Sunday, August 31, 2025
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.
· Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather”
o Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar is a longish (and a tad bit bumpy) bus ride but it’s the best way to travel south into Mongolia to the surprisingly populous capital city. Originally a mobile monastic tent community that settled into this spot in 1778, it is now a major hub for trade and culture.
· Spirit Hour: Mullen Tea
· Foodie: Mongolian BBQ
· How to celebrate Aug 31st
· Embrace your adventurous side by visiting a nearby zoo and learning about the importance of wildlife conservation. Channel your inner Ironman by tackling a challenging workout, whether it’s a long run, bike ride, or swim.
· After working up a sweat, indulge in some matchmaking fun by setting up your single friends or spending quality time with your partner. Spice things up by cooking a romantic dinner at home or planning a surprise date night. Maybe with a little ferment horse milk and a Mongolian BBQ. Express your appreciation for franchises by enjoying a meal from your favorite fast-food joint or treating yourself to some merchandise.
· End your day on a high note by dining al fresco in your backyard or at a local park for National Eat Outside Day. Bring along some tasty treats, good company, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Let the fresh air and good food rejuvenate your spirit, leaving you ready for whatever comes your way next.
· 30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 17th ROSE:
o 30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger
§ Mullein (Verbascum thapsiforme)
MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 17 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM-Revealed by Heaven to Luz De María
ANGELICA Scientific name: Angelica archangelica L. Family: Apiaceae Known as: Ghost Spirit Herb or Herb of the Angels (It receives its name due to a belief that it was a gift of Saint Gabriel Archangel to a wise hermit so that he could fight the plague that ravaged Europe during the Middle Ages). Promotes digestion. Improves gastric juices secretion. Eliminates intestinal gases. To treat heavy digestions and the lack of appetite. To treat diseases that attack digestive system.
Serious illnesses are approaching that attack the digestive system; use the plant known as Angelica and use the whole plant properly, pregnant women being cautious. Blessed Virgin Mary, 05.24.2017
On Sundays Pray:
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.
God's blessings are indeed signs of His goodness, signs of His infinite Love. Are we indifferent to those signs of His goodness and love? Are we so unaware of His signs that we are disconnected from Him that we can take it or leave it?
Love
Litigating Lawyers Day
Acts, Chapter 18, verse 9-10
9 One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be AFRAID. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
When we remain silent in the presence of evil, out of fear, this is wrong. Our Lord suffers with every injustice. We must speak out against evil our Lord tells us, “Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.”
One such evil is the murder of the unborn. The good news is we can do something.
"Silence in the face of
evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act" ~
Deitrich Bonhoeffer.
The Virtue of Intolerance[1]
Intolerance
has a bad reputation. And with good reason too. Still, I’m not so sure it should be thrown out with the bathwater quite yet.
As a matter of fact, I’m actually an advocate of having a
good healthy dose of it. Surprised? Keep reading. I think you’ll agree. You see, the problem
with intolerance is not so much the intolerance per se as much as what our intolerance is directed at. It’s the object of intolerance that makes it a moral issue. Change the
object and the morality of your intolerance changes too. There are certainly
things in life we should tolerate like human differences, the incessant
questions from children, clumsy attempts by good-meaning people to offer help,
bad fashion and the like. But there are times when intolerance is an outright
virtue. Read on to see what I mean …
10 Things Worthy of Our Intolerance
1. Be Intolerant of Naysayers
Pursuing our
dreams and reaching our goals are hard enough on their own. Trying to swim
upstream as others throw rocks at us makes it unnecessarily harder. So be wary
of sharing your goals with those who habitually doubt and criticize and put
down. Wet blankets are wet blankets no matter what the relationship. Choose who
you confide in wisely. Those who tolerate pessimism (from themselves or others)
are those who volunteer to climb the mountain of life with one arm tied behind
their back and one leg cut off. Still, don’t confuse
pessimism with wisdom or prudence. Optimism is not intellectual laziness.
Positive thinking does not grant absolution from responsibility or honest
self-evaluation of your assets, abilities and commitment. It doesn’t excuse you from the hard work of preparation. Optimists still buy life insurance. But where pessimism itself is
creating deep caverns of difficulty between you and your dreams, a quiet and
respectful yet sturdy and firm intolerance may be the most appropriate
response.
2. Be Intolerant of Hate
Don’t tolerate racist jokes and comments. Don’t accept hateful barbs thrown at you or others. Never look the other
way or excuse the bully regardless of the bully’s
background. To do otherwise is to enable and empower the hate, to turn your
back on the bullied, give tacit approval to the intolerable behavior and
abandon its object to a miserable fate. Don’t tolerate
your own hate either. Hatred is a cancer that must be removed before it
metastasizes into the bone marrow of your soul. But be careful not to accuse
every disagreement as being motivated by hate. Be tolerant of opposing ideas even if intolerant of the hate that
may motivate some who articulate them.
3. Be Intolerant of Dishonesty
Don’t accept lies. Period. Don’t tell
them. Don’t accept them. Live your life in such
a way as to not feel the need to hide behind them. Don’t allow others (or yourself)
the opportunity to nestle into their own cowardice. That is, after all, what
lying is. It’s an attempt to get around the consequences of our decisions. Or
perhaps it’s a way to avoid the overreaction of someone close or who has
authority over us. Even so, have the courage to let the person overreacting
choose how to deal with an honest life, not a pretended one. Then have the
courage to accept their response.
4. Be Intolerant of Hypocrisy
Do you
expect from others what you don’t expect from yourself? Do you impose a set of
rules on others you won’t accept as an imposition on you? That’s what hypocrisy
is, you know. Hypocrisy is the act of living a lie, pretending to be something
you’re not or requiring others to live by
a set of rules you reject for yourself. If
you tolerate hypocrisy from others, stop it! Demand an equal playing field.
Anything less is a form of servitude. Refuse to be a slave to someone else’s unwillingness to treat you like an equal. But remember that hypocrisy is not the same as inconsistency or
human frailty. We are all inconsistent at living up to all we value. Otherwise,
we would be perfect – or would have no ideals, standards or values we would
have to bother trying to live up to. So be decidedly tolerant of people
inconsistently trying to live up to their values and intolerant of those who
would hide behind their values or impose them on others while ducking the
imposition themselves.
5. Be Intolerant of Excuses
Excuses are
messy things. They squirm and whine and reshape themselves like playdough
pushed into cracks and crevasses. They defuse and deny, weaken and stifle
greatness. Stay away from the numbing poison of excuses. Providing reasons is
not the same as giving excuses, though. Reasons give an accounting, while
excuses justify. Reasons accept responsibility, while excuses seek to pin fault
on someone else’s lapel. Reasons explain, while
excuses try to divert attention and hide motive. So never give in to the
self-defeating urge to give excuses for balls dropped and wrong turns made. And
while you’re at it, don’t accept them from others either. Hold yourself and others
accountable for the decisions you and they make. Be compassionate, forgiving
and patient as we all learn to accept responsibility for our choices, but
intolerant of the excuses we may try to irresponsibly hide behind in the
meantime.
6. Be Intolerant of Gossip
If you are
not intolerant of gossip you will become a steppingstone for it to spread its
social damage. Gossip not shared but tolerated is fueled. Refuse to tolerate it. Stop it dead in its tracks. Ask for
evidence. Make those dishing it out explain themselves. Suggest going to the
person being gossiped about for their side as a concerned friend or neighbor or
associate. Be the person responsible
for killing the words that whisper and sneak behind backs and cowardly hide
behind anonymity. Gossip is a form of cowardice. Cowardice dies in the light.
Shine the light.
7.
Be Intolerant of Timewasters
The respect
you have for yourself and others can be seen in the way you treat your time and
theirs. Don’t get me wrong, socializing and
recreation are not wastes of time. They are essential to renew and befriend and
experience many of life’s little joys. But to spend hours on
end in no particular endeavor, as a pattern of repeated behavior, stealing the
moments otherwise available for more meaningful activities is to fundamentally
misunderstand what life was meant to be … and, most
tragically, what you could have become and accomplished had time been used more
wisely.
8.
Be Intolerant of Ingratitude
Ingratitude
is a particularly ugly form of selfishness. It’s taking
others’ kindness for granted, indifferent to
their thoughtfulness.
Ingratitude
is intolerable because it fails to recognize the humanity of the person who has
done something kind. Even Jesus asked the 10th leper where the other nine were
he had healed when the 10th was the only one to thank him. Help people grow by
gently and lovingly and compassionately reminding them to express gratitude
more freely. You will be helping them lay a foundation for greater and deeper
and more consistent levels of happiness. Still, the most effective way to
encourage gratitude in others is to be grateful yourself. Lead by example, not
in spite of it.
9.
Be Intolerant of Self-condemnation
The words we
use when we talk to ourselves or about ourselves matter tremendously. They
matter because our words tend to gel into belief. And belief sets the parameter
for action. We will never do what we
are sure can never be done. So our self-talk, the tone and words and meaning we
use in our internal dialogue, shapes us, affecting (sometimes infecting) our
attitudes and reactions to life. When we criticize and condemn, we start to
believe we’re less, unworthy, inevitable
screw-ups and good for very little. Don’t tolerate
it. Correct it. Argue against it. Push the little whiny weasel into the corner
and out the backdoor … then lock it! And never allow the
weasel back in. Tolerate mistakes and human imperfection. Don’t tolerate the self-abusive contempt we sometimes internalize when we
inevitably stumble.
10.
Be Intolerant of Fear
Fear of bee
stings is a good thing if you’re deathly allergic and standing at
the edge of a field of flowers swarming with the little buggers as a friend (or
enemy?) waves you out into the field. But it’s not
a good thing if it keeps you from ever going outside. Context and degree are
important factors to consider when evaluating the psychological health of your
fear. But here are a few basic questions that should help:
• Is your
fear limiting your ability to live life to its fullest?
• Is it tearing you apart from the
inside?
• Is it harming relationships,
self-esteem, self-respect, work performance or otherwise getting in the way?
• Is it chronic and debilitating?
• Does it control you?
• Is it overwhelming?
If your
answer is yes to any of those questions, you are tolerating a response to a
perceived threat that may not be as threatening as you think it is. If you can,
confront it. If you can’t, get help from someone who can walk
you through it or around it or away from it. Remember, fear is only a perceived
obstacle to the path you want to travel. It does not control you. It’s nothing more than a feeling, an emotional response to a perceived
outcome. Change the perception and the fear starts to dissipate.
ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[2]
My
esteemed Brothers in the Episcopate
and the Priesthood,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1.
The Lord's Day — as Sunday was called from Apostolic times — has always been
accorded special attention in the history of the Church because of its close
connection with the very core of the Christian mystery. In fact, in the weekly
reckoning of time Sunday recalls the day of Christ's Resurrection. It is Easter
which returns week by week, celebrating Christ's victory over sin and death,
the fulfilment in him of the first creation and the dawn of "the new
creation" (cf. 2 Cor 5:17). It is the day which recalls in grateful
adoration the world's first day and looks forward in active hope to "the
last day", when Christ will come in glory (cf. Acts 1:11; 1 Th
4:13-17) and all things will be made new (cf. Rev 21:5).
Rightly,
then, the Psalmist's cry is applied to Sunday: "This is the day which the
Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps 118:24). This
invitation to joy, which the Easter liturgy makes its own, reflects the
astonishment which came over the women who, having seen the crucifixion of
Christ, found the tomb empty when they went there "very early on the first
day after the Sabbath" (Mk 16:2). It is an invitation to relive in
some way the experience of the two disciples of Emmaus, who felt their hearts
"burn within them" as the Risen One walked with them on the road,
explaining the Scriptures and revealing himself in "the breaking of the
bread" (cf. Lk 24:32,35). And it echoes the joy — at first
uncertain and then overwhelming — which the Apostles experienced on the evening
of that same day, when they were visited by the Risen Jesus and received the
gift of his peace and of his Spirit (cf. Jn 20:19-23).
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost[3]
Focus: True and
laudable service as we run to attain the eternal promises and increase in
faith, hope, and love
Introit of the Mass to-day is the prayer of an
afflicted soul entreating God for assistance. “Incline to my aid, O God; O
Lord, make haste to help me; let my enemies be con founded and ashamed who seek
my soul. Let them be turned backwards, and blush for shame, who desire evils to
me.”
Prayer. O
almighty and merciful God, from Whose gift it comes that Thou art worthily and
laudably served by the faithful, grant us, we beseech Thee, to run without
offence to the attainment of Thy promises.
EPISTLE, ii. Cor. iii. 4-9.
Brethren: Such confidence we have through Christ
towards God: not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves, as of
ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God: Who also hath made us fit ministers
of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit: for the letter
killeth: but the spirit quickeneth. Now if the ministration of death, engraven
with letters upon stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could
not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance,
which is made void: how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather in
glory? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory: much more the
ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.
Explanation.
St. Paul here introduces a comparison between the
priest hood of the Old and that of the New Law, in order to show that the
dignity of the priesthood under the New Law (and consequently the respect and
confidence due to it) as far excels the dignity of the priesthood under the Old
as the spirit does the letter the truth the figure. For if the ministry of
Moses, which consisted in the service of the letter, and imparted no grace, was
so glorious, how much more glorious is that priest hood of the New Law, through
which is conveyed the sanctifying grace of God! And how much more veneration
and obedience should accordingly be paid to the priests of the New Law!
GOSPEL Luke x 23-37
At that
time Jesus said to His disciples: Blessed are the eyes that see the things
which you see. For I say to you that many prophets and kings have desired to
see the things that you see and have not seen them; and to hear the things that
you hear and have not heard them. And behold a certain lawyer stood up,
tempting Him, and saying: Master, what must I do to possess eternal life? But
He said to him: What is written in the law? How readest thou?
He
answering, said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and
with thy whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy
neighbor as thyself. And He said to him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and
thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is
my neighbor?
And
Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and
fell among robbers, who also stripped him: and, having wounded him, went away
leaving him half dead. And it chanced that a certain priest went down the same
way: and seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he was near
the place and saw him, passed by. But a certain Samaritan being on his journey
came near him: and seeing him, was moved with compassion. And going up to him,
bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own
beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took
out two pence (worth two days wages), and gave to the host, and said: Take care
of him: and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above, I at my return will
repay thee. Which of these three in thy opinion was neighbor to him that fell
among the robbers? But he said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to
him: Go and do thou in like manner.
Why does Jesus call His disciples
blessed?
Because
they had the happiness which so many kings, patriarchs, and prophets had
desired in vain of seeing the Savior of the world, and of hearing His teaching.
What is it to love God?
To acknowledge God as the highest and most
perfect good; to desire that He should be known, honored, loved, by all men;
that His will should be fulfilled by all; and so zealously to observe His
commandments that we would lose all the goods of life, and even life itself,
rather than transgress these commands and be separated from God.
What does it mean to love God with
the whole heart, etc.?
“With
thy whole heart”, signifies with all the motions and inclinations of the heart
“with thy whole soul”, with all the thoughts, conceptions of the soul, “with
thy whole mind”, with all the desires, wishes, and determination of the will;
“with all thy strength”, with all the powers and faculties of body and soul
with all the acts and motions of the senses. All these should be directed to
God alone, as the last object and end of man.
How can this be done?
By
doing whatever we do, whether it be mental or manual labor, eating, drinking,
or recreation, with the intention of doing the will of God and what is pleasing
to Him. By this it is understood that idle talk, intemperance in meat and
drink, and in general all sinful works, cannot be offered to God, because they
are contrary to His will and therefore deserve punishment.
Is that true love which loves God
because He does us good?
That
love is truly good and praiseworthy, but not perfect, for self-interest creeps
in with it.
What, then, is the perfect love of
God?
When
we love God only because He is in Himself the highest good and most worthy of
love. In such manner must we endeavor to love God; not out of self-interest,
not from the expectation of reward, nor yet from fear of punishment.
Can everyone thus love God?
Yes,
for there is no state of life in which we cannot refer everything to God. Love
does not require great deeds, but that we should avoid evil, and refer
everything to God; and all can do this.
Aspiration. O Jesus, rich in love, Who hast so
earnestly exhorted us to the love of God and of our neighbor, engrave deep in
our hearts, we pray Thee, this commandment of love, that whatever we do or
leave undone, all our thoughts, words, and works, may begin and end in love of
Thee; and that no tribulation, temptation, or danger, nor even death itself,
may ever separate us from Thee. Grant, also, that out of love to Thee we may
love our neighbor, whether friend or enemy, as ourselves, and by this love may deserve
to have Thee as a Savior and merciful Judge.
Who is our neighbor?
Every
man be he a foreigner or a fellow-countryman, poor or rich, of our own religion
or of any other, a friend or an enemy.
How are we to love our
neighbor?
We
must love our neighbor as ourselves; that is, we must wish for him and do for
him what in similar circumstances we should desire for ourselves, and not wish
for him or do to him what we would not wish done to ourselves (Matt. vii. 12).
In what way are we
particularly to practice the love of our neighbor?
1.
By heartily rejoicing over the gifts and graces which our neighbor has received
from God, and by sympathizing with him in misfortune.
2.
By praying God to grant to our neighbor such gifts as St. Paul, on his knees,
besought for the Ephesians, the fulness of the knowledge of God, and of all
perfection.
3.
By overlooking and patiently bearing our neighbor’s faults, disorders, and
infirmities of every kind, as St. Paul says: “Bear ye one another’s burdens and
so you shall fulfil the law of Christ”.
4.
In general, by both the spiritual and the corporal works of mercy.
With what intention
should we love our neighbor?
We
must love our neighbor in God, and for God’s sake, because He commands it, and
because such love is pleasing to Him.
Be Not Afraid
In modern times, with all the violence that is going on in the whole world and with America at the center of any response to terror and terrorists, how should we respond? First and foremost, without fear for the Lord is our King. We should search our hearts and seek to retain a heart of peace. Our response must be measured and used with no malice. We must stop evil but not with hatred. We should love the humanity of our enemies, pray for them and do good to them if we can.
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink." (Romans 12:20)
According to the CIA
world fact book many of the countries in which we have the greatest troubles
have the lowest per capita income per person in the world. For example, per
capita in the US is $63,700 a year versus $700 in Burundi #229 and North Korea
is #214 ($1700) with Mexico@95 ($19,100) (note the US is 14th in
per capita; it is interesting to note the number one nation in per capita is Liechtenstein
at $139,100). Our enemies are hungry and used or abused by ruff creatures
of men. Imagine what could happen if we
could use the great economic power of this country to raise the good men in
these regions up: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty: to empower men
of goodwill and remove the ruff creatures of men from power.
Bible in a Year Day 73 Inheritance of the Land
Fr. Mike explains why it was important to take a census at
different points of the people of Israel in the Old Testament. We also learn
that the Tribe of Levi is the only tribe that doesn't get an inheritance of
land, because they're receiving something much greater. Today's readings are
Numbers 26, Deuteronomy 27, and Psalm 111.
Love Litigating Lawyers Day
No matter how unpopular we generally consider them to be…or how unprincipled we believe them to be we are to love them for the sake of Christ. #LoveLitigatingLawyersDay
Our
National Principles[4]
Declaration
of Independence is in July and the Constitution is in September, let us once
again reflect on the marvelous principles underlying these two documents. The
following is a review of these principles together with a comment or a quote by
the Founders. Documentation may be found in The Five
Thousand Year Leap.
·
Principle 1–The only reliable basis
for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law.
Natural
law is God’s law. There are certain laws which govern the entire universe, and
just as Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence, there are
laws which govern in the affairs of men which are “the laws of nature and of
nature’s God.”
·
Principle 2–A free people cannot survive under a
republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.
“Only
a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and
vicious, they have more need of masters.” – Benjamin Franklin
·
Principle 3–The most promising method
of securing a virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.
“Neither
the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and
happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is
the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its
virtue, and who … will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power
and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.” – Samuel Adams
·
Principle 4–Without religion
the government of a free people cannot be maintained.
“Of
all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion
and morality are indispensable supports…. And let us with caution indulge the
supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” – George
Washington
·
Principle 5–All things
were created by God, therefore upon him all mankind are equally dependent, and
to him they are equally responsible.
The
American Founding Fathers considered the existence of the Creator as the most
fundamental premise underlying all self-evident truth. They felt a person who
boasted he or she was an atheist had just simply failed to apply his or her
divine capacity for reason and observation.
·
Principle 6–All mankind
were created equal.
The
Founders knew that in these three ways, all mankind are theoretically treated
as:
- Equal before God.
- Equal before the law.
- Equal in their rights.
·
The Freedom to try.
·
The Freedom to buy.
·
The Freedom to sell.
·
The Freedom to fail.
·
Principle 7– The proper role of
government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.
The
Founders recognized that the people cannot delegate to their government any
power except that which they have the lawful right to exercise themselves.
·
Principle 8 – Mankind are
endowed by God with certain unalienable rights.
“Those
rights, then, which God and nature have established, and are therefore called
natural rights, such as are life and liberty, need not the aid of human laws to
be more effectually invested in every man than they are; neither do they
receive any additional strength when declared by the municipal [or state] laws
to be inviolable. On the contrary, no human legislation has power to abridge or
destroy them, unless the owner [of the right] shall himself commit some act
that amounts to a forfeiture.” – William Blackstone
·
Principle 9 – To protect human
rights, God has revealed a code of divine law.
“The
doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be
found only in the Holy Scriptures. These precepts, when revealed, are found by
comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature, as they tend in
all their consequences to man’s felicity.” – William Blackstone
·
Principle 10–The God-given
right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people.
“The
fabric of the American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent
of the people. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from
that pure, original fountain of all legislative authority.” – Alexander
Hamilton
·
Principle 11–The majority
of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.
“Prudence,
indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes … but when a long train of abuses and
usurpations … evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is
their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new
guards for their future security.” – Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of
Independence
·
Principle 12–The United States of America
shall be a republic.
“I
pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic
or which it stands….”
·
Principle 13–A Constitution should
protect the people from the frailties of their rulers.
“If
angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government
would be necessary…. [But lacking these] you must first enable the government
to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” –
James Madison
·
Principle 14–Life and liberty are
secure only so long as the rights of property are secure.
John
Locke reasoned that God gave the earth and everything in it to the whole human
family as a gift. Therefore, the land, the sea, the acorns in the forest, the
deer feeding in the meadow belong to everyone “in common.” However, the moment
someone takes the trouble to change something from its original state of
nature, that person has added his ingenuity or labor to make that change.
Herein lies the secret to the origin of “property rights.”
·
Principle 15–The highest level of prosperity
occurs when there is a free-market economy and a minimum of government
regulations.
Prosperity
depends upon a climate of wholesome stimulation with four basic freedoms (Speech-Worship-Want-Fear)
in operation.
·
Principle 16–The government
should be separated into three branches.
“I
call you to witness that I was the first member of the Congress who ventured to
come out in public, as I did in January 1776, in my Thoughts on Government … in
favor of a government with three branches and an independent judiciary. This
pamphlet, you know, was very unpopular. No man appeared in public to support it
but yourself.” – John Adams
·
Principle 17–A system of
checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power by the
different branches of government.
“It
will not be denied that power is of an encroaching nature and that it ought to
be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it.” – James
Madison
·
Principle 18 –The
unalienable rights of the people are most likely to be preserved if the
principles of government are set forth in a written Constitution.
The
structure of the American system is set forth in the Constitution of the United
States and the only weaknesses which have appeared are those which were allowed
to creep in despite the Constitution.
·
Principle 19–Only limited and
carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being
retained by the people.
The
Tenth Amendment is the most widely violated provision of the bill of rights. If
it had been respected and enforced America would be an amazingly different
country than it is today. This amendment provides:
“The
powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
people.”
·
Principle 20–Efficiency and dispatch
require that the government operate according to the will of the majority, but
constitutional provisions must be made to protect the rights of the minority.
“Every
man, by consenting with others to make one body politic under one government,
puts himself under an obligation to every one of that society to submit to the
determination of the majority, and to be concluded [bound] by it.” – John Locke
·
Principle 21–Strong local
self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom.
“The
way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to
divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions he is
competent [to perform best]. – Thomas Jefferson
·
Principle 22–A free people should be
governed by law and not by the whims of men.
“The
end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.
For in all the states of created beings, capable of laws, where there is no law
there is no freedom. For liberty is to be free from restraint and violence of
others, which cannot be where there is no law.” – John Locke
·
Principle 23–A free society cannot
survive as a republic without a broad program of general education.
“They
made an early provision by law that every town consisting of so many families
should be always furnished with a grammar school. They made it a crime for such
a town to be destitute of a grammar schoolmaster for a few months and subjected
it to a heavy penalty. So that the education of all ranks of people was made
the care and expense of the public, in a manner that I believe has been unknown
to any other people, ancient or modern. The consequences of these
establishments we see and feel every day [written in 1765]. A native of America
who cannot read and write is as rare … as a comet or an earthquake.” John Adams
·
Principle 24–A free people
will not survive unless they stay strong.
“To
be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” –
George Washington
·
Principle 25-Peace, commerce, and
honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none.”-Thomas
Jefferson, given in his first inaugural address.
·
Principle 26 –The core unit which
determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government
should foster and protect its integrity.
“There
is certainly no country in the world where the tie of marriage is more
respected than in America, or where conjugal happiness is more highly or
worthily appreciated.” Alexis de Tocqueville
·
Principle 27–The burden of debt is as
destructive to human freedom as subjugation by conquest.
“We
are bound to defray expenses [of the war] within our own time and are
unauthorized to burden posterity with them…. We shall all consider ourselves
morally bound to pay them ourselves and consequently within the life
[expectancy] of the majority.” – Thomas Jefferson
·
Principle 28–The United States
has a manifest destiny to eventually become a glorious example of God’s law
under a restored Constitution that will inspire the entire human race.
The
Founders sensed from the very beginning that they were on a divine mission.
Their great disappointment was that it didn’t all come to pass in their day,
but they knew that someday it would. John Adams wrote:
“I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in Providence for the illumination of the ignorant, and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.”
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite yourself in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: An End to Addictions
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
SEPTEMBER
September--Our buildings need to be winterized. Now is the time to think of energy conservation measures, adding caulking and painting, completing needed repairs, composting yard waste, and protecting garden plants for late fall and winter. Do we regard our abodes as God's dwelling space, a sacred trust and healthy place? Do we cherish the abundance of space and use it properly as good stewards?
Overview of September[5]
The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose memorial the Church celebrates on September 15. September falls during the liturgical season known as 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.
September is Harvest Time
Since man is both a spiritual and physical being, the
Church provides for the needs of man in his everyday life. The Church's liturgy
and feasts in many areas reflect the four seasons of the year (spring, summer,
fall and winter). The months of August, September, October and November are
part of the harvest season, and as Christians we recall God's constant
protection over his people and give thanksgiving for the year's harvest.
September is the end of the
summer season and the start of the fall season.
Explanation of Ember Days—Three days set apart for fasting,
abstinence, and prayer during each of the four seasons of the year. They were
the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after St. Lucy (or Lucia, d. 304) (December
13), the First Sunday of Lent, Pentecost, and the feast of the Holy Cross
(September 14). Since the revision of the Roman calendar in 1969, Ember Days
are to be observed at the discretion of the National Conference of Bishops.
Moreover, their observance may be extended beyond three days and even repeated
during the year. Possibly occasioned by the agricultural feasts of ancient
Rome, they came to be observed by Christians for the sanctification of the
different seasons of the year, and for obtaining God's blessing on the clergy
to be ordained during the Embertides. (Etym. Anglo-Saxon oemerge,
ashes.) — Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, SJ, Doubleday, 1980.
So, during these times the Church had a threefold focus:
(1) sanctifying each new season by
turning to God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
(2) giving thanks to God for the
various harvests of each season; and
(3) praying for the newly ordained
and for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Since the reorganization of the Roman calendar in 1969
after the Second Vatican Council, Ember Days are still retained in principle,
but how and when they are to be observed is at the discretion of each country's
Episcopal Conference. There is no longer set Mass readings for the Ember Days
in the Ordinary Rite. Another harvest feast is September 29, the Feast of the
Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Before the revision of the calendar,
this used to be only the feast of St. Michael. In many countries this day was
referred to as "Michaelmas" and is celebrated with traditional foods
and customs
September is the time to
reflect on the Sorrows of Mary
September Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows.[6] Since the 16th century Catholic piety
has assigned entire months to special devotions. Due to her feast day on
September 15, the month of September has traditionally been set aside to honor
Our Lady of Sorrows. All the sorrows of Mary (the prophecy of Simeon, the three
days' loss, etc.) are merged in the supreme suffering at the Passion. In the
Passion, Mary suffered a martyrdom of the heart because of Our Lord's torments
and the greatness of her love for Him. "She it was," says Pope Pius
XII, "who immune from all sin, personal or inherited, and ever more
closely united with her Son, offered Him on Golgotha to the Eternal Father
together with the holocaust of her maternal rights and motherly love. As a new
Eve, she made this offering for all the children of Adam contaminated through
his unhappy fall. Thus she, who was the mother of our Head according to the
flesh, became by a new title of sorrow and glory the spiritual mother of all
His members."
September is the month dedicated to contemplation of the Angels.
Devotion to the Angels is a mark of Predestination[7]
The Church has always practiced and encouraged devotion to the holy angels. All ancient liturgies make mentions of them and the protection they provide to men. It is their greatest desire to aid us in all our acts of religion by uniting their supplications to ours. We should honor and love angels as well as our fellow mankind for it is though the Precious Blood of Christ, we are all united. Christ is the head of angels as well as men, and it is as Man that He is Head of the angels. To honor them and love them we must first know them and earnestly strive to cultivate their friendship.
September Travel and Events
Belgian Beer Weekend September 6-8. The drinking fun doesn’t end in Budapest! Head to Belgium for Belgian Beer Weekend. Held at Brussel’s Grand Place square, this annual celebration in early September showcases Belgian brews from more than 30 small and big breweries.
·
Southern Arizona Beer Tour
Oktoberfest September 20-Oct. 5. Raise a stein
to Oktoberfest. This annual, 16-day celebration of all
thing’s beer kicks off in late September in Munich. Can’t make it to Germany?
Bring your taste for brewski to these US Oktoberfest events.
·
Oktoberfest in Arizona 2023
Constitution Day Celebrate
Constitution Day and the anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution with
a trip to Washington, DC, on September 17. The National Archives has the
original Constitution on display in the Rotunda, along with the Bill of Rights
and Declaration of Independence. Make the most out of your trip to DC and pay a
visit to the Smithsonian museums and
monuments along the National Mall.
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Call it an
excuse to party: Come Sept. 17, 2024, the 3-day Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
begins. In mainland China, the annual festival is the second biggest holiday of
the year (right behind the country’s spring festival).
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance (Hong Kong) September 28-30. Top off Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations with the Tai Hang fire dragon dance. This 3-day-long event, held during the Mid-Autumn Festival, carries on a tradition that’s more than 100 years old. In the Hong Kong community of Tai Hang, some 300 performers take to the streets, dancing, waving incense sticks and animating a 220-foot-long dragon.
Texas State Fair (Dallas) September 27-Oct
20 “Our state fair is a great state fair.” How can
it not be when it’s in Texas? Beginning the last Friday in September, the
annual Texas State Fair unfolds over 24 days in Dallas, TX, with plenty of fun
for the whole family, including the chance to ride this Ferris wheel – the
largest in North America.
Iceman’s Calendar
·
September 1st Mon. Labor
Day
·
September 3rd MASS First
Wednesday
·
September 5th MASS
First
Friday
·
September 6th MASS First
Saturday
·
September 7th Thirteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
o
Full Corn Moon This year’s Corn Moon will
also feature a total lunar eclipse, making it a rare and dramatic celestial
event
·
September 8th Mon. Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
·
September 11th Thu. Patriot
Day
o
Start 33-day consecration to Mary end on Oct
13th
·
September 14th Fourteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
September 15th Our
Lady of Sorrows
·
September 17th Ember
Wednesday fast
·
September 19th Ember
Friday fast
·
September 20th Ember
Saturday fast
·
September 21st Fifteen
Sunday after Pentecost
·
September 22nd Mon. Feast
of St. Matthew
o Rosh
Hashanah begins at Sunset
·
September 23rd Tue. Padre
Pio
·
September 28th Sixteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
September 29th Mon. Feast
of St. Michael the Archangel
o
Begin
33 days prayer for the Feast of All Saints
Daily Prayers for September
At Morning
O most
holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you
experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and the death of
your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a
tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of
my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affection for the
passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that
henceforward all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this
one most desirable object. Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and
to the holy and immaculate Mother of God. Amen. --Saint Bonaventure
At
Noon
Mary, most holy Virgin and
Queen of Martyrs, accept the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into thy
heart, pierced by so many swords, do thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as
the companion of thy sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for
the redemption of the world. With thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly
suffer all the trials, contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please
our Lord to send me. I offer them all to thee in memory of thy sorrows, so that
every thought of my mind, and every beat of my heart may be an act of
compassion and of love for thee. And do thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me,
reconcile me to thy divine Son Jesus, keep me in His grace, and assist me in my
last agony, so that I may be able to meet thee in heaven and sing thy glories.
Amen.
At
3PM
Most holy Virgin. and
Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy
divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never-ending
joy at His triumph; obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the
adversities of Holy Church and the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be
found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the
charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
At Twilight
O most holy and afflicted
Virgin! Queen of Martyrs! thou who didst stand motionless beneath the Cross,
witnessing the agony of thy expiring Son--through the unceasing sufferings of
thy life of sorrow, and the bliss which now more than amply repays thee for thy
past trials, look down with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel
before thee to venerate thy dolors, and place my requests, with filial
confidence, in the sanctuary of thy wounded heart; present them, I beseech
thee, on my behalf, to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred
death and passion, together with thy sufferings at the foot of the cross, and
through the united efficacy of both obtain the grant of my present petition. To
whom shall I resort in my wants and miseries if not to thee, O Mother of Mercy,
who, having so deeply drunk of the chalice of thy Son, canst compassionate the
woes of those who still sigh in the land of exile? Offer for me to my Savior
one drop of the Blood which flowed from His sacred veins, one of the tears
which trickled from His divine eyes, one of the sighs which rent His adorable
Heart. O refuge of the universe and hope of the whole world, do not reject my
humble prayer, but graciously obtain the grant of my petition.
At Slumber.
Mary
most sorrowful, Mother of Christians, pray for us. Virgin most sorrowful, pray
for us.
September is the month of Angels and Mary Queen of Angels
The church traditionally honors angels during the month of September. Paul in Colossians states of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.”
“St. Michael and the Angels” is a beautiful and inspiring book telling all about the angels. Filled with stories from the lives and writings of the saints, it tells of the role which the good angels play in the divine economy of saving souls. Led by St. Michael, the Prince of the heavenly host, the angels act as our guardians, serve as messengers from God to us and from us to God, surround the altar during Mass, and bear the graces of the Mass like incense to the altar of God on high. Here is explained the relationship of the angels to the Blessed Virgin Mary and how, if she is to send them to our aid, we must request her to do so. Included too is the prayer to our guardian angel asking him to go in our place to attend Mass when we cannot, plus the way the good angels protect us against the evil spirits. The book also discusses in detail the pre-eminent role of St. Michael as "Champion of the Church," "Defender of Christians," "Guardian of Purgatory," and "Helper of the Sick and Dying."
It is also a good practice to ask for angelic help throughout our day. There are nine choirs of angels and three hierarchies three within three. Remember to ask their assistance about every two hours throughout your day
First Sphere
The angels of the first sphere
serve as the heavenly servants of God the Son incarnated. It includes the
Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.
Upon rising (7
am) address the first choir of angels, the Seraphim. Their chief
characteristic is great and ardent love. They were made for one thing
alone-----to love the God of Love. Without ceasing they honor, praise, and love
the most Blessed Trinity-----they can do nothing else-----this is their
happiness.
- Practice upon rising to try to become a Seraph
of love: let this be your habitual disposition. Love and do what God
wills. Ask this great gift fervently.
- Aspiration: "Oh! Blessed Seraphim! Make
us love." Say the Shema
Yisrael and make a Morning Offering.
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
heavenly Choir of Seraphim, may it please God to make us worthy to receive
into our hearts the fire of his perfect charity. Amen.
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the second hour (9
am) of the day address the second choir is the Cherubim who
continually are employed in contemplating the beauty and perfections of God and
will share with us their admirable wisdom, if we ask them, and show ourselves
in earnest, by the practice of supplication and prayer. Cherubim are full of
zeal for the glory of God and stand ready at all times to defend His honor.
Cherubim should be invoked when one is troubled with doubts against faith those
who experience temptations against holy purity.
- Practice: Spend time before praying in great
silence and recollection; endeavor to "know God, and Him Whom He has
sent, Jesus Christ."
- Aspiration: "Blessed Cherubim! Teach us
to pray."
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
heavenly Choir of Cherubim, may God in his good pleasure, grant us grace
to abandon the ways of sin, and follow the path of Christian perfection.
Amen.
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the fourth hour (11
am) of the day address the third choir is the choir of Thrones.
They are called Angels of Peace; calm, tranquility, and stability. Ask
them for that peace of soul which is the fruit of a good conscience. Invoke
their aid for such as are prone to hatred, passion and impatience; and after
their example, practice being meek, calm, and peaceful with all.
- Practice: Dispose yourself to great sweetness
and patience.
- Aspiration: "O Holy Thrones! Obtain that
Divine peace, which surpasses all understanding, may keep our hearts and
minds in Jesus Christ, Our Lord."
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
sacred Choir of Thrones, may it please God to infuse into our hearts the
spirit of true and sincere humility. Amen.
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
Second Sphere
Second, Sphere angels are considered to work as heavenly governors of creation by subjecting the matter and ruling and guiding the spirits. The second sphere includes the Dominions or Lordships Virtues and the Strongholds Powers or Authorities.
At the sixth hour (1
pm) of the day address the fourth choir of angels which is the choir
of Dominations. They are consumed by their yearning for the
interests of God: their principal office is to manifest His will. We should
also beg of God to manifest His will to us by these Blessed
"Intelligences" and then take care to fulfill it scrupulously, as
being the shortest way to perfection and sanctity. We should ask these Angels
to help us to spread God's kingdom upon earth, for the conversion of heretics
and infidels, and for the return of lukewarm and fallen away Catholics to the
practice of the faith.
- Practice: Give practical proof of your zeal
for the glory of God; do something for His reign in souls, as instructing
the ignorant.
- Aspiration: "Holy Dominations! Animate us
with thy zeal." It was also at the sixth hour that Jesus was
crucified. Traditionally Catholics recite the Angelus at
noon, some pray it at six in the morning and six in the evening. For those
who wish to make personal change this is a good time to examine our day so
far and offer ourselves to our God. It is at the turning point of our day
that we recall the turning point of history: the moment when the angel
appeared to a young woman named Mary.
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
heavenly Choir of the Dominations, may it please God to grant us grace to
have dominion over our senses, and to correct our depraved passions. Amen
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the eighth hour (3
pm) of the day address the fifth choir of angels which is the choir
of Virtues. Energy and strength are attributed to the Virtues. They
have dominion over the elements; all nature is subjected to their control.
Hence they can raise or appease the tempest. We may profitably invoke them in
unforeseen accidents, sickness, etc. We may also have recourse to them for that
strength necessary to lead a penitential life, and root out the inclinations of
depraved nature. All persons inclined to the contemplative life should call on
this choir of Angels for help, for good thoughts alone do not make holy, one
needs also strength to persevere and to accomplish this great task.
- Practice: (After work) Visit the Blessed
Sacrament to obtain grace to overcome your evil dispositions.
- Aspiration: "Holy Virtues! Strengthen and
fortify us."
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
admirable heavenly Choir of the Virtues, may it please God to keep us from
falling into temptation, and may He deliver us from evil. Amen.
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the 10th hour (5
pm) of the day address the sixth choir of angels the Powers.
These Angels have unlimited mastery over the wicked Spirits; they are endowed
with great intelligence and are able to discover their schemes and plans for
our destruction. Their power is so amazing that one alone of them would be able
to destroy the entire infernal host. It is well to invoke them in temptation:
but to merit their assistance we must take care to avoid the occasions of
sin.
- Practice: Resist the attacks of vice and
passion; frequently make acts of diffidence in self and confidence in God;
combat your evil inclinations.
- Aspiration: "Lord! Send Thy Angels to
assist us."
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
heavenly Choir of the Powers, may God vouchsafe to keep our souls from the
wiles and temptations of the devil. Amen.
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
Third Sphere
The angels of the third sphere function as heavenly protectors, messengers and guides to human beings.
At the 12th hour (7
pm) of the day address the seventh choir of angels the Principalities.
The Principalities watch over Empires, Provinces, and Dioceses. Purity of
intention is the virtue ascribed to them, for in their high functions they
never seek but the honor and interest of God alone. Let us imitate them. It is
the intention which stamps the action with merit or demerit.
- Practice: In all you do and say, seek the
greater glory of God.
- Aspiration: "O Holy Spirits! May we, like
thee, seek God, for God alone."
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
heavenly Choir of Principalities, may it please God to fill our souls with
the spirit of true and sincere obedience. Amen.
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the 14th hour (9
pm) of the day address the eighth choir of angels the Archangels.
The Archangels are distinguished from the Angels by the greater importance of
their functions: the Guardians of those invested with authority in the Church
and State and are remarkable for their love and care of men. Let us imitate
them, doing our neighbor all the good we can and invoking in his behalf these
Blessed Spirits. Members of this choir are the holy spirits who stand before
the throne of God, ever ready to announce His commands. St. Michael is the
warrior leader of God’s angels. St. Gabriel is the special messenger of The
Holy Spirit. St. Raphael is the angel of Joy.
- Practice-----Two Acts of Charity, with great
affection.
- Aspiration: "Holy Archangels! Pray for
us, and for our priests."
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
heavenly Choir of Archangels, may it please God to grant us the gift of
perseverance in the faith, and in all good works, that we may be thereby
enabled to attain the glory of paradise. Amen.
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the 16th hour (11
pm) of the day address the Ninth choir of the angels. They are
charged with the execution of the Divine ordinances and are appointed the
Guardians of men. Humility is the virtue particularly ascribed to
them-----for though the least among the Choirs, yet they see their celestial
companions without desiring their greater, more excellent endowments. The
Guardian Angels exercise continual watchfulness over the souls committed to
their care. Their number is exceedingly great, and it is not necessary when an
Angel has accompanied his charge into Heaven, that he be again assigned to a
soul in any future generation. Our Guardian, who is our companion in life, will
also be forever at our side in Heaven. The joy of these Angels is immeasurably increased
when souls entrusted to their care enter Heaven. The Guardian Angels of the
lost souls are not deprived of their share of joy. God in His justice increases
also theirs with the others, and then assigns them to the special guard of the
Queen of Angels, where they with great joy praise the Infinite Justice of God.
Let us, like the humble Guardian Angels, love the lowest place, especially when
placed therein by Divine Providence, and to behold with joy the preference
given to others.
- Practice: Three Acts of Humility, interior and
exterior.
- Aspiration: "Who is like God!"
- By the intercession of St. Michael and the
heavenly Choir of all the Angels, may God vouchsafe to grant us their
guardianship through this mortal life, and after death a happy entrance
into the everlasting glory of heaven. Amen
- (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
Information was obtained from:
- http://www.catholictradition.org/Angels/angels.htm
- Hierarchy of Angels Catholic Church |
Hierarchy structure
[3]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[7] St. Michael and the Angels, Tan
Books, 1983.
OCTOBER
TREES DECLARE THEIR OWN SERMON
in brief autumn's painted landscape. We note their size and type and variety and beauty. Trees serve as symbols of the gift-giving aspects of our lives. Trees provide fruit, wood, climatic modification, wind and sun protection, prevention of soil erosion, and a host of other benefits.
· This is the time to plant trees and to prepare them for winter.
Should we not give more attention
to how our lives can bear fruit in Christ and in the protection of our forests?
Overview of October[1]
October
falls during the liturgical season known as Tempus per Annum or Ordinary Time (formerly Time After Pentecost),
which is represented by the liturgical color green. Green is a symbol of hope,
as it 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. The liturgical color green is worn during the praying of Offices
and celebration of Masses of Ordinary Time.
Autumn
Festivities
October
usually is an enjoyable time of the year in the United States. The autumn
season manifests itself with wonderful fall foliage in many parts of the
country. The temperatures are cooler, inviting people outdoors for nature
walks, apple or pumpkin picking. The celebrations of the Church for the month
of October are also wonderful and unique. The feasts of some of the most
popular saints of the universal Church are celebrated during this month: St.
Therese the Little Flower (France), St. Francis of Assisi (Italy) and St.
Teresa of Avila (Spain). These saints come from different countries, and in
honoring these saints we can include cultural dishes or activities from each
country to make the feast day even more special. Read more about the lives of
these saints. Perhaps the family can pick one virtue that each saint practiced
well and try to implement it.
The feasts in October also
include two of the most popular, time-honored devotions of Catholics, the
devotion to the Holy Rosary (October 7) and the Guardian
Angels
(October 2).
In October 2002 St. John
Paul II wrote the Apostolic Letter Rosarium
Virginis Mariae
(the Rosary of the Virgin Mary)."
This letter introduced
five new mysteries, called the Luminous or Mysteries of Light, which are:
- Jesus'
Baptism in the Jordan
- Jesus'
self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana
- Proclamation
of the Kingdom of God, with the call to conversion
- the
Transfiguration, and
- the
Institution of the Eucharist.
Try to make a more concerted
effort to pray the Rosary together as a family during the month of October,
read the Apostolic Letter to understand the beauty of this devotion more
deeply, and pray the Luminous
mysteries.
Every person has a
guardian angel assigned to them, and October 2 the Church celebrates the role
of these Guardian Angels. We should show devout gratitude to God for placing
these angels at our service. Having a guardian should give us confidence during
all of life's difficulties. Every Catholic should know the Angele Dei (Angel of God) prayer and pray it
often. The Directory
on Popular Piety
suggests that families pray it at morning and evening prayers or after the Angelus.
All
Hallows' Eve or Halloween heralds the month of November with emphasis on the
Communion of Saints, especially the Church Suffering (the Poor Souls in
Purgatory) and the second coming of Christ or parousia. This last day
of October on the secular calendar is second only to Christmas in commercial
preparations. The secular festivities center on ghouls, witches and devils, but
the Christian counterpart focus on the communion of saints. As Christians
living a "Catholic Culture", we should try to explore the Christian
roots of the Halloween festivities.
October:
Respect Life Month[2]
We mark the month of
October as Respect Life Month. Looking back over the last year, there's been a
lot of uncertainty, suffering, and heartache. Between tragedies that occur in the public eye and trials that take
place in our personal lives, there's no shortage of reasons we cry out to God.
At such times, we may feel alone and unequipped to handle the circumstances.
But we have an anchor of hope to cling to. With words that echo through
thousands of years into the corners of our hearts, God says to us, "Do not
fear: I am with you" (Isaiah 41:10). God isn't a detached, distant
observer to our pain; the Eternal Son became man and Himself experienced
immense suffering—for you and for me. His wounds indicate the very essence of
our identity and worth: we are loved by God. There are times we may doubt the
value of our own lives or falter at the thought of welcoming and embracing the
life of another. But reflecting on the healed wounds of the Risen Christ, we
can see that even our most difficult trials can be the place where God
manifests his victory. He makes all things beautiful. He makes all things new.
He is the God of redemption. That's powerful. That's something to hold onto. And
He is always with us. Jesus promised this when he gave the disciples the same mission,
he gives to each of us: Go. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that our
identity and our mission are two sides of the same coin; like the apostles, we
are called to be missionary disciples. We are not only invited to follow and
take refuge in God, our stronghold, but we are also commissioned to reach out
to one another, especially to the weak and vulnerable. Building a culture of
life isn't something we just do one month of the year, or with one event or
initiative—it's essential to who we are. It happens through our daily actions,
how we treat one another, and how we live our lives.
How do we respond when
our aging parents are in failing health?
Do they know how much
we love them and cherish each day given?
Do we ensure they know
they are never a burden to us?
In our own challenging
times, do we ask for support?
When others offer a
helping hand, do we receive it?
When our friend becomes
pregnant in difficult circumstances, do we show compassion that tangibly
supports her and helps her welcome the life of her new little one?
Sometimes,
we may not be sure exactly what to do, but let's not allow the fear of doing
the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing keep us from living out our
missionary call. We don't need to have everything figured out all at once.
Let's remember the guidance of Our Blessed Mother, the first disciple: "Do
whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). https://www.usccb.org/prolife
Reverence
Life[3]
From
the time we are knit together in our mothers’ wombs until we take our final
breaths, each moment of our lives is a gift from God. While every season of
life brings its own challenges and trials, each season also gives us new
opportunities to grow in our relationship with God. Today the gift of life is
threatened in countless ways. Those who are most vulnerable, rather than
receiving the protection they deserve, are all too often seen as a burden and
as expendable. As new attacks on human life continue to emerge, we can be
tempted to despair, but Christ instead offers us unfailing hope. Hope is not
false optimism or empty positivity. Christian hope is something much more
profound and goes to the very depths of our identity as followers of Christ.
Hope is the virtue “by
which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness,
placing our trust in Christ’s
promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of
the Holy Spirit”
(CCC, 1817).
Like
us, Christ entered the world through the womb of a woman. He willingly
experienced the fullness of human suffering. He breathed his last on the Cross
at Calvary in order that He might save us. Therefore, “God is the foundation of hope: not
any god, but the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end” (Spe salvi 31).
Christians
know “they
have a future: it is not that they know the details of what awaits them, but
they know in general terms that their life will not end in emptiness” (SS 2).
For
this reason, a woman experiencing a difficult pregnancy can find the strength
to welcome her precious child into the world. A man facing a terminal diagnosis
can see that the end of his earthly life is only the beginning of eternal life
with Christ. The Church teaches us that “the
one who has hope lives differently”
(SS 2).
Christ’s promise of salvation does not
mean that we will be spared from suffering. Rather, the promise of salvation
ensures that even in the darkest moments of our lives, we will be given the
strength to persevere. By virtue of this Christian hope, we can face any
challenge or trial. When the seas of life swell and we are battered by the
waves, hope allows us to remain anchored in the heart of God. May we hold fast
to Christ our hope, from the beginning of life to its very end.
October
Travel and Events
Grand Canyon (Arizona)
Take advantage of
off-season travel to popular landmarks such as the Grand
Canyon. Each October, the 1.2-million-acre
park sees half its summer crowds. Enjoy cooler temperatures (in the 70s), as
well as the deepening colors of aspen, oak and birch trees that adorn this
national treasure.
Acadia National Park
(Maine)
Catch a glimpse of
Maine’s gorgeous fall colors at Acadia National Park this month. Each October,
600,000 visitors enter the park, but with 47,000 acres to explore, you’ll have
plenty of leaf-peeping options. Looking for something closer to home? Check out
our favorite fall foliage
road trips.
September 20-Oct. 5---Oktoberfest
Raise a stein to Oktoberfest. This annual, 16-day celebration of all thing’s beer kicks
off in late September in Munich.
September 26-Oct 19---Texas
State Fair (Dallas)
“Our state fair is a
great state fair.
” How can it not be
when it’s in Texas?
Beginning
LAST Friday in September, the annual Texas State Fair unfolds over 24 days in
Dallas, TX, with plenty of fun for the whole family, including the chance to
ride this Ferris wheel – the largest in North America.
October 11---Ironman World Championship (Kailua-Kona, HI)
See some of the world’s
most elite athletes compete in the big daddy of Ironman events.
More than 2,000 athletes from around the world will set out on a 140.6-mile
triathlon race from Kona, HI. Come as a participant, spectator or volunteer
because this is one competition you won’t soon forget.
Iceman’s Calendar
·
October 1st MASS
First Wednesday
o
Yom
Kippur begins at sundown
·
October 2nd Thu Feast
of the Guardian Angels
·
October 3rd MASS
First Friday
·
October 4th MASS First
Saturday
·
October 5th Seventeenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 6th Mon. Sukkoth
begins at sunset
·
October 7th Tue. Our
Lady of the Rosary
·
October 12th Eighteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 13th Mon. Columbus
Day no mail
·
October 15th Wed. St.
Teresa of Jesus
·
October 16th Thu. St.
Margarette Mary Alacoque
·
October 18th Sat. Feast
of St. Luke
·
October 19th Ninetieth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 26th Twentieth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 28th Tue. Feast
of St. Simon and Jude
·
October 31st Fri. All
Hollows Eve
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