Dara’s Corner
· Get a house and make it a home.
o National Homeownership Month lights up every June, celebrating the joys and benefits of owning a home.
o It’s a special time when people across the United States reflect on homeownership’s significant role in fostering community ties and building personal wealth.
o This month reminds us of the dream of owning a home, an aspiration that connects deeply with the pursuit of happiness and stability in American life.
o The observance is important because it emphasizes how owning a home is more than just having a place to live. Homeownership encourages long-term financial growth, community involvement, and a stable environment for raising families. FHA loans.
· If you can’t buy a home how about a Castle.
o Buying a cheap castle is possible, but it often comes with hidden costs like restoration and maintenance. Here are some ways to find one:
- Check specialized websites – Sites like Castleist list affordable castles worldwide, including options in Italy, Ireland, and France.
- Look for renovation projects – Some castles, like Scotland’s Kinloch Castle, are available for as little as $1, but they require significant investment to restore.
- Consider location – Castles in Eastern Europe or rural areas tend to be more affordable than those in Western Europe.
- Network with local agents – Some historic properties aren’t widely advertised, so working with a local real estate agent can help uncover hidden gems.
- Be prepared for upkeep costs – Even a cheap castle can have high maintenance costs, including heating, repairs, and legal fees.
- Fairness is giving animals their due too this is “Responsible Animal Guardian Month”.
- Bucket List Trip: Caribbean American Heritage Month: Barbados
- Spirit Hour: Cognac of course or Mount Gay Rum
- Foodie-something with cheese please
JUNE 4 First Wednesday
Wisdom, Chapter 18, Verse 17-18
Then, at once, visions in horrible
dreams perturbed them and unexpected FEARS assailed them; and cast
half-dead, one here, another there, they revealed why they were dying.
Chapter
18 of the Book of Wisdom reflects on the contrast between the fate of the
Egyptians and the Israelites during the Exodus. It highlights how the
Egyptians, who oppressed God's people, were struck by darkness and death, while
the Israelites were protected by divine light and salvation. The chapter
emphasizes God's justice and mercy, showing that those who trust in Him are
spared from destruction.
From
a Catholic perspective, dealing with fear involves placing trust in God,
recognizing His providence, and seeking His guidance through prayer and faith.
The Church teaches that fear can be overcome by relying on God's love and
promises, as seen in passages like Isaiah 41:10 ("Do not fear, for
I am with you") and Philippians 4:6-7 ("Do not be anxious
about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God"). The sacraments, especially
the Eucharist and Confession, provide spiritual strength and reassurance.
First
Wednesday
Meditate
on the humility of Saint Joseph this day; ask for his assistance and special
protection.
Saint
Joseph[1]
ST.
JOSEPH was descended from the kingly line of David and was a kinsman of the
Blessed Virgin Mary (Matt. i. 1-16). The Gospel gives him the praise of being
just (Matt. i. 19), that is, a man distinguished for all virtues. And surely,
as he was chosen from all other men by God to be the foster-father of His Son,
he undoubtedly excelled, in virtues and sanctity, all saints then living. Of
his youth nothing certain is known to us, and of his later life we know only
what the Gospel relates. He was a carpenter (Matt. xiii. 55), and lived at
Nazareth, in Galilee (Luke ii. 4). Being espoused to Mary, he was inclined,
upon learning that she was with child, to put her away privately, not wishing
to expose her to public reproach but being instructed by an angel, he took her
to himself, in obedience to the command of God, went with her to Bethlehem, and
afterwards, with Mary and the new-born child, fled, without timidity, to Egypt
(Matt. ii. 13). At the command of the angel, he returned thence, and again
dwelt in Nazareth (Matt. ii. 23). From this place they went every year to the
feast at Jerusalem, where it happened that Jesus, then twelve years old,
remained behind them in the temple, and was anxiously sought for by them. More
than this is not told us. At the time of the marriage at Cana it would seem
that he was no longer living, since there is no mention made of him. Though
little is said of him, that little is rich in profitable instruction. How
worthy to be admired and imitated is his example his chastity, his tenderness
towards Mary, his forbearing to pronounce a judgment in regard to her condition
when he could not explain it, his quick and unreserved obedience towards God
and the commands of authority, his love for Jesus, and his care for both the
mother and the child. On account of his sanctity God has specially
distinguished him by miracles, and the Church honors him in a particular
manner. In the Litany of the Saints, he is named among the patriarchs, and the
feast of his patronage is celebrated on the third Sunday after Easter.
Venerate, therefore, St. Joseph choose him for your protector in life and in
death, and make yourself worthy of his protection by following his example.
Instruction
To
encourage us to veneration for St. Joseph St. Teresa wrote “I do not remember
to have asked St. Joseph for anything which he did not grant me. The great
favors which God has granted me through him, and the many dangers of soul and
body from which he has freed me, truly deserve admiration. It seems that God
has granted to other saints the grace of assisting, in particular needs, those
who invoke their intercession, but this glorious saint assists in all needs.
The Lord seems thereby to indicate that, as He was subject to Joseph on earth,
so now He grants him whatever he asks for. The same thing has been experienced
by persons whom I have advised to recommend themselves to him.” “I would gladly
advise everyone,” says St. Alphonsus, to have a great devotion towards this
saint, since I have experienced what graces, he can obtain from God. For
several years I have asked him, on his feast, for some particular grace, and
every time my petition has been granted. As we all have to die, we should have
a particular devotion towards St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy
death for all Catholic Christians consider him to be an intercessor for the
dying, and that he assists, at the hour of death, those who venerate him; and
this for three reasons
1.
Because Jesus loves him, not only as a friend, but as a father, on which
account his intercession is more powerful than that of any other saint.
2.
Because St. Joseph obtained special power against the evil spirits who tempt us
at the hour of death.
3.
The assistance which Jesus and Mary gave to Joseph at the hour of his own death
procured for him the right to obtain a holy and easy death for his dependents.
If in their dying hour they invoke his aid, not only will he assist them, but
he will obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary. “Ought not these
words of a great saint encourage you to venerate St. Joseph every day? Should
not the hope of dying one day under the protection of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
move you to devotion to the foster-father of Jesus?”
Prayer
to St. Joseph.
O
most chaste Joseph, who, by thy purity and other exalted virtues, wast worthy
to be chosen for the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, I beseech
thee, by the great graces of which thou wast made partaker, that thou wouldst,
by thy intercession, obtain for all parents grace to rear their children
piously; for all married persons who are distressed and afflicted through
poverty and tribulations consolation and encouragement; for all unmarried
persons who have devoted their chastity to God the grace of perseverance; and,
finally, for all the dying the grace to come, after a happy death, to thy
fosterchild, Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and
reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
St.
Joseph Devotion[2]
In 1994,
while a student in Manaus, Brazil, 22-year-old Edson Glauber received an
apparition of the Blessed Mother with Jesus and St. Joseph. The apparitions continued when he returned to his hometown of Itapiranga
which is about 650 miles southwest of Sao Paulo and about 880 miles from Rio de
Janeiro. Another 770-plus miles southwest happens to be the site of other
approved apparitions in San
Nicolas, Argentina. Edson’s mother Maria
do Carmo would also receive some apparitions. Bishop Gritti, who died this past
June, met with them several times. He celebrated Mass publicly at the site of the apparitions and helped
to build the
sanctuary there. Mary
appeared under the title of “Queen of the Rosary and of Peace.” Much like
Fatima, her messages stressed the need for conversion, praying the Rosary,
Mass, Confession and Holy Communion and penance to save the world mired in
unbelief and sin. She and Jesus urged devotion to St. Joseph’s Most Chaste
Heart.
Revelations
and Promises
St. Joseph’s major revelations began Mar. 1, 1998. He spoke about devotion to his chaste heart and
made the first of several promises. He began, “My dear son, Our Lord God has
sent me to tell you about all the graces the faithful will receive from my Most
Chaste Heart which Jesus and my blessed spouse wish to be honored…Through
devotion to my Chaste Heart many souls will be saved from the hands of the
Devil. God our Lord has allowed for me to reveal to you the promises of my
Heart.
“Just as
I am fair and righteous in the sight of God, all who have devotion to my Heart
will also be chaste, righteous and holy in His sight. I will fill you with
these graces and virtues, making you grow every day on the road of holiness.”
Next day,
St. Joseph came with the Child Jesus who reclined on his heart. Joseph revealed
that God wanted to give countless graces through devotion to his heart. “My son
and Lord Jesus, that I brought up here on earth, with a father's love, desires
that all men practice devotion to my Heart, for all those in need of graces
from heaven.”
In prior
apparitions, the Virgin Mary and Jesus affirmed to Edson that Joseph has been
given great power and glory and, in these times, God wants people and the world
consecrated to the Heart of St. Joseph.
Then came
a second promise.
“I
promise to all that honor this Most Chaste Heart of mine and who do here on
earth good deeds in favor of the most needy, especially of the sick and dying
for whom I am a consoler and protector, to receive in their last moment of
their lives the grace of a good death. I myself will be to these souls their
petitioner to my Son Jesus and, together with my spouse, Most Holy Mary, we
will console them in their last hours here on earth, with our holy presence and
they will rest in the peace of our hearts.
“Just as
you saw my Son Jesus repose His head on my heart, this way myself and my spouse
Holy Mary will take these souls to the glory of paradise, in the presence of
their Savior, my Son Jesus Christ, so that they may repose, and incline
themselves to His Sacred Heart…”
Dire
Warnings
St.
Joseph did not shy away from the state of humanity’s hearts. He explained “how
sin spreads in a such a strong way! Men let themselves be led by the most
insidious wiles of the Devil. The enemy of salvation wants to destroy all men
so that, this way, all will be lost. He is envious and hates the entire human
race. So many go through trials and temptations that the enemy of God throws at
every moment, this way trying to destroy men’s mortal souls that were created
by God.”
St.
Joseph revealed a prime attack against us, something which has increased since
1998.
“The
means that he most utilizes are the sins against holy purity, because purity is
one of the virtues most beloved by God, and in this way, Satan desires to
destroy the image of God present in each creature through this virtue. And it
is because of this, that God asks all humanity to have devotion to my Chaste
Heart. He wants to give men the grace to overcome the temptations and attacks
of the Devil in their day-to-day lives.”
St.
Joseph can protect us in these attacks. His litany calls him ‘most chaste” and
“terror of demons.” St. Joseph made this promise. “The invocation of my name is
enough to make demons flee! I promise to all the faithful that honor my most
Chaste Heart with faith and love, the grace to live with holy purity of soul
and body and the strength to resist all attacks and temptations by the Devil. I
myself will preciously protect you.”
He said
the grace would also be for their family members in need of divine help.
Hope
for Sinners
St.
Joseph desires all sinners to be converted and saved. “Many are those who are
distant from God because of their grave sins. Many of those, my children, are
in that state because they let themselves fall to the wiles of the Devil. The
enemy of salvation makes them think there is no solution, nor return, because
they have despaired and have not trusted in divine mercy. These will be easy
targets for the Devil.”
But he
says to “all sinners, even those who have committed the most terrible sins, to
trust in the love and in the forgiveness of God and to trust in me also, in my
intercession. All those who trustingly have recourse to me will have the
certainty of my help to recover the divine grace and mercy of God.”
Not
wanting sinners to despair, he promised those who trust in his most pure Heart
and devotedly honor it, “the grace to be consoled by me in their greatest
afflictions of the soul and in the danger of judgment, when by misfortune lose
divine grace because of their grave sins. To these sinners, who have recourse
to me, I promise the graces of my Heart for the purpose of amendment, of
repentance and of sincere contrition of their sins. Now, I say to all sinners:
Do not be afraid of the Devil and do not despair because of your crimes, but
come throw yourselves in my arms and take refuge in my Heart so that you may
receive all the graces for your eternal salvation.”
Help
with Today’s Problems
St.
Joseph focused on life’s difficulties and offered consolation. “My Son Jesus,
through my Heart, wishes to impart to all men his divine blessings. I know many
of you suffer many great difficulties because, in these last times, men no
longer love or help one another but live with their hearts full of pride,
falsehood, lies, intrigue, ambition, backbiting, pettiness, and many wrong
things that are the consequences of living far from God.”
St.
Joseph said to all who honor his Heart and trust in him and his intercession,
“I promise they will not be abandoned in their difficulties and in the trials
of life. I will ask Our Lord to help them with his Divine Providence in their
material and spiritual problems.”
To
mothers and fathers consecrating themselves and their families to his Heart,
St. Joseph assured help in afflictions and problems, and assistance with
raising up their children.
Sin: Consequences & His
Protection
The
spouse of Mary did not ignore the current world situation which in 1998 was
still 18 years from the multitude of today’s multiplying spiritual chaos.
He
emphasized, “[M]y Son Jesus is very indignant with the sins of humanity.
“He
desires to pour his divine justice upon all men that do not want to repent and
continue obstinately in their sins. Look, my son, I hold his right hand,
preventing Him from pouring out his justice upon all humanity. I ask Him,
through the graces of my Heart and for being worthy to live by his side, taking
care of him with the love of a father in this world, and for Him having loved
me with the love of a son, to not chastise the world for its crimes, but for
all my little ones who honor and will honor this Chaste Heart of mine, should
pour out his mercy upon the world.”
The
world’s many sins call humanity to repent and do penance, he said, “because God
receives continued offenses from ungrateful men. Today there are so many
outrages, the sacrilege and indifference by all men. It is because of this that
so many calamities like war, hunger and disease occur and so many other sad
things man has suffered because of man’s rebellion against God.”
St.
Joseph made clear rebellion’s consequences. “God lets men follow their own
paths to show them all, without him, they will never be happy. He lets men go
through so much suffering, to also show them the consequences sin brings to
their lives and so then the divine justice punishes humanity because of their
obstinance in not being obedient to God's Will.
He
pointed out humanity is “increasingly obstinate in their crimes” because of
concern for worldly pleasures “rather than the love of God and his
Commandments. But God's justice is close at hand in a way never seen before and
will come about suddenly upon the whole world.”
That
should shake us, yet this most powerful saint extends a hope-filled solution.
All those who honor his Chaste Heart “will receive the grace of my protection
from all evils and dangers. For those who surrender to me will not be
slaughtered by misfortunes, by wars, hunger, by diseases and other calamities,
they will have my Heart as a refuge for their protection. Here, in my Heart,
all will be protected against the divine justice in the days that will come.
All who consecrate themselves to my Heart, honoring it, they will be looked
upon by my Son Jesus with eyes of mercy, Jesus will pour out his love and will take
to the glory of his Kingdom all those I put in my Heart.”
First Wednesdays — Request &
Promise
When St.
Joseph appeared on the first Wednesday of March 1998, he had a special request.
With the First Friday and First Saturday devotions, he was giving us a
companion devotion. He said,
“On every
first Wednesday of the month, my Chaste Heart pours numerous graces on all who
rely on my intercession. On these Wednesdays, men will not receive a shower of
simple graces, but very strong torrents of extraordinary graces! I will share
them with those who honor me and rely on me, all the blessings, all the
virtues, and all the love I received from my Divine Son Jesus and my spouse the
Blessed Virgin Mary while still living in this world and all the graces that I
continue to receive in the glory of paradise.”
The
request came with his great “promise to intercede before him for those who come
to me, honoring this Heart of mine. I will give them the graces to be able to
resolve the most difficult problems and urgent necessities, that to the eyes of
man seem impossible, but that, through my intercession to God, will be
possible. I grant the graces of my Heart to all sinners so they may convert.”
(St.
Joseph had made this same request during Our Lady of America’s apparitions in
March 1958, asking us to recite the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary in memory of
his life with Jesus and Mary and the love he bore them and sorrow he suffered
with them, plus receive Holy Communion with the love which he received the
Savior and each time he held Jesus in his arms.)
Confirmed by Wife Mary
At the
end of her husband’s appearances, the Blessed Virgin Mary made a promise
herself. “All who honor the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph will benefit with
my maternal presence in their lives in a special way.”
“To those
who ask of his Heart with trust, I promise to intercede before the Eternal
Father, my Divine Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I will obtain for them, from
God, the grace to reach perfect sanctity in the virtues of St. Joseph, this way
reaching the perfect love in which he lived. Men will learn to love my Son
Jesus and myself with the same love as my Most Chaste Spouse Joseph, receiving
the most pure love from our Hearts.
“My Son
Jesus, my Chaste Spouse Joseph and I are at your side. Fear nothing, because
our hearts will protect you always.”
Reward
for Spreading Devotion to St. Joseph
There is
yet something else St. Joseph said that’s we shouldn’t disregard.
“[A]ll
those who propagate the devotion to my Heart, and practice it with love, have
the certainty of having their names engraved on it just as my Son Jesus' cross
and the "M" of Mary are engraved on it…”
After
all, “That all may spread devotion to my Heart, it is God Himself who asks it.”
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 III
Loving and Adoring the
Eucharistic Lord
I. Make every Sunday the “Day of
the Lord.”
73. Brothers and sisters in
Christ, examine your experience of Sunday.
Have you allowed Sunday to be like
the other days of the week? Is the whole day set aside for your rejuvenation in
God, or have you reduced the holiness of the day to an hour or two?
Some persons are
indeed required to work on Sunday, which of course is permitted. But for so
many of us, Sunday could be more effectively “kept holy” with even minimal
preparation and foresight.
74. The Saints always love
Sunday and keep it holy. As a young girl, Saint Maria Goretti walked fifteen
miles back and forth to Sunday Mass. Saint Lawrence of Brindisi once walked
forty miles for Mass. In parts of Africa today, for example, some of our Catholic
brothers and sisters walk for long hours to attend Mass. Families, individuals,
and small communities who attempt to be good stewards of the Lord’s Day quickly
discover a treasure which changes their whole experience of the week. Sunday is
no longer just another day. It becomes the day of the Eucharist. It is the day
of encountering the joy of the Risen Lord, who strengthens, nourishes, and
sends them, together, on mission the rest of the week.
75. Think of the Sunday
Eucharist as the sun which emits rays of warmth and light.
If no rays shined forth, what good
would the sun be for life on the earth?
Similarly, if no
good effects from Mass are perceptible on Sunday, our eyes become blind to the
goodness and power of the Eucharist. I invite you: be bold in allowing rays of
freedom, joy, and life to burst forth from Mass into the rest of your Sunday!
How might the Lord desire that you
allow these rays to shine forth precisely on Sunday?
Here are some simple
ideas for you to consider:
·
Choose a set time when you will go to Mass on Sunday
and stick to it.
·
Find ways to make the experience of Sunday Mass
truly joyful and festive, e.g., wear your best clothes, have a wonderful meal
with loved ones afterward, have great music playing at home throughout day,
telephone loved ones, enjoy a clean and renewed home – which means finishing
domestic duties and chores on Saturday, spend time enjoying the Bible, savor
something truly beautiful in nature or art, and perform simple works of
charity.
·
Try to live the Lord’s Day from sunset on
Saturday through Sunday evening.
·
Turn off your phone for extended periods of
Sunday, if not the whole day.
·
If outside obligations threaten your Sunday,
consider talking with your boss, family, or friends to find ways to move those
commitments elsewhere.
To be continued…
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day 352 2752-2758
PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION ONE-PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
CHAPTER THREE-THE LIFE OF PRAYER
Article 3-THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS
IN BRIEF
2752 Prayer presupposes an effort, a fight against
ourselves and the wiles of the Tempter. the battle of prayer is inseparable
from the necessary "spiritual battle" to act habitually according to
the Spirit of Christ: we pray as we live, because we live as we pray.
2753 In the battle of prayer we must confront erroneous
conceptions of prayer, various currents of thought, and our own experience of
failure. We must respond with humility, trust, and perseverance to these
temptations which cast doubt on the usefulness or even the possibility of
prayer.
2754 The principal difficulties in the practice of prayer
are distraction and dryness. the remedy lies in faith, conversion, and
vigilance of heart.
2755 Two frequent temptations threaten prayer: lack of
faith and acedia - a form of depression stemming from lax ascetical practice
that leads to discouragement.
2756 Filial trust is put to the test when we feel that our
prayer is not always heard. the Gospel invites us to ask ourselves about the
conformity of our prayer to the desire of the Spirit.
2757 "Pray constantly" (1 Thess 5:17). It is
always possible to pray. It is even a vital necessity. Prayer and Christian
life are inseparable.
2758 The prayer of the hour of Jesus, rightly called the
"priestly prayer" (cf Jn 17), sums up the whole economy of creation
and salvation. It fulfills the great petitions of the Our Father.
Cognac
Day[4]
There are many forms of
distilled alcohol that carry a distinct nobility to them, a bit of culture and
of social grandeur that just can’t
be claimed by other alcohols. When you think of beer, the concepts that arrive
in your mind are often cheap bars and backyard BBQ’s, with wine the themes are the
same but generally of a higher social class. Mention Bourbon, Scotch, and
Cognac, however, and suddenly the rich red of mahogany and distinguished
gentlemen in high-class studies and dens come to mind. Cognac Day is dedicated
to one of these rich beverages, and perhaps one of the most distinguished.
History of Cognac Day
To begin with, let’s talk about what Cognac actually
is. Cognac, in a way, is what happens when wine grows up and develops
character, though we may be biased. Cognac begins with a white wine produced in
one of six designated growing regions, and it’s worth noting that if it wasn’t produced from a white wine grown
in those regions, it’s
not considered a real Cognac. The white wine from which it starts is considered
by most connoisseurs to be entirely undrinkable. There’s a further distinction in which a
Cognac must be produced from 90% Ugni Blanc, a form of white wine grape, to
have a specific designation. It all starts with the grapes being pressed and
left to ferment for three weeks in the wild yeasts that grow naturally in those
regions without the addition of sugar or sulfur. This wine is then distilled in
alembic stills and placed into Limousin oak casks for two years where it goes
from being nearly 70% alcohol to 40% alcohol. There are multiple grades of Cognac, and exploring them can be a great
way to spend Cognac Day.
How to celebrate Cognac Day
Ahhh, this is certainly
one of the grandest celebrations. Cognac Day can be celebrated by taking a trip
to your local liquor store and selecting a few varieties to try out. Get
together a few friends and you can have a positively thrilling taste test with
dozens of varieties to choose from. Cognac is far and away an improvement over
the simply fermented grape, distilled and cultivated down to its ultimate final
form. While you’re
sampling this drink, you should look into the various forms of glassware that are
specially designed for serving Cognac. Fill a glass, take a sip, and savor the
luxuriousness that is Cognac, you won’t
regret it!
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting:
·
Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1] Goffine’s Divine Instructions, 1896
[2] https://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/did-you-know-the-church-has-approved-some-apparitions-of-st-joseph/
[4] https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cognac-day/
No comments:
Post a Comment