[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: February 04, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honor you with all our mind, and love everyone in truth of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

• Tuscan-Style Peppered Chicken

ACTIVITIES

• How to Deal with People

PRAYERS

• Collect for the Feast of St. Andrew Corsini
• Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

LIBRARY

• Order Of The Brothers Of The Most Blessed Virgin Mary Of Mount Carmel (Carmelites: White Friars: O. Carm.) | Helen Walker Homan

Ordinary Time: February 4th

Monday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

Old Calendar: St. Andrew Corsini, bishop and confessor

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Andrew who was born in the fourteenth century in Florence, Italy. He fell into bad company; but soon, touched by the grief of his mother, the young nobleman entered the Carmelite Order. Having served as prior of his convent, he was chosen to fill the vacant bishopric of Fiesole. He continually helped the poor, doing so in secret in the case of those who were ashamed to make known their distress. By showing his people the true nature of Christian peace, Bishop Andrew put an end to a number of troublesome disturbances in the city. He died on the feast of the Epiphany, 1373.

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St. Andrew Corsini
St. Andrew Corsini lived from 1302 to 1373. While still carrying him in her womb, his mother dreamed she had given birth to a wolf that sauntered to the gate of the Carmelite monastery, and entering the vestibule of the church, was changed to a lamb. Andrew was reared as a pious and God-fearing youth, but little by little he succumbed to the pleasures of the world in spite of frequent warnings and reproofs from his mother. After he became aware that his parents had vowed him to the service of Blessed Mary, he mended his ways and at the age of seventeen entered the Carmelite Order. Though persistently tempted and assailed by the devil, he never swerved from his holy decision. A man of austere penance, he fasted continuously, always wore a hair shirt, and prayed the penitential psalms daily. For humility's sake he often washed the feet of the poor and beggars. His special gift from God was the grace to effect the conversion of hardened sinners. In 1360, despite his efforts to the contrary, he was made bishop of Fiesole in Tuscany.

— Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Civil disorder; riot.

Symbols: Holding a cross, with a wolf and lamb at his feet, and floating above a battlefield on a cloud or a white palfrey.

Things to Do:

• Pray to St. Andrew Corsini that your children, especially teenagers, may find their true vocation and follow it faithfully.

• St. Andrew's fellow Italians often sought his aid in solving the disputes which had split their families and cities — imitate this peacemaker, renowned for his prudence and wisdom, by sowing peace in your own home.

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 5:1-20

4th Week in Ordinary Time

“No one could restrain him.” (Mark 5:3)

If we didn’t know the reason for this man’s behavior—that he was demon possessed—it would make no sense to us. First we read that not even heavy chains and shackles could hold him down. You might even say he was free to do whatever he wanted. But what did he do with this freedom? He cried out and cut himself with stones. That’s not exactly a description of someone enjoying his freedom!

This image of the demoniac gives us some insight into the way the devil tries to attack us as well. First, he tries to convince us that we are free to do whatever we want. He urges us to throw off our restraints and do whatever we want. When we give into his temptation, we experience a brief thrill. But then the devil torments us with guilt and shame. We may search for something to dull the pain, only to feel guilty again. When we get caught in a cycle of sin like this, it can feel as if we’re in a tomb. We’re trapped and can’t escape.

Just as this man felt trapped and couldn’t break free from whatever was tormenting him, we too can feel trapped in a hopeless situation. We too can feel harassed by self-condemning thoughts and anxieties.

But we can be set free! Through the Eucharist, the bread of freedom, we can have a life-changing encounter with Christ. Just as Jesus came to this man and spoke words of freedom, he comes to us in the form of bread and wine to lift our burdens. He comes with authority and power as the Son of God, speaking to the tormenting voices and commanding them to leave us. He comes filled with his Father’s compassion, ready to loose our chains and soothe our hearts.

So the next time you are going to receive Communion, take whatever may be bothering you—all the lies, fears, anxieties, and guilt—and lay them down at the foot of the cross. Try your best to calm your mind so that you can hear Jesus’ words of peace and freedom. And offer him your praise and worship, believing that he has the power to set you free!

“Jesus, thank you for breaking all the chains that held me in bondage. Lord, I know that nothing can ever separate me from your love.”

Hebrews 11:32-40; Psalm 31:20-24