Friday, June 5, 2026 Sacred Heart of Jesus

 You don’t fast on the Feast of the Sacred Heart because the day is a solemnity, and solemnities override every form of Friday penance. The Church’s instinct is simple and ancient: when Christ reveals His Heart, His people feast, not fast. Even those who keep a strict personal Friday discipline are released from it on this day, not as an indulgence but as an act of obedience to the liturgical mind of the Church.

Spiritually, the feast is a day of abundance — mercy poured out, tenderness unveiled, the Heart of Jesus opened. A man who normally keeps Friday lean can let this day be full: a real meal at midday, a small celebratory ritual at dusk, and a renewal of consecration to the Heart that loves without measure. The discipline resumes next week, but today belongs to joy.

Smoke in this Life Not the Next

Virtue: Reparation & Tender Strength
Cigar: Maduro — deep, slow‑burning
Bourbon: Stagg Jr. — intense, unflinching
Reflection: What wound in me needs to be offered back.

SMOKE — The Pain of Loss

She appeared shining so fiercely the girl couldn’t look at her. Two days later, brighter still, she genuflected at the altar, thanked the girl, and rose to heaven with her angel. Her only suffering in Purgatory:

The pain of loss — distance from God.
No flames. Only love delayed.

Chrysostom: All earthly torments are nothing compared to losing the sight of God.

Maduro becomes a vigil flame.
Stagg becomes honesty.
Smoke becomes intercession for a soul who longs for God more than we long for breath.

Reflection

What wound in me still hides from His gaze.
What distance I keep that He never asked for.
Tonight I name it, hand it over,

JUNE 5 Friday-Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

First Friday-Saint Boniface-National Doughnut Day-Fish & Chips

 

1 Kings Chapter 19, Verse 3-4

Elijah was AFRAID and fled for his life, going to Beer-sheba of Judah. He left his servant there and went a day’s journey into the wilderness, until he came to a solitary broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: “Enough, LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”

 

Depression is real for saints as it is for sinners as you power through it you may come to realize that depression is really just angered directed at yourself.

Tired Of Life[1]

I. The wish for death, the weariness of life, is a phenomenon extremely common, and common because it arises from a multitude of causes; but those causes all run up into this, that, as Scripture expresses it, ‘man is born to sorrow, as the sparks fly upward.’ Rebuke this feeling as you will, you must deal with it as a fact, and as an experience of human life. The sense of failure, the conviction that the evils around us are stronger than we can grapple with, the apparent non-atonement for the intolerable wrong—there are hours when, under the incidents of these trials, even the noblest Christian finds it hard to keep his faith strong and his hope unclouded. Take any man who has spoken words of burning faithfulness or done deeds of high courage in a mean and lying world, and the chances are that his life’s story was clouded by failure or closed in martyrdom.

II. In this chapter we have God’s own gracious way of dealing with this sad but far from uncommon despondency. —Elijah had fled into the wilderness, flung himself down under a juniper tree, and requested that he might die. How gently and with what Divine compassion did God deal with his despair! He spread for Elijah a table in the wilderness, and helped him forward on his way; only then, when his bodily powers had been renewed, when his faith had been strengthened, does the question come,

‘What doest thou here, Elijah?’

The vision and the still small voice may have brought home to the heart of Elijah one reason at least why he had failed. He had tried taunts and violence in the cause of God; he had seized heaven’s sword of retribution, and made it red with human blood. He had not learned that violence is hateful to God; he had to be taught that Elijah’s spirit is very different from Christ’s Spirit. And when God has taught him this lesson, He then gives him His message and His consolation. The message is, ‘Go, do My work again’; the consolation is, ‘Things are not so bad as to human eyes they seem.’

III. Those who suffer from despondency, should (1) look well to see whether the causes of their failure and their sorrow are not removable; (2) embrace the truth that when they have honestly done their best, then the success or the failure of their work is not in their own hands. Work is man’s; results are God’s. Dean Farrar.

Give me the ability to see as Christ sees.

 

As gentiles who are God-fearing, we must accept our salvation by living the Shema Israel daily seeking to love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. This morning as I said the Shema Israel, I thought Lord I don’t understand how to love you with my whole soul but I decided to say the prayer looking in the mirror at myself.  I then said, “Hear O Israel that the Lord our God is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, (I touched my heart) and with your whole mind, (I touched the side of my temple) with your whole soul (I instinctively touched my eyes; which are the windows of the soul) and flexed my arms and said with my whole strength.  It was then that I realized what the Lord had revealed to me.  My eyes: with my eyes I see things as a child of God, or as a selfish clot. With my eyes I see the good in the world or I see things that I want. With my eyes I see another human as a beloved or as an object to be used. Yes, indeed with my eyes my soul does exist and I will now love the Lord my God with my whole eyes which are the windows of the soul.

Copilot’s Take

Elijah’s collapse beneath the broom tree is one of the most unvarnished moments in Scripture. The prophet who once called down fire now prays for death, worn out by fear, exhaustion, and the violence of a world that refuses to turn toward God. The Catechism acknowledges this darkness: faith is often lived “in shadow” and “in trial” (CCC 164), and even the saints feel the weight of evil pressing against the heart. Yet God does not rebuke Elijah. He feeds him, strengthens him, and only then asks the question that cuts through despair: “What are you doing here?” The Sacred Heart answers that same question for every soul tempted to say, “Enough, Lord.”

On the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus—falling this year on First Friday—the Church places before the faithful not a symbol but the pierced Heart of the God‑Man, opened by the soldier’s spear so that grace, sacraments, and refuge might pour into the world. The Catechism teaches that Jesus’ Heart is united to His divine Person (CCC 478) and is the sign of His boundless love. Evil is real, the struggle is real, and the human heart is often wounded by fear, anger, and exhaustion. The Catechism is blunt: humanity is engaged in a “dramatic struggle” against the powers of darkness (CCC 409). Yet the Christian confronts evil not with Elijah’s sword, but with the way Christ Himself overcame it—through reparation, fidelity, and a love that absorbs suffering without surrendering to it. The Sacred Heart is God’s counter‑assault against despair.

The ancient command of the Shema—“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength”—reveals how this battle is fought. To love God with the whole soul is to love Him with the way one sees: with eyes that can behold the world as gift or as possession, the neighbor as beloved or as object, the self as child or as failure. The eyes are the windows of the soul, and the Sacred Heart purifies vision. It teaches the believer to see as Christ sees: with mercy, with clarity, with a courage that refuses to let evil define reality. This is the interior battleground where the Heart of Jesus wages war for His people.

This day becomes a convergence: First Friday reparation, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the martyr‑courage of Saint Boniface, and the quiet human ache Elijah felt beneath the broom tree. In a world marked by cultural confusion, rising violence, and the corrosion of truth, God meets the tired, the discouraged, and the wounded not with condemnation but with a Heart opened for them. Christ’s promise to St. Margaret Mary becomes the answer to Elijah’s despair and to the despair of our age: “My Heart shall be your safe refuge in that last hour.” This is not sentiment. It is a command to trust, a summons to courage, and a declaration that evil does not have the final word.

Grant, O Lord, the grace to see as Christ sees—and to take refuge in the Heart that was opened for the salvation of the world.

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus[2]

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a devotional with long and historic provenance within Christianity, and in modern times has been established as a Solemnity for the universal Church.

Sixteenth century Calvinism and seventeenth century Jansenism preached a distorted Christianity that substituted for God's love and sacrifice of His Son for all men the fearful idea that a whole section of humanity was inexorably damned.

The Church always countered this view with the infinite love of our Savior who died on the cross for all men. The institution of the feast of the Sacred Heart was soon to contribute to the creation among the faithful of a powerful current of devotion which since then has grown steadily stronger. The first Office and Mass of the Sacred Heart were composed by St. John Eudes, but the institution of the feast was a result of the appearances of our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675. The celebration of the feast was extended to the general calendar of the Church by Pius IX in 1856.

"I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment" (Jesus to St. Margaret Mary).

In the late 19th century, Sr. Mary of the Divine Heart received a message from Christ. This eventually led the 1899 encyclical letter Annum Sacrum in which Leo XIII decreed that the consecration of the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus should take place on June 11, 1899.

On the 100th anniversary of the Feast of the Sacred Heart in a landmark encyclical, Haurietis aquas (Latin: “You will draw waters”; written May 15, 1956), Pope Pius XII began his reflection by drawing from Isaiah 12:3, a verse which alludes to the abundance of the supernatural graces which flow from the heart of Christ. Haurietis aquas called the whole Church to recognize the Sacred Heart as an important dimension of Christian spirituality. Pius XII gave two reasons why the Church gives the highest form of worship to the Heart of Jesus. The first rests on the principle whereby the believers recognize that Jesus’ Heart is hypostatically united to the “Person of the Incarnate Son of God Himself.” The second reason is derived from the fact that the Heart is the natural sign and symbol of Jesus’ boundless love for humans. The encyclical recalls that for human souls the wound in Christ’s side and the marks left by the nails have been “the chief sign and symbol of that love” that ever more incisively shaped their life from within.

Things to Do:

From the Catholic Culture Library read Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Sacred Scripture by Bishop Raymond Burke.

Bake a heart shaped cake or cookies in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Read The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Read more about this feast here

For Doctrinal Explanations and Historical Ideas about the feast visit New Advent

Fr. Eugene Lobo, SJ explains the readings for the feast

Read Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger and Abbot Gueranger on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Make a Heart-Shaped Pizza and/or heart Mexican Tin Art (at the bottom of the page), directions at this site

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Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus[3]

ALTHOUGH many pious souls had been accustomed, in the silence of their secluded lives, to venerate the sacred Heart of Jesus with great devotion, still our divine Savior desired that the boundless love of His Heart might be known by all men, and that a new fire of love should thereby be kindled in the cold hearts of Christians. For this purpose, He made use of a frail and little-known instrument in the person of Margaret Mary Alacoque, a nun of the Order of the Visitation, at Parayle-Monial, France. One day, when, according to her custom during the octave of Corpus Christi, she was deeply engaged in devotions before the Blessed Sacrament, the divine Savior appeared to her, showed her His Heart burning with love, and said:

“Behold this Heart, which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love. In return I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this sacrament of love. And what is most painful to Me is that they are hearts consecrated to Me. It is for this reason I ask thee that the first Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi be appropriated to a special feast to honor My Heart by communicating on that day and making reparation for the indignity that it has received. And I promise that My Heart shall dilate to pour out abundantly the influences of its love on all that will render it this honor or procure its being rendered.” 

Margaret obeyed, but met everywhere the greatest opposition, until finally, when she became mistress of novices, she succeeded, by the help of her divine Spouse, in animating her young charges to venerate the sacred Heart of Jesus. But this was not sufficient for her zeal. She persevered until she softened the opposition of the nuns, and kindled in all an equal devotion towards the most sacred Heart. Thence the devotion spread to the adjoining dioceses, where confraternities in honor of the most sacred Heart of Jesus soon sprung up. Pope Clement XIII., after having instituted a most rigorous examination of the whole affair, commanded that the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus should be solemnly celebrated throughout the whole Catholic Church every year, on the first Friday after the octave of 3333. 

THE DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 

Object of this Devotion. 

In the divine Heart of Our Savior, we must not imagine an inanimate heart, separated from the person of Christ, but the living heart of the God-Man, the center of all His affections, the fountain of all His virtues, the most touching emblem of His in finite love to man. The Church venerates the cross, the blood, and the wounds of the divine Savior, by feasts which have their proper masses and lessons, in order, by meditation upon these objects, to awaken in us a more fervent devotion to the Redeemer. How much more worthy, then, of our devotion is the sacred Heart of Our Savior, since all its thoughts, movements, and affections aim at our salvation, and it is always ready to receive truly penitent sinners, to pardon them, to restore them again to God’s favor, and make them partakers of eternal happiness 

Excellence of this Devotion. 

It is, writes the venerable P. Simon Gourdan: 

1. A holy devotion, for therein men venerate in Christ those affections and motions of His Heart by which He sanctified the Church, glorified His Heavenly Father, and showed Himself to men as a perfect example of the most sublime holiness.

 

2. An ancient devotion of the Catholic Church, which, instructed by St. Paul, the great apostle, has at all times acknowledged the great beneficence of the divine and sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

3. An approved devotion, for the Holy Scriptures everywhere admonish us to renew the heart, by changing our lives; to penetrate it with true sorrow, to inflame it with divine love, and to adorn it by the practice of all virtues.

When, therefore, a new heart is promised us, by which to direct our lives, that can be no other than the Heart of Jesus, which is to us the pattern of all excellence, and which we must follow if we would be saved.

 

4. A perfect devotion, as being the origin of all other devotions. For the Heart of Jesus is the inexhaustible treasury from which the blessed Mother of God, and all other saints have derived their graces, their virtues, their life, their spiritual goods. Filled first with treasures from this source, different servants of God have instituted and established other devotions.

 

5. A profitable devotion, for thereby we have brought before our eyes the very fountain of life and grace, and can draw directly from it, increasing in ourselves all virtues, by adoring this divine Heart, meditating on its holy affections, and endeavoring to imitate them.

 

6. A devotion pleasing to God, for thus we adore God, as Christ requires, in spirit and in truth, serving Him inwardly in our hearts, and endeavoring to please Him. Finally, it is:

 

7. A useful devotion, since its whole object is to unite us most intimately with Christ as members of Him, her head, to make us live by and according to His spirit, to have one heart and soul with Him, and through grace finally to become one with Him, which is and must be the object of all devotions. 

As this devotion is, then, so excellent, we cannot sufficiently recommend it to all who are anxious for their salvation. “While everyone can practice this devotion, and adore the sacred Heart of Jesus, by himself, there is a greater blessing when pious souls unite and form a confraternity for practicing the devotion. Of such confraternities there were in the year 1726 more than three hundred, and they are now established throughout all Catholic countries. Hesitate not, Christian soul, to engage in this devotion, and to join in the adoration of that sacred Heart of Jesus in which all men find propitiation, the pious, confidence; sinners, hope; the afflicted, consolation; the sick, support; the dying, refuge; the elect, joy and delight. 

The Introit of the Mass for this feast is: “He will have mercy according to the multitude of His mercies, for He hath not willingly afflicted nor cast off the children of men; the Lord is good to them that hope in Him, to the soul that seeketh Him, alleluia, alleluia” (Lamentations iii. 32-35). “The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever to generation and generation” (Ps.

Ixxxviii. 2). 

Prayer. 

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who, glorying in the most sacred Heart of Thy Son, commemorate the chief benefits of His charity towards us, may equally rejoice in their acts and fruits. 

EPISTLE. Isaias xii. 1-6.

I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, for Thou wast angry with me: Thy wrath is turned away, and Thou hast comforted me. Behold God is my Savior. I will deal confidently, and will not fear; because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and He is become my salvation. You shall draw waters with joy out of the Savior’s fountains. And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon His name: make His inventions known among the people: remember that His name is high. Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath done great things: show this forth in all the earth. Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is He that is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel. 

Explanation. 

This epistle is a song of gratitude for the deliverance of the Jews from the hands of their enemies, and at the same time a prophecy of the coming redemption of mankind from sin and death, through Jesus Christ. “You shall draw waters with joy out of the Savior’s fountains.” These fountains are the graces which Christ has obtained for us on the cross, but particularly, says St. Augustine, the holy sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. We should rejoice over these graces, particularly that the Holy One of Israel, Jesus, the Son of God, is in the midst of Sion, that is, the Catholic Church, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, remaining therein until the end of time. Oh, let us often approach the ever-flowing fountain of all graces, the Most Holy Eucharist, and with confidence draw consolation, assistance, strength, and power from this fountain of love! 

GOSPEL. John xix. 31-35. 

At that time the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day (for that was a great Sabbath-day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers, with a spear, opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. 

Explanation. 

According to the Jewish law, a criminal could not be put to death, nor could the body of one who had been executed remain on the place of execution, on the Sabbath-day. The Jews, therefore, asked Pilate that the bodies of Jesus and the two thieves should be buried; but before this could be done, according to the Roman law, the legs of the crucified had to be broken with an iron mace: this the soldiers did to the two thieves, who were still alive; but when they found that Jesus was dead, one of the soldiers, whose name was Longinus, opened His side with a spear as had been predicted by the prophets. Jesus permitted his most sacred Heart to be opened 

1. To atone for those sins which come forth from the hearts of men, as Christ Himself says, “For from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies” (Matt. xv. 19).

 

2. To show the infinite love with which He first loved us, and to which the spear should point us.

 

3. To show that there was nothing so dear to Him that He would not give it to us, since, for our salvation, He shed the last drop of His heart’s blood.

 

4. To provide, as it were, an abode in His opened side, according to the words of St. Augustine: The Evangelist is very cautious in his language; for he said, not the soldier pierced or wounded His side, but he opened it, that thereby there might be opened to us the door from which flow into the Church those holy sacraments without which we cannot enter into true life.

 When temptation assails us, or sorrow depresses us, let us flee to this abode, and dwell therein until the storm has passed away; according to the words of the Prophet, “Enter thou into the rock, and hide thee in the pit” (Isaias ii. 10). For what is the rock but Christ, and the pit, but His wound?

 An Offering to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 Whoever says the following prayer before the image of the most sacred Heart of Jesus, with sincere sorrow for his sins, gains each time an indulgence of one hundred days; and by saying it daily for a month, he can on any one day gain a plenary indulgence, if he makes his confession, receives communion, and prays according to the intention of the Church:

 “My loving Jesus, I (N.N.) give Thee my heart; and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and as a reparation for all my unfaithfulness; and with Thy aid I purpose never to sin again.”

Enthronement to the Sacred Heart[4]

The Sacred Heart is King of individuals, of families and of the human race. The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the family is the recognition of the Sacred Heart as King of the Family. He is King of the family by divine appointment, conquest and excellence, but He desires to be such by our own personal choice. The Enthronement is more than a mere blessing of a Sacred Heart picture or the mere dedication of a family to the Divine Heart; it is a way of life; a covenant of love with our God. It is the recognition of the Royal Power of Jesus Christ over the family which pledges to live in union with the Sacred Heart by love, grace and obedience to His Commandments. In this way the Enthronement brings countless graces and blessings on the family, sanctifies it and through the family, society.

DIRECTIONS

Who Is Its Apostle?

Father Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SS.CC., a South American priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Upon his instantaneous cure at Paray-le-Monial, he was inspired by God to preach everywhere the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart to verify this promise of the Savior: "I will bless every dwelling where an image of My Heart is both exposed and honored."

Where Is the Enthronement to Take Place?

It is intended for homes, schools, convents, institutions, parishes, dioceses, cities, states and nations. We especially invite newlyweds as well as established families to place their homes in the Heart of Christ in this manner, thereby assuring themselves of special graces in their everyday problems and difficulties.

On Whose Approval?

It began with an oral command from Pope Pius X (St. Pius X) in 1907. In 1915, Pope Benedict the XV wrote a letter of approval. All subsequent popes have supported the need for honoring the Heart of Jesus.

Why Is It So Vital?

It stabilizes the family, the foundation of the Church and state; whoever rules the family rules society. It sanctifies the family, creates in the home the Catholic atmosphere and a spirit of piety, fosters vocations to the higher life, brings back wayward members, helps and consoles the members of families in times of trial or mourning. In short, it makes the home thoroughly Christian.

How Is It Carried Out?

The family makes arrangements with a priest, a qualified lay promoter of the Enthronement Apostolate or engages in self-study from instruction materials to get prepared for the Enthronement. If possible, Holy Mass is offered that day in the parish or in the home as an act of love and reparation. The family is encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for Mass and Communion. Preparation may also include the daily Rosary, a Litany of the Sacred Heart and reflection on Scriptures. A statue or picture of the Sacred Heart is procured, and a place of honor or "throne" is prepared in the home representing an altar in the home. There should be room for a Crucifix, candles, flowers and the Bible.

The steps in the ceremony are:

The Blessing of the home (optional)

The Blessing of the Sacred Heart image (this could be done ahead of time if no priest can be present)

The placement of the image of the Sacred Heart and the Bible in the place of honor

The recitation of the Apostles Creed

An explanation of the Enthronement

The Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart, a prayer of Thanksgiving and an Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by the family,

The signing of the covenant certificate by the family.

When Should the Enthronement Take Place?

Immediately, because family life needs the help of the Sacred Heart during these times of assault upon Christian values and Catholic doctrine. Zealous efforts to establish the Social Reign of the King of Love will merit superabundant blessings on the undertakings of all involved, will make priests' ministry most fruitful in the salvation of souls and all promoters will have their names inscribed indelibly and forever in the Heart of Jesus.

Where Can We Order Materials?

The National Enthronement Center, Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719. Tel. (508) 999-2680. Ask for an Enthronement kit.

Twelve Promises[5]

In the apparitions to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus gives these twelve promises for those who are devoted to His Sacred Heart.

The Twelve Promises of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart:

I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

I will establish peace in their families.

I will console them in all their troubles.

They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.

I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.

Tepid souls shall become fervent.

Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.

I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.

I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.

Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.

The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

"Look at this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth."

Octave of the Sacred Heart[6]

A Mass of the Sacred Heart won papal approval for use in Poland and Portugal in 1765, and another was approved for Venice, Austria and Spain in 1788. Finally, in 1856, Pope Pius IX established the Feast of the Sacred Heart as obligatory for the whole Church, to be celebrated on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi. In June 1889, Leo XIII raised the feast to the dignity of the first class. In 1928, Pope Pius XI raised the feast to the highest rank, Double of the First Class, and added an octave; the 1955 reforms of the general Roman calendar suppressed this octave and removed most other octaves.

MEDITATIONS FOR THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.

 

Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896

 

At the hour of our death, when life, like a false friend, is about to forsake us, we must, in a special manner, increase our confidence in the Heart of Jesus. It is said that Our Lord appeared one day to a holy soul who had conjured Him to grant to a pious person a happy passage from this life, and addressed to her these consoling words:

 

(My daughter, where is the pilot who, having brought into port a vessel laden with precious stones, sinks it in the sea at the moment of his arrival? Can you suppose that, after having granted so many graces to this soul in the course of her life, I shall abandon her at the end thereof? 

 

Let us lean on the heart of Jesus; and driven on the stormy sea of this world, under the protection which He grants to those who love Him, we shall one day triumphantly enter the desired port, and enjoy the eternal blessings of that holy guidance. Death was always precious in the sight of God, for Jesus was to pass through its portal; it is precious to Him still, for Jesus has died. No one who is devout to the heart of Jesus will fail to find at the moment of his death more excellent and abundant treasures than he had ever expected to receive.

 

Death, precious to Himself, will not Our Lord render it also inexpressibly so to us?

 

Faith cannot mistake the proofs of His tenderness. If we may venture to say so, the exile of the being He created is a sorrow to Him as much as to the soul itself; for, like a tender father, God desires that His children should be with Him in His kingdom. Of all the hours of life this is the one which is the most precious in the sight of God, exerts the greatest power over His love, and for this very reason has such a mighty influence over His mercy and justice. In order to receive the fulness of the new life to be merited by repentance through the divine reparation every man must undergo the terrible suffering of death; but is not this suffering, caused by sin, like all other trials, a token of love on the part of God?

 

Without death life could not attain to its end; without death how could the soul ever reach eternal life?

 

The rebel angel escaped the sentence of death, but for him there was no resurrection. It is decreed that man should die, or, rather, the soul, cleansed by the blood of Our Lord, and vivified by His love, passes into eternity before the body which it shall one day glorify; united together they are called by Jesus to reign in heaven in a state so exalted that it could not have been won by primeval innocence.

 

Even in this world, without awaiting the eternal glorifying of humanity, the most beloved amongst the friends of God experience through their whole being a marvelous transformation which robs death of its terrors, and wholly disengages them from this transitory world. The interior light by which they are led is no longer human, but divine, through Jesus; and a supernatural love is substituted for that natural love which they made their law; and not only are their criminal affections destroyed, but the love of God above all things gives them, even in this life, a foretaste of heaven. They feel no longer an engrossing care for the preservation of the body, but sigh after death, crying incessantly to God, with St. Paul, " I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. They exult when they hear the clock strike, at the thought that one hour less remains for them to pass in this exile; death is no longer a passage of sorrow, but the desired way by which they shall go to the Lord; they sigh after it, they desire it, and would fain hasten the moment of its approach by the ardor of their desire for the enjoyment of a never-ending eternity. One single thing restrains them: it is when the perfection of love imposes on them a law of charity yet stronger, which would detain them in this world for the glory of God and the good of their brethren; "for," says St. Teresa, "thus do souls arrive at a strict union with Jesus."

 

Thus ardently they have desired to die in order to enjoy the presence of Our Lord; this is their martyrdom that their exile is prolonged; yet they are so inflamed with the desire of knowing Him, of making His name hallowed, of being useful to the souls of others, that far from sighing after death they would wish to live for many years, even amidst the greatest sufferings, too happy in being able to add to the glory of their divine Master.

 

Perfect submission in death is an act of entire adoration, a magnificent profession of faith and praise; its beauty consists in the cheerful and ready sacrifice which the creature makes to the Creator of the life which He had given, shadowing forth God’s power in all its grandeur. Death beholds the soul already in adoration annihilated at the thought of the near approach of eternity; this, we may well imagine, is the kind of death the angels love to contemplate. The soul takes to itself no merit, places no trust on the way in which it has served God, and de sires to possess even the smallest consolation the Church can be stow. It is specially attracted by the sanctity of God, which makes it aspire to become pure, pure almost beyond conception, in order to appear before the inviolable majesty of God; relying only on His mercy; never losing its confidence in the greatness of the divine compassion, but fearing lest its offences may be beyond the reach of pardon; dying the death of a child, with its eyes fixed on the countenance of its tender Father.

 

Why, then, when in a state of grace, should we entertain a fear of death?

 

"Whosoever dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God abides in him." He who loves God is then sure of His grace, and dying in this state is certain of enjoying forever the sovereign good in the habitations of the elect.

 

And can such a one fear death?

 

David has, however, said that no living man is entirely pure in the sight of God. Thus no one should have the presumption to hope for salvation through his own merits; for, except Jesus and Mary, no one was ever exempt from sin. But we need not fear death when we have a true sorrow for our faults, and place our confidence in the merits of Jesus, Who came on this earth in order to redeem and save sinners, for whom He shed His blood, for whom He died. The blood of Jesus Christ," says the Apostle, cries more loudly in favor of sinners than the blood of Abel for vengeance against Cain."

 

Grace transforms into a brilliant light that which by its nature was plunged in darkness and obscurity, and the plaintive cry of our misery is changed into a song of triumph; for the fetters which yet separate the soul of the dying from the heavenly Jerusalem are so near being severed asunder that the triumphant alleluias of heaven mingle with the lamentations of earth, and the last gaze of repentant love is tenderly fixed on the crucifix till earth fades from view. The transit of the creature from time to eternity is dear to the Creator; for precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

 

"Let us throw aside, then, those vain fears of death, and regard it as a tribute which all must pay to nature. Let us be ready cheerfully to leave this world when Our Lord shall call us to the land where the saints await us, and where we shall meet those who have instructed us in the faith, and whose victory will in some measure supply for the negligence with which we have performed our own duties toward our heavenly Father. Let us unite ourselves to those glorious troops of blessed spirits who are seated in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; into which the good thief entered in triumph after a life of sin, and now enjoys, in the company of the elect, the ineffable delights of paradise; where there is no darkness nor storms, no intense heat, excessive cold, sickness, or sorrow; and where there is no need of the light of the sun, because the Sun of justice alone enlightens the heavenly Jerusalem.

 

We read the following touching account in the life of St. Gertrude: The saint once heard a preacher insist strongly on the strict obligation of a dying person to love God above all things, and to entertain for his sins a contrition founded on love. She believed this to be an exaggerated doctrine, and that if pure love was necessary very few persons would die in the proper dispositions. She became interiorly disturbed, and a cloud obscured her mind; but Our Lord Himself vouchsafed to dispel her fears, telling her " that in the last struggle, if the dying person had during life sought to please Him, and to lead a Christian life, He would so mercifully reveal Himself that His love would penetrate into the inmost folding’s of the heart, causing it by His presence to make acts of the most perfect contrition"; and, added Our Lord, " I would have My elect to know with what a great desire I wish them to be united to Me at that important moment. Let this be made known, so that men may rely no less on this last merciful grace than on all the others which My love has lavished upon them." Let us propagate this consoling truth, so well calculated to inflame our hearts with the most lively love for so merciful a God.

 

Practice.

 

Let us pray to the agonizing heart of Jesus for the one hundred fifty thousand persons who, it is computed, die daily in this world.

 

EJACULATORY PRAYER.

O sweet Jesus! grant that I may die the death of those devoted to Thy divine heart.

 

[His Holiness Pius IX., by a brief dated 29th September, 1859, granted an indulgence of three hundred days, extended afterwards by a new re script to three years, and a plenary indulgence once a month, on the usual conditions, to the recital of the following prayers. They are applicable to the faithful departed. Intentions to be made during Mass, either at the offertory, immediately after the consecration, or at the communion of the priest.]

 

Eternal Father, I offer to Thee the sacrifice which Thy divine Son made of Himself on the cross, which sacrifice He now renews on our altars. I offer it in the name of all mankind, with the Masses which are now being celebrated, and which will be celebrated throughout the world, in order to adore Thee and render Thee all possible honor and glory; to thank Thee for Thy innumerable benefits; to appease Thy justice, provoked by our sins; to give Thee the satisfaction Thou dost expect, also to obtain grace for myself, for Thy Church, and for the whole world, as also for the souls in purgatory. O Lord, I offer Thee the Masses which are being said throughout the world, in the name of all mankind, for Thy glory and the salvation and benefit of Thy creatures. O Lord, I desire to offer up myself to Thee for all the intentions for which Thou now offerest Thyself to God Thy Father.

 

First Friday Promises[7]

 

Those who faithfully complete the First Friday devotion for nine consecutive months are promised the following, as told to Roman Catholic nun St. Margaret Mary Alacoque by Our Lord Jesus Christ:

I will give them all of the graces necessary for their state of life.

I will establish peace in their homes.

I will comfort them in all their afflictions.

I will be their strength during life and above all during death.

I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings.

Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.

Tepid souls shall grow fervent.

Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.

I will bless every place where a picture of my heart shall be set up and honored.

I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.

Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.

I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant all to those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

To gain these blessings there are just three simple requirements to complete each month.

Attend Holy Mass

Receive Communion

Go to Confession †

Have you made the 9 first Fridays not many have. Reflecting on this I decided to enlist the aid of these 14 holy helper in my making the nine consecutive first Fridays requested by our Lord making them a part of my "master mind group". Problem? 14 does not go in nine. Then I realized that I also want to completed the 5 first Saturdays. Bingo 9+5=14.

Today's holy helper is St. George.

Saint George, a victim of the Diocletian persecution. What little is known about this popular saint comes by way of Saint Ephrem the Syrian. George was born in Cappadocia (Turkey) but moved with his noble mother to Palestine after the death of his father. Being of robust body he enlisted in the army and advanced to a high rank of tribune. When the persecution of Diocletian broke out George rebuked him for his cruelty. Consequently, the brave tribune was cast into prison in the city of Lydda and tortured. No torment could move him to renounce Christ. Rather, he said to the judge, “It were better for you to acknowledge the true God and seek His kingdom.” While being tortured and tied to a spiked wheel, George was encouraged by a vision of Our Lord. Many witnesses were converted by his steadfast firmness of faith. Finally, he was sent to heaven by being beheaded. The year was 303. Saint George is invoked against diseases of the skin and palsy.

I will ask St. George to pray for me and guide me to our Lord's heart and in relay fashion hand me off at the approach of the 2nd first Friday to Saint Blaise on the first Friday of September.

You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see.

Because you have the LORD for your refuge and have made the Most High your stronghold,

No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.

For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go.

With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon. Psalm 91:8-13.

What are the seven wounds or scars of Christ?[8]

 

God’s love for sinners led Him to give all for their salvation (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ bore the chastisement necessary to give guilty humans peace with God. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Our Savior shed His blood to save humanity from eternal death (Romans 6:23). He did this because, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Leviticus 17:11, 14; Hebrew 9:22). Every animal sacrifice pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of the “Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Therefore, “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). The Bible records the following seven wounds or scars of Jesus:

 1-The wounds on His head

 Matthew wrote, “And plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it on His head… (ch. 27:9, also John 19:5). The type of thorns that were grown in Jerusalem were called the Arabian Nebulae. This plant had sharp thorns that were up to 4 inches long. It is estimated that the cruel crown had over 100 spicules or thorns. This crown was pushed into Jesus’ head causing deep wounds. The prophecy given to Ezekiel appears to apply not only to him in his day, but also of Jesus. “And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day…  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house” (Ezekiel 2:3, 6). In addition, Jesus received blows on his face on two different occasions. This could have caused additional wounds or scars. Matthew wrote, “Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands” (Matthew 26:67; John 18:22). This was a fulfillment to the Old Testament prophecy.  “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).

 

2-The wounds on His back

“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him” (Matthew 27:20; John 19:1). The Romans used the brutal cat-of-nine tails whip to scourge prisoners. At the tips of the whip were nine strands of leather which had sharp bones or metal balls attached with nails. As the whip was lashed on the back of the prisoners, it would tear out the flesh causing intense bleeding. According to the law, victims could be whipped up to 40 times. However, the punishment would frequently end at 39 lashes because the effects were often fatal.

 

This was a fulfillment of several Old Testament prophecies to the wounds or scars of Jesus. “The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long” (Psalms 129:3). “I gave My back to the smiters” (Isaiah 50:6). Also, “They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod” (Micah 5:1). Jesus indeed endured suffering and pain for those whom He loves.

 

3 and 4-The wounds on His two hands

Perhaps the most notable scars or wounds of Jesus are those on His hands from the crucifixion. “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified” (Mark 15:15 also Matthew 27:26, 35; John 19:1, 17). The nailing of Jesus’ hands was a fulfillment to a Messianic Psalm. “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16). Also, the prophet Zechariah foretold of the Messiah’s pierced hands. “And one shall say unto Him, what are these wounds in Thine hands?…” (ch. 13:6). He also added, “They shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10).

After the resurrection, Jesus invited Thomas “the doubter” to see and touch His nail-pierced hands for himself. “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands… Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27).

 

5 and 6- The wounds on His two feet

 The New Testament records that Jesus was crucified by nailing His feet. “And when they were come… to Calvary, there they crucified Jesus” (Luke 23:33; John 19:16-18). This was a fulfillment to the Old Testament prophecy that stated, “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16). Also, “They shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). The piercing of the feet was an important part of the crucifixion. When the victim was nailed in the feet to the cross, this was essential to them being able to breathe. As they hung with arms extended, breathing was very difficult, and the person would have to push up with their legs onto their nail-pierced feet in order to inhale. It caused excruciating pain with every breath, but it was how the victim temporarily survived. This is why the guards would break the legs of the victim in order for the person to expire. However, it was prophesied of Jesus that none of His bones would be broken. “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:20).

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away… But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs… For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken” (John 19:31, 33, 36). 

 

7- The wound on His side

 In order to verify Jesus’ death, “one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34). This fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy that stated, “They shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). After the resurrection, Jesus invited Thomas “the doubter” to put his hand also into His side saying, “Reach your finger here…and put it into My side…” (John 20:27). This final piercing of Jesus showed the state of His heart. The fact that both water and blood came out demonstrates the extreme stress and trauma He was under. It was so intense that it brought about a condition known as pericardial effusion. This is where fluid builds around the heart and can be fatal.  It is often said that this event shows that Jesus died of a broken heart.

 

Jesus’ wounds of love

God demonstrated inexplicable love for the lost race in enduring this sacrifice for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

The scars or wounds on Christ’s glorified body will remain throughout eternity to testify to the Creator’s infinite love for humanity. “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6).

 

Saint Boniface[9]

A Benedictine monk was chosen by divine Providence to become Germany's great apostle and patron. In 724 he turned his attention to the Hessian people. near the village of Geismar on the Eder, he felled a giant oak that the people honored as the national sanctuary of the god Thor. Boniface used the wood to build a chapel in honor of St. Peter. This courageous act assured the eventual triumph of the Gospel in Germany. Conversions were amazingly numerous. In 732 Boniface devoted his time and talent to the organization of the Church in Germany. He installed bishops, set diocesan boundaries, promoted the spiritual life of the clergy and laity, held national synods (between 742 and 747), and in 744 founded the monastery of Fulda, which became a center of religious life in central Germany. The final years of his busy life were spent, as were his earlier ones, in missionary activity. Word came to him in 754 that a part of Frisia had lapsed from the faith. He took leave of his priests and, sensing the approach of death, carried along a shroud. He was 74 years of age when with youthful enthusiasm he began the work of restoration, a mission he was not to complete. A band of semi-barbarous pagans overpowered and put him to death when he was about to administer confirmation to a group of neophytes at Dockum. Patron: Brewers; Tailors; Germany; Prussia.

Things to Do

One tradition about Saint Boniface says that he used the customs of the locals to help convert them. There was a game in which they threw sticks called kegels at smaller sticks called heides. Boniface bought religion to the game, having the heides represent demons, and knocking them down showing purity of spirit. You might use your ingenuity to imitate this game for your children and tell them the story of St. Boniface. Sounds like bowling maybe go bowling in honor of St. Boniface.

St. Boniface was the uncle of St. Walburga.

St. Boniface, although an Englishman, planted the seeds of the Catholic Faith in Germany (at that time "Germany" included the domains of the Frankish monarchs, present-day Belgium, and the Netherlands), and now Germany calls St. Boniface her patron. Bake some special German cookies or treat and learn some of the religious customs that come from this country.

Apostolic Exhortation[10]

Veneremur Cernui – Down in Adoration Falling

of The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix,
to Priests, Deacons, Religious and the Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

My beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Part III

Loving and Adoring the Eucharistic Lord

II. Go to daily Mass, if possible.

76. The beauty of the Lord’s Day is meant to spill over into the rest of the week. Saint Augustine wrote of his mother, Saint Monica: “She did not let a day pass without being present at the Divine Sacrifice before Your altar, O Lord”. Regarding the harsh deprivations during his nine-month imprisonment, Saint John of the Cross said that the worst suffering was not being able to celebrate Mass nor receive Holy Communion. Of course, daily duties can make daily Mass impossible for some. But for many of us, it is simply a question of appreciating the immeasurable value of the Mass and organizing our time accordingly.

77. In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to ask Our Father to “give us this day our daily bread.” Like God raining down Manna in the wilderness with the morning dew, Christ nourishes his Church daily in the Mass. When we realize that the Lord desires to renew for us the gift of the Sunday Eucharist every day of the week, how can we not be overwhelmed with gratitude and a deeper spiritual hunger for more of the Bread of Life?

78. In this busy world, is it really possible to go to daily Mass? Or perhaps we are tempted to think that this is a luxury only for clergy or those persons who have extra time on their hands? Not at all. The Eucharist, as we have seen, fuels the mission of the members of Christ’s Body in the world. Christians who are active in the world have a great need for spiritual strength to bring Christ into the arena of their work. Perhaps we could even say that those who have the greatest demand in their secular pursuits are most in need of the great strength which comes from the daily Eucharist. Not long ago, the great Italian Saint Joseph Cottolengo encouraged daily Mass for the busiest of workers: doctors, nurses, manual laborers, teachers, parents, and so on. When they told him they didn’t have the time, he would tell them starkly that they had plenty of time – they just were not managing it properly. With so many distractions and demands competing for our attention, Mass can become a daily source of peace and strength. It turns us from “Marthas” into recollected “Mary’s”, who learn to choose the “better part” each day (cf. Lk 10:42). I challenge you to commit to at least one weekday Mass. I guarantee that you will notice within the next six months what a significant difference it will make in your life.

To be continued…

Which are the fruits of the Holy Ghost? They are the twelve following:

1. Charity.

2. Joy.

3. Peace.

4. Patience.

5. Benignity.

6. Goodness.

7. Longsuffering.

8. Mildness.

9. Faith.

10. Modesty.

11. Continency.

12. Chastity.

These fruits should be visible in the Christian, for thereby men shall know that the Holy Ghost dwells in him, as the tree is known by its fruit.

Strengthening the mind, heart and soul[11]

Dr. Daniel Amen a noted Psychiatrist tells us; our thoughts are often negative and seem to at times come automatically severely limiting a person’s ability to enjoy his or her life. How you think “moment-by-moment” plays a large role in how you feel (a deep limbic system function). Negative thoughts may cause you to feel internal discomfort or pain and they often cause you to behave in ways that alienate you from other people. Hopeful thoughts, on the other hand, influence positive behaviors and lead people to feel good about themselves and be more effective in their day-to-day lives. Hopeful thoughts also are involved in helping people connect with others. Healing the deep limbic system requires a person to heal their moment-to-moment thought patterns. Most people do not understand how important thoughts are and leave the development of thought patterns to random chance.

Did you know that every thought you have sends electrical signals throughout your brain? Thoughts have actual physical properties. They are real! They have significant influence on every cell in your body. When your mind is burdened with many negative thoughts, it affects your deep limbic system and causes deep limbic problems (irritability, moodiness, depression, etc.). Teaching yourself to control and direct thoughts in a positive way is one of the most effective ways to feel better. Here are the actual step-by-step “thinking” principles that I use in my psychotherapy practice to help my patients heal their deep limbic systems.

STEP #1 KNOW that every time you have a thought, your brain releases chemicals. That’s how our brain works…you have a thought, your brain releases chemicals, an electrical transmission goes across your brain and you become aware of what you’re thinking. Thoughts are real, and they have a real impact on how you feel and how you behave.

STEP #2 Every time you have an angry thought, an unkind thought, a sad thought, or a cranky thought, your brain releases negative chemicals that make your body feel bad (and activate your deep limbic system). Think about the last time you were mad. How did your body feel? When most people are angry their muscles become tense, their hearts beat faster, their hands start to sweat, and they may even begin to feel a little dizzy. Your body reacts to every negative thought you have.

STEP #3 Every time you have a good thought, a happy thought, a hopeful thought or a kind thought, your brain releases chemicals that make your body feel good (and cools your deep limbic system). Think about the last time you had a really happy thought. How did you feel inside your body? When most people are happy their muscles relax, their hearts beat slower, their hands become dry and they breathe slower. Your body also reacts to your good thoughts.

STEP #4 Your body reacts to every thought you have. We know this from polygraphs or lie detector tests. During a lie detector test, a person is hooked up to equipment that measures: hand temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, muscle tension and how much the hands sweat. The tester then asks questions, like “Did you do that thing?” If the person did the bad thing his body is likely to have a “stress” response and it is likely to react in the following ways: hands get colder, heart goes faster, blood pressure goes up, breathing gets faster, muscles get tight and hands sweat more. Almost immediately, his body reacts to what he thinks, whether he says anything or not. Remember, the deep limbic system is responsible for translating our emotional state into physical feelings of relaxation or tension. Now the opposite is also true. If he did not do the thing the tester asked about it is likely that his body will experience a “relaxation” response and react in the following ways: hands will become warmer, heart rate will slow, blood pressure goes down, breathing becomes slower and deeper, muscles become more relaxed and hands become drier. Again, almost immediately, your body reacts to what you think. This not only happens when you’re asked about telling the truth, your body reacts to every thought you have, whether it is about work, friends, family or anything else.

STEP #5 Thoughts are very powerful.

They can make your mind and your body feel good or they can make you feel bad. Every cell in your body is affected by every thought you have. That is why when people get emotionally upset, they actually develop physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches. Some physicians think that people who have a lot of negative thoughts are more likely to get cancer. If you can think about good things you will feel better. Think of your body like an “ecosystem.” An ecosystem contains everything in the environment like the water, the land, the cars, the people, the animals, the vegetation, the houses, the landfills, etc. A negative thought is like pollution to your system.

STEP #6 Unless you think about your thoughts they are automatic or “they just happen.” Since they just happen, they are not necessarily correct. Your thoughts do not always tell the truth. Sometimes they even lie to you. I once treated a college student who thought he was stupid, because he didn’t do well on tests. When his IQ (intelligence level) was tested, however, we discovered that he was close to a genius! You don’t have to believe every thought that goes through your head. It’s important to think about your thoughts to see if they help you or they hurt you. Unfortunately, if you never challenge your thoughts you just “believe them” as if they were true.

STEP #7 You can train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful or you can just allow them to be negative and upset you. Once you learn about your thoughts, you can choose to think good thoughts and feel good or you can choose to think bad thoughts and feel lousy. That’s right, it’s up to you! You can learn how to change your thoughts and you can learn to change the way you feel. One way to learn how to change your thoughts is to notice them when they are negative and talk back to them. If you can correct negative thoughts, you take away their power over you. When you just think a negative thought without challenging it, your mind believes it and your body reacts to it.

STEP #8 As I mentioned above, negative thoughts are mostly automatic or they “just happen.” That is why I call these thoughts “Automatic Negative Thoughts” or ANTs. Think of these negative thoughts that invade your mind like ants that bother a couple at a picnic. One negative thought, like one ant at a picnic, is not a big problem. Two or three negative thoughts, like two or three ants at a picnic, becomes more irritating. Ten or twenty negative thoughts, like ten or twenty ants at a picnic, may cause the couple to pick up and leave the picnic. Whenever you notice these automatic negative thoughts or ANTs you need to crush them, or they’ll ruin your relationships, your self-esteem and your personal power. One way to crush these ANTs is to write them down and talk back to them. For example, if you think, “My husband never listens to me,” write it down. Then write down a rational response; something like “He’s not listening to me now, maybe he’s distracted by something else. He often listens to me.” When you write down negative thoughts and talk back to them, you take away their power and help yourself feel better. Some people tell me they have trouble talking back to these negative thoughts because they feel that they are lying to themselves. Initially, they believe that the thoughts that go through their mind are the truth. Remember, thoughts sometimes lie to you. It’s important to check them out before you just believe them!

Here are nine different ways that your thoughts lie to you to make situations out to be worse than they really are. Think of these nine ways as different species or types of ANTs (automatic negative thoughts). When you can identify the type of ANT, you begin to take away the power it has over you. I have designated some of these ANTs as red, because these ANTs are particularly harmful to you. Notice and exterminate ANTs whenever possible.

ANT #1: “Always or Never Thinking” This happens when you think something that happened will “always” repeat itself. For example, if your partner is irritable and she gets upset you might think to yourself, “She’s always yelling at me,” even though she yells only once in a while. But just the thought “She’s always yelling at me” is so negative that it makes you feel sad and upset. It activates your limbic system. Whenever you think in words like always, never, no one, everyone, every time, everything those are examples of “always” thinking and usually wrong. Here are some examples of “always” thinking: “He’s always putting me down.” “No one will ever call me.” “I’ll never get a raise.” “Everyone takes advantage of me.” “You turn away every time I touch you.”
“My children never listen to me.” “Always thinking” ANTs are very common. Watch out for them.

ANT #2 (red ANT): “Focusing on the Negative” This occurs when your thoughts only see the bad in a situation and ignore any of the good parts that might happen. For example, I have treated several professional speakers for depression. After their presentations they had the audience fill out an evaluation form. If l00 of them were returned and 2 of them were terrible, but 90 of them were outstanding, which ones do you think they focused on? Only the negative ones! I taught them to focus on the ones they liked a lot more than the ones they didn’t like. It’s important to learn from others, but in a balanced, positive way. Your deep limbic system can learn a powerful lesson from the Disney movie, “Pollyanna.” In the movie, Pollyanna came to live with her aunt after her missionary parents died. Even though she had lost her parents she was able to help many “negative people” with her attitude. She introduced them to the “glad game,” to look for things to be glad about in any situation. Her father had taught her this game after she experienced a disappointment. She had always wanted a doll, but her parents never had enough money to buy it for her. Her father sent a request for a second-hand doll to his missionary sponsors. By mistake, they sent her a pair of crutches. “What is there to be glad about crutches?” they thought. Then they decided they could be glad because they didn’t have to use them. This very simple game changed the attitudes and lives of many people in the movie. Pollyanna especially affected the minister. Before she came to town he preached hellfire and damnation, and he did not seem to be very happy. Pollyanna told him that her father said that the Bible had 800 “Glad Passages,” and that if God mentioned being glad that many times, it must be because He wants us to think that way. Focusing on the negative in situations will make you feel bad. Playing the glad game or looking for the positive will help you feel better.

ANT #3 (red ANT): “Fortune Telling” This is where you predict the worst possible outcome to a situation. For example, before you discuss an important issue with your partner you predict that he or she won’t be interested in what you have to say. Just having this thought will make you feel tense. I call “fortune telling” red ANTs because when you predict bad things you can make them happen.

ANT #4 (red ANT): “Mind Reading” This happens when you believe that you know what another person is thinking even when they haven’t told you. Mind reading is a common cause of trouble between people. I tell my wife, “Please don’t read my mind, I have enough trouble reading it myself!” You know that you are mind reading when you have thoughts such as, “She’s mad at me. He doesn’t like me. They were talking about me.” I tell people that a negative look from someone else may be nothing more than they are constipated! 

You don’t know. You can’t read anyone else’s mind. You never know what others are really thinking. Even in intimate relationships, you cannot read your partner’s mind. When there are things you don’t understand, clarify them and stay away from mind reading ANTs. They are very infectious.

ANT #5: “Thinking with Your Feelings” This occurs when you believe your negative feelings without ever questioning them. Feelings are very complex, and, often based on powerful memories from the past. Feelings sometimes lie to you. Feelings are not about truth. They are about feelings. But many people believe their feelings even though they have no evidence for them. “Thinking with your feelings” thoughts usually start with the words “I feel.” For example, “I feel like you don’t love me. I feel stupid. I feel like a failure. I feel nobody will ever trust me.” Whenever you have a strong negative feeling, check it out. Look for the evidence behind the feeling. Do you have real reasons to feel that way? Or, are your feelings based on events or things from the past?

ANT #6: “Guilt Beatings” Guilt is not a helpful emotion, especially for your deep limbic system. In fact, guilt often causes you to do those things that you don’t want to do. Guilt beatings happen when you think with words like “should, must, ought or have to.” Here are some examples: “I ought to spend more time at home. I must spend more time with my kids. I should have sex more often. I have to organize my office.” Because of human nature, whenever we think that we “must” do something, no matter what it is, we don’t want to do it. It is better to replace “guilt beatings” with phrases like “I want to do this…It fits with my goals to do that…It would be helpful to do this….” So, in the examples above, it would be helpful to change those phrases to “I want to spend more time at home. It’s in our best interest for my kids and I to spend more time together. I want to please my spouse by making wonderful love with him (or her) because he (or she) is important to me. It’s in my best interest to organize my office.” Get rid of this unnecessary emotional turbulence that holds you back from achieving the goals you want.

ANT #7: “Labeling” Whenever you attach a negative label to yourself or to someone else, you stop your ability to take a clear look at the situation. Some examples of negative labels that people use are “jerk, frigid, arrogant and irresponsible.” Negative labels are very harmful, because whenever you call yourself or someone else a jerk or arrogant you lump that person in your mind with all of the “jerks” or “arrogant people” that you’ve ever known, and you become unable to deal with them in a reasonable way. Stay away from negative labels.

ANT #8: “Personalization” Personalization occurs when innocuous events are taken to have personal meaning. “My boss didn’t talk to me this morning. She must be mad at me.” Or, one feels he or she is the cause of all the bad things that happen, “My son got into an accident with the car. I should have spent more time teaching him to drive. It must be my fault.” There are many other reasons for behavior besides the negative explanations an abnormal limbic system picks out. For example, your boss may not have talked to you because she was preoccupied, upset or in a hurry. You never fully know why people do what they do. Try not to personalize their behavior.

ANT #9 (the most poisonous red ANT): “Blame” Blame is very harmful. When you blame something or someone else for the problems in your life, you become a victim of circumstances and you cannot do anything to change your situation.

Many relationships are ruined by people who blame their partners when things go wrong. They take little responsibility for their problems. When something goes wrong at home or at work, they try to find someone to blame. They rarely admit their own problems. Typically, you’ll hear statements from them like: “It wasn’t my fault that….” “That wouldn’t have happened if you had….” “How was I supposed to know….” “It’s your fault that….” The bottom line statement goes something like this: “If only you had done something differently, I wouldn’t be in the predicament I’m in. It’s your fault, and I’m not responsible.” Whenever you blame someone else for the problems in your life, you become powerless to change anything. The “Blame Game” hurts your personal sense of power. Stay away from blaming thoughts and take personal responsibility to change the problems you have.

Summary of A.N.T. Species:

“Always” thinking: thinking in words like always, never, no one, everyone, every time, everything.

Focusing on the negative: only seeing the bad in a situation.

Fortune telling: predicting the worst possible outcome to a situation.

Mind reading: believing that you know what another person is thinking, even though they haven’t told you.

Thinking with your feelings: believing negative feelings without ever questioning them.

Guilt beatings: thinking in words like “should, must, ought or have to.”

Labeling: attaching a negative label to yourself or to someone else.

Personalization: innocuous events are taken to have personal meaning.

Blame: blaming someone else for your own problems.

Teaching the Faith[12]

PRACTICE OF THE MONTH—SIGN OF THE CROSS

 

Do this at Meals-Insist on attendance of all for one meal a day-no phones.

The making of the Sign of the Cross, however, we must attend to carefully. We have not mentioned this before, thinking it just as well to leave it to the mothers to observe whether the little ones have imitated them in blessing themselves.

The only easy way to teach the Sign of the Cross is to have the baby imitate you. If you face him, he will go wrong. Stand alongside him, a little slanting, so that he can watch your hand when it moves to the left shoulder.

In the name of the Father (right hand to forehead) and of the Son (right hand to chest) and of the Holy (right hand to left shoulder) Ghost (right hand to right shoulder) Amen. (Both hands clasped).

Bible in a year Day 335 Run the Race

As we continue to follow the missions of Paul and Barnabas, Fr. Mike highlights the fickle nature of humanity and the futility of striving for the praise of men. He also encourages us to remain courageous in the tribulations we face, finding strength in other believers, and running toward the eternal and imperishable goal of salvation. Today’s readings are Acts 14, 1 Corinthians 9-10, and Proverbs 28:7-9.

 

National Doughnut Day[13]

 

National Doughnut Day is a day of appreciation of Salvation Army volunteers who distributed doughnuts to servicemen during World War I.  Doughnuts are fried circular pieces of dough that are usually topped with sugar syrups, chocolate, nuts and other flavorings. National Doughnut Day began in 1938 as a fundraiser for Chicago's Salvation Army.  The fundraiser aimed to support the needy and honor the Salvation Army volunteers who donated their time during World War I to hand out doughnuts to the soldiers.  When the US entered the war in 1917, Salvation Army huts were formed where many female volunteers were deployed to mother the soldiers.  During this time, women began to make doughnuts for the servicemen who began to refer to the women as, Doughnut Dollies. This national holiday is celebrated each year on the first Friday in June.

 

National Doughnut Day Top Events and Things to Do

 

Visit your local doughnut store for specials and promotions to celebrate National Doughnut Day.  Many doughnut stores offer free doughnuts or specials.

Try to make your own doughnuts with your favorite toppings, or try new blends of sweet and savory toppings.  Some interesting twists include maple bacon doughnut, smoked salmon doughnut and grilled cheese doughnuts!

Become a volunteer with The Salvation Army.  According to The Salvation Army, more than 30 million Americans received assistance from the Salvation Army's officers, employees and 3.4 million volunteers in 2014.

Pick up a large box of doughnuts on your way to work or school to share with friends, family, colleagues or fellow students

Fish and Chips Day[14]

 

Rich, delicious, and flavorful, and utterly satisfying, that’s the best way to describe this treat. There’s something about the tang of salt and the oil-stained newspaper that just speaks of a meal so steeped in tradition it only seems appropriate that it comes wrapped in the day’s news. Fish and Chips Day commemorates this fundamental meal of the working class, and while its roots may lay on Britannia’s foggy shores, there are few places in the world that this comfort food hasn’t found its way to.

 

To talk of the history of this holiday is, as in the case of so many others, to speak of the origins of that which it celebrates. Fish and Chip seem an odd thing to have become the foundation for an entire cultures working class, but much comes into focus when you understand the economy and industry of the time it took hold. In the late 1800’s, trawl fishing became a major part of the industry in the North Sea, resulting in a growing availability of fresh fish in areas further inland, especially within the cities. Anyone who understands economics knows that ‘easily available’ means ‘cheaper to get your hands on’. Cheap, filling, and high caloric food created an excellent foundation for a working class that held incredibly physically demanding jobs. Thus, it was that “Chippers” started cropping up all over major population centers, the vendors that served fish and chips to the people on the street. From there, the meal spread all over the world and is now popular all over Canada (being sold from ‘Chip Wagons’) and throughout the USA. In the America’s it can be found in everything from corner burger shops as part of their fry menu, to some of the most upscale restaurants which provide them with only the best cod and sides. It really is a meal that crosses all the boundaries of culture, class, and status.

 

How to Celebrate Fish and Chip Day

 

Well, it starts off simple enough, doesn’t it? Pop on over to your favorite Chipper and get yourself a paper-full of this delicious and filling meal. Try it, however, you like it, with a little tartar sauce in the US, a bit of mayonnaise in Canada, or whatever strikes you as your favorite thing to flavor your dish with. Malt vinegar is a very popular addition, and with the delicious tang, it will make your Fish and Chip Day flavorful and authentic!

 

Fitness Friday

Recognizing that God the Father created man on Friday the 6^th day I propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew yourself in strength, mind, soul and heart.

Be smart when sunbathing

·         Everyone knows that a nice tan gives a healthy glow, so as soon as summer comes, we rush to enjoy sunbathing. However, the research show that excessive and irresponsible sunbathing can cause skin problems including skin cancer. Despite all potential threats to enjoy the sun, sunbathing can be healthy if you take all measures to protect your skin from harmful sun rays. Here are some tips for you when and how to enjoy the sun in order to get a healthy tan without any trouble.

·         Every time when you face the sun use a sunscreen with SPF protection. Apply a sunscreen all over your body and face at least 30 minutes before sunbathing so that your skin could absorb the cream. When you are in the sun reapply sunscreen every 30 minutes. Also, don’t forget a sunscreen to your lips as they are very sensitive to the sun.

·         First time you shouldn’t stay in the sun for more than 15 minutes. Let your skin to get used to the sun. Then you can gradually increase the time you spend in the sun for 5-10 minutes every time.

·         Stay in the sun before the noon or just after 3 p.m. Time from 12 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the most dangerous because the sun causes the most damage at this time.

·         Don’t forget to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Make sure to wear sunglasses as the sun can violate your retina.

·         Moisturize your skin after sunbathing. The best moisturizers contain aloe vera which has soothing properties and helps to restore moisture balance of skin cells.

Around the Corner

“Give thanks to the LORD for he is good,

his mercy endures forever!

(Psalm 107:1)

Exercise that requires strength, beauty, courage and a little stupidity. Kinda like going out into the desert where there are snakes and pointy things.

All forms of aerial arts can be incredibly dangerous since your whole body will be suspended in the air and your entire weight will be held up by what is essentially a piece of fabric.

Aerial silks (also known as aerial contortion, aerial ribbons, aerial tissues, fabric, ribbon, or tissu) is a type of performance in which one or more artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from a specialist fabric.

The fabric may be hung as two pieces, or a single piece, folded to make a loop, classified as hammock silks. Performers climb the suspended fabric without the use of safety lines and rely only on their training and skill to ensure safety. They use the fabric to wrap, suspend, drop, swing, and spiral their bodies into and out of various positions. The fabric may also be used to fly through the air, striking poses and figures. Some performers use rosin (dried or mixed with rubbing alcohol) on their hands and feet to increase the friction and grip on the fabric. Aerial silks is a demanding art and requires a high degree of strength, power, flexibility, courage, stamina, and grace to practice.[15]

National Fishing and Boating Week June 6-14

National Fishing and Boating Week began in 1979 as National Fishing Week. Its main goal was simple: get more people hooked on fishing. In 2002, this week got a significant boost when President George W. Bush declared it a national holiday.

This declaration recognized fishing and boating as pastimes and as important parts of American culture and lifestyle.

National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month

Bucket List trip: Armenia

Wine Days Festival in Armenia

Eat Fish on Fridays

Cheat: National Donut Day

Iceman’s 40 devotion

Get an indulgence

Operation Purity

Daily Devotions

Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: True Masculinity

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

Drops of Christ’s Blood

Universal Man Plan

Rosary

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[1]https://www.studylight.org/commentary/1-kings/19-4.html

[2]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-06-19

[3] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.

[4]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1097

[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=875

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Sacred_Heart

[7]http://first-fridays.us/

[8]https://bibleask.org/what-are-the-seven-wounds-or-scars-of-christ/

[9]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-06-05

[10]https://dphx.org/veneremur-cernui/

[11] http://ahha.org/selfhelp-articles/ant-therapy/

[12]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1102

[13]https://www.wincalendar.com/Doughnut-Day

[14]https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/fish-and-chip-day/

[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_silk

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (1949)

Danny Kaye • Barbara Bates • Walter Slezak

Directed by Henry Koster

A Technicolor musical comedy of mistaken identity,

where a simple man becomes the mirror

that exposes a corrupt town’s hidden rot.

It is not merely farce.

It is a parable about truth arriving in disguise,

innocence confounding the powerful,

and joy becoming a form of judgment.

Kaye’s foolishness becomes wisdom.

Bates’ gentleness becomes clarity.

And the town that lived by deception

is undone by the one man too honest to lie.

1. Production & Historical Setting

Post‑War America and the Need for Light

Released in 1949, as America settled uneasily into its post‑war identity,

the film offered Technicolor brightness, music, and satire

to a nation tired of shadows.

Its laughter is not escapism —

it is medicine.

Danny Kaye: The Holy Fool Who Sees Truly

Kaye’s Georgi is a wandering simpleton,

a man whose innocence becomes a weapon

against the scheming officials of a corrupt town.

He is the fool who tells the truth without knowing it,

the man whose purity exposes everyone else’s fear.

Barbara Bates: The Quiet Heart of the Story

Bates plays the role of the gentle anchor —

the one character untouched by corruption,

the one who sees Georgi not as a threat

but as a soul worth protecting.

Her presence gives the film its moral center.

A Satire Loosely Inspired by Gogol

Though not a strict adaptation,

the film carries Gogol’s DNA:

bureaucrats terrified of exposure,

officials scrambling to hide their sins,

and truth arriving in the most unlikely form.

2. Story Summary

A Nobody Mistaken for a Somebody

Georgi, a wandering illiterate,

is mistaken for the feared Inspector General —

a royal agent known for uncovering corruption.

The town panics.

The officials plot.

The innocent man becomes the catalyst for revelation.

A Town Built on Lies

Every official hides a scheme.

Every bribe hides another bribe.

Every smile hides a fear.

Georgi’s presence — naïve, joyful, uncalculated —

becomes the light that exposes the cracks.

The Fool Who Brings Justice

Georgi never intends to judge anyone.

He simply lives honestly.

And that honesty becomes the blade

that cuts through the town’s pretenses.

By the end, the guilty are revealed,

the innocent protected,

and the fool becomes the unexpected instrument of truth.

3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances

A. Innocence Confounds Corruption

Georgi’s simplicity is not stupidity —

it is purity.

And purity terrifies the corrupt.

B. Truth Often Arrives in Disguise

The town expects a stern inspector.

Instead, they receive a wandering nobody

who sees more clearly than they do.

C. Fear Reveals the Heart

The officials condemn themselves

by assuming the worst —

because they know what they deserve.

D. Joy as Judgment

Georgi’s songs, dances, and foolishness

become a kind of holy disruption —

a reminder that joy can expose lies

as effectively as fire.

E. Providence Uses the Unlikely

A man who cannot read

becomes the one who reads the town’s soul.

4. Hospitality Pairing — A Table of Rustic Cheer

Drink: A bright, citrus‑forward schnapps cocktail —

peasant‑simple, festive, and disarming.

Plate: Warm rye bread with butter and smoked sausage —

the food of travelers, wanderers, and men who never meant to become heroes.

Atmosphere: Laughter in the room, lamplight on wood,

a sense that the truth might burst in singing.

Symbol: A small wooden spoon —

a reminder that God often stirs the pot

with the humblest tool.

5. Reflection Prompts

• Where has innocence in my life revealed something I tried to hide.
• What fear in me reacts like the corrupt officials — assuming judgment is coming.
• Who is the “holy fool” I have underestimated.
• Where is joy trying to break through my defenses.
• What truth is arriving in disguise, asking me to recognize it.