Posted on 11/02/2015 9:39:15 PM PST by Salvation
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From: Romans 12:5-16ab
Solidarity in the Mystical Body (Continuation)
Charity Towards All
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Commentary:
4-5. The variety which is to be found in every well-organized social structure is
also, by God’s will, a feature of the Church. This variety reflects the differing
needs of the Christian community, which is not an amorphous grouping of peo-
ple, each working separately for personal salvation, but an organized body. In
that body each member has a defined role and functions for the benefit of all,
while at the same time seeking personal spiritual advancement. This variety is,
moreover, consistent with and conducive to the carrying out of God’s desire to
sanctify and save men, not one by one, as if they were unconnected to each
other, but rather constituting a people which is established and governed on the
basis of this wonderful variety .This distinction was established by God in order
to build up the Church. Therefore, for example, pastors and people are of mutual
supernatural help to one another (cf. Vatican II, “Lumen Gentium”, 9 and 32).
Each of us should feel called on to invigorate—through personal effort, virtue—the
entire Mystical Body of Christ (cf. “Introduction to the ‘Theology’ of St Paul”, pp.
44-6 above). It is inaccurate, therefore, to make a distinction between “personal
virtues” and “social virtues”. “No virtue worthy of its name can foster selfishness.
Every virtue necessarily works to the good both of our own soul and to the good
of those around us [...]. Ties of solidarity should bind us all and, besides, in the
order of grace we are united by the supernatural links of the Communion of
Saints” (St. J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 76).
6-8. “Gifts”: also called charisms, these are special, transitory, divine graces,
granted not so much for the personal benefit of the recipient as for the general
good of the Church. This term (charism), we might note, was introduced into the
New Testament by St Paul.
9-21. “After speaking about those gifts which are not common to all, the Apostle
now teaches that charity is common to all” (St Thomas, “Commentary on Rom,
ad loc”.). True charity takes different forms depending on the needs and capacity
of each person; it always involves seeking good and avoiding evil (v. 9); it has to
be exercised with those who are already Christians (vv. 10-16) and those who are
not (vv. 17-21); indeed, the charity shown to the latter is instrumental in bringing
them closer to the faith. However, it is not always possible to do to othersall the
good we would wish: we have limited resources, more pressing duties; there are
problems of physical distance, etc. Only God, who is infinitely perfect and almigh-
ty, can do good to everyone all the time; this does not mean that he always gives
everyone the same gifts: to some he gives more, to others less, according to the
designs of his Wisdom.
Even bearing in mind our own limitations, our love for others should affect every-
thing we do, everything we think and say. Obviously, one of the first consequen-
ces of charity is never to judge anyone, or speak badly about anyone, or scan-
dalize them by what we say or do. Moreover, we should perform positive acts
of this virtue; it would be impossible to give a complete list of the ways of being
charitable but they certainly include, Fray Luis de Granada says, “among other
things, these six—loving, counselling, assisting, suffering, forgiving and edifying.
These are so closely connected to charity that the more one does them the
more charity one has, and the less, less [...]. For, according to this order a per-
son can check to see what he has and what he does not have as far as the per-
fection of that virtue is concerned. For we can say that he who loves is on the
first step; he who loves and counsels, on the second; he who assists, on the
third; he who suffers on the fourth; he who forgives and suffers, on the fifth; and
he who builds on all this with his words and his good life, as is the task of per-
fect and apostolic men, on the highest step of all” (”Guide to Sinners”, I, II, chap.
16).
12. The love of God makes us joyful, strong and persevering. Therefore “one ac-
cepts tribulation with joy and hope, because one knows that what is promised
in exchange is something much better” (Pseudo-Ambrose, “Comm. in Epist. ad
Rom, ad loc”.)
This setting gives us every opportunity to derive supernatural benefit from suf-
fering, which is quite a normal part of the Christian life: “A whole program for a
good course in the ‘subject’ of suffering is given to us by the Apostle: “spe gau-
dentes”—rejoicing in hope, “in tribulatione patientes”—patient in troubles, “oratio-
ni instantes”— persevering in prayer” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 209).
Joy in the midst of difficulties is in fact one of the clearest signs that love of God
is influencing everything we do, for, as St Augustine comments, “where one loves,
either one does not feel the difficulty or else one loves the very difficulty [...]. The
tasks of those who love are never laborious” (”De Bono Viduitatis”, 21, 26).
13. “For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God
whom he has not seen” (1 Jn 4:20). Similarly, it can be said that Christians, that
is “servants of the Lord”, unless they serve their brethren whom they see before
them, cannot serve God either. Serving God, in other words, ultimately means
alleviating “the needs of the saints “ and offering hospitality to strangers, after
the example of the patriarchs Abraham and Lot (Gen 18:2-5; 19:2-3; cf. Heb
13:2).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Luke 14:15-24
Parable of the Invited Guests
*****************************************************************************************
Commentary:
15. In biblical language the expression “to eat bread in the Kingdom of God”
means sharing in eternal beatitude, of which this great banquet is a symbol
(cf. Isaiah 25:6; Matthew 22:1-4).
16-24. If God invites someone to know Him in faith, he should sacrifice any
human interest which gets in the way of replying to God’s call, no matter
how lawful and noble it be. The objections we tend to put forward, the duties
we appeal to, are really just excuses. This is why the ungrateful invitees are
blameworthy.
“Compel people to come in”: it is not a matter of forcing anyone’s freedom —
God does not want us to love Him under duress—but of helping a person to
make right decisions, to shrug off any human respect, to avoid occasions
of sin, to do what he can to discover the truth .... A person is “compelled to
come in” through prayer, the example of a Christian life, friendship—in a word,
apostolate. “If in order to save an earthly life it is praiseworthy to use force
to stop a man from committing suicide, are we not to be allowed use of the
same force — holy coercion — to save the Life (with a capital) of many who
are stupidly bent on killing their souls?” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 399).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
First reading | Romans 12:5-16 © |
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Psalm | Psalm 130:1-3 © |
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Gospel Acclamation | cf.Ep1:17,18 |
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Or | Mt11:28 |
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Gospel | Luke 14:15-24 © |
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It's time to kneel down and pray for our nation (Sacramental Marriage)
Why Boko Haram and ISIS Target Women
Report reveals scale of Boko Haram violence inflicted on Nigerian Catholics
Military evacuating girls, women rescued from Boko Haram
Echos of Lepanto Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Harm
After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram (Catholic Caucus)
Nigerian Bishop Says Christ Showed Him How to Beat Islamic Terror Group
We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.
The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.
The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.
Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.
St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
6. Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary. The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
The Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]
St. Michael the Archangel
~ PRAYER ~
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+
PLEASE JOIN US - Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?
There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.
(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." II Maccabees 12
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
To Help the Holy Souls in Purgatory:
1. Have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered up for them.
2. Pray the Rosary and or the Chaplet of Divine Marcy for them, or both.
3. Pray the Stations of the Cross.
4. Offer up little sacrifices and fasting.
5. Spread devotion to them, so that others may pray for them.
6. Attend Eucharistic Adoration and pray for them.
7. Gain all the indulgences you can, and apply them to the Holy Souls
8. Visit to a Cemetery
The just shall be in everlasting remembrance;
He shall not fear the evil hearing.
V. Absolve, O Lord, the souls of the faithful departed
from every bond of sin,
R. And by the help of Thy grace
may they be enabled to escape the avenging judgment,
and to enjoy the happiness of eternal life.
Because in Thy mercy are deposited the souls that departed
in an inferior degree of grace,
Lord, have mercy.
Because their present suffering is greatest
in the knowledge of the pain that their separation from Thee is causing Thee,
Lord, have mercy.
Because of their present inability to add to Thy accidental glory,
Lord, have mercy.
Not for our consolation, O Lord;
not for their release from purgative pain, O God;
but for Thy joy
and the greater accidental honour of Thy throne, O Christ the King,
Lord, have mercy.
For the souls of our departed friends, relations and benefactors,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those of our family who have fallen asleep in Thy bosom, O Jesus,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who have gone to prepare our place,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
(For those who were our brothers [or sisters] in Religion,)
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For priests who were our spiritual directors,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For men or women who were our teachers in school,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who were our employers (or employees),
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who were our associates in daily toil,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For any soul whom we ever offended,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For our enemies now departed,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those souls who have none to pray for them,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those forgotten by their friends and kin,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those now suffering the most,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who have acquired the most merit,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For the souls next to be released from Purgatory,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who, while on earth,
were most devoted to God the Holy Ghost,
to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
to the holy Mother of God,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all deceased popes and prelates,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all deceased priests, seminarians and religious,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all our brethren in the Faith everywhere,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all our separated brethren who deeply loved Thee,
and would have come into Thy household had they known the truth,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those souls who need, or in life asked, our prayers,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those, closer to Thee than we are, whose prayers we need,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
That those may be happy with Thee forever,
who on earth were true exemplars of the Catholic Faith,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be admitted to Thine unveiled Presence,
who as far as we know never committed mortal sin,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be housed in glory,
who lived always in recollection and prayer,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be given the celestial joy of beholding Thee,
who lived lives of mortification and self-denial and penance,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be flooded with Thy love,
who denied themselves even Thy favours of indulgence
and who made the heroic act
for the souls who had gone before them,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be drawn up to the Beatific Vision,
who never put obstacles in the way of sanctifying grace
and who ever drew closer in mystical union with Thee,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord,
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
Let Us Pray
Be mindful, O Lord,
of Thy servants and handmaids,
N. and N.,
who are gone before us
with the sign of faith
and repose in the sleep of grace.
To these, O Lord,
and to all who rest in Christ,
grant, we beseech Thee,
a place of refreshment,
light and peace,
through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen
Halloween and All Saints Day
All Saints or All Souls? Differences should be black and white
All Souls' Day [Catholic Caucus]
Why I Am Catholic: For Purgatory, Thank Heavens (Ecumenical)
Q and A: Why Pray for the Dead? [Ecumenical]
“….and Death is Gain” – A Meditation on the Christian View of Death [Catholic Caucus]
99 & 1/2 Won’t Do – A Meditation on Purgatory
The Month of November: Thoughts on the "Last Things"
To Trace All Souls Day....... Catholics)
November 2 -- All Souls Day
On November: All Souls and the "Permanent Things"
"From the Pastor" ALL SAINTS & ALL SOULS
Praying for the Dead [All Souls Day] (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
To Trace All Souls Day [Ecumenical]
All Souls Day [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Roots of All Souls Day
The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
During Month of Souls, Recall Mystic, St. Gertrude the Great
All Saints and All Souls
"'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled"
Truly You are holy and most holy, and there are no bounds to the majesty of Your holiness. You are holy in all Your works, for with righteousness and true judgment You have ordered all things for us. For having made man by taking dust from the earth, and having honored him with Your own image, O God, You placed him in a garden of delight, promising him eternal life and the enjoyment of everlasting blessings in the observance of Your commandments. But when he disobeyed You, the true God who had created him, and was led astray by the deception of the serpent becoming subject to death through his own transgressions, You, O God, in Your righteous judgment, expelled him from paradise into this world, returning him to the earth from which he was taken.
Yet You provided for him the salvation of regeneration in Your Christ. For You did not forever reject Your creature whom You made, O Good One, nor did You forget the work of Your hands, but because of Your tender compassion, You visited him in various ways: You sent forth prophets; You performed mighty works by Your saints who in every generation have pleased You. You spoke to us by the mouth of Your servants the prophets, announcing to us the salvation which was to come; You gave us the law to help us; You appointed angels as guardians.
And when the fullness of time had come, You spoke to us through Your Son Himself, through whom You created the ages. He, being the splendor of Your glory and the image of Your being, upholding all things by the word of His power, thought it not robbery to be equal with You, God and Father. But, being God before all ages, He appeared on earth and lived with humankind. Becoming incarnate from a holy Virgin, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, conforming to the body of our lowliness, that He might change us in the likeness of the image of His glory (Heb 1,2-3; Phil 2, 6-7; 3,21).
For, since through man sin came into the world and through sin death, it pleased Your only begotten Son, who is in Your bosom, God and Father, born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary; born under the law, to condemn sin in His flesh, so that those who died in Adam may be brought to life in Him, Your Christ. He lived in this world, and gave us precepts of salvation. Releasing us from the delusions of idolatry, He guided us to the sure knowledge of You, the true God and Father. He acquired us for Himself, as His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
St. Catherine of Siena
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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28) "Blessed are you among women, |
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