JUNE
Wildlife
fills our life with joy and refreshment. Songbirds and birds of prey, squirrels
and rabbits, butterflies and lightning bugs all carry a message worth
discovering in early summer. Do we see and hear them, or do we overlook them,
even despise them? Are they simply an annoyance, or do we come to know, love,
and even serve these fellow creatures by providing protection and habitat?
June: The Sacred Heart of Jesus – The Sacred Heart of Jesus
is the revelation of God’s immense love for us. It is often depicted as a fiery
furnace, pierced and broken, but beating with love. The Sacred Heart is also a
profound reminder of the humanity of our Lord, for his heart is not a mere
symbol, but a true physical reality.
Overview of June[1]
The beginning of the month of June concludes the liturgical
season of Easter,
with Pentecost celebrated on June 8. The rest of the month is Ordinary Time, which is represented by the
liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed
and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven,
especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and
Masses of Ordinary Time. Appropriately June is considered the month for
weddings where human hearts join and cooperate with the Creator in bringing
forth new life. The family they create is a human reflection of the Blessed
Trinity. Appropriately June is
considered the month for weddings where human hearts join and cooperate with
the Creator in bringing forth new life. The family they create is a human
reflection of the Blessed Trinity.
As
we begin to feel the warmth of summer, we can reflect that we celebrate the
feasts of the Ascension (June 1), Pentecost (June 8), Most
Holy Trinity (June 15), -->Corpus Christi (June 22), the Sacred
Heart of Jesus (June 27), the Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 28),
and Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29). God is Love and the
Sacred Heart of Jesus — present on earth in the Blessed Sacrament — is the
human manifestation of God's Love for men. Appropriately June is considered the
month for weddings where human hearts join and cooperate with the Creator in
bringing forth new life. The family they create is a human reflection of the
Blessed Trinity.
Following
Pentecost, the Church begins her slow descent from the great peaks of the
Easter Season to the verdant pastures of Ordinary Time, the longest of the
liturgical seasons. Like the lush June growth all around us, the green of the
liturgical season points to the new life won for us by the Redemption of Jesus
Christ, the new life of Charity. For Our Lord came to cast the fire of His love
on the earth, and to that end, sent His Holy Spirit at Pentecost in the form of
tongues of fire. Ordinary Time is the hour to “go out to all the world and tell
the good news.” The feasts of June highlight this expansion of the Church. At
least ten times, the Church vests in the red of the martyrs whose blood is the
very seed of her growth. She also celebrates the feasts of the apostles Peter
and Paul, and the birth of St. John the Baptist, proto-disciple and prophet. We
too are called to be witnesses like the apostles and martyrs. May the Heart of
Jesus inflame our hearts so that we may be worthy of our Baptismal call to
holiness. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
June is dedicated to the Sacred
Heart[2]
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion." These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.
The
devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is
united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the
devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return
love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the
Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make
reparation for our ingratitude to God.
Prayer:
INVOCATION
O
Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own
weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness. Saint Margaret Mary
Alacoque
PRAYER
TO THE SACRED HEART
Devotion
to the Sacred Heart was the characteristic note of the piety of Saint Gertrude
the Great (1256-1302), Benedictine nun and renowned mystic. She was, in fact,
the first great exponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart. In our efforts to
honor the Heart of Jesus we have this prayer as a model for our own: Hail!
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite
treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my
refuge and my sanctuary, Oh my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that
burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those
graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that
our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy
divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my
actions. Amen. Saint Gertrude
FOR
THE CHURCH
O
most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy
holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just
grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our
relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in
purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.
A
PRAYER OF TRUST
O
God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the
unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in
all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
ACT
OF LOVE
Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It forever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine; pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrongdoing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen. Cardinal Merry del Val
MEMORARE
TO THE SACRED HEART Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had
recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought it mercy was ever
abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present
ourselves before Thee, crushes beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O
Sacred Heart of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our
requests.
Prayer
Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and
Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
JUNE TIMETABLE
June
Travel?[3]
·
Machu
Picchu Explore the incredible Inca ruins
of Peru’s Machu Picchu, often called “Lost city of the Incas.” Take an
adventurous climb to see the Temple of Condor and Sun Gate -- the end point for
the Inca Trail. Visit in June to take advantage of the dry season and to avoid
the heavy crowds in July and August.
· 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.
·
Chicago
Blues Festival-June 5--Chicago is the place to visit in June,
especially if you’re a fan of the blues. The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues music
festival in the world. Over three days, more than 500,000 people converge on
Grant Park to hear well-renown performers perform on the festival’s five
stages.
·
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival—June
12-15--From indie rock to reggae, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in
Manchester, Tennessee, draws thousands of fans every year. Previous notable
acts include Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, The Beach Boys
and The White Stripes. During this four-day music festival, bands, rappers,
musicians and singers perform from around noon until 4 a.m. or later at Great
Stage Park, which is located on a 700-acre farm.
·
Father's Day June 16 Don’t
forget about Dad this month. Spend some extra time with your father figure by
planning a trip to go fly fishing, rock climbing or skydiving. For a getaway
minus the adrenaline-pumping thrills, we have a few Father’s Day travel ideas like a brewery tour in
Portland, Oregon, or game of golf in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
o Arizona
Iceman’s Calendar
·
Sun. June 1st Ascension
Sunday
o
Shavuot begins at sundown
·
Wed. June 4th MASS First
Wednesday
·
Fri. June 6th MASS First Friday
o D-Day,
1944
·
Sat. June 7th
First Saturday
·
Sun. June 8th Pentecost
·
Mon. June 9th Whit Monday
·
Wed. June 11th Ember Wednesday
o
Full Strawberry Moon
o
St. Barnabas
·
Fri. June 13th Ember Friday
·
Sat. June 14th Ember
Saturday
o
200th US Army Birthday
o
Flag Day
o St.
Basal
·
Sun. June 15th Trinity
o Father’s Day
·
Wed. June 19th Juneteenth
National Independence Day
·
Thu. June 20th Summer Solstice
·
Friday 21st Ember Friday
·
Sun. June 22nd Corpus
Christi
·
Tue. June 24th Feast of
John the Baptist
o
Midsummer Day
·
Fri. June 27th Sacred Heart of
Jesus
·
Sat. June 28th Immaculate
Heart of Mary
·
Sun. June 29th Third
Sunday after Pentecost
·
Mon. June 30th St’s Peter and
Paul
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: Bourbon Milk Punch
O
Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast the
power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and exercise
this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception. Shield us
under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode of thy
heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying us. Come
Most Sovereign Mistress of the Holy Angels and Mistress of the Most Holy
Rosary, thou who from the very beginning hast received from God the power and
the mission to crush the head of Satan. Send forth thy holy legions, we humbly
beseech thee, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil
spirits, counter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them
far from us, harming no one on the way, binding them to the foot of the
Cross to be judged and sentenced by Jesus Christ Thy Son and to be disposed of
by Him as He wills.
St.
Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, come to our aid in this grave battle
against the forces of darkness, repel the attacks of the devil and free the
members of the Auxilium Christianorum, and those for whom the priests of the
Auxilium Christianorum pray, from the strongholds of the enemy.
St.
Michael, summon the entire heavenly court to engage their forces in this fierce
battle against the powers of hell. Come O Prince of Heaven with thy mighty
sword and thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits. O Guardian
Angels, guide and protect us. Amen.
Consider a saltwater pool.
A
saltwater pool is an alternative to a traditional chlorine pool. Although you
don’t add chlorine tablets to a saltwater pool, it does still contain chlorine.
It just has a smaller amount that’s generated through the filter system.
A
saltwater pool contains 10 times less salt than the ocean. There’s around 3,000
ppm
(parts per million) salinity in a saltwater pool. By comparison, there’s 35,000
ppm in the ocean. Some people find this type of pool less harsh on their hair,
eyes, and skin than a chlorinated pool.
Swimming
in a saltwater pool may be better for someone who has asthma or allergies. That’s
especially true when it comes to indoor pools. You might notice a strong
chlorine smell upon entering an indoor pool area. That’s because of the
chloramines, the mix of chlorine and ammonia. In an outdoor pool, the smell
quickly evaporates, whereas it’s contained indoors.
One 2003 study found that young
children who swim regularly in an indoor chlorinated pool were at greater risk
for lung inflammation and developing asthma. But more research is needed to
determine if a saltwater pool is the best alternative.
· 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: Bourbon Milk Punch
O Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast the power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and exercise this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception. Shield us under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode of thy heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying us. Come Most Sovereign Mistress of the Holy Angels and Mistress of the Most Holy Rosary, thou who from the very beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan. Send forth thy holy legions, we humbly beseech thee, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil spirits, counter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them far from us, harming no one on the way, binding them to the foot of the Cross to be judged and sentenced by Jesus Christ Thy Son and to be disposed of by Him as He wills.
St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, come to our aid in this grave battle against the forces of darkness, repel the attacks of the devil and free the members of the Auxilium Christianorum, and those for whom the priests of the Auxilium Christianorum pray, from the strongholds of the enemy.
St. Michael, summon the entire heavenly court to engage their forces in this fierce battle against the powers of hell. Come O Prince of Heaven with thy mighty sword and thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits. O Guardian Angels, guide and protect us. Amen.
Consider a saltwater pool.
A saltwater pool is an alternative to a traditional chlorine pool. Although you don’t add chlorine tablets to a saltwater pool, it does still contain chlorine. It just has a smaller amount that’s generated through the filter system.
A saltwater pool contains 10 times less salt than the ocean. There’s around 3,000 ppm (parts per million) salinity in a saltwater pool. By comparison, there’s 35,000 ppm in the ocean. Some people find this type of pool less harsh on their hair, eyes, and skin than a chlorinated pool.
Swimming in a saltwater pool may be better for someone who has asthma or allergies. That’s especially true when it comes to indoor pools. You might notice a strong chlorine smell upon entering an indoor pool area. That’s because of the chloramines, the mix of chlorine and ammonia. In an outdoor pool, the smell quickly evaporates, whereas it’s contained indoors.
One 2003 study found that young children who swim regularly in an indoor chlorinated pool were at greater risk for lung inflammation and developing asthma. But more research is needed to determine if a saltwater pool is the best alternative.
JUNE 1 Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension
SAINT JUSTIN, MARTYR-Shavuot begins at Sunset
Wisdom, Chapter 10, Verse 16-17
She entered the soul of the Lord’s servant, and withstood FEARSOME kings with signs and wonders; she gave the holy ones the reward of their labors, conducted them by a wondrous road, became a shelter for them by day a starry flame by night.
Wisdom preserves her followers. This Chapter focuses on how Wisdom has guided and protected righteous individuals throughout history. It recounts how Wisdom preserved Adam, helped Noah during the flood, and guided Abraham, Lot, and Jacob. The chapter emphasizes that Wisdom delivers those who follow her from tribulations, deceit, and fearsome rulers. Interestingly, verse 12 mentions that Wisdom gives strength in conflict, allowing the righteous to overcome and recognize that Wisdom is mightier than all. In this way, fear is not the central theme, but rather how Wisdom protects and empowers those who trust in her.[4]
ON KEEPING
THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[5]
CHAPTER III
DIES ECCLESIAE
The Eucharistic Assembly:
Heart of Sunday
The table of the word
39. As in every Eucharistic
celebration, the Risen Lord is encountered in the Sunday assembly at the
twofold table of the word and of the Bread of Life. The table of the word
offers the same understanding of the history of salvation and especially of the
Paschal Mystery which the Risen Jesus himself gave to his disciples: it is
Christ who speaks, present as he is in his word "when Sacred Scripture is
read in the Church". At the table of the Bread of Life, the Risen Lord
becomes really, substantially and enduringly present through the memorial of
his Passion and Resurrection, and the Bread of Life is offered as a pledge of
future glory. The Second Vatican Council recalled that "the Liturgy of the
Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are so closely joined together that they
form a single act of worship". The Council also urged that "the table
of the word of God be more lavishly prepared for the faithful, opening to them
more abundantly the treasures of the Bible". It then decreed that, in
Masses of Sunday and holy days of obligation, the homily should not be omitted
except for serious reasons. These timely decrees were faithfully embodied in
the liturgical reform, about which Paul VI wrote, commenting upon the richer
offering of biblical readings on Sunday and holy days: "All this has been
decreed so as to foster more and more in the faithful 'that hunger for hearing
the word of the Lord' (Am 8:11) which, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, spurs the People of the New Covenant on towards the perfect unity of
the Church".
>>>Today
is Day 4 of the Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit.<<<
The Sunday within the Octave of the
Ascension[6]
This Sunday is a joyous preparation
for Pentecost. Because this Sunday eagerly awaits the coming of the Holy Spirit
(see the Mass proper’s), it is not surprising that there was once a special
papal ceremony to foreshadow the Pentecost event. On this day the Pope would celebrate
Mass in the church of Santa Maria Rotonda, the former Pantheon in Rome with its
large opening in the ceiling. After his sermon, roses were thrown from the
opening as a symbol of the Paraclete's imminent arrival. From this custom comes
the original name of the Sunday: Dominica de Rosa.
Sunday
within the Octave of Ascension[7]
"When. . .the Spirit of truth. .
.has come, He will bear witness concerning Me. And you also bear witness. .
.The hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering
worship to God" (Gospel).
The Apostles make the first Novena,
recommended by Christ Himself, in preparation for the coming of the Holy
Spirit. The Introit presents their Novena prayer, and ours, too.
In the background St. Stephen is shown
being stoned to death. The cross upside down, indicates how St. Peter was
crucified. We are to "bear witness" to Christ and His Church against
a world that will condemn us to death. thinking that they are
"offering worship to God" (Gospel).
A witness! Yes, interiorly, to
"be watchful in prayers;" exteriorly, by "mutual charity among
yourselves" (Epistle). For this we now offer "this. .
.sacrifice" (Secret), to "purify us' from past disloyalties and to "strengthen"
us for future testimony.
Excerpted
from My Sunday Missal, Confraternity of the Precious Blood
Goffine’s Devout
Instructions, 1896.
At the Introit of the Mass, the Church sings: " Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to Thee, alleluia. My heart hath said to Thee, I have sought Thy face; Thy face, Lord, will I seek; turn not away Thy face from me, alleluia, alleluia. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall, I fear?"
When they set a bad example to their children. When they do not correct them for doing wrong, or neglect to keep them from what is bad and to teach them that which is good.
How do employers give scandal?
In much the same way that parents give scandal to their children: when, by bad example or by command, they keep their servants or other employees from divine service, or neglect to make them attend it. When they themselves use, or give to others, flesh-meat on days of abstinence. When they order the commission of sin.
Parting
Words of Christ[8]
A custom has survived in some parts
of this country of opening the New Testament at random on this day, considering
that in the page chosen there may be, as it were, some final message from Jesus
as he makes his way back into heaven. Each one in turn opens the New Testament
and reads the whole chapter he has lighted on, while the rest of the family or
group help him to make that chapter practical for himself.
Meditation:
I Go to the Father
St. Justin, Apologist and Martyr[9]
(c. 100-165), who was one of the most important Christian writers of the
second century. Justin himself tells how his study of all the schools of
philosophy led him to Christianity, and how he dedicated his life to the
defense of the Christian faith as "the one certain and profitable
philosophy."
St. Justin is particularly celebrated
for the two Apologies which he was courageous enough to address in
succession to the persecuting emperors Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius. One of
them contains a description of the rites of baptism and the ceremonies of Mass,
thus constituting the most valuable evidence that we possess on the Roman
liturgy of his day. He was beheaded in Rome in 165. Justin is also referred to
as "the Philosopher."
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Day 349 2732-2737
PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION ONE-PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
CHAPTER THREE-THE LIFE OF PRAYER
Article 2-THE BATTLE OF PRAYER
Facing temptations in prayer
2732 The most
common yet most hidden temptation is our lack of faith. It expresses itself
less by declared incredulity than by our actual preferences. When we begin to
pray, a thousand labors or cares thought to be urgent vie for priority; once
again, it is the moment of truth for the heart: what is its real love?
Sometimes we turn to the Lord as a last resort, but do we really believe he is?
Sometimes we enlist the Lord as an ally, but our heart remains presumptuous. In
each case, our lack of faith reveals that we do not yet share in the
disposition of a humble heart:
"Apart from me, you can do nothing."
2733 Another
temptation, to which presumption opens the gate, is acedia. The spiritual
writers understand by this a form of depression due to lax ascetical practice,
decreasing vigilance, carelessness of heart. "The spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak." The greater the height, the harder
the fall. Painful as discouragement is, it is the reverse of presumption. The
humble are not surprised by their distress; it leads them to trust more, to
hold fast in constancy.
III. Filial Trust
2734 Filial
trust is tested - it proves itself - in tribulation. The principal
difficulty concerns the prayer of petition, for oneself or for others in
intercession. Some even stop praying because they think their petition is not
heard. Here two questions should be asked: Why do we think our petition has not
been heard? How is our prayer heard, how is it "efficacious"?
Why do we complain of not being heard?
2735 In the
first place, we ought to be astonished by this fact: when we praise God or give
him thanks for his benefits in general, we are not particularly concerned
whether or not our prayer is acceptable to him. On the other hand, we demand to
see the results of our petitions. What is the image of God that motivates our
prayer: an instrument to be used? or the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?
2736 Are we
convinced that "we do not know how to pray as we ought"? Are we
asking God for "what is good for us"? Our Father knows what we need
before we ask him, but he awaits our petition because the dignity of his
children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom,
to be able truly to know what he wants.
2737 "You
ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your
passions." If we ask with a divided heart, we are
"adulterers"; God cannot answer us, for he desires our
well-being, our life. "Or do you suppose that it is in vain that the
scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell
in us?'" That our God is "jealous" for us is the sign of
how true his love is. If we enter into the desire of his Spirit, we shall be
heard.
Do not be
troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he
desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer.
God wills
that our desire should be exercised in prayer, that we may be able to receive
what he is prepared to give.
Apostolic Exhortation[10]
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.
61. From the very beginning,
the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, passed down to us in the Didache – one of
the oldest writings outside the New Testament – describes this ancient practice
in which the priest, just before distributing Holy Communion says: “Whoever is
holy, let him approach, whoever is not, let him do penance” (Didache 10). The
Church has always stressed this perennial doctrine and discipline: before one
receives Jesus Christ in Holy Communion one must be in communion of life,
restored often by God’s mercy in the Sacrament of Penance. Otherwise, instead
of receiving all the graces from Holy Communion, we are partaking of our own
condemnation. Saint Paul declared, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of
the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.” In
other words, whoever unworthily receives the Eucharist will have to answer for
the Lord’s death. The Apostle further warned, “A person should examine himself,
and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without
discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Cor 11:27-29).
62. Thomas Aquinas painfully
but clearly echoed Saint Paul’s warning in the hymn Lauda Sion Salvatorem
reminding us that the “Bread of Life” becomes the bread of death for those who
consume Jesus in the state of grave sin. “The good partake, the bad partake:
with, however, an unequal share of life and death. It is death to the bad, life
to the good: behold how unlike is the result of like partaking.” When one
receives Holy Communion unworthily, the Sacrament becomes a sacrilege; the
spiritual medicine becomes for that person — it is frightful to say — a form of
spiritual poison. When we do not really believe in Jesus, when we do not really
seek to conform our entire life to Him and receive Jesus even though we know
that we have sinned against Him, then this just leads to a greater sin and
betrayal.
63. In speaking of the
Sacrament of Penance, I wish to gratefully acknowledge the dedication of our
priests who generously offer their time to ensure that the faithful can always
have the opportunity for confession. In the exercise of their ministry, they are
also contributing to helping the faithful prepare worthily for Holy Communion.
Pray for your priests who have faithfully made themselves available for this
very purpose! Pray also that God may bless us with more vocations to the
priesthood!
To be continued…
Shavuot – The Holiday that
Nurtures Our Souls[11]begins at sunset
Shavuot is one of the three major Jewish festivals and comes exactly fifty days after Passover. After being redeemed from Egyptian slavery, the Jews arrived on Mount Sinai and received the Torah from God. This wonderful event took place 3,319 years ago. The word Shavuot means “weeks.” It marks the completion of the seven weeks, 49 days, between Passover and Shavuot during which the Jewish people prepared themselves for the giving of the Torah. During this time period they prepared themselves spiritually and entered into an eternal covenant with God with the giving of the Torah. Shavuot also means “oaths.” With the giving of the Torah, the Jewish people and God exchanged oaths, forming an everlasting covenant, not to forsake one another. Every year on this day we celebrate and renew our acceptance of God’s gift and our eternal bond with Him. There are several interesting customs associated with this holiday. We stay up all night learning Torah, read the Ten Commandments and the book of Ruth, and eat milk products, especially cheesecake. The custom of learning is especially fitting for the holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah. The custom of dairy products seems surprising. Among the different explanations given for this custom, one points out that the Hebrew word for milk is chalav. When the numerical value of the letters in this word are added together – 8; 30; 2 – the total is forty. Forty hints to the number of days Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah. I would like to present another, perhaps more personal and spiritual reason for this custom. Unlike meat that nourishes the flesh, milk is full of calcium which nourishes the bones. The Hebrew for bones is “Atzmot תמוצע ” which is also the word that means “essence.” This custom hints to the fact that on this holiday we absorb the Torah which nourishes our essence. Additionally, milk is the most basic of foods that a nursing mother shares with her infant. The mother literally gives of her essence and nurtures the essence of the baby. This relationship parallels the personal bond and love that a mother shares with her child. On Shavuot we celebrate the personal relationship that we have with God, when He gives over His essence, the Torah, and we absorb it into the essence of our soul.
Shavuot Facts[12]
·
On Shavuot, it is customary to adorn the
Synagogue and home with flowers and green plants. This is in memory of
the foliage around Mount Sinai
·
On Shavuot, it is customary to eat milk
products. Many Jewish houses, replace the normal meat/chicken dinners
with a festivity of milk products, including cheesecake, blintzes, cheeses and
ice cream. This custom commemorates the acts of the children of Israel at
Sinai. Having received the Law, they understood that their dishes were no
longer Kosher, having been used for milk and meat together. They also
were in need of teaching on the intricate details of ritual slaughter (Shechitah).
Lacking these, they opted to eat only milk products.
·
It is customary in Orthodox and some traditional
communities to partake in Bible/Jewish Law lessons throughout the eve and night
of Shavuot. This is in order to accept the Torah for their generation.
In Jerusalem, many people learn the whole night through until dawn and
then walk to the Western Wall at sunrise and pray the morning and festival
prayer from around 5-8 am. Thereafter, they go home for a hearty festive
breakfast and then sleep the rest of the morning.
·
The Book of Ruth is read in the Synagogue in the
Morning of Shavuot. Ruth converted to Judaism and it is her descendant,
David, who became King in Israel. The book of Ruth demonstrates that
achieving a high level in Judaism, is neither ethnic nor genetic.
·
It is customary to wear new clothes on Shavuot.
In the seven weeks (the Omer) preceding Shavuot, people refrain from
purchasing major clothing items.
Shavuot Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit Mount Sinai (Egypt) or Israel.
·
Read the Book of Exodus, Joshua or Ruth in the
Bible.
·
Watch the epic film Moses with Burt
Lancaster, available for viewing on Youtube
·
Eat Milk products.
Claire’s Corner
·
Bucket List Trip:
Around the World “Perfect Weather” Lisbon
·
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:
·
Foodie-World Milk Day
On Sundays Pray:
O
Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast the
power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and exercise
this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception. Shield us
under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode of thy
heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying us. Come
Most Sovereign Mistress of the Holy Angels and Mistress of the Most Holy
Rosary, thou who from the very beginning hast received from God the power and
the mission to crush the head of Satan. Send forth thy holy legions, we humbly
beseech thee, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil
spirits, counter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them
far from us, harming no one on the way, binding them to the foot of the
Cross to be judged and sentenced by Jesus Christ Thy Son and to be disposed of
by Him as He wills.
St.
Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, come to our aid in this grave battle
against the forces of darkness, repel the attacks of the devil and free the
members of the Auxilium Christianorum, and those for whom the priests of the
Auxilium Christianorum pray, from the strongholds of the enemy.
St.
Michael, summon the entire heavenly court to engage their forces in this fierce
battle against the powers of hell. Come O Prince of Heaven with thy mighty
sword and thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits. O Guardian
Angels, guide and protect us. Amen.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: 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
·
Rosary
[3]https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/summer/photos/things-to-do-in-june
[8]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=496
[11]http://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/judaism-spirituality/holidays-and-life-cycle-events/shavuot2004/
[12]http://www.wincalendar.com/Shavuot
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