Posted on 11/28/2015 7:22:58 PM PST by Salvation
Jesus said to his disciples:
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."
Please FReepmail me to get on/off the Alleluia Ping List.
From: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Grounds for hope
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
33:14-26. These verses, which are not in the Septuagint and which may be a la-
ter addition, are a collection of messianic announcements based on the unchan-
ging nature of the Lord’s promise. He will keep the Davidic dynasty in being
through a descendant of David (vv. 15-16; cf. 23:5-6; 2 Sam 7:12-16) and will en-
sure that there are always Levites to perform the functions of priests (vv. 17-18).
This pact will be as fixed as the laws that govern the universe (vv. 19-26: cf. 33:
2). The “two families” (v. 24) refer to Israel (Jacob) and Judah (David).
The New Testament shows that all the promises in the “Book of Consolation”
find fulfillment in Jesus Christ, son of David (cf. Mt 1:1), the eternal high priest of
the New Covenant (cf. Heb 8:1-13). “God is ever faithful, and he has placed him-
self in our debt, not because he has received anything from us, but through all
the promises he has made to us. In his own eyes, the promises seem to be of
little value; he has put them in writing, a compendium of promises, so that we
will be able to read them, one after another, as they come to pass. As has been
said many times before, the prophetic era is made up of the days in which the
Lord made his promises” (St Augustine, “Enarrationes in Psalmos”, 109, 1).
*********************************************************************************************
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: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
He (Paul) Prays for the Thessalonians
He Calls for Holiness and Purity
********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
12-13. Love is a supernatural virtue which inclines us to love God (for his own
sake) above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Given
that charity is a virtue which God infuses into the soul, it is something we must
not only practice but also ask God to increase in us.
Supernatural love, or charity, embraces everyone without exception. “Loving one
person and showing indifference to others”, St John Chrysostom observes, “is
characteristic of purely human affection; but St Paul is telling us that our love
should not be restricted in any way” (”Hom. on 1 Thess, ad loc.”). When a per-
son practices this virtue in an uninhibited way, his holiness gains in strength:
he becomes irreproachable “before our Lord and Father”; “in this does the true
merit of virtue really consist—and not in simply being blameless before men [...].
Yes, I shall say it again: it is charity, it is love, which makes us blameless”
(”ibid.”).
“With all his saints”: referring to believers who died in the grace of God.
1. St Paul encourages the Thessalonians “in the Lord Jesus” to follow his ad-
vice: he does not make this plea in his own name or using his personal influence
but in the name of the Lord Jesus. Those who have positions of authority in the
Church should be obeyed, above all, for supernatural reasons (that is what God
desires) and not for any personal qualities they happen to have or simply be-
cause they are “superiors”. It is this outlook which causes St Ignatius Loyola to
say that “laying aside all private judgment, we ought to keep our minds prepared
and ready to obey in all things the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, which is our
Holy Mother, the hierarchical Church” (”Spiritual Exercises”, 353).
The Thessalonians already knew the commandments, but knowing them is not
enough; they must be put into practice. St John Chrysostom comments: “Good
land does something more than give back the grain put into it; and therefore the
soul should not limit itself to doing what is laid down, but should go further [...].
Two things make for virtue—avoiding evil and doing good. Fleeing from evil is not
the be-all of virtue; it is the beginning of the path that leads to virtue. One needs,
in addition, to have an ardent desire to be good and to do good” (”Hom. on 1
Thess, ad loc.”).
********************************************************************************************
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 21:25-28; 34-36
Discourse on the Destruction of Jerusalem
and the End of the World (Continuation)
The Need for Vigilance
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
25-26. Jesus refers to the dramatic changes in natural elements when the world
is coming to an end. “The powers of the heavens will be shaken”; that is to say,
the whole universe will tremble at the Lord’s coming in power and glory.
27-28. Applying to himself the prophecy of Daniel (7:13-14), our Lord speaks of
his coming in glory at the end of time. Mankind will see the power and glory of
the Son of man, coming to judge the living and the dead. Christ will deliver this
judgment in his human capacity. Sacred Scripture describes the solemnity of
this event, when the sentence passed on each person in the particular judgment
will be confirmed, and God’s justice and mercy to men throughout history will
shine out for all to see. “It was necessary not only that rewards should await the
just and punishments the wicked, in the life to come, but that they should be a-
warded by a public and general judgment. Thus they will become better known
and will be rendered more conspicuous to all, and a tribute of praise will be of-
fered by all to the justice and providence of God” (”St Pius V Catechism”, I, 8,
4).
This coming of the Lord is, then, a day of terror for evildoers and of joy for those
who have remained faithful. The disciples should hold their heads high because
their redemption is at hand. It is the day they will receive their reward. The vic-
tory won by Christ on the cross—victory over sin, over the devil and over death —
will now be seen clearly, with all its implications. Therefore St Paul recommends
that we be “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great
God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
“He [Christ] ascended into heaven whence he will come again to judge the li-
ving and the dead, each according to his merits. Those who have responded to
the love and compassion of God will go into eternal life. Those who have refused
them to the end will be consigned to the fire that is never extinguished” (Paul VI,
“Creed of the People of God”, 12).
34-36. At the end of His discourse Jesus emphasizes that every Christian needs
to be vigilant: we do not know the day nor the hour in which He will ask us to ren-
der an account of our lives. Therefore, we must at all times be trying to do God’s
will, so that death, whenever it comes, will find us ready. For those who act in
this way, sudden death never takes them by surprise. As St. Paul recommends:
“You are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief” (1
Thessalonians 5:4). Vigilance consists in making a constant effort not to be at-
tached to the things of this world (the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupi-
scence of the eyes and pride of life: cf. John 2:16) and in being assiduous in pra-
yer, which keeps us close to God. If we live in this way, the day we die will be a
day of joy and not of terror, for with God’s help our vigilance will mean that our
souls are ready to receive the visit of our Lord; they are in the state of grace: in
meeting Christ we will not be meeting a judge who will find us guilty; instead He
will embrace us and lead us into the house of His Father to remain there forever.
“Does your soul not burn with the desire to make your Father-God happy when
He has to judge you?” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 746).
*********************************************************************************************
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 |
|---|
| Jeremiah 33:14-16 © |
| Psalm |
|---|
| Psalm 24:4-5,8-9,10,14 © |
| Second reading |
|---|
| 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 © |
| Gospel Acclamation | Ps84:8 |
|---|
| Gospel |
|---|
| Luke 21:25-28,34-36 © |
Pray for Pope Francis!
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 Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]
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 gracemay 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
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.