SUFFERING STRENGTHENS VIRTUE
A soul beginning to give itself up to piety is a fair sight. Like a tender plant, pushing up its fragile stem above the earth, its colour is lovely and delicate. But if it is pleasing to the eye on account of its freshness, it is also sensitive and frail. A blast of wind can wither it, the sun can fade it. But when it shall have withstood tempests, heat, and inclemencies of weather, it will be stronger and less exposed to danger. So the soldier of Christ who has suffered aridities, temptations, and tribulations of every kind, has acquired strength, provided always that he has borne all these. things with patience and love. Thus only will he be invincible and his enemies will be powerless against him.
-Saudreau.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Patience - November 21
Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
A SUBSTITUTE FOR PURGATORY [continued]
1. Cultivate an ardent love of God and an abiding sorrow for all the sins of your life. For this purpose accustom yourself to make frequent acts of the love of God and of contrition.
2. Accept all your afflictions with the sentiments of profound humility, in the spirit of penance, and with the conviction that, only for the great mercy of God, you might even now be condemned to the endless pains of hell.
3. Unite yourself continually with Our Lord dying on the cross for love of you, and beg Him to accept your sufferings in union with His as an atonement for all your sins.
The more fervently you cultivate these dispositions, the more quickly will you cancel your debt of temporal punishment. In this way you can do more in one short hour now, than might be possible in purgatory in an entire century. It all depends on the fervor of your love and the depth of your sorrow for sin.
Whatever you endure in this life, besides its power to atone for your sins, has great efficacy for making you rich in grace and glory. Moment by moment, day by day, and year by year, you are at one and the same time canceling your debt and amassing additional claims to greater happiness in heaven; and the more numerous and painful your sufferings, the more abundant and varied will be your merits.
Considered in this light, tell me, is it not a great privilege and a precious grace to have your purgatory here on earth? Picture to yourself how greatly a soul in purgatory would rejoice if God permitted her to return to earth and take up your life with its pains and labors and griefs and sorrows. How she would welcome every form of suffering and embrace it gladly and try to make the most of it for atonement and for merit. But the opportunity will never be granted.
See, then, how unreasonable it is for you to complain and murmur against Divine Providence when trial and afflictions are sent to you. Revive your faith, and you will soon learn how to bless and thank God amidst even the greatest agonies of pain; you will clearly understand that it is His infinite love for you and your eternal glory that makes Him lay these crosses on your shoulders.
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
A SUBSTITUTE FOR PURGATORY [continued]
1. Cultivate an ardent love of God and an abiding sorrow for all the sins of your life. For this purpose accustom yourself to make frequent acts of the love of God and of contrition.
2. Accept all your afflictions with the sentiments of profound humility, in the spirit of penance, and with the conviction that, only for the great mercy of God, you might even now be condemned to the endless pains of hell.
3. Unite yourself continually with Our Lord dying on the cross for love of you, and beg Him to accept your sufferings in union with His as an atonement for all your sins.
The more fervently you cultivate these dispositions, the more quickly will you cancel your debt of temporal punishment. In this way you can do more in one short hour now, than might be possible in purgatory in an entire century. It all depends on the fervor of your love and the depth of your sorrow for sin.
Whatever you endure in this life, besides its power to atone for your sins, has great efficacy for making you rich in grace and glory. Moment by moment, day by day, and year by year, you are at one and the same time canceling your debt and amassing additional claims to greater happiness in heaven; and the more numerous and painful your sufferings, the more abundant and varied will be your merits.
Considered in this light, tell me, is it not a great privilege and a precious grace to have your purgatory here on earth? Picture to yourself how greatly a soul in purgatory would rejoice if God permitted her to return to earth and take up your life with its pains and labors and griefs and sorrows. How she would welcome every form of suffering and embrace it gladly and try to make the most of it for atonement and for merit. But the opportunity will never be granted.
See, then, how unreasonable it is for you to complain and murmur against Divine Providence when trial and afflictions are sent to you. Revive your faith, and you will soon learn how to bless and thank God amidst even the greatest agonies of pain; you will clearly understand that it is His infinite love for you and your eternal glory that makes Him lay these crosses on your shoulders.
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Friday, November 20, 2009
Gospel for Saturday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
From: Luke 20:27-40
The Resurrection of the Dead
[27] There came to Him (Jesus) some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, [28] and they asked Him a question saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. [29] Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; [30] and the second [31] and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. [32] Afterward the woman also died. [33] In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."
[34] And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; [35] but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, [36] for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. [38] Now He is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him." [39] And some of scribes answered, "Teacher, You have spoken well." [40] For they no longer dared to ask Him any question.
_____________________
Commentary:
27-40. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the body or the immortality of the soul. They came along to ask Jesus a question which is apparently unanswerable. According to the Levirate law (cf. Deuteronomy 25:5ff), if a man died without issue, his brother was duty bound to marry his widow to provide his brother with descendants. The consequences of this law would seem to give rise to a ridiculous situation at the resurrection of the dead.
Our Lord replies by reaffirming that there will be a resurrection; and by explaining the properties of those who have risen again, the Sadducees' argument simply evaporates. In this world people marry in order to continue the species: that is the primary aim of marriage. After the resurrection there will be no more marriage because people will not die anymore.
Quoting Sacred Scripture (Exodus 3:2, 6) our Lord shows the grave mistake the Sadducees make, and He argues: God is not the God of the dead but of the living, that is to say, there exists a permanent relationship between God and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who have been dead for years. Therefore, although these just men have died as far as their bodies are concerned, they are alive, truly alive, in God--their souls are immortal--and they are awaiting the resurrection of their bodies.
See also the notes on Matthew 22:23-33 and Mark 12:18-27.
[The note on Matthew 22:23-33 states:
23-33. The Sadducees argue against belief in the resurrection of the dead on the basis of the Levirate law, a Jewish law which laid down that when a married man died without issue, one of his brothers, according to a fixed order, should marry his widow and the first son of that union be given the dead man's name. By outlining an extreme cases the Sadducees make the law and belief in resurrection look ridiculous. In His reply, Jesus shows up the frivolity of their objections and asserts the truth of the resurrection of the dead.]
[The note on Mark 12:18-27 states:
18-27. Before answering the difficulty proposed by the Sadducees, Jesus wants to identify the source of the problem--man's tendency to confine the greatness of God inside a human framework through excessivereliance on reason, not giving due weight to divine Revelation and the power of God. A person can have difficulty with the truths of faith; this is not surprising, for these truths are above human reason. But it is ridiculous to try to find contradictions in the revealed word of God; this only leads away from any solution of difficulty and may make it impossible to find one's way back to God. We need to approach Sacred Scripture, and, in general, the things of God, with the humility which faith demands. In the passage about the burning bush, which Jesus quotes to the Sadducees, God says this to Moses: "Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).]
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
The Resurrection of the Dead
[27] There came to Him (Jesus) some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, [28] and they asked Him a question saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. [29] Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; [30] and the second [31] and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. [32] Afterward the woman also died. [33] In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."
[34] And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; [35] but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, [36] for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. [38] Now He is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him." [39] And some of scribes answered, "Teacher, You have spoken well." [40] For they no longer dared to ask Him any question.
_____________________
Commentary:
27-40. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the body or the immortality of the soul. They came along to ask Jesus a question which is apparently unanswerable. According to the Levirate law (cf. Deuteronomy 25:5ff), if a man died without issue, his brother was duty bound to marry his widow to provide his brother with descendants. The consequences of this law would seem to give rise to a ridiculous situation at the resurrection of the dead.
Our Lord replies by reaffirming that there will be a resurrection; and by explaining the properties of those who have risen again, the Sadducees' argument simply evaporates. In this world people marry in order to continue the species: that is the primary aim of marriage. After the resurrection there will be no more marriage because people will not die anymore.
Quoting Sacred Scripture (Exodus 3:2, 6) our Lord shows the grave mistake the Sadducees make, and He argues: God is not the God of the dead but of the living, that is to say, there exists a permanent relationship between God and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who have been dead for years. Therefore, although these just men have died as far as their bodies are concerned, they are alive, truly alive, in God--their souls are immortal--and they are awaiting the resurrection of their bodies.
See also the notes on Matthew 22:23-33 and Mark 12:18-27.
[The note on Matthew 22:23-33 states:
23-33. The Sadducees argue against belief in the resurrection of the dead on the basis of the Levirate law, a Jewish law which laid down that when a married man died without issue, one of his brothers, according to a fixed order, should marry his widow and the first son of that union be given the dead man's name. By outlining an extreme cases the Sadducees make the law and belief in resurrection look ridiculous. In His reply, Jesus shows up the frivolity of their objections and asserts the truth of the resurrection of the dead.]
[The note on Mark 12:18-27 states:
18-27. Before answering the difficulty proposed by the Sadducees, Jesus wants to identify the source of the problem--man's tendency to confine the greatness of God inside a human framework through excessivereliance on reason, not giving due weight to divine Revelation and the power of God. A person can have difficulty with the truths of faith; this is not surprising, for these truths are above human reason. But it is ridiculous to try to find contradictions in the revealed word of God; this only leads away from any solution of difficulty and may make it impossible to find one's way back to God. We need to approach Sacred Scripture, and, in general, the things of God, with the humility which faith demands. In the passage about the burning bush, which Jesus quotes to the Sadducees, God says this to Moses: "Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).]
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Principles and Practices - November 21
REASON CONTROLS
A good and devout man first arranges in his own mind those duties which he has outwardly to perform; neither does he in, the performance of them yield to the desires of a corrupt inclination, but regulates his actions by the dictates of sound reason.
-The Imitation.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
A good and devout man first arranges in his own mind those duties which he has outwardly to perform; neither does he in, the performance of them yield to the desires of a corrupt inclination, but regulates his actions by the dictates of sound reason.
-The Imitation.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Patience - November 20
Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
A SUBSTITUTE FOR PURGATORY
Another reason why you are visited with suffering is this: God desires to preserve you from the extremely painful sufferings of purgatory.
If Thou, O God, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it?
-Ps. cxix. 3.
Remember my judgment; for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to-day for thee.
-Ecclus. xxxviii, 23.
You may be under obligation of discharging a heavy debt of temporal punishment. Just how much atonement you must make, we have no means of knowing; but, considering the vast number of your sins and the various degrees of their guilt, you have every reason to believe that this debt is considerable.
But now you must know that your penalty must be canceled to the last penny before you can be admitted to the unveiled presence of the God of infinite holiness. To make the necessary payment of this debt, two ways are open to you. If you desire, you may make it in this life; if you neglect to make it in this life, you must make it in the next. There is no other alternative. But perhaps you have often thought, and even declared, that you are quite willing to wait until after death and then in purgatory make all the satisfaction required of you, but that you want to be excused from making it in this life.
If unconsciously, you have entertained such sentiments, you have displayed a woeful lack of knowledge as to the true nature of purgatory. You seem to be ignorant of the fact that the advantages of present sufferings over future ones are great beyond measure. Are you aware that in this life you can accomplish vastly more in a few hours than you could in purgatory perhaps in ever so many years? You need only attend to the following points:
[continued tomorrow]...
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
A SUBSTITUTE FOR PURGATORY
Another reason why you are visited with suffering is this: God desires to preserve you from the extremely painful sufferings of purgatory.
If Thou, O God, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it?
-Ps. cxix. 3.
Remember my judgment; for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to-day for thee.
-Ecclus. xxxviii, 23.
You may be under obligation of discharging a heavy debt of temporal punishment. Just how much atonement you must make, we have no means of knowing; but, considering the vast number of your sins and the various degrees of their guilt, you have every reason to believe that this debt is considerable.
But now you must know that your penalty must be canceled to the last penny before you can be admitted to the unveiled presence of the God of infinite holiness. To make the necessary payment of this debt, two ways are open to you. If you desire, you may make it in this life; if you neglect to make it in this life, you must make it in the next. There is no other alternative. But perhaps you have often thought, and even declared, that you are quite willing to wait until after death and then in purgatory make all the satisfaction required of you, but that you want to be excused from making it in this life.
If unconsciously, you have entertained such sentiments, you have displayed a woeful lack of knowledge as to the true nature of purgatory. You seem to be ignorant of the fact that the advantages of present sufferings over future ones are great beyond measure. Are you aware that in this life you can accomplish vastly more in a few hours than you could in purgatory perhaps in ever so many years? You need only attend to the following points:
[continued tomorrow]...
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thursday, November 19, 2009
News Updates, 11/20
Vatican sinks teeth into vampire film Twilight
The Vatican has condemned The Twilight Saga: New Moon, a Hollywood teen film about vampires and werewolves, as “dangerous” and morally empty...
Anglican leader mounts direct challenge to Rome
Makes no apologies for ordination of women priests
[Rowan Williams is a disgrace, to say nothing of his apostasy]
$40,000 in rare coins left at Catholic shrine
Woman says she wanted Virgin Mary to 'watch over' them
Hong Kong student charged with blackmail of priest
$800K extortion, threat to reveal 'intimate photographs'
Woman charges doctor with forcing abortion
Lawsuit: She yelled stop, abortionist continued
Scientology accused of torture and forced abortions
Australian senator calls for government inquiry
Bishop calls claims against CCHD's work 'outrageous'
Says no funds goes to groups that oppose Church teaching
[It's too late...the damage has been done and there are more worthy charitable organizations to which to donate!]
Conning the Conservatives (CCHD Collection this Sunday funds Alinsky-ite organizations)
As this Sunday's "second collection" approaches, most Catholics planning to donate to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development probably think their money will be used to help the poor by funding soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Well, the joke's on them. CCHD has never provided direct relief to the poor. That's not its purpose. It is an extreme left-wing political organization created to feed and foster radical groups like ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). Most Catholics are blissfully unaware of its true mission, though it says right on its Web site that it aims to support "organized groups of white and minority poor to develop economic strength and political power."...
Coalition Calls on Fellow Catholics to Help REFORM the CCHD NOW [from last month]
A coalition of Catholic organizations has formed to ask faithful Catholics to boycott this year’s Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection, scheduled for Sunday, November 22 in many dioceses, and place a specially-designed coupon in the collection basket instead of money. The group has also launched a website dedicated to informing Catholics and tracking the progress of the campaign at www.reformcchdnow. com. The coupon (PDF) may be downloaded and shared directly from the Web site’s home page....
Prolifers: Senate health care bill unacceptable
Advances Obama's vision to revamp health insurance
[Everything that the criminals, thugs, liars and traitors in DC attempt is unacceptable, barring death or resignation]
Syrian archbishop thumps Iraqi social system
Traces persecution of Christians to the Qu'ran
Gays reject Church's attempt to 'cure' them
Protesting therapy aimed at helping them become celibate
[Sin leads one to reject that which is true, right and just. Some prefer to walow in their depravity and darkness]
Traitor Reid’s Government-Run Health Plan Requires a Monthly Abortion Fee
Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) massive, 2,074-page bill would levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans in the government-run plan. Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under “Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan. Leader Reid’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120)....
[DemonRats are liars, death peddlers, and true followers of Satan. They should be tried for treason and crimes against humanity!]
Other News
==========
Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of 'Anthropogenic Global Warming'?
If you own any shares in alternative energy companies I should start dumping them NOW. The conspiracy behind the Anthropogenic Global Warming myth (aka AGW; aka ManBearPig) has been suddenly, brutally and quite deliciously exposed after a hacker broke into the computers at the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (aka Hadley CRU) and released 61 megabites of confidential files onto the internet
----------
"These are the times that try men’s souls... Tyranny like hell is not easily conquered yet we have this consolation with us, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value." -- Tom Paine
The Vatican has condemned The Twilight Saga: New Moon, a Hollywood teen film about vampires and werewolves, as “dangerous” and morally empty...
Anglican leader mounts direct challenge to Rome
Makes no apologies for ordination of women priests
[Rowan Williams is a disgrace, to say nothing of his apostasy]
$40,000 in rare coins left at Catholic shrine
Woman says she wanted Virgin Mary to 'watch over' them
Hong Kong student charged with blackmail of priest
$800K extortion, threat to reveal 'intimate photographs'
Woman charges doctor with forcing abortion
Lawsuit: She yelled stop, abortionist continued
Scientology accused of torture and forced abortions
Australian senator calls for government inquiry
Bishop calls claims against CCHD's work 'outrageous'
Says no funds goes to groups that oppose Church teaching
[It's too late...the damage has been done and there are more worthy charitable organizations to which to donate!]
Conning the Conservatives (CCHD Collection this Sunday funds Alinsky-ite organizations)
As this Sunday's "second collection" approaches, most Catholics planning to donate to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development probably think their money will be used to help the poor by funding soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Well, the joke's on them. CCHD has never provided direct relief to the poor. That's not its purpose. It is an extreme left-wing political organization created to feed and foster radical groups like ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). Most Catholics are blissfully unaware of its true mission, though it says right on its Web site that it aims to support "organized groups of white and minority poor to develop economic strength and political power."...
Coalition Calls on Fellow Catholics to Help REFORM the CCHD NOW [from last month]A coalition of Catholic organizations has formed to ask faithful Catholics to boycott this year’s Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection, scheduled for Sunday, November 22 in many dioceses, and place a specially-designed coupon in the collection basket instead of money. The group has also launched a website dedicated to informing Catholics and tracking the progress of the campaign at www.reformcchdnow. com. The coupon (PDF) may be downloaded and shared directly from the Web site’s home page....
Prolifers: Senate health care bill unacceptable
Advances Obama's vision to revamp health insurance
[Everything that the criminals, thugs, liars and traitors in DC attempt is unacceptable, barring death or resignation]
Syrian archbishop thumps Iraqi social system
Traces persecution of Christians to the Qu'ran
Gays reject Church's attempt to 'cure' them
Protesting therapy aimed at helping them become celibate
[Sin leads one to reject that which is true, right and just. Some prefer to walow in their depravity and darkness]
Traitor Reid’s Government-Run Health Plan Requires a Monthly Abortion Fee
Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) massive, 2,074-page bill would levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans in the government-run plan. Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under “Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan. Leader Reid’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120)....
[DemonRats are liars, death peddlers, and true followers of Satan. They should be tried for treason and crimes against humanity!]
Other News
==========
Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of 'Anthropogenic Global Warming'?
If you own any shares in alternative energy companies I should start dumping them NOW. The conspiracy behind the Anthropogenic Global Warming myth (aka AGW; aka ManBearPig) has been suddenly, brutally and quite deliciously exposed after a hacker broke into the computers at the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (aka Hadley CRU) and released 61 megabites of confidential files onto the internet
----------
"These are the times that try men’s souls... Tyranny like hell is not easily conquered yet we have this consolation with us, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value." -- Tom Paine
December 6 - Bishop Robert Hermann Talk/Dinner
Credo of the Catholic Laity is proud to present Bishop Robert Hermann speaking on the topic "Catholics in a Hostile Culture" on December 6, 6:00pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clayton.
Credo and the Central Catholic Union of Missouri are honored to welcome as our annual Christ the King Dinner Speaker The Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Hermann, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis...More information is available from Credo here.
Gospel for Friday, 33rd Week In Ordinary Time
From: Luke 19:45-48
Jesus in the Temple
[45] And He (Jesus) entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, [46] saying to them, "It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers."
[47] And He was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy Him; [48] but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon His words.
_________________________
Commentary:
45-48. Jesus' indignation shows His zeal for the glory of His Father, to be recognized at this time in the temple itself. He inveighs against the traders for engaging in business which has nothing to do with divine worship (cf. Matthew 21:12; Mark 11-15). Even the priests allowed some of these abuses to go on--perhaps because they benefited from them in the form of taxes. The traders did perform services necessary for divine worship but this was vitiated by their excessive desire for gain, turning the temple into a marketplace.
"My house shall be a house of prayer": Jesus uses these words from Isaiah (56:7; cf. Jeremiah 7:11) to underline the purpose of the temple. Jesus' behavior shows the respect the Temple of Jerusalem deserved; how much more reverence should be shown our churches, where Jesus Himself is really present in the Blessed Sacrament. (cf. notes on Matthew 21:12-13; and Mark 11:15-18).
[The notes on Matthew 21:12-13 states:
12-13. Although God is present everywhere and cannot be confined within the walls of temples built by man (Acts 17:24-25), God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle where He would dwell among the Israelites (Exodus 25:40). Once the Jewish people were established in Palestine, King Solomon, also in obedience to a divine instruction, built the temple of Jerusalem (1 Kings 6-8), where people went to render public worship to God (Deuteronomy 12).
Exodus (23:15) commanded the Israelites not to enter the temple empty-handed, but to bring some victim to be sacrificed. To make this easier for people who had to travel a certain distance, a veritable market developed in the temple courtyards with animals being bought and sold for sacrificial purposes. Originally this may have made sense, but seemingly as time went on commercial gain became the dominant purpose of this buying and selling of victims; probably the priests themselves and temple servants benefited from this trade or even operated it. The net result was that the temple looked more like a livestock mart than a place for meeting God.
Moved by zeal for His Father's house (John 2:17), Jesus cannot tolerate this deplorable abuse and in holy anger He ejects everyone--to show people the respect and reverence due to the temple as a holy place. We should show much greater respect in the Christian temple--the Christian churches--where the eucharistic sacrifice is celebrated and where Jesus Christ, God and Man, is really and truly present, reserved in the tabernacle. For a Christian, proper dress, liturgical gestures and postures, genuflections and reverence to the tabernacle, etc. are expressions of the respect due to the Lord in His temple.
[The notes on Mark 11:15-18 states:
15-18. Our Lord does not abide lack of faith or piety in things to do with the worship of God. If He acts so vigorously to defend the temple of the Old Law, it indicates how we should truly conduct ourselves in the Christian temple, where He is really and truly present in the Blessed Eucharist. "Piety has its own good manners. Learn them. It's a shame to see those `pious' people who don't know how to attend Mass--even though they go daily,--nor how to bless themselves (they throw their hands about in the weirdest fashion), nor how to bend the knee before the Tabernacle (their ridiculous genuflections seem a mockery), nor how to bow their heads reverently before a picture of our Lady" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 541).]
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Jesus in the Temple
[45] And He (Jesus) entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, [46] saying to them, "It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers."
[47] And He was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy Him; [48] but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon His words.
_________________________
Commentary:
45-48. Jesus' indignation shows His zeal for the glory of His Father, to be recognized at this time in the temple itself. He inveighs against the traders for engaging in business which has nothing to do with divine worship (cf. Matthew 21:12; Mark 11-15). Even the priests allowed some of these abuses to go on--perhaps because they benefited from them in the form of taxes. The traders did perform services necessary for divine worship but this was vitiated by their excessive desire for gain, turning the temple into a marketplace.
"My house shall be a house of prayer": Jesus uses these words from Isaiah (56:7; cf. Jeremiah 7:11) to underline the purpose of the temple. Jesus' behavior shows the respect the Temple of Jerusalem deserved; how much more reverence should be shown our churches, where Jesus Himself is really present in the Blessed Sacrament. (cf. notes on Matthew 21:12-13; and Mark 11:15-18).
[The notes on Matthew 21:12-13 states:
12-13. Although God is present everywhere and cannot be confined within the walls of temples built by man (Acts 17:24-25), God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle where He would dwell among the Israelites (Exodus 25:40). Once the Jewish people were established in Palestine, King Solomon, also in obedience to a divine instruction, built the temple of Jerusalem (1 Kings 6-8), where people went to render public worship to God (Deuteronomy 12).
Exodus (23:15) commanded the Israelites not to enter the temple empty-handed, but to bring some victim to be sacrificed. To make this easier for people who had to travel a certain distance, a veritable market developed in the temple courtyards with animals being bought and sold for sacrificial purposes. Originally this may have made sense, but seemingly as time went on commercial gain became the dominant purpose of this buying and selling of victims; probably the priests themselves and temple servants benefited from this trade or even operated it. The net result was that the temple looked more like a livestock mart than a place for meeting God.
Moved by zeal for His Father's house (John 2:17), Jesus cannot tolerate this deplorable abuse and in holy anger He ejects everyone--to show people the respect and reverence due to the temple as a holy place. We should show much greater respect in the Christian temple--the Christian churches--where the eucharistic sacrifice is celebrated and where Jesus Christ, God and Man, is really and truly present, reserved in the tabernacle. For a Christian, proper dress, liturgical gestures and postures, genuflections and reverence to the tabernacle, etc. are expressions of the respect due to the Lord in His temple.
[The notes on Mark 11:15-18 states:
15-18. Our Lord does not abide lack of faith or piety in things to do with the worship of God. If He acts so vigorously to defend the temple of the Old Law, it indicates how we should truly conduct ourselves in the Christian temple, where He is really and truly present in the Blessed Eucharist. "Piety has its own good manners. Learn them. It's a shame to see those `pious' people who don't know how to attend Mass--even though they go daily,--nor how to bless themselves (they throw their hands about in the weirdest fashion), nor how to bend the knee before the Tabernacle (their ridiculous genuflections seem a mockery), nor how to bow their heads reverently before a picture of our Lady" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 541).]
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Principles and Practices - November 20
THE VIRTUE OF FAITH
Faith is the highest honour we can render to Divine truth. It is also a debt we owe to God; He has a right to expect implicit trust in His word, and we should give proof of this trust when He tries our faith. Such tests are the law of life; they strengthen the virtue which is tested and add lustre to it; above all, they are occasions for glorifying and rendering homage to God.
-Saudreau.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Faith is the highest honour we can render to Divine truth. It is also a debt we owe to God; He has a right to expect implicit trust in His word, and we should give proof of this trust when He tries our faith. Such tests are the law of life; they strengthen the virtue which is tested and add lustre to it; above all, they are occasions for glorifying and rendering homage to God.
-Saudreau.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Patience - November 19
Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR SINS
A Reason Why You Are Made to Suffer
Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me! For the Most High is a patient rewarder.
-Ecclus. v. 4.
You have committed many sins, and thereby contracted a large debt of temporal punishment. You must cancel this debt either here or hereafter -here, by performing voluntary works of penance or by bearing the sufferings which God sends or allows to come to you; hereafter, by enduring the pains inflicted by the fire of purgatory.
We have seen that very much of the misery that men suffer is self-caused and self-inflicted. But after making due allowance for such misery, there are a great many sufferings the causes of which are beyond the control of man. From these there is no escape, any more than there is from death itself. Of this kind are unavoidable accidents and catastrophies, contagious diseases and epidemics, storms, earthquakes, and wars, as also those sufferings which have their source in the selfishness, unkindness, enmity, injustice, and cruelty experienced in our dealings with our fellow-men. What about these sufferings?
Of many, if not all of them, we can rightly say they are sent, or at least permitted, for the temporal punishment of our sins. True, you hope that all your mortal and many of your venial sins have been forgiven. We shall grant that they are forgiven. But, then, you must remember that the pardon of a sin does not necessarily always include the canceling of its temporal punishment. This depends on the perfection of your sorrow and the amount of penance you have done. Now, did you ever have perfect sorrow? And how much penance have you done? Have you done enough penance to atone for all your sins? Or have you not rather been satisfied with the hurried and hasty performance of the few prayers imposed on you in the sacrament of Penance?
Hence, many an old unpaid debt may still be standing charged to your account.
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR SINS
A Reason Why You Are Made to Suffer
Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me! For the Most High is a patient rewarder.
-Ecclus. v. 4.
You have committed many sins, and thereby contracted a large debt of temporal punishment. You must cancel this debt either here or hereafter -here, by performing voluntary works of penance or by bearing the sufferings which God sends or allows to come to you; hereafter, by enduring the pains inflicted by the fire of purgatory.
We have seen that very much of the misery that men suffer is self-caused and self-inflicted. But after making due allowance for such misery, there are a great many sufferings the causes of which are beyond the control of man. From these there is no escape, any more than there is from death itself. Of this kind are unavoidable accidents and catastrophies, contagious diseases and epidemics, storms, earthquakes, and wars, as also those sufferings which have their source in the selfishness, unkindness, enmity, injustice, and cruelty experienced in our dealings with our fellow-men. What about these sufferings?
Of many, if not all of them, we can rightly say they are sent, or at least permitted, for the temporal punishment of our sins. True, you hope that all your mortal and many of your venial sins have been forgiven. We shall grant that they are forgiven. But, then, you must remember that the pardon of a sin does not necessarily always include the canceling of its temporal punishment. This depends on the perfection of your sorrow and the amount of penance you have done. Now, did you ever have perfect sorrow? And how much penance have you done? Have you done enough penance to atone for all your sins? Or have you not rather been satisfied with the hurried and hasty performance of the few prayers imposed on you in the sacrament of Penance?
Hence, many an old unpaid debt may still be standing charged to your account.
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
News Updates, 11/19
Bishops discuss authority over Catholic colleges
Fallout continues from Obama-Notre Dame controversy
Bishops' $1.8M study: Gay priests not the problem
...in clergy sex-abuses scandals
[Of course not....wouldn't want to implicate the perverts and degenerates like Weakland, etc...Just more wasted money!]
Bishops OK marriage pastoral -- with many changes
'Worthy of giving us direction for the next three years'
Man arrested for 'anti-Christian' mall disturbance
Muslim allegedly tore a crucifix from someone's neck
Italian mayors order crucifixes put in classrooms
Revolt underway against European court ruling
U.S. bishops approve new Mass translations
Bishop Donald Trautmanperson of Erie lost his 10-year battle
[Let's all let out a collective 'boo-hoo'...]
Pope John Paul II's sainthood on fast track?
Vatican OKs beatification process to proceed
Vatican highlights 'signs of hope' in China
Cardinal Bertone reiterates importance of reconciliation
Cardinal Napier: 'Africa needs water, not GMOs'
Durban archbishop says aid group misunderstands needs
[They do not misunderstabd - genetically modified foods are used to make slaves (and major bucks) for Big AG and renegade bureaucrats...the elites know what's best for everyone else!]
Fallout continues from Obama-Notre Dame controversy
Bishops' $1.8M study: Gay priests not the problem
...in clergy sex-abuses scandals
[Of course not....wouldn't want to implicate the perverts and degenerates like Weakland, etc...Just more wasted money!]
Bishops OK marriage pastoral -- with many changes
'Worthy of giving us direction for the next three years'
Man arrested for 'anti-Christian' mall disturbance
Muslim allegedly tore a crucifix from someone's neck
Italian mayors order crucifixes put in classrooms
Revolt underway against European court ruling
U.S. bishops approve new Mass translations
Bishop Donald Traut
[Let's all let out a collective 'boo-hoo'...]
Pope John Paul II's sainthood on fast track?
Vatican OKs beatification process to proceed
Vatican highlights 'signs of hope' in China
Cardinal Bertone reiterates importance of reconciliation
Cardinal Napier: 'Africa needs water, not GMOs'
Durban archbishop says aid group misunderstands needs
[They do not misunderstabd - genetically modified foods are used to make slaves (and major bucks) for Big AG and renegade bureaucrats...the elites know what's best for everyone else!]
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Gospel for Thursday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
From: Luke 19:41-44
Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem
[41] And when He (Jesus) drew near and saw the city He wept over it, [42] saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. [43] For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, [44] and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation."
_____________________
Commentary:
41-44. When the procession reaches a place where there is a good view of the city, they are disconcerted by Jesus' unexpected weeping. Our Lord explains why He is weeping, by prophesying the destruction of the city which He loved so much: not one stone will remain on another, and its inhabitants will be massacred--a prophecy which was fulfilled in the year 70, when Titus razed the city and the temple was destroyed. These historical events will be a punishment for Jerusalem failing to recognize the time of its visitation, that is, for closing its gates to the salvific coming of the Redeemer. Jesus loved the Jews with a very special love: they were the first to whom the Gospel was preached (cf. Matthew 10:5-6); to them He directed His ministry (cf. Matthew 15:24); He showed His word and by His miracles that He was the Son of God and the Messiah foretold in the Scriptures. But the Jews for the most part failed to appreciate the grace the Lord was offering them; their leaders led them to the extreme of calling for Jesus to be crucified.
Jesus visits every one of us; He comes as our Savior; He teaches us through the preaching of the Church; He gives us forgiveness and grace through the sacraments. We should not reject our Lord, we should not remain indifferent to His visit.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem
[41] And when He (Jesus) drew near and saw the city He wept over it, [42] saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. [43] For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, [44] and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation."
_____________________
Commentary:
41-44. When the procession reaches a place where there is a good view of the city, they are disconcerted by Jesus' unexpected weeping. Our Lord explains why He is weeping, by prophesying the destruction of the city which He loved so much: not one stone will remain on another, and its inhabitants will be massacred--a prophecy which was fulfilled in the year 70, when Titus razed the city and the temple was destroyed. These historical events will be a punishment for Jerusalem failing to recognize the time of its visitation, that is, for closing its gates to the salvific coming of the Redeemer. Jesus loved the Jews with a very special love: they were the first to whom the Gospel was preached (cf. Matthew 10:5-6); to them He directed His ministry (cf. Matthew 15:24); He showed His word and by His miracles that He was the Son of God and the Messiah foretold in the Scriptures. But the Jews for the most part failed to appreciate the grace the Lord was offering them; their leaders led them to the extreme of calling for Jesus to be crucified.
Jesus visits every one of us; He comes as our Savior; He teaches us through the preaching of the Church; He gives us forgiveness and grace through the sacraments. We should not reject our Lord, we should not remain indifferent to His visit.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Principles and Practices - November 19
ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS
You see, my children, only the first step is painful. Our greatest cross is the fear of crosses....We have not the courage to carry our cross, and we are very much mistaken; for, whatever we do, the cross holds us tight - we cannot escape from it. What, then, have we to lose? Why not love our crosses and make use of them to take us to heaven?
-The Spirit of the Cure of Ars.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
You see, my children, only the first step is painful. Our greatest cross is the fear of crosses....We have not the courage to carry our cross, and we are very much mistaken; for, whatever we do, the cross holds us tight - we cannot escape from it. What, then, have we to lose? Why not love our crosses and make use of them to take us to heaven?
-The Spirit of the Cure of Ars.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Patience - November 18
Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
RESULTS OF ORIGINAL SIN
Of the many reasons why you must suffer, the first and principal one is this: As a child of Adam and a member of the great human family you must, like all the rest of men, endure your share of the painful consequence of original sin.
If there were no original sin, suffering would be unknown among the children of men.
But here we must add a reflection that will serve for our consolation in the midst of our trials. Thanks to the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, our present lot, sad though it undoubtedly is, is by no means as hopeless as it would seem to be at first sight.
In the light which our Holy Faith sheds on this subject, the state of suffering is seen to be a state of great blessedness and of unlimited possibilities of increase of glory in heaven. Divine Wisdom has contrived in a most wonderful way to draw immense good out of so great an evil. "O felix culpa!" - "O happy sin of Adam, which has merited for us so great a Redeemer!" is the jubilant hymn of gratitude and gladness which re-echoes in our churches on Holy Saturday. And why?
Because Jesus Christ has made adequate atonement for Adam's sin and now offers us a copious supply of His redeeming and saving grace which more than compensates for the loss of our original inheritance. True, this grace does not restore the paradise which once existed on earth, nor does it remove from our lives the evils and miseries which spring from original sin; but it does what is infinitely better and more profitable to us in the end - it enables us to endure all sufferings with patience and resignation, to sanctify them by uniting them with the bitter passion and death of Our Lord, converting them into sources of rich supernatural merits, which in turn will procure for us in heaven a throne far more glorious and exalted than we would obtain if we had not fallen in Adam from the state of our original perfection.
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
RESULTS OF ORIGINAL SIN
Of the many reasons why you must suffer, the first and principal one is this: As a child of Adam and a member of the great human family you must, like all the rest of men, endure your share of the painful consequence of original sin.
If there were no original sin, suffering would be unknown among the children of men.
But here we must add a reflection that will serve for our consolation in the midst of our trials. Thanks to the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, our present lot, sad though it undoubtedly is, is by no means as hopeless as it would seem to be at first sight.
In the light which our Holy Faith sheds on this subject, the state of suffering is seen to be a state of great blessedness and of unlimited possibilities of increase of glory in heaven. Divine Wisdom has contrived in a most wonderful way to draw immense good out of so great an evil. "O felix culpa!" - "O happy sin of Adam, which has merited for us so great a Redeemer!" is the jubilant hymn of gratitude and gladness which re-echoes in our churches on Holy Saturday. And why?
Because Jesus Christ has made adequate atonement for Adam's sin and now offers us a copious supply of His redeeming and saving grace which more than compensates for the loss of our original inheritance. True, this grace does not restore the paradise which once existed on earth, nor does it remove from our lives the evils and miseries which spring from original sin; but it does what is infinitely better and more profitable to us in the end - it enables us to endure all sufferings with patience and resignation, to sanctify them by uniting them with the bitter passion and death of Our Lord, converting them into sources of rich supernatural merits, which in turn will procure for us in heaven a throne far more glorious and exalted than we would obtain if we had not fallen in Adam from the state of our original perfection.
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
News Updates, 11/18
Bishops defend role in health care bill debate
Answering duty to nation to raise moral concerns
George: Time to move beyond clergy scandals
Urges bishops to build bridges with universities, media
Coalition calls for reform of CCHD collection
Bishops accused of funding controversial anti-Church groups
Rwandan priest acquitted of genocide charges
Judge said prosecution had failed to prove its case
Parishioners stand by priest accused of abuse
...after archdiocese says accusations appear credible
El Salvador honors Jesuits slain by army in 1989
Priests decorated with country's highest honor
Mexican bishops: Enough with drugs and violence
'"We are shocked, and we are moved to act...'
UK bishop: Afghan war must end soon
Devise strategy to bring swift end to 8-year conflict
Gaddafi tries to convert 200 women to Islam
Libyan leader invites 'attractive girls' to Rome villa
Answering duty to nation to raise moral concerns
George: Time to move beyond clergy scandals
Urges bishops to build bridges with universities, media
Coalition calls for reform of CCHD collection
Bishops accused of funding controversial anti-Church groups
Rwandan priest acquitted of genocide charges
Judge said prosecution had failed to prove its case
Parishioners stand by priest accused of abuse
...after archdiocese says accusations appear credible
El Salvador honors Jesuits slain by army in 1989
Priests decorated with country's highest honor
Mexican bishops: Enough with drugs and violence
'"We are shocked, and we are moved to act...'
UK bishop: Afghan war must end soon
Devise strategy to bring swift end to 8-year conflict
Gaddafi tries to convert 200 women to Islam
Libyan leader invites 'attractive girls' to Rome villa
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Gospel for Wednesday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial: Dedication of the Roman Basilicas of Peter and Paul, Apostles
From: Luke 19:11-28
Parable of the Pounds
[11] As they heard these things, He (Jesus) proceeded to tell a parable, because He was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately. [12] He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive kingly power and then return. [13] Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, `Trade with these till I come.' [14] But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him saying, `We do not want this man to reign over us.' [15] When he returned, having received the kingly power, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. [16] The first came before him, saying, `Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.' [17] And he said to him, `Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' [18] And the second came, saying, `Lord, your pound has made five pounds.' [19] And he said to him, `And you are to be over five cities.' [20] Then another came, saying, `Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; [21] for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' [22] He said to him, `I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? [23] Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?' [24] And he said to those who stood by, `Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.' [25] (And they said to him, `Lord, he has ten pounds!') [26] `I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [27] But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
The Messiah Enters the Holy City
[28] And when He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
_____________________________
Commentary:
11. The disciples had a wrong concept of the Kingdom of Heaven: they thought it was about to happen and they saw it in earthly terms: they envisaged Jesus conquering the Roman tyrant and immediately establishing the Kingdom in the holy city of Jerusalem, and that when that happened they would hold privileged positions in the Kingdom. There is always a danger of Christians failing to grasp the transcendent, supernatural character of the Kingdom of God in this world, that is, the Church, which "has but one sole purpose--that the Kingdom of God may come and the salvation of the human race may be accomplished." (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 45).
Through this parable our Lord teaches us that, although His reign has begun, it will only be fully manifested later on. In the time left to us we should use all the resources and graces God gives us, in order to merit the reward.
13. The "mina", here translated as "pound", was worth about 35 grammes of gold. This parable is very like the parable of the talents reported in St. Matthew (cf. 25:14-30).
14. The last part of this verse, although it has a very specific context, reflects the attitude of many people who do not want to bear the sweet yoke of our Lord and who reject Him as king. "There are millions of people in the world who reject Jesus Christ in this way; or rather they reject His shadow, for they do not know Christ. They have not seen the beauty of His face; they do not realize how wonderful His teaching is. This sad state of affairs makes me want to atone to our Lord. When I hear that endless clamor--expressed more in ignoble actions than in words--I feel the need to cry out, `He must reign!' (1 Corinthians 15:25)" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 179).
17. God counts on our fidelity in little things, and the greater our effort in this regard the greater the reward we will receive: "Because you have been `in pauca fidelis', faithful in small things, come and join in your Master's happiness. The words are Christ's. `In pauca fidelis!... Now will you neglect little things, if Heaven itself is promised to those who mind them?" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 819).
24-26. God expects us to strive to put to good use the gifts we have received--and He lavishly rewards those who respond to His grace. The king in the parable is shown to be very generous towards his servants--and generous in rewarding those who managed to increase the money they were given. But he is very severe towards the lazy servant who was also the recipient of a gift from his Lord, who did not let it erode but guarded it carefully--and for this his king criticizes him: he failed to fulfill the just command the king gave him when he gave him the money: "Trade till I come." If we appreciate the treasures the Lord has given us--life, the gift of faith, grace--we will make a special effort to make them bear fruit--by fulfilling our duties, working hard and doing apostolate. "Don't let your life be barren. Be useful. Make yourself felt. Shine forth with the torch of your faith and your love. With your apostolic life, wipe out the trail of filth and slime left by the corrupt sowers of hatred. And set aflame all the ways of the earth with the fire of Christ that you bear in your heart" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 1).
28. Normally in the Gospels when there is mention of going to the Holy City it is in terms of "going up" to Jerusalem (cf. Matthew 20:18; John 7:8), probably because geographically the city is located on Mount Zion. Besides, since the temple was the religious and political center, going up to Jerusalem had also a sacred meaning of ascending to the holy place, where sacrifices were offered to God.
Particularly in the Gospel of St. Luke, our Lord's whole life is seen in terms of a continuous ascent towards Jerusalem, where His self-surrender reaches its high point in the redemptive sacrifice of the Cross. Here Jesus is on the point of entering the city, conscious of the fact that His passion and death are imminent.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
From: Luke 19:11-28
Parable of the Pounds
[11] As they heard these things, He (Jesus) proceeded to tell a parable, because He was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately. [12] He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive kingly power and then return. [13] Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, `Trade with these till I come.' [14] But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him saying, `We do not want this man to reign over us.' [15] When he returned, having received the kingly power, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. [16] The first came before him, saying, `Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.' [17] And he said to him, `Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' [18] And the second came, saying, `Lord, your pound has made five pounds.' [19] And he said to him, `And you are to be over five cities.' [20] Then another came, saying, `Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; [21] for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' [22] He said to him, `I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? [23] Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?' [24] And he said to those who stood by, `Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.' [25] (And they said to him, `Lord, he has ten pounds!') [26] `I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [27] But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
The Messiah Enters the Holy City
[28] And when He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
_____________________________
Commentary:
11. The disciples had a wrong concept of the Kingdom of Heaven: they thought it was about to happen and they saw it in earthly terms: they envisaged Jesus conquering the Roman tyrant and immediately establishing the Kingdom in the holy city of Jerusalem, and that when that happened they would hold privileged positions in the Kingdom. There is always a danger of Christians failing to grasp the transcendent, supernatural character of the Kingdom of God in this world, that is, the Church, which "has but one sole purpose--that the Kingdom of God may come and the salvation of the human race may be accomplished." (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 45).
Through this parable our Lord teaches us that, although His reign has begun, it will only be fully manifested later on. In the time left to us we should use all the resources and graces God gives us, in order to merit the reward.
13. The "mina", here translated as "pound", was worth about 35 grammes of gold. This parable is very like the parable of the talents reported in St. Matthew (cf. 25:14-30).
14. The last part of this verse, although it has a very specific context, reflects the attitude of many people who do not want to bear the sweet yoke of our Lord and who reject Him as king. "There are millions of people in the world who reject Jesus Christ in this way; or rather they reject His shadow, for they do not know Christ. They have not seen the beauty of His face; they do not realize how wonderful His teaching is. This sad state of affairs makes me want to atone to our Lord. When I hear that endless clamor--expressed more in ignoble actions than in words--I feel the need to cry out, `He must reign!' (1 Corinthians 15:25)" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 179).
17. God counts on our fidelity in little things, and the greater our effort in this regard the greater the reward we will receive: "Because you have been `in pauca fidelis', faithful in small things, come and join in your Master's happiness. The words are Christ's. `In pauca fidelis!... Now will you neglect little things, if Heaven itself is promised to those who mind them?" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 819).
24-26. God expects us to strive to put to good use the gifts we have received--and He lavishly rewards those who respond to His grace. The king in the parable is shown to be very generous towards his servants--and generous in rewarding those who managed to increase the money they were given. But he is very severe towards the lazy servant who was also the recipient of a gift from his Lord, who did not let it erode but guarded it carefully--and for this his king criticizes him: he failed to fulfill the just command the king gave him when he gave him the money: "Trade till I come." If we appreciate the treasures the Lord has given us--life, the gift of faith, grace--we will make a special effort to make them bear fruit--by fulfilling our duties, working hard and doing apostolate. "Don't let your life be barren. Be useful. Make yourself felt. Shine forth with the torch of your faith and your love. With your apostolic life, wipe out the trail of filth and slime left by the corrupt sowers of hatred. And set aflame all the ways of the earth with the fire of Christ that you bear in your heart" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 1).
28. Normally in the Gospels when there is mention of going to the Holy City it is in terms of "going up" to Jerusalem (cf. Matthew 20:18; John 7:8), probably because geographically the city is located on Mount Zion. Besides, since the temple was the religious and political center, going up to Jerusalem had also a sacred meaning of ascending to the holy place, where sacrifices were offered to God.
Particularly in the Gospel of St. Luke, our Lord's whole life is seen in terms of a continuous ascent towards Jerusalem, where His self-surrender reaches its high point in the redemptive sacrifice of the Cross. Here Jesus is on the point of entering the city, conscious of the fact that His passion and death are imminent.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Principles and Practices - November 18
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
In the contemplative life the soul, intellect, and will tends to no other thing than God; in the active life, on the contrary, it tends at the same time to other things, namely to exterior good works, so long as these be for God. That is why in the active soul the works undertaken for God impress themselves more strongly than God Himself.
Therefore also is it said of the active life that it is solicitous and troubled by many things, that is to say, by exterior good works, that are numerous and distracting; while of the contemplative life it is said that it is occupied with One only matter, which is God. And thus it happens that the active life brings with it a certain trouble, and the dispersion of the soul over numerous and varied things, whereas the contemplative life brings peace, serenity, and the simplification of the soul.
-Boniface Maes.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
In the contemplative life the soul, intellect, and will tends to no other thing than God; in the active life, on the contrary, it tends at the same time to other things, namely to exterior good works, so long as these be for God. That is why in the active soul the works undertaken for God impress themselves more strongly than God Himself.
Therefore also is it said of the active life that it is solicitous and troubled by many things, that is to say, by exterior good works, that are numerous and distracting; while of the contemplative life it is said that it is occupied with One only matter, which is God. And thus it happens that the active life brings with it a certain trouble, and the dispersion of the soul over numerous and varied things, whereas the contemplative life brings peace, serenity, and the simplification of the soul.
-Boniface Maes.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Patience - November 17
Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
WHY MUST I SUFFER? [*]
For the Spirit Himself giveth testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God. And if sons, heirs also: heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so if we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. -Rom. viii. 16, 18.
For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory. -2 Cor. iv. 17.
* The following five considerations are excerpts from Father F. J. Remler's highly commendable work: "Why Must I Suffer," published by "Franciscan Herald Press."
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
WHY MUST I SUFFER? [*]
For the Spirit Himself giveth testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God. And if sons, heirs also: heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so if we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. -Rom. viii. 16, 18.
For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory. -2 Cor. iv. 17.
* The following five considerations are excerpts from Father F. J. Remler's highly commendable work: "Why Must I Suffer," published by "Franciscan Herald Press."
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
News Updates, 11/17
Play depicting Jesus as gay packs church
Handful of protesters outside called it blasphemous
US bishops open 4-day confab in Baltimore
On the agenda: items related to marriage, reproduction
US Bishops split over new Mass translation
Confrontation and controversy expected at confab
Court allows same sex marriage in Argentina
Buenos Aires grants first marriage license to gays
Dublin down to one Catholic priest per parish
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin: 'We have 46 priests over 80'
Great Roman polyphony returns to Saint Peter's
Former head of Sistine chapel choir returns
Honduran cardinal: President removed constitutionally
Church leadership accused of backing military coup
Sexually-transmitted diseases still on rise
Researchers conclude teens not talking about sex enough
Cardinal: Church in China showing signs of hope
Still 'more a time of sowing than of reaping'
Handful of protesters outside called it blasphemous
US bishops open 4-day confab in Baltimore
On the agenda: items related to marriage, reproduction
US Bishops split over new Mass translation
Confrontation and controversy expected at confab
Court allows same sex marriage in Argentina
Buenos Aires grants first marriage license to gays
Dublin down to one Catholic priest per parish
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin: 'We have 46 priests over 80'
Great Roman polyphony returns to Saint Peter's
Former head of Sistine chapel choir returns
Honduran cardinal: President removed constitutionally
Church leadership accused of backing military coup
Sexually-transmitted diseases still on rise
Researchers conclude teens not talking about sex enough
Cardinal: Church in China showing signs of hope
Still 'more a time of sowing than of reaping'
Monday, November 16, 2009
Gospel for Nov 17, Memorial: St Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Tuesday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
From: Luke 19:1-10
The Conversion of Zacchaeus
[1] He (Jesus) entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And there was a rich man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. [3] And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." [6] So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." [9] And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."
____________________________
Commentary:
1-10. Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind; He has healed many sick people, has raised the dead to life and, particularly, has brought forgiveness of sin and the gift of grace to those who approach Him in faith. As in the case of the sinful woman (cf. Luke 7:36-50), here He brings salvation to Zacchaeus, for the mission of the Son of Man is to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector and, as such, was hated by the people, because the tax collectors were collaborators of the Roman authorities and were often guilty of abuses. The Gospel implies that this man also had things to seek forgiveness for (cf. verses 7-10). Certainly he was very keen to see Jesus (no doubt moved by grace) and he did everything he could to do so. Jesus rewards his efforts by staying as a guest in his house. Moved by our Lord's presence Zacchaeus begins to lead a new life.
The crowd begin to grumble against Jesus for showing affection to a man they consider to be an evildoer. Our Lord makes no excuses for his behavior: He explains that this is exactly why He has come--to seek out sinners. He is putting into practice the parable of the lost sheep (cf. Luke 15:4-7), which was already prophesied in Ezekiel: "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak" (34:16).
4. Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus, and to do so he has to go out and mix with the crowd. Like the blind man of Jericho he has to shed any kind of human respect. In our own search for God we should not let false shame or fear of ridicule prevent us from using the resources available to us to meet our Lord. "Convince yourself that there is no such thing as ridicule for whoever is doing what is best" ([Blessed] J. Escriva, "The Way", 392).
5-6. This is a very good example of the way God acts to save men. Jesus calls Zacchaeus personally, using his name, suggesting he invite Him home. The Gospel states that Zacchaeus does so promptly and joyfully. This is how we should respond when God calls us by means of grace.
8. Responding immediately to grace, Zacchaeus makes it known that he will restore fourfold anything he obtained unjustly--thereby going beyond what is laid down in the Law of Moses (cf. Exodus 21:37f). And in generous compensation he gives half his wealth to the poor. "Let the rich learn", St. Ambrose comments, "that evil does not consist in having wealth, but in not putting it to good use; for just as riches are an obstacle to evil people, they are also a means of virtue for good people" ("Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc."). Cf. note on Luke 16:9-11).
10. Jesus' ardent desire to seek out a sinner to save him fills us with hope of attaining eternal salvation. "He chooses a chief tax collector: who can despair when such a man obtains grace?" (St. Ambrose, "Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc.").
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
From: Luke 19:1-10
The Conversion of Zacchaeus
[1] He (Jesus) entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And there was a rich man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. [3] And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." [6] So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." [9] And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."
____________________________
Commentary:
1-10. Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind; He has healed many sick people, has raised the dead to life and, particularly, has brought forgiveness of sin and the gift of grace to those who approach Him in faith. As in the case of the sinful woman (cf. Luke 7:36-50), here He brings salvation to Zacchaeus, for the mission of the Son of Man is to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector and, as such, was hated by the people, because the tax collectors were collaborators of the Roman authorities and were often guilty of abuses. The Gospel implies that this man also had things to seek forgiveness for (cf. verses 7-10). Certainly he was very keen to see Jesus (no doubt moved by grace) and he did everything he could to do so. Jesus rewards his efforts by staying as a guest in his house. Moved by our Lord's presence Zacchaeus begins to lead a new life.
The crowd begin to grumble against Jesus for showing affection to a man they consider to be an evildoer. Our Lord makes no excuses for his behavior: He explains that this is exactly why He has come--to seek out sinners. He is putting into practice the parable of the lost sheep (cf. Luke 15:4-7), which was already prophesied in Ezekiel: "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak" (34:16).
4. Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus, and to do so he has to go out and mix with the crowd. Like the blind man of Jericho he has to shed any kind of human respect. In our own search for God we should not let false shame or fear of ridicule prevent us from using the resources available to us to meet our Lord. "Convince yourself that there is no such thing as ridicule for whoever is doing what is best" ([Blessed] J. Escriva, "The Way", 392).
5-6. This is a very good example of the way God acts to save men. Jesus calls Zacchaeus personally, using his name, suggesting he invite Him home. The Gospel states that Zacchaeus does so promptly and joyfully. This is how we should respond when God calls us by means of grace.
8. Responding immediately to grace, Zacchaeus makes it known that he will restore fourfold anything he obtained unjustly--thereby going beyond what is laid down in the Law of Moses (cf. Exodus 21:37f). And in generous compensation he gives half his wealth to the poor. "Let the rich learn", St. Ambrose comments, "that evil does not consist in having wealth, but in not putting it to good use; for just as riches are an obstacle to evil people, they are also a means of virtue for good people" ("Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc."). Cf. note on Luke 16:9-11).
10. Jesus' ardent desire to seek out a sinner to save him fills us with hope of attaining eternal salvation. "He chooses a chief tax collector: who can despair when such a man obtains grace?" (St. Ambrose, "Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc.").
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Principles and Practices - November 17
A Great Danger
False shame is a constant and great danger in that it prevents us from professing our faith, and is a means by which it may be weakened, and at last lost altogether.
It makes us guilty of not fulfilling the duties of charity, of not giving alms, of not saying a kind word, of not greeting people of lowly position and associating with them kindly. It silences the tongue, when it was about to rebuke justly, to give them advice, or to speak holy words. If superiors, parents, masters, and heads of households refrain, through a feeling of false shame, from fulfilling. the duties of their office, they commit a very serious fault; but each one of us must put away the fear of man, when the honour of God and the salvation of our fellow creatures demands it.
-S. Von Oer, O.S.B.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
False shame is a constant and great danger in that it prevents us from professing our faith, and is a means by which it may be weakened, and at last lost altogether.
It makes us guilty of not fulfilling the duties of charity, of not giving alms, of not saying a kind word, of not greeting people of lowly position and associating with them kindly. It silences the tongue, when it was about to rebuke justly, to give them advice, or to speak holy words. If superiors, parents, masters, and heads of households refrain, through a feeling of false shame, from fulfilling. the duties of their office, they commit a very serious fault; but each one of us must put away the fear of man, when the honour of God and the salvation of our fellow creatures demands it.
-S. Von Oer, O.S.B.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Patience - November 16
Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
TRUST AND REST
Confido et Conquesco
Fret not, pour soul, while doubt and fear
Disturb thy breast;
The pitying angels, who can see
How vain thy wild regret must be,
Say, "Trust and rest."
Plan, not nor scheme - but calmly wait;
His choice is best:
While blind and erring is thy sight,
His wisdom sees and judges right;
So trust and rest.
Strive not, nor struggle; thy poor might
can never wrest
The meanest thing to serve thy will;
All power is His alone; be still,
And trust and rest.
Desire not; self-love is strong
Within thy breast
And yet, He loves thee better still,
So let Him do His loving will
And trust and rest.
What dost thou fear? His wisdom reigns
Supreme confessed:
His power is infinite; His love
Thy deepest, fondest dreams above -
So trust and rest.
-Adelaide A. Procter.
__________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
TRUST AND REST
Confido et Conquesco
Fret not, pour soul, while doubt and fear
Disturb thy breast;
The pitying angels, who can see
How vain thy wild regret must be,
Say, "Trust and rest."
Plan, not nor scheme - but calmly wait;
His choice is best:
While blind and erring is thy sight,
His wisdom sees and judges right;
So trust and rest.
Strive not, nor struggle; thy poor might
can never wrest
The meanest thing to serve thy will;
All power is His alone; be still,
And trust and rest.
Desire not; self-love is strong
Within thy breast
And yet, He loves thee better still,
So let Him do His loving will
And trust and rest.
What dost thou fear? His wisdom reigns
Supreme confessed:
His power is infinite; His love
Thy deepest, fondest dreams above -
So trust and rest.
-Adelaide A. Procter.
__________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
News Updates, 11/16
Alinsky Groups, Child Porn Convict, Socialist Tied to CCHD Funding
The annual CCHD (Catholic Campaign For Human Development) collection will be held in churches this coming weekend-November 21 and 22. This is the same group that was giving money for years to the Saul Alinsky-style group called ACORN before ending its relationship with the controversial group. After much criticism for its leftwing funding, the CCHD has supposedly tightened up their standards. Unfortunately these new standards are not working because the CCHD is still funding groups that:
Pols defy Church pressure on DC gay marriage
City council accuses archdiocese of 'discrimination'
Bishop D'Arcy retires from 'Notre Dame's diocese'
Harrisburg bishop appointed to lead South Bend-Ft. Wayne
Bishop: Catholic Church needs more internet savvy
Vatican hosts four-day meeting on using the media
Pope names new leader for Milwaukee archdiocese
Listecki is retired lieutenant colonel in U.S. Army
UK' parenting czar: lesbians make better parents
Children brought up by female couples more aspirational?
Elderly, disabled to be forced to suicide in UK?
Under changes to 'assisted suicide' rules -- could be
Irish bishop questions 'ban' on women priests
Also expresses sadness at Church's exclusion of gays
Obama bent on including abortion in health care bill
White House says president objects to Stupak amendment
Meeting possible between Pope, Patriarch Kirill
'We are moving to a moment when it becomes possible'
The annual CCHD (Catholic Campaign For Human Development) collection will be held in churches this coming weekend-November 21 and 22. This is the same group that was giving money for years to the Saul Alinsky-style group called ACORN before ending its relationship with the controversial group. After much criticism for its leftwing funding, the CCHD has supposedly tightened up their standards. Unfortunately these new standards are not working because the CCHD is still funding groups that:
-Have a registered sex offender (child porn) on the staff...
-Are working to change laws so you can not refuse to rent to convicted criminals
-Have an admitted socialist and friend of Code Pink member Jodie Evans as Executive Director.
-Have direct ties to Alinsky's "Industrial Areas Foundation"
Pols defy Church pressure on DC gay marriage
City council accuses archdiocese of 'discrimination'
Bishop D'Arcy retires from 'Notre Dame's diocese'
Harrisburg bishop appointed to lead South Bend-Ft. Wayne
Bishop: Catholic Church needs more internet savvy
Vatican hosts four-day meeting on using the media
Pope names new leader for Milwaukee archdiocese
Listecki is retired lieutenant colonel in U.S. Army
UK' parenting czar: lesbians make better parents
Children brought up by female couples more aspirational?
Elderly, disabled to be forced to suicide in UK?
Under changes to 'assisted suicide' rules -- could be
Irish bishop questions 'ban' on women priests
Also expresses sadness at Church's exclusion of gays
Obama bent on including abortion in health care bill
White House says president objects to Stupak amendment
Meeting possible between Pope, Patriarch Kirill
'We are moving to a moment when it becomes possible'
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Gospel for Monday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial: St Margaret of Scotland
Optional Memorial: St Gertrude, Virgin
From: Luke 18:35-43
The Cure of the Blind Man of Jericho
[35] As He (Jesus) drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; [36] and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. [37] They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." [38] And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [39] And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [40] And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him, [41] "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." [42] And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." [43] And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
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Commentary:
35-43. The blind man of Jericho is quick to use the opportunity presented by Christ's presence. We should not neglect the Lord's graces, for we do not know whether He will offer us them again. St. Augustine described very succinctly the urgency with which we should respond to God's gift, to His passing us on the road: "`Timeo Jesum praetereuntem et non redeuntem': I fear Jesus may pass by and not come back." For, at least on some occasion, in some way, Jesus passes close to everyone.
The blind man of Jericho acclaims Jesus as the Messiah--he gives Him the messianic title of Son of David--and asks Him to meet his need, to make him see. His is an active faith; he shouts out, he persists, despite the people getting in his way. And he manages to get Jesus to hear him and call him. God wanted this episode to be recorded in the Gospel, to teach us how we should believe and how we should pray--with conviction, with urgency, with constancy, in spite of the obstacles, with simplicity, until we manage to get Jesus to listen to us.
"Lord, let me receive my sight": this simple ejaculatory prayer should be often on our lips, flowing from the depths of our heart. It is a very good prayer to use in moments of doubt and vacillation, when we cannot understand the reason behind God's plans, when the horizon of our commitment becomes clouded. It is even a good prayer for people who are sincerely trying to find God but who do not yet have the great gift of faith.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Optional Memorial: St Gertrude, Virgin
From: Luke 18:35-43
The Cure of the Blind Man of Jericho
[35] As He (Jesus) drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; [36] and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. [37] They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." [38] And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [39] And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [40] And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him, [41] "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." [42] And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." [43] And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
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Commentary:
35-43. The blind man of Jericho is quick to use the opportunity presented by Christ's presence. We should not neglect the Lord's graces, for we do not know whether He will offer us them again. St. Augustine described very succinctly the urgency with which we should respond to God's gift, to His passing us on the road: "`Timeo Jesum praetereuntem et non redeuntem': I fear Jesus may pass by and not come back." For, at least on some occasion, in some way, Jesus passes close to everyone.
The blind man of Jericho acclaims Jesus as the Messiah--he gives Him the messianic title of Son of David--and asks Him to meet his need, to make him see. His is an active faith; he shouts out, he persists, despite the people getting in his way. And he manages to get Jesus to hear him and call him. God wanted this episode to be recorded in the Gospel, to teach us how we should believe and how we should pray--with conviction, with urgency, with constancy, in spite of the obstacles, with simplicity, until we manage to get Jesus to listen to us.
"Lord, let me receive my sight": this simple ejaculatory prayer should be often on our lips, flowing from the depths of our heart. It is a very good prayer to use in moments of doubt and vacillation, when we cannot understand the reason behind God's plans, when the horizon of our commitment becomes clouded. It is even a good prayer for people who are sincerely trying to find God but who do not yet have the great gift of faith.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Principles and Practices - November 16
Unlimited Possibilities
Christ's role, that of being the life of man, is still to a great extent an unexplored field of immense spiritual possibilities, at least for individual souls.
It is simply impossible to tell to what extent individual souls may find Christ to be their life. The past exhibits some very glorious patterns of Christ as the life of man. The future may have in store other and no less surprising manifestations of the same life.
-Vonier, O.S.B.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Christ's role, that of being the life of man, is still to a great extent an unexplored field of immense spiritual possibilities, at least for individual souls.
It is simply impossible to tell to what extent individual souls may find Christ to be their life. The past exhibits some very glorious patterns of Christ as the life of man. The future may have in store other and no less surprising manifestations of the same life.
-Vonier, O.S.B.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930
Patience - November 15
Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
THE PATIENCE OF ST. JOSEPH
We do not read that before the birth of Jesus Joseph was exercised by great tribulations; he doubtless led the kind of humble and modest life which finds its happiness in what suffices. But after the birth of the divine Child, the life of Joseph was nothing but one long martyrdom, until then he had not been without a home; afterward, his retreat was a stable. Until then, he had lived tranquilly, surmounting his poverty by labor; afterward, he was persecuted, and constrained to lead a life of exile in a strange land.
Until then, desiring little, he had known but little anguish; afterward, his compassionate soul was torn when he heard the old man Simeon say to Mary: "Thy soul a sword shall pierce" (Luke ii. 35); until then, possessing little, he had little to lose; afterward, he had Jesus, and he lost Him at Jerusalem. What an affliction! Ah, rather have lost all, for without Jesus, what is the whole earth? He does indeed find him at last, but death comes to separate him from Jesus a second time, and he quits Him, not to see Him again until, on the day of His resurrection, He visits limbo.
It is thus that the patience of St. Joseph was tried by a series of tribulations, and in the midst of it all, Joseph was calm and resigned. He understood that tribulations are the crucible in which God purifies the virtue of those whom He loves, that the way of the cross is the only one which leads to heaven, that all the just must pass along it, and that Jesus never visits a soul without taking His cross with Him. Are these our dispositions? Do we not imitate, on the contrary, the man of the world who lives only for pleasure, who will always have his comforts and be at his ease, who will deprive himself of nothing, mortify himself in nothing, and who is irritated by suffering and contradiction?
Let us adore the great design of God, who exposes His dearest friends to trials. (Job. xii, 13.). We find a difficulty in understanding, here below, this arrangement of Providence (Acts xiv. 2), but let us have patience, and we shall understand it hereafter. (John xiii. 7.). Meanwhile, let us adore without understanding, and let us lovingly bless God, who does all things well. (Mark vii. 37).
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
THE PATIENCE OF ST. JOSEPH
We do not read that before the birth of Jesus Joseph was exercised by great tribulations; he doubtless led the kind of humble and modest life which finds its happiness in what suffices. But after the birth of the divine Child, the life of Joseph was nothing but one long martyrdom, until then he had not been without a home; afterward, his retreat was a stable. Until then, he had lived tranquilly, surmounting his poverty by labor; afterward, he was persecuted, and constrained to lead a life of exile in a strange land.
Until then, desiring little, he had known but little anguish; afterward, his compassionate soul was torn when he heard the old man Simeon say to Mary: "Thy soul a sword shall pierce" (Luke ii. 35); until then, possessing little, he had little to lose; afterward, he had Jesus, and he lost Him at Jerusalem. What an affliction! Ah, rather have lost all, for without Jesus, what is the whole earth? He does indeed find him at last, but death comes to separate him from Jesus a second time, and he quits Him, not to see Him again until, on the day of His resurrection, He visits limbo.
It is thus that the patience of St. Joseph was tried by a series of tribulations, and in the midst of it all, Joseph was calm and resigned. He understood that tribulations are the crucible in which God purifies the virtue of those whom He loves, that the way of the cross is the only one which leads to heaven, that all the just must pass along it, and that Jesus never visits a soul without taking His cross with Him. Are these our dispositions? Do we not imitate, on the contrary, the man of the world who lives only for pleasure, who will always have his comforts and be at his ease, who will deprive himself of nothing, mortify himself in nothing, and who is irritated by suffering and contradiction?
Let us adore the great design of God, who exposes His dearest friends to trials. (Job. xii, 13.). We find a difficulty in understanding, here below, this arrangement of Providence (Acts xiv. 2), but let us have patience, and we shall understand it hereafter. (John xiii. 7.). Meanwhile, let us adore without understanding, and let us lovingly bless God, who does all things well. (Mark vii. 37).
____________________
Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
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