NIC’s Corner
“Give thanks to the LORD
for he is good,
his mercy endures
forever!
(Psalm 107:1)
·
Catholic
Activity: Religion in the Home for Preschool: May
·
Eat
Fish on Fridays-NOT
o
Dinner Menu[1] French
of course
§ Bacon, Cheddar, and Onion Quiche
§ Hot Niçoise Salad
§ Braised Baby Artichokes with Tomato Coulis
§ Crème Brûlée
·
Bucket
List trip: France of Course: Loire
Valley
·
St. Hubert's feast was originally November 3, but the 2004 Roman
Martyrology transferred it to May 30, which was the anniversary of the
translation of his relics. Why not celebrate twice?
Have a toast of Jägermeister
in honor of St. Hubert.
o
Cough syrup not
to your liking have a Mint Julep
·
Get
an indulgence
MAY
30 Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Friday after
Ascension)
JOAN
OF ARC
Wisdom,
Chapter 8, Verse 14-15
I
shall govern peoples, and nations will be my subjects—tyrannical princes,
hearing of me, will be AFRAID; in the assembly I shall appear noble, and
in war courageous.
The
“I” here is “Wisdom” personified.
According
to Copilot:
Wisdom
Chapter 8 is a poetic reflection on the virtues and power of Wisdom. The
chapter describes Wisdom as an all-encompassing force that governs the world
with strength and order. The author expresses deep admiration for Wisdom,
portraying it as a divine gift that brings nobility, prudence, and
understanding.[1]
The
chapter also emphasizes the benefits of possessing Wisdom, stating that it
leads to righteousness, self-control, justice, and courage—qualities that are
essential for a fulfilling life. The author speaks of Wisdom as a cherished
companion, likening it to a bride, and acknowledges that true Wisdom is a gift
from God.
From
a Catholic perspective, Wisdom Chapter 8 is seen as a profound
reflection on the divine nature of Wisdom, which is often understood as a
manifestation of God's presence and guidance. The chapter describes Wisdom as
an all-encompassing force that governs the world with strength and order, emphasizing
its role in leading individuals toward righteousness, justice, and prudence.
Catholic interpretations highlight that Wisdom is not merely an intellectual pursuit but a spiritual gift from God. The text portrays Wisdom as a cherished companion, likened to a bride, reinforcing the idea that true Wisdom is deeply relational and connected to divine love. The chapter also references the cardinal virtues—temperance, prudence, justice, and fortitude—which are central to Catholic moral teaching.
Pentecost Novena[2]
The Pentecost Novena is
the first of all novenas, nine days of prayer. After Jesus' Ascension into heaven,
He commanded His disciples to come together in the upper room to devote
themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days before
receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo
XIII proclaimed: "We decree and command that throughout the whole Catholic
Church, this year and in every subsequent year, a novena shall take place
before Whit-Sunday (Pentecost), in all parish churches." It has been reported
that Pope Leo XIII was inspired to mandate the Pentecost novena because of a
letter from a housewife in Italy. Pope John Paul II has reiterated Pope Leo
XIII's command for a worldwide Pentecost novena, although the novena can be
prayed at any time — not only before Pentecost.
Try to go to Mass daily
throughout the novena. Go to Confession during the novena. Make visits to
church to adore the eucharistic Jesus throughout the novena. The Church has not
written any official prayers for the novena. The following prayers are suggested.
FIRST DAY (Friday after Ascension)
Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!
Special Intention
“Johanninise the souls of our priests and bishops. Please, Lord, grant a Priestly Pentecost.”
The Holy Spirit
Only one thing is important — eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared–sin? Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for “The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us.”
Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
On my knees I before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord for Your servant heareth.” Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send
the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and
Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my
soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that
I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the
things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with
the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit on Counsel that I may ever choose
the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that
I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the
obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God
and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of
Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of
Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in
any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of Your true
disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.
Apostolic Exhortation[3]
Veneremur
Cernui – Down in Adoration Falling
of The Most
Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix,
to Priests, Deacons, Religious and the Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix
on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
My beloved Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
Part II
III. Worthy Reception of Holy
Communion – Conforming our life with Christ.
55. The beautiful and rich
Liturgy of the Church, which has been passed down to us from the first century,
contains many expressions of devotion and faith in the real presence of Christ
in the Eucharist. For example, we call to mind that the main reason our
churches are decorated with beautiful and precious art is because here in the
Church building, Jesus is present in the tabernacle, always accompanying us and
interceding for us. We also celebrate our Masses with beautiful music and
vestments, incense, candles, and many other details that allow us to express
our faith and gratitude to Christ who has loved us so much that He has decided
to stay with us, really present in the Eucharist, until the end of time. Many
churches hold special hours of prayer and adoration of the Eucharist, to honor
and thank our Lord, and to bring all our needs before Him. We dress
respectfully for Mass knowing that we come to worship and receive our Lord who
comes to us at the altar and especially in our hearts. All these expressions of
devotion flow from a lively faith in Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.
56. As the Eucharistic faith of
the Church expresses itself in so many beautiful ways, so also, our faith in
the Real Presence should move us to desire and strive with all our efforts to
prepare and receive Jesus worthily in Holy Communion.
57. At the moment of Holy
Communion, the priest holds up the consecrated Host and says, “the Body of
Christ”. When we reply “Amen” and then receive the Body of Christ, we are
expressing not only our faith in Jesus Christ but also our desire and effort to
live in friendship with Him. By receiving the Body of Christ in Holy Communion
we manifest our union with the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. Therefore,
if with our “Amen,” we refuse to accept and live by the whole teaching of
Christ and His Church, we are not in communion with Him but living a ‘fake’
union, one that overlooks truth and justice. In the same way, when we commit a
mortal sin and deliberately fail in a serious matter of “rejection of communion
with God… then we are seriously obliged to refrain from receiving Holy
Communion until we are reconciled with God and the Church” through the
Sacrament of Penance (USCCB “Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper”: On
Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist).
To be continued…
Joan
of Arc-her defeat was her Victory[4]
Joan
of Arc acquitted herself with courage, answering all that was asked, displaying
a remarkable memory. It is said that Joan of Arc’s heart did not catch fire as
her body burned at the stake.[5]
John
McCain notes in his study of leadership that Saint Joan of Arc (feast day: May
30) was an example of leadership that was characterized by authenticity.
At the command of voices that only she could hear, she rode to battle and saved
her country. SHE COULD NOT READ OR WRITE, BUT SAINTS AND ANGELS SPOKE TO HER.
Michael the Archangel, and Catherine and Margaret, the patron saints of France,
commanded the thirteen-year-old peasant girl to pray vigilantly and attend Mass
regularly. She is remembered as very beautiful, a slight seventeen-year-old
girl with black hair who could ride for long hours in heavy armor without any
sign of discomfort. She kept silent for long periods but could be roused to
great anger at men swearing or behaving in some other sinful manner.
She prayed and
fasted often and seemed most comfortable in the company of poor priests. Before
they embarked, she had dictated to a priest a letter for the English commanders
in Orléans, warning them to “go away back to England . . . or I will drive you out
of France.” This is the first the English had ever heard of Joan of Arc. To the
French, and their dauphin, who now placed their trust in her, she was becoming
a saint. As they marched to Orléans, she saw to the spiritual needs of her
soldiers, ordering them to abandon their vices, to refrain from looting and
harming civilians, to confess their sins and attend Mass regularly, which they
did. Men who had refused to serve Charles in what they believed was a losing
cause now rushed to her standard and prepared for battle. A few days later, the
rest of her army began to arrive with much needed supplies, just as word was
received that another English army was marching to the aid of her enemies. She
went to sleep that night happy in the knowledge that the moment was at hand
when she would accomplish what her saints had commanded her to do. She awoke in
the middle of the night and stirred her generals with the news that they must
attack immediately. In fact, a battle had already begun at the nearest English
fortification. Joan commanded her page to bring her horse, as she dressed in
her armor, and then raced to join the fight carrying her banner. When she
reached her soldiers, she saw that they were losing the battle, but her
presence inspired them, and they rallied to take the fort. After the battle
Joan wept for the fallen, French and English alike. On the next day they took
another English fort, and the day after one more. But the fighting during the
third battle had been ferocious. Joan was wounded by an arrow through her
shoulder as she attempted to scale one of the fort’s walls and was carried to
safety. Seeing her hurt and carried from the field, her troops lost courage,
and the assault was suspended. Some witnesses say she removed the arrow
herself. Others remembered her soldiers treating the wound. Whatever the case,
legend has it that she responded to her soldiers’ fears by telling them to
rally to her when they saw her banner strike the fort’s wall. And when they did
see it, they recovered their courage and took the fort. The next day the
English abandoned the siege. Orléans was saved. Both English and French
generals gave the credit to Joan. She gave it to God. Then she rode to meet
Charles. When they met, she bowed to him, and urged him to hasten to Reims, where
his crown awaited him. But Charles hesitated. His will was weak, for he was not
a man of great courage, and his advisors at court, some of whom resented Joan’s
interference, cautioned him to proceed slowly, for there were still many
powerful English armies in France that had to be destroyed. Joan, as always,
rode in the front, carrying her banner, urging her soldiers to victory.
Inspired by her courage, and by the obvious favor of God that protected her,
they carried the day, routing the English and opening the road to Reims. The
English and all the French, those loyal to the dauphin and those who fought for
Henry, recognized that this strange young girl, now known as the Maid of
Orléans, must be in the service of a sovereign more powerful than any earthly
king. Joan in the end like the eternal King she served was abandoned by her
earthly King and was captured by the Burundians. John of Luxembourg took her to
his castle, where, she twice tried to escape, once by jumping from a castle
tower into the moat below. Attempts to ransom her were refused, as were French
attempts to liberate her by force. After several months, Luxembourg handed Joan
over to the English, and she was taken to the city of Rouen, where a corrupt
bishop, Pierre Cauchon, was instructed to put her on trial for heresy. The
rules of war did not permit the English to condemn Joan for opposing them in
battle. So, they sought her death by falsely accusing her of witchcraft.
Cauchon tried for weeks to compel her to confess, but despite threats of
torture and execution, she steadfastly refused to divulge her conversations
with Charles or to concede that the saints who spoke to her were demons or
merely inventions of her own blasphemy.
She was denied permission to attend Mass and receive
the sacraments.
She was often
kept in chains and became very ill. Yet she stayed true to herself, and to her
saints. She wore a dress when they brought her to a church cemetery to hear her
sentence read, condemning her to be burned at the stake. She asked that her
conviction be appealed to the pope. Her persecutors refused her. And then, Joan
of Arc, for the first and only time in her brief life, tried to be someone she
was not. Fearing the flames, she confessed to being a heretic and recanted her
claim to have heard and obeyed her saints, and begged her enemies for mercy.
Mercy they had little of but having taken from her what their armies could not,
they no longer thought her life such a great thing that it could not be spared.
She was now nothing more than a confessed imposter. They had wanted to destroy
her truth, that she was God’s messenger. Having done so, it mattered little
whether she died or suffered long imprisonment. Their work done, they left her
in her cell, to the taunts and abuses of the guards, and commanded her to dress
only in women’s clothes. When they next saw her, a few days later, she was
attired in the clothes of a boy. She had recovered her courage and her truth.
Her saints had reproached her for denying them, and she had begged their
forgiveness. She had become her true self again. She was the Maid of Orléans, a
pretty, pious nineteen-year-old girl who had left her father’s house and taken
up arms for more than a year, as heaven had commanded her. And with heaven’s
encouragement she had defeated France’s enemies in battle after battle, frightened
and awed the bravest English heart, rallied a nation to her banner, and made a
weak, defeated man a king. God’s messenger went bravely to her death, forgiving
her accusers and asking only that a priest hold high a crucifix for her to see
it above the flames. She raised her voice to heaven, calling out to her saints
and her Savior. Even her enemies wept at the sight. Her executioner was shaken
with remorse, and an anguished English soldier who witnessed the crime feared
for his soul. “God forgive us,” he cried, “we have burned a saint.”
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day 347 2709-2724
PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION ONE-PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
CHAPTER
THREE-THE LIFE OF PRAYER
Article
1-EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER
III.
Contemplative Prayer
2709 What is
contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: "Contemplative prayer [oracion
mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it
means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us."
Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves." It is
Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the
beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be
born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but
our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.
2710 The
choice of the time and duration of the prayer arises from a determined will,
revealing the secrets of the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer
only when one has the time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm
determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may
encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one can always enter into inner
prayer, independently of the conditions of health, work, or emotional state.
the heart is the place of this quest and encounter, in poverty ant in faith.
2711 Entering
into contemplative prayer is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we
"gather up:" the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting
of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are,
awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We
let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to
hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.
2712
Contemplative prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner
who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who wants to respond to
it by loving even more. But he knows that the love he is returning is
poured out by the Spirit in his heart, for everything is grace from God.
Contemplative prayer is the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the
Father in ever deeper union with his beloved Son.
2713
Contemplative prayer is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer. It is
a gift, a grace; it can be accepted only in humility and poverty. Contemplative
prayer is a covenant relationship established by God within our hearts.9 Contemplative prayer is a communion in
which the Holy Trinity conforms man, the image of God, "to his
likeness."
2714
Contemplative prayer is also the pre-eminently intense time of prayer. In it
the Father strengthens our inner being with power through his Spirit "that
Christ may dwell in (our) hearts through faith" and we may be
"grounded in love."
2715
Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. "I look at him and he
looks at me": this is what a certain peasant of Ars used to say to his
holy cure about his prayer before the tabernacle. This focus on Jesus is a
renunciation of self. His gaze purifies our heart; the light of the countenance
of Jesus illumines the eyes of our heart and teaches us to see everything in
the light of his truth and his compassion for all men. Contemplation also turns
its gaze on the mysteries of the life of Christ. Thus, it learns the
"interior knowledge of our Lord," the more to love him and follow
him.
2716
Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God. Far from being passive, such
attentiveness is the obedience of faith, the unconditional acceptance of a
servant, and the loving commitment of a child. It participates in the
"Yes" of the Son become servant and the Fiat of God's lowly handmaid.
2717
Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to
come" or "silent love." Words in this kind of prayer
are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this
silence, unbearable to the "outer" man, the Father speaks to us his
incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of
adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus.
2718
Contemplative prayer is a union with the prayer of Christ insofar as it makes
us participate in his mystery. the mystery of Christ is celebrated by the
Church in the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit makes it come alive in
contemplative prayer so that our charity will manifest it in our acts.
2719
Contemplative prayer is a communion of love bearing Life for the multitude, to
the extent that it consents to abide in the night of faith. the Paschal night
of the Resurrection passes through the night of the agony and the tomb - the
three intense moments of the Hour of Jesus which his Spirit (and not "the
flesh [which] is weak") brings to life in prayer. We must be willing to
"keep watch with (him) one hour."
IN BRIEF
2720 The Church invites the faithful to regular prayer:
daily prayers, the Liturgy of the Hours, Sunday Eucharist, the feasts of the
liturgical year.
2721 The Christian tradition comprises three major
expressions of the life of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation, and contemplative
prayer. They have in common the recollection of the heart.
2722 Vocal prayer, founded on the union of body and soul in
human nature, associates the body with the interior prayer of the heart,
following Christ's example of praying to his Father and teaching the Our Father
to his disciples.
2723 Meditation is a prayerful quest engaging thought,
imagination, emotion, and desire. Its goal is to make our own in faith the
subject considered, by confronting it with the reality of our own life.
2724 Contemplative prayer is the simple expression of the
mystery of prayer. It is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to
the Word of God, a silent love. It achieves real union with the prayer of
Christ to the extent that it makes us share in his mystery.
Fitness Friday
Recognizing that God the Father created man on Friday the 6th day
I propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and
renew yourself in strength, mind, soul and heart.
Be smart when sunbathing
·
Everyone
knows that a nice tan gives a healthy glow, so as soon as summer comes, we rush
to enjoy sunbathing. However, the research show that excessive and
irresponsible sunbathing can cause skin problems including skin cancer. Despite
all potential threats to enjoy the sun, sunbathing can be healthy if you take
all measures to protect your skin from harmful sun rays. Here are some tips for
you when and how to enjoy the sun in order to get a healthy tan without any
trouble.
·
Every
time when you face the sun use a sunscreen with SPF protection. Apply a
sunscreen all over your body and face at least 30 minutes before sunbathing so
that your skin could absorb the cream. When you are in the sun reapply
sunscreen every 30 minutes. Also, don’t forget a sunscreen to your lips as they
are very sensitive to the sun.
·
First
time you shouldn’t stay in the sun for more than 15 minutes. Let your skin to
get used to the sun. Then you can gradually increase the time you spend in the
sun for 5-10 minutes every time.
·
Stay
in the sun before the noon or just after 3 p.m. Time from 12 a.m. to 3 p.m. is
the most dangerous because the sun causes the most damage at this time.
·
Don’t
forget to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Make sure to wear
sunglasses as the sun can violate your retina.
·
Moisturize
your skin after sunbathing. The best moisturizers contain aloe vera which has
soothing properties and helps to restore moisture balance of skin cells.
NIC’s Corner
Blessed be the Lord, who
daily loads us with benefits, the Fod of our Salvation (Psalm 68:19)
·
Catholic Activity:
Religion in the Home for Preschool: May
·
Foodie:
·
Eat
Fish on Fridays-NOT
o
Dinner Menu[6] French of course
§ Bacon, Cheddar, and Onion Quiche
§ Hot Niçoise Salad
§ Braised Baby Artichokes with Tomato Coulis
§ Crème Brûlée
·
Bucket
List trip:
·
Spirit
Hour:
St. Hubert's feast was originally
November 3, but the 2004 Roman Martyrology transferred it to May 30,
which was the anniversary of the translation of his relics. Why not
celebrate twice?
Have a toast of Jägermeister
in honor of St. Hubert.
o
Cough syrup not
to your liking have a Mint Julep
·
Get
an indulgence
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: The
lonely and destitute
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[2]https://www.presentationministries.com/series/publications/publication-pentnovena-247748#:~:text=The%20Pentecost%20Novena%20is%20the%20first%20of%20all,days%20before%20receiving%20the%20Holy%20Spirit%20on%20Pentecost.
[4] McCain, John and Salter, Mark. (2005) Character is destiny. Random
House, New York.
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