Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 1-22-04, Optional St. Vincent

Reading I
1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7

When David and Saul approached
(on David's return after slaying the Philistine),
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang:

"Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands."

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
"They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship."
And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
But Saul's son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him:
"My father Saul is trying to kill you.
Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;
get out of sight and remain in hiding.
I, however, will go out and stand beside my father
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know."

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
"Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you,
but has helped you very much by his deeds.
When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,
and the LORD brought about a great victory
for all Israel through him,
you were glad to see it.
Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood
by killing David without cause?"
Saul heeded Jonathan's plea and swore,
"As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed."
So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

R (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Gospel
Mk 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

FEAST OF THE DAY

Much of the information available about the life of St. Vincent comes
from the poems of Prudentius and writings from some of the early
Church fathers. Much of the information about the beginning of
Vincent's life has been lost, but we do have some information about
his later life and his birth into heaven.

St. Vincent was ordained to a deacon by St. Valerius in Saragosa,
Spain in the last decade of the third century. In the year 303, the
Roman emperor published decrees against the clergy of the Church,
these were followed a year later by decrees against the Christian
laity. After the publishing of these edicts, both Vincent and Valerius
were captured and imprisoned. They were tortured and starved, but
nothing broke their dedication to God.

Since both men were steadfast in their Faith, they were separated.
Valerius was sent into exile and Vincent was tortured in prison. Many
tortures were used on Vincent in order to make him forsake God, but
he courageously bore each one. His courage was heard of by the
Emperor who began to take a personal interest in the case. The
Emperor began to order harsher and harsher punishments and even
began to punish the torturers when he was not successful. Growing
weary of failure, the Emperor ordered a period of rest. Vincent was
taken back to his cell and given a bed. When his body was laid upon
the bed, God gave him relief from all his torments and brought
Vincent home to heaven. St. Vincent is the first martyr of Spain and
is the patron of wine producers.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

As God recognized each of us before we were born, and called us by
name, so too may we recognize the value of each human life and
pledge ourselves to continue to defend and nurture God's greatest
gift to us. -NCCB 1992 Respect Life Manual

TODAY IN HISTORY

1588 Pope Sixtus V decrees "Immense aeterni"

TODAY'S TIDBIT

Christian witness is the practical testimony or evidence given by
Christians of their life of faith in all circumstances of life - by proper
and general conduct, through good example and good works.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Today is the anniversary of the US Supreme Court decision in the
case Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion. Please pray for a
peaceful conversion of all souls who agree with this decision and for
a peaceful end to legalized abortion. Please pray also that all people
may develop a greater respect for human life in all its forms.

From: Mark 3:7-12

Cures Beside the Sea of Galilee

[7] Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, and a great multitude
from Galilee followed; also from Judea [8] and Jerusalem and Idumea and
from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon, a great
multitude, hearing all that He did, came to Him. [9] And He told His
disciples to have a boat ready for Him; [10] for He had healed many, so
that all who had diseases pressed upon Him to touch Him. [11] And
whenever the unclean spirits beheld Him, they fell down before Him and
cried out, "You are the Son of God." [12] And He strictly ordered them
not to make Him known.

Commentary:

10. During our Lord's public life people were constantly crowding round
Him to be cured (cf. Luke 6:19; 8:45; etc). As in the case of many
other cures, St. Mark gives us a graphic account of what Jesus did to
these people (cf. Mark 1:31, 41; 7:31-37; 8:22-26; John 9:1-7, 11,
15). By working these cures our Lord shows that He is both God and
man: He cures by virtue of His divine power and using His human
nature. In other words, only in the Word of God become man is the work
of our Redemption effected, and the instrument God used to save us was
the human nature of Jesus--His Body and Soul--in the unity of the
person of the Word (cf. Vatican II, "Sacrosanctum Concilium", 5).

This crowding round Jesus is repeated by Christians of all times: the
holy human nature of our Lord is our only route to salvation; it is the
essential means we must use to unite ourselves to God. Thus, we can
today approach our Lord by means of the sacraments, especially and
pre-eminently the Eucharist. And through the sacraments there flows to
us, from God, through the human nature of the Word, a strength which
cures those who receive the sacraments with faith (cf. St. Thomas
Aquinas, "Summa theologiae", III, q. 62, a. 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.

The Word Among Us

Thursday, January 22, 2004

Meditation
1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7

Saul was a man with both strengths and weaknesses. As Israel’s first king, chosen by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel, Saul certainly enjoyed the favor of God and received divine strength for his mission. A tall man, marked with dignity above his fellow Israelites, he had personal courage and charisma. He was a natural leader, and he began his reign with great promise and potential.

Yet Saul’s adult life was marked by two tragic flaws: jealousy and disobedience. Today’s reading highlights the jealous streak in his character. The fact that David—a mere servant—was receiving greater acclamation than Saul himself drove the king to consider David a rival and contemplate killing him. Even though Saul’s son, Jonathan, was able to temporarily persuade Saul not to harm David, Scripture tells us that his jealousy of David did not end. On numerous occasions later on, Saul did try to kill David, forcing the young man to flee from him.

As if this weren’t enough, Saul also exhibited a pattern of disobe-dience toward God. After he won a particularly fierce battle against the Amalekites, Saul disregarded Samuel’s directions and offered an unlawful sacrifice to Yahweh (1 Samuel 13:8-10). He also spared the Amalekites’ king and the best of the people’s cattle, in direct disobedience to God’s will (15:7-9). Finally, against God’s law, Saul consulted a pagan soothsayer to seek direction instead of asking God for guidance (28:4-25). On the next day, Saul was critically wounded in battle and, in despair, took his own life (31:3-6).

Don’t make the same mistake of underestimating the destructive potential of sin! It’s because Saul let failings like jealousy and disobedience grow and fester in him that he met with such a tragic death. Perhaps you are struggling with some flaws in your own life. Rather than allowing them to grow, turn to Jesus for the healing and strength that you need. Let him set you free to receive his love and to love other people in return. Don’t give up on God. He hasn’t given up on us. Even now, he promises that he can change anyone who turns to him.

“Lord Jesus, heal my heart and mind of every hurtful situation and jealous thought. Let your love and compassion restore my soul.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Thursday, January 22, 2004 >>

St. Vincent

1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7

Psalm 56

Mark 3:7-12

View Readings

TRUE HUMILITY IS GLADNESS

“Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: ‘They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.’ ” —1 Samuel 18:8

King Saul won a great victory in battle through the catalyst of young David’s courageous defeat of the fierce Goliath. When the cheerleaders greeted the victors with the fight song, Saul was given opening honors and credit for thousands (1 Sm 18:7). Because of his pride, however, all Saul could focus on was that David received more credit than he did (1 Sm 18:8). He was jealous of David and could feel no gladness that David, his courageous and faithful servant, received well-deserved acclaim. “The next day an evil spirit...came over Saul” (1 Sm 18:10) and ultimately Saul’s pride and jealousy (1 Sm 18:9) led to his downfall.

John the Baptizer toiled for years in the desert to lead the Israelites to repentance and prepare the Lord’s way. John’s mission was gaining momentum, and many came to him to be baptized. Then Jesus came and people started flocking to Him rather than John (Jn 3:26). John was “overjoyed” (Jn 3:29) at Jesus’ success. John saw himself as the “best man” (Jn 3:29), who stands happily forgotten at the altar while the groom (Jesus) is showered with attention. John’s humility was not a self-pitying disappearing act that bites its tongue so as not to ruin the party. Rather, John was genuinely delighted to see Jesus prosper at the expense of his own popularity. He humbly exclaimed: “That is my joy, and it is complete. [Jesus] must increase, while I must decrease” (Jn 3:29-30). With John, let us gladly rejoice as we are humbled.

Prayer: Father, may I advance to the next level of true humility.

Promise: “In God I trust without fear; what can flesh do against me?” —Ps 56:12

Praise: St. Vincent made Christ known throughout the Roman Empire and suffered extreme tortures as a testimony of his faith.

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Let Us Not Forget
Author:	Father James Farfaglia
Date:	Thursday, January 22, 2004

Most people who are reading this Internet homily are appalled by the continuous slaughter of innocent children through the horrible scourge of abortion. Many of you have been in the pro-life trenches for many years, some even since 1973. The souls of 43,346,396 aborted children in this country alone since January 22, 1973, cry out to you never to cease with your efforts to end the horrors of abortion in our nation.

Nevertheless, even though most Catholics are staunchly pro-life, still many Catholics consider children to be a burden. Once in a while pregnant young mothers will come to me with tears in their eyes, because they have been scorned and rejected by fellow parishioners. These parishioners have given them a look of surprise, or made comments such as "What have you been doing?" or "Oh, my, another baby?" These sad experiences only illustrate that even among Catholics there is a malaise of selfishness and a profound lack of love. We need families that are open to life and are willing to have large families. The national demographic statistics alone show how the Western world is quickly dying away. Those who claim that the world is over-populated are simply living a lie.

Abortion is a horrendous scourge and tragedy, but it is the manifestation of an anti-child, contraceptive mentality that has gripped most Americans. In their 2001 revision of the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, "A Campaign in Support of Life", the United States Catholic Bishops speak of the connection between abortion and contraception when they write: "It is noteworthy that as acceptance and use of contraception have increased in our society, so have acceptance and use of abortion. Couples who unintentionally conceive a child while using contraception are far more likely to resort to abortion than others. Tragically, our society has fallen into a mentality that views children as a burden and invites many to consider abortion as a 'backup' to contraceptive failure. This is most obvious in efforts to promote as 'emergency contraception' drugs that really act as early abortifacients."

Most Americans exhibit a unique sensitivity toward animals. Aside from some forms of extremism, this sensitivity is praiseworthy. However, should not there be a greater sensitivity and love for little children? Rightly so, we would all be outraged if someone's pet dog or cat were to be mutilated by some evil person living in our neighborhoods. And yet, every day, innocent little babies are mutilated through abortion. Father Frank Pavone from Priests for Life states that America will only reject abortion if America sees abortion.

The practice of abortion is a destructive force. This practice countenances the murder of innocent children and destroys the lives of the women who succumb to abortion. Furthermore, this evil practice is destroying our nation. The massive loss of innocent human life that took place on September 11 shocked the nation. This loss of innocent human life was tragic. Nevertheless, another tragedy with even greater consequences continues on a daily basis. 43,346,396 children have been murdered through abortion since January 22, 1973. The slaughter of the innocent continues and few are doing anything about it. Should we be surprised at the seemingly endless accounts of murders, bombings, and wars throughout the world that fill the media each day? If we can kill inside of the womb, what is to keep us from killing outside of the womb? If laws are permitted to exist that do not give equal protection to all citizens, what will keep the worse kind of tyranny from trying to emerge in our country?

"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined. As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights" (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2273).

During the tumultuous struggle to end segregation in this country, President John F. Kennedy addressed our nation in these momentous words:

The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated. If an American, because his skin is dark, cannot eat lunch in a restaurant open to the public, if he cannot send his children to the best public school available, if he cannot vote for the public officials who will represent him, if, in short, he cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand in his place? Who among us would then be content with the counsels of patience and delay?

One hundred years of delay have passed since President Lincoln freed the slaves, yet their heirs, their grandsons, are not fully free. They are not yet freed from the bonds of injustice. They are not yet freed from social and economic oppression. And this Nation, for all its hopes and all its boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are free.

We preach freedom around the world, and we mean it, and we cherish our freedom here at home, but are we to say to the world, and much more importantly, to each other that this is the land of the free except for the Negroes; that we have no second-class citizens except Negroes; that we have no class or caste system, no ghettoes, no master race except with respect to Negroes? (June 13, 1963)

Since the civil rights movement of the 1960s much has been accomplished in order to guarantee civil liberties for all Americans. Unfortunately, there is still much to be done. Nevertheless, the noble desire for true civil rights for all will never occur until we understand the fundamental right to life that all human beings have from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death.

The souls of 43,346,396 aborted children in this country alone since January 22, 1973, cry out to you never to cease with your efforts to end the horrors of abortion in our nation. Let us not forget.

Catholic Forum

St. Vincent of Saragossa

Also known as:

Vincent of Zaragoza; Vincent the Deacon; Vincent Tourante; Vincent of Aragon

Profile

Friend of Saint Valerius of Saragossa in Spain, and served as his deacon. Imprisoned and tortured in Valencia, some of it by burning on a gridiron, for his faith. Converted the jailer. Was finally offered release if he would give up the sacred texts to the fire, but he refused. Martyred during the persecutions of Diocletian. Acts written by the poet Prudentius.

Born:

at Heusca

Died:

martyred c.304 at Valencia

Patronage :

Portugal, vine dressers, vinegar makers, vintners, wine growers, wine makers

Representation

deacon holding a ewer; deacon holding several ewers and a book; deacon with a raven; deceased deacon whose body is being defended by ravens; deacon being torn by hooks; deacon holding a millstone

***

Reading:

"To you has been granted in Christ's behalf not only that you should believe in him but also that you should suffer for him."

Vincent had received both these gifts and held them as his own. For how could he have them if he had not received them? And he displayed his faith in what he said, his endurance in what he suffered.

No one ought to be confident in his own strength when he undergoes temptation. For whenever we endure evils courageously, our long-suffering comes from him Christ.

He once said to his disciples: "In this world you will suffer persecution," and then, to allay their fears, he added, "but rest assured, I have conquered the world."

There is no need to wonder then, my dearly beloved brothers, that Vincent conquered in him who conquered the world. It offers temptation to lead us astray; it strikes terror into us to break out spirit.

Hence if our personal pleasures do not hold us captive, and if we are not frightened by brutality, then the world is overcome. At both of these approaches Christ rushes to our aid, and the Christian is not conquered.

from a sermon by Saint Augustine of Hippo

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