and opened to all the entrance into the sanctuary. The Church proposes this
epistle to us in order that we may thank God for the great mercy of the
redemption, love and praise Him, and be encouraged to share in His sufferings
by fasting, prayer, and penitential works.
Aspiration.
Give us Thy grace, O meekest Jesus, that by true
sorrow for our sins, and by the practice of good works, we may become partakers
of Thy bitter sufferings, and obtain the promised in heritance of eternal life.
Amen.
GOSPEL. John viii. 46-59.
At that time
Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews:
Which of you
shall convince Me of sin?
If I say the
truth to you, why do you not believe Me?
He
that is of God heareth the words of God. Therefore, you hear them not because
you are not of God. The Jews therefore answered, and said to Him:
Do not we say
well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Jesus
answered: I have not a devil: but I honor My Father, and you have dishonored
Me. But I seek not My own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth. Amen,
amen, I say to you: if any man keep My word, he shall not see death forever.
The Jews therefore said: Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead,
and the prophets; and Thou sayest: If any man keep My word, he shall not taste
death forever.
Art Thou
greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead. Whom
dost Thou make Thyself?
Jesus
answered: If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father that
glorifieth Me, of Whom you say that He is your God. And you have not known Him,
but I know Him. And if I shall say that I know Him not, I shall be like to you,
a liar. But I do know Him, and do keep His word. Abraham your father rejoiced
that he might see My day. He saw it, and was glad. The Jews therefore said to
Him:
Thou art not
yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?
Jesus
said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. They
took up stones therefore to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and went out of
the temple.
Explanation.
When Our Savior
said: He that is of God heareth God’s words, He meant to point out to the Jews
the cause of their stubborn unbelief. He that is of God hears and loves that
which is Godlike. When, therefore, we gladly hear the word of God and strive to
do what we have heard, we testify that we are the children of God. Instead of
reflecting on Our Savior’s words the Jews poured out their offended pride and
abuse, and called Him a Samaritan, and one having a devil. The same thing
happens to-day. Instead of listening to the truth; the proud man answers with
calumny and contempt. Our Savior hid Himself from the Jews to teach us to
forgive and avoid our enemies rather than to oppose them and take revenge on
them.
Ponder: Have we advanced any since
Christ’s time? Reflect on our news, social media, and politics. Do they speak
the truth-or say Truth! What is truth.
Consolation
under Insults
O
friend, what insult can be given to you which your Savior has not suffered?
He
was called a glutton and a drunkard, a heretic and a rebel, a friend and
associate of sinners, and one who had a devil; He was even told that He cast
out devils by the prince of devils (Matt. ix. 34). He, therefore, comforts His
disciples with the words, “If they have called the good man of the house
Beelzebub, how much more them of his household? (Matt. x. 25)
There
is no sorrow so bitter that He has not borne it, for what was more painful and
grievous than the death of the cross? Christians, “think diligently upon Him
that endured such opposition from sinners against Himself, that you be not
wearied, fainting in your minds, at contempt and insult.” (Heb. xii. 3)
Passiontide Customs[3]
The main custom for
Passiontide is the veiling of all sacred images in home and church with purple
cloth. This custom originated in ancient times, when the images in the papal
chapel of the Vatican were covered after the words of the Passion Sunday
Gospel, "Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple" (Jn 8.59),
were pronounced.
Passiontide:
- (First)
Passion Sunday. The Jews' growing hatred of Christ recorded in
today's Gospel makes plain His imminent death.
- Friday
after Passion Sunday: Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. A special commemoration, one week before Good
Friday, of Mary's compassion for (literally, "suffering with")
Her innocent son.
- (Second
Passion or) Palm Sunday. Christ's triumphant entrance
into Jerusalem and the account of His Passion according to St. Matthew.
Mourning& Veiling[4]
Akin to
the asceticism of Lent is its mournful tone.
The Church is traditionally draped in purple or black, its organ silenced, and
its altar bereft of any flowers. At home medieval Catholics would avoid
frivolity or hilarity and would wear black during either Holy Week or Good
Friday.
There
is a special mourning custom that also begins on Passion Sunday (Fifth
Sunday of Lent (Passion Sunday) and
ends when the Gloria is sung during the Easter Vigil Mass: covering all sacred images
(crucifixes, statues, etc) with purple cloth in both church and home. This
might seem counterintuitive, since one would expect to gaze at a crucifix more
during the season when the Passion is being considered. Yet the Roman rite
teaches by absence as well as by presence. In an odd way, being denied access
to the sacred images alerts you to their presence all the more, in the same way
that not having the sacrifice of the Mass on the one day you would expect it
the most, i.e., Good Friday, makes one all the more aware of the Sacrifice that
took place on that day. Covering sacred images also adds immensely to the sense
of sorrow and compunction that should naturally accompany this somber period.
Passion
Fruit Cheesecake for Passion Sunday[5]
Since the 3rd Century,
today (5th Sunday in Lent) has been known as Passion Sunday.
Passion Fruit Cheesecake
Ingredients:
Crust
1 1/2 cups all purpose
flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons nuts, finely
chopped
6 ounces butter, melted
Cheesecake Filling
1 1/2 pound cream cheese
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
3 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup passion fruit
puree.
Directions:
Make
crust by combining dry ingredients in a large bowl. Melt butter and add to dry
ingredients. Mix thoroughly. When incorporated, press evenly into nine-inch
springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Combine
cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add corn starch and blend. Add eggs and
mix thoroughly, scraping the sides of the bowl. Add vanilla and sour cream. Mix
until smooth and fold in passion fruit puree. Pour batter into a springform pan
and bake at 300 degrees for approximately one hour and thirty minutes, or until
set. Cool slowly and completely refrigerate for several hours.
Aids in Battle[6] Help from Saints
Saints
are veterans of the spiritual war that continues to rage in this world. Their
insights, born of long experience in combat with the Enemy, can make us wise
and strong in battle.
·
God has fashioned and shaped only one enmity, and that an
irreconcilable one, which will endure and even increase, until the end: It is
that between the Virgin Mary and the Devil, between the children and servants
of the Blessed Virgin and the children and accomplices of Satan; so that the
most terrible of the enemies of Satan created by God is Mary, his Blessed
Mother. ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT
·
Men do not fear a powerful, hostile army as much as
the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary. ST. BONAVENTURE
·
You, O Lady, by the simple invocation of your most powerful name,
give security to your servants against all the assaults of the Enemy. ST.
GERMANUS
·
By invoking the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under
Pontius Pilate, Satan is driven out of men. ST. IRENAEUS
·
We are all inclined to sin, my children; we are idle, greedy,
sensual, given to the pleasures of the flesh. We want to know everything, to
learn everything, to see everything. We must watch over our mind, over our
heart, and over our senses, for these are the gates by which the Devil
penetrates. See, he prowls round us incessantly; his only occupation in this
world is to seek companions for himself. All our life he will lay snares for
us; he will try to make us yield to temptations. We must, on our side, do all
we can to defeat and resist him. We can do nothing by ourselves, children. But
we can do everything with the help of the good God. Let us pray Him to deliver
us from this enemy of our salvation, or to give strength to fight against him.
With the Name of Jesus, we shall overcome the demons; we shall put them to
flight. With this name, though they may sometimes dare to attack us, our
battles will be victories, and our victories will be crowns for heaven, all
brilliant with precious stones. ST. JOHN VIANNEY
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day
294 2268-2269
Intentional homicide
2268 The fifth commandment
forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. The murderer and
those who cooperate voluntarily in murder commit a sin that cries out to heaven
for vengeance.
Infanticide, fratricide,
parricide, and the murder of a spouse are especially grave crimes by reason of
the natural bonds which they break. Concern for eugenics or public health
cannot justify any murder, even if commanded by public authority.
2269 The fifth commandment
forbids doing anything with the intention of indirectly bringing about a
person's death. The moral law prohibits exposing someone to mortal danger
without grave reason, as well as refusing assistance to a person in danger.
The
acceptance by human society of murderous famines, without efforts to remedy
them, is a scandalous injustice and a grave offense. Those whose usurious and
avaricious dealings lead to the hunger and death of their brethren in the human
family indirectly commit homicide, which is imputable to them.
Unintentional killing is not
morally imputable. But one is not exonerated from grave offense if, without
proportionate reasons, he has acted in a way that brings about someone's death,
even without the intention to do so.
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Church lists the spiritual
works of mercy as follows:
- To instruct the ignorant
- To counsel the doubtful
- To admonish sinners
- To bear wrongs patiently
- To forgive offenses willingly
- To comfort the afflicted
- To pray for the living and the dead
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Authentic
Feminism
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[2] Goffine’s Divine Instructions, 1896.
[6] Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual
Warfare. TAN Books.
[7] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A
Food Lover's Life List. Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
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