Flowers in Mary's month tie us closely to the reawakening earth. The time of Resurrection and expectant Pentecost is one of buds, blossoms, wildflowers, and greening of meadows and lawns. Days lengthen and we welcome the warmth of the sun after the long winter. Jesus is risen and is present in our midst, and so we rise and ascend with him.
Overview of May[1]
· The Easter season is represented by the liturgical color white — the color of light, a symbol of joy, purity and innocence (absolute or restored). The season ends on Pentecost, June 8th, so the whole month of May is in the Easter season."The month of May, with its profusion of blooms was adopted by the Church in the eighteenth century as a celebration of the flowering of Mary's maidenly spirituality, with its origins in Isaiah's prophecy of the Virgin birth of the Messiah under the figure of the Blossoming Rod or Root of Jesse, the flower symbolism of Mary was extended by the Church Fathers, and in the liturgy, by applying to her the flower figures of the Sapiential Books-Canticles, Wisdom, Proverbs and Sirach.
· "In the medieval period, the rose was adopted as the flower symbol of the Virgin Birth, as expressed in Dante's phrase, 'The Rose wherein the Divine Word was made flesh,' and depicted in the central rose windows of the great gothic cathedrals-from which came the Christmas carol, 'Lo, How a Rose 'ere Blooming.' Also, in the medieval period, when monasteries were the centers of horticultural and agricultural knowledge, and with the spread of the Franciscan love of nature, the actual flowers themselves, of the fields, waysides and gardens, came to be seen as symbols of Mary…" – John S. Stokes
May
May is also:[2]
· National Military Appreciation Month
· National Barbecue Month
MAY TIMETABLE
May Travel?[3]
· Carlsbad Caverns National Park Month of May Head to this amphitheater at Carlsbad Caverns National Park for a grand show: Each May Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from a large, rocky passage within Carlsbad Cavern in search of a tasty mix of insects for dinner. In case you’ve happened on this wondrous sight in southeastern New Mexico with your family (and your kids have questions), a park ranger gives an informative talk as visitors wait for the bats to come out.
· Whale Watching, Stellwagen Bank—May thru October-- Did winter come and go without you getting a chance to see whales? There’s still time: Between May and September, more than 400 orcas swim in the waters around Canada’s Vancouver Island. Or head to the Azores, the Portuguese archipelago about 1,000 miles from Lisbon, where sperm whales gather from May to October. Closer to home, Stellwagen Bank, a submerged sandbank between Cape Cod and Cape Ann in Massachusetts, attracts the endangered North Atlantic right whale to its waters.
· Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival—April 25 thru May 4-- Take in the small-town charm of Winchester, VA, in this 6-day celebration of spring. First held in 1924, the annual festival packs a wallop of more than 30 events into its lineup: band competitions, dances, parades, carnival, a 10K race, the coronation of Queen Shenandoah and so much more, attracting crowds in excess of 250,000.
· Cinco de Mayo--Celebrate Cinco de Mayo (meaning "fifth of May" in Spanish) right here in the United States. Nationwide, there are more than 120 official US celebrations, spanning 21 states, in cities such as Cleveland, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta. The holiday stretches back to the first few years of the American Civil War, when Mexican American communities sought to commemorate the causes of freedom and democracy. Head to downtown Denver for one such celebration: Here, members of a Mexican folkloric dance academy perform at the city’s Civic Center Park.
· Kentucky Derby-May 3rd On your mark, get set … it’s off to Louisville for the granddaddy of all horse races. In time-honored tradition, the 151st annual Kentucky Derby -- the first leg of the Triple Crown -- kicks off the first Saturday in May. Settle into your seat at Churchill Downs racetrack on Central Avenue, sip a mint julep and enjoy the "Most Exciting 2 Minutes in Sports."
o Derby Day Turf Paradise Arizona
· Mother’s Day Tea at The Plaza—May 12th Mom is always fussing over you, now’s your chance to turn the tables -- in style. Treat Mom to afternoon tea at The Plaza’s Tea Room. A tradition since the hotel opened in 1907, tea at this NYC landmark has inspired scenes in popular films and novels, including Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Mom can enjoy a selection of sandwiches and savories from the Fitzgerald Tea for the Ages and The New Yorker menus.
o Acadia Farms Mother’s Day Tea Arizona
· Cannes Film Festival—May 13-24-- La lumière, la caméra, l'action! Slip on some shades, and head to the French Riviera for the largest annual showcase of cinema in the world. Don’t have a ticket to events inside the Palais des Festivals et des Congres building where the festival is held? Pas de probleme! Enjoy open-air shows at the Cinema de la Plage, and for celebrity sightings show up extra-early outside the Palais. You may just spot Ang Lee, Nicole Kidman or Steven Spielberg on this year’s red carpet.
· Indianapolis 500—May 25-- Rev up for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Part of the Triple Crown of Motorsports (with the Monaco Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans right behind) this annual race is quite possibly the largest single-day sporting event in the entire world, attracting roughly 400,000 spectators. Head to Indianapolis the last weekend in May, and prepare for a high-speed show around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval circuit.
o BEST. EXPERIENCE. EVER. Phoenix Raceway
§ Welcome to NASCAR Racing Experience. DRIVE a NASCAR race car by yourself on the Phoenix Raceway- A 1 mile, low-banked tri-oval racetrack with 8 to 9 degrees of banking in the turns. Following drivers meeting with training and instruction, you’ll drive a NASCAR race car for timed racing sessions. There’s no lead car to follow and no instructor rides with you. Get one-on-one instruction from a spotter over in-car radio. In between every 8 minutes of Track Time get to a brief pit stop and head back on the track to work on driving faster speeds. Pass the slower cars as you catch them... YES, passing is allowed!
Iceman’s Calendar
· Thu. May 1st St. Joseph the Worker
· May 2nd MASS First Friday
· May 3rd First Saturday
o Feast Sts Phillip & James Finding of the Cross
· May 4th Third Sunday of Easter
· May 7th MASS First Wednesday
· Sat. May 10th Saint Damien
· May 11th Fourth Sunday of Easter
· Mon. May 12th Full Flower Moon
· Tue. May 13th Our Lady of Fatima
· Wed. May 14th Feast of St. Matthias
o Start Novena to St. Rita Saint of Impossible causes.
· May 18th Fifth Sunday of Easter
· Mon. May 19th St. Dunstan
· Thu. May 22nd St. Rita
· May 25th Rogation Sunday
· May 26th Rogation Monday
· May 27th Rogation Tuesday
· May 28th Rogation Wednesday
· May 29th Mass Ascension Thursday
· May 30th Friday in the Octave of the Ascension
o MASS St. Joan of Arc
· May 31st MASS Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Rachel’s Corner-Mary’s Month-Do a family Rosary
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
(Matthew 1:23)
- Try Truffle-when I was little my Dad was stationed in Belgium and I would go to the Market and eat the sample truffle till I was thrown out.
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
· Bucket List trip: New Zealand
· Spirit Hour: Sauvignon Blanc
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. According to Mary Agreda[10] in her visions it was on a Thursday at six o'clock in the evening and at the approach of night that the Angel Gabriel approached and announced her as Mother of God and she gave her fiat.
Today’s Menu
· Drink: stagecoach traveler
· Salad: Balsamic Steak Salad
· Main dish: The Rachel
Best Places to Visit in May
Monument valley Arizona[11]
Part of the Colorado Plateau, America’s enigmatic landscape, Monument Valley is nature’s wonderland full of spires, buttes, red rock creations, and a stunning desert-like landscape.
I love the unique – and very Instagrammable – landscapes and the endless hiking trails they have here. It’s also a very popular spot to go rock climbing.
Clear skies, warm weather, and cool nights make spring one of the most delightful seasons from March to late this month. In my opinion, the warm and pleasant daytime temperatures, stable weather, and fewer crowds make this a fantastic spring break destination.
Visitors Center Address: U.S. 163 Scenic, Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ 84536
Average temperatures – 79 degrees
My highlights…
· Hiking the most scenic location in the valley, the Wildcat Trail.
· Catching a breathtaking and Instaworthy sunrise over the naturally formed landscape.
· Taking a driving tour with my camera and photographing the stunning views.
Family Fun
o The World's Only Global Musical Instrument Museum. Home of the MIM Music Theater--a 300-seat acoustically superb performance space--as well as the award-winning Café Allegro (open 11 am - 2 pm daily) and the MIM Museum Store. The average guest spends nearly four hours at MIM. Please allow plenty of time to fully enjoy MIM's galleries and exhibits.
· Religion in the Home for Preschool: May
· Protect yourself from ticks.
National Day of Prayer[1]
National
Day of Prayer is an annual holiday that serves to encourage Americans to pray,
meditate and repent. It is also used to draw awareness to prayer and religious
beliefs. The origins of National Day of Prayer date back to 1787. Benjamin
Franklin asked President George Washington to open each day with prayer, and to
realize that prayer is deeply intertwined in the fabric of the United States.
However, it was not until February 1952 during the Korean War that
Reverend Billy Graham petitioned support of Representative Percy Priest to
observe a National Day of Prayer. On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman
signed a bill proclaiming National Day of Prayer, to encourage Americans to
turn to God in prayer and meditation. National Prayer Day is celebrated every
year on the first Thursday of May.
National
Day of Prayer Facts & Quotes
·
According
to the Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study of 2015, 23% of
Americans have indicated that they are not part of any religion. The
survey is based on responses of more than 35,000 Americans.
·
On
October 3, 2008, The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sued President
George W. Bush and staff to challenge the designation of a National Day of
Prayer. On April 14, 2011, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled
that the National Day of Prayer did not cause harm and a feeling of alienation
cannot suffice as injury.
·
According
to the Pew Research Center, more than 55% of Americans pray every day.
60% of older Americans are likely to pray every day, compared to 45% of
young Americans.
·
Prayer
is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's
weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words
without a heart. - Mahatma Gandhi, Civil Rights and Freedom Activist
National
Day of Prayer Top Events and Things to Do
·
Attend
a religious service at your place of worship on the National Day of Prayer.
·
Offer
a prayer for your loved ones and for those who are serving at the frontlines to
protect America.
·
Attend
a spiritual retreat that appeals to your beliefs.
·
Attend
a prayer event on Prayer Day. There are many local events, some religious
based, others meditation oriented.
MAY 1 Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
ST.
JOSEPH THE WORKER-May Day
1 Maccabees, Chapter 4, Verse 8
Judas said to the men with him: Do
not FEAR their numbers or dread their
attack.
Why fear you?
As God saved you from Egypt at the red sea surely, he
will defend us was Judas’ cry. Thus, Israel experienced a great deliverance
that day. Then again being attacked by a force ten times as large, Judas cried
out, “Blessed are you, Savior of Israel, who crushed the attack of the mighty
one by the hand of your servant David and delivered the foreign camp into the
hand of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and his armor-bearer. When Lysias saw the
tide of the battle turning, and the increased boldness of Judas, whose men were
ready either to live or to die nobly, he withdrew. Then Judas and his brothers
said, “Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the
sanctuary and rededicate it.” So, the whole army assembled and went up to Mount
Zion. They found the sanctuary desolate, the altar desecrated, the gates burnt,
weeds growing in the courts as in a thicket or on some mountain, and the
priests’ chambers demolished. Then they tore their garments and made
great lamentation; they sprinkled their heads with ashes and prostrated
themselves. And when the signal was given with trumpets, they cried out to
Heaven. They repaired the sanctuary. On the anniversary of the day on which the
Gentiles had desecrated it, on that very day it was rededicated with songs,
harps, lyres, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and
praised Heaven, who had given them success. For eight days they celebrated the
dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of
deliverance and praise. Then Judas and his brothers and the entire assembly of
Israel decreed that every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the
month Kislev, the days of the dedication of the altar should be
observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary. This was the institution of
the feast of Hanukkah, also called the Feast of Dedication. Josephus calls it
the Feast of Lights (Ant. 12:325).
Let There
Be Light![4]
According
to Jewish Talmudic tradition, when the Maccabees recaptured the Temple, they
found only a day’s supply of consecrated oil with which to light the golden
lamp stand, the menorah. Miraculously, this oil burned for eight full days,
until a new supply could be consecrated. Therefore, Hanukkah is also known and
celebrated as the Feast of Lights. This Hanukkah, ask the Holy Spirit to pour
fresh oil into your lamp. When enduring a dark season, be encouraged, for God
says, “Let there be light.” At the appointed hour you will see His deliverance.
When you faithfully worship the one true God, do not be dismayed if anti-Christ
powers are enraged. These powers operate only within divinely set limits. God
is teaching us how to receive by faith, day-by-day, the anointing to not love
our own lives so as to shrink from death (Revelation 12:11).
Israel’s dark tribulation culminating with the Hanukkah victory in many ways
parallels the future Great Tribulation leading to Yeshua’s return. The holiday
commemorating the rededication of God’s Temple calls upon us to rededicate
ourselves to Him as the bodily temples in which His Spirit now dwells. (See
1Corinthians 6:19)
Remedies
for Anger[5]
The first and best means to
overcome anger is humility; to become thus humble, gentle, and patient, one must often consider the example of
Christ, Who endured so many contradictions, persecutions, and insults, without
reviling again when reviled Himself, and without threatening vengeance to any
one for all He suffered. An excellent preventive to anger is, to think over in
the morning what causes will be likely to draw us into anger at any time during
the day, and to guard ourselves against them beforehand, by a firm resolution
to bear everything patiently for the love of God; and then, when anything
vexatious occurs and excites our anger, to say and do nothing so long as the
anger lasts.
How shall we be reconciled with our
enemies?
Not
only with the lips but from the heart, and with sincerity and promptness. “Is
he absent whom you have wronged,” says St. Augustine, “so that you cannot
easily reach him? Humble yourself then before God, and ask His pardon before
you offer your gift, with a firm resolution to be reconciled with your enemy as
soon as possible.”
Human experience confirms
the need of this Divine teaching. Only when the Fatherhood of God is
recognized, will the Brotherhood of Man be realized. Returning good for
evil is possible only to those who love God. Oh, how much our hate-torn world
needs this prayer: "Pour into our hearts an experience of Thy Love".
In the practice of the Golden Rule, we plead with the Divine "Helper"
against worldly persecution and diabolical "enemies".
How can one who harbors anger, envy, bitterness, indifference, aversion of any
kind against his neighbor, have part in the Sacrifice of Him Who offers Himself
for His enemies? The sacrifice of our selfish or even wounded feelings for
Christ's sake is a most acceptable "gift" to "leave before the
altar".[6]
Pray that there may be such
brotherhood in our country.
St.
Joseph the Worker[7]
"May Day" has
long been dedicated to labor and the working man. It falls on the first day of
the month that is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Pius XII expressed
the hope that this feast would accentuate the dignity of labor and would bring
a spiritual dimension to labor unions. It is eminently fitting that St. Joseph,
a working man who became the foster-father of Christ and patron of the
universal Church, should be honored on this day. The feast of St. Joseph the
Worker was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 in order to Christianize the
concept of labor and give to all workmen a model and a protector. By the daily
labor in his shop, offered to God with patience and joy, St. Joseph provided
for the necessities of his holy spouse and of the Incarnate Son of God, and
thus became an example to all laborers. "Workmen and all those laboring in
conditions of poverty will have reasons to rejoice rather than grieve, since
they have in common with the Holy Family daily preoccupations and cares"(Leo
XIII).
Highlights and Things to Do:
·
Read more about St.
Joseph the Worker:
o
Vatican
·
May 1 is celebrated in
Communist countries as the Day of the International Solidarity of Workers.
Today would be a good day to pray for atheistic Communism's influence to cease
and a proper application of the principles explained by Leo XIII in Rerum novarum
and John Paul II in Centesimus annus
to be the guide used by nations.
·
Read this comparison, May Day the Socialist Worker vs. St. Joseph
the Worker.
·
Read St. Joseph the
Worker on May 1 and Every Day in the National Catholic Register.
·
Louisiana in 2021 made
May 1 an Annual ‘St. Joseph the Worker Day’ Statewide.
·
Consider purchasing and
reading Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Fr. Donald
Calloway.
·
The Josephites are a
religious order of brothers and priests with the mission of serving African
Americans. Visit their site for more information and also some prayers for the feast of St. Joseph the
Worker. They are named Josephites because St. Joseph
was the first missionary.
·
Find some cooking
inspiration for this feast day at Catholic Cuisine.
·
Become a temple of the
Holy Spirit via the St. Joseph Universal Man Plan.
May Day[8]
The
earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times, with the Floralia,
festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, held on April 27 during the
Roman Republic era, and with the Walpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic
countries. The day was a traditional summer holiday in many pre-Christian
European pagan cultures.As Europe became Christianized, the pagan holidays lost their
religious character and May Day changed into a popular secular celebration. A
significant celebration of May Day occurs in Germany where it is one of several
days on which St. Walburga, credited with bringing
Christianity to Germany. The secular versions of May Day, observed in Europe
and America, may be best known for their traditions of dancing around the maypole
and crowning the Queen of May. Fading in popularity since the
late 20th century is the giving of "May baskets," small baskets of
sweets or flowers, usually left anonymously on neighbors’ doorsteps. Since the
18th century, many Roman Catholics have observed May – and May Day – with
various May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In works of art, school
skits, and so forth, Mary's head will often be adorned with flowers in a May
crowning.
May
Day Facts & Quotes[9]
·
Roman
Catholics celebrate May as Mary's month, and May Day is celebration of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
·
May
Day is also recognized as International Worker's Day, or Labor Day. This
day commemorates workers’ rights and the labor movement. One popular
cause that this day commemorates is the eight-hour workday.
·
During
the Haymarket Affair of 1886, more than a dozen people were killed after a
3-day strike and rally. US Labor Unions had agreed upon a general nationwide
strike on May 1, 1886 in support of an eight-hour workday. One such rally, held
outside the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, Chicago, Illinois, became
violent when police fired into the crowd of striking workers. Outraged, the
worker's organized another rally the next day at Haymarket Square. The rally
became violent when a bomb was thrown into a crowd of police. Seven
officers were killed. A very public trial ensued which ended in the
public hanging of four anarchists.
·
In
France, it is customary to give a sweet-smelling flower called the spring of
lily of the valley (a symbol of springtime) on May 1st. The tradition started
in 1561 when King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a lucky
charm.
·
All
labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken
with painstaking excellence. – Martin Luther King Jr.
May Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Dance
around a Maypole. Decorate a tall pole with garlands of flowers and ribbons.
Have a group of friends each take a ribbon and dance around the pole,
interweaving the ribbons to form a braided affect. The braid can be undone by
retracing one's steps.
·
Have
a picnic outdoors in the sunshine.
·
Attend
a May Day Festival.
·
Visit
a local fresh air market.
·
Watch
a film relating to worker’s rights. Our favorite films on the topic:
1) The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
2) Office Space (1999)
3) Caesar Chavez (2014)
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day 319 2450-2463
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION TWO-THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
CHAPTER
TWO-YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
Article 7-THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
IN BRIEF
2450 "You shall not steal" (Ex
20:15; Deut 5:19). "Neither thieves, nor the greedy, nor robbers will inherit
the kingdom of God" (1 Cor 6:10).
2451 The seventh commandment enjoins the
practice of justice and charity in the administration of earthly goods and the
fruits of men's labor.
2452 The goods of creation are destined
for the entire human race. the right to private property does not abolish the
universal destination of goods.
2453 The seventh commandment forbids
theft. Theft is the usurpation of another's goods against the reasonable will
of the owner.
2454 Every manner of taking and using
another's property unjustly is contrary to the seventh commandment. the
injustice committed requires reparation. Commutative justice requires the
restitution of stolen goods.
2455 The moral law forbids acts which, for
commercial or totalitarian purposes, lead to the enslavement of human beings,
or to their being bought, sold or exchanged like merchandise.
2456 The dominion granted by the Creator
over the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be
separated from respect for moral obligations, including those toward
generations to come.
2457 Animals are entrusted to man's
stewardship; he must show them kindness. They may be used to serve the just
satisfaction of man's needs.
2458 The Church makes a judgment about
economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the person or the
salvation of souls requires *. She is concerned with the temporal common good
of men because they are ordered to the sovereign Good, their ultimate end.
2459 Man is himself the author, center,
and goal of all economic and social life. the decisive point of the social
question is that goods created by God for everyone should in fact reach
everyone in accordance with justice and with the help of charity.
2460 The primordial value of labor stems
from man himself, its author and beneficiary. By means of his labor man
participates in the work of creation. Work united to Christ can be redemptive.
2461 True development concerns the whole
man. It is concerned with increasing each person's ability to respond to his
vocation and hence to God's call (cf CA 29).
2462 Giving alms to the poor is a witness
to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God.
2463 How can we not recognize Lazarus, the
hungry beggar in the parable (cf Lk 17:19-31), in the multitude of human beings
without bread, a roof or a place to stay? How can we fail to hear Jesus:
"As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to
me" (Mt 25:45)?
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Closing
Invocation for Night Prayers
Holy Mother of Jesus, my guardian angel, St. Joseph and my holy patron
saint, protect me during this night and during my whole life, especially at the
hour of my death. Amen.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: St.
Joseph’s intersession for the Porter’s of St. Joseph
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[1]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12548
[5]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[7]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-05-01
[10] Venerable Mary of Agreda. The
Mystical City of God: Complete Edition Containing all Four Volumes with
Illustrations (p. 770). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition
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