February 17, 2014

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters,
when you encounter various trials,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
And let perseverance be perfect,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But if any of you lacks wisdom,
he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly,
and he will be given it.
But he should ask in faith, not doubting,
for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed about by the wind.
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.

The brother in lowly circumstances
should take pride in high standing,
and the rich one in his lowliness,
for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.”
For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass,
its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes.
So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76

R. (77a) Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I hold to your promise.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just,
and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.

Gospel Mk 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
“Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other shore.

Interactive Saints for Kids

Seven Founders of the Servite Order

Feast Day: February 17
Born/Died: Thirteenth Century

These seven saints all came from among the richest families in Florence, Italy. Each had a great love for Mary, the Mother of God. They were active members of a confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary popularly known as the 'Laudesi' or Praisers.

The eldest was Buonfiglio Monaldo, who became their leader. The others were Alexis Falconieri, Benedict dell' Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Ricovero Uguccione, Gerardino Sostegni, and John Buonagiunta. Their spiritual director was St. James of Poggibonsi, who was chaplain of the Laudesi, a man of great holiness and spiritual insight.

On the feast of the Assumption, while the seven men were deep in prayer, the Blessed Mother appeared to them. She inspired them to leave the world and to live alone with God.

After many years of living as hermits, they went to their bishop. They asked him for a rule of life to follow. The bishop encouraged them to pray and to ask for guidance from Mary.

Mary appeared to the men carrying a black habit. At her side was an angel bearing a scroll with the words "Servants of Mary" written on it. In this vision, the Blessed Mother said that she had chosen them to be her servants. She asked them to wear a black habit and to follow the Rule of St. Augustine.

These wonderful men helped each other love and serve God better. Six of them were ordained priests. The seventh founder, Alexis, remained a wonderful religious until death. In his humility, he chose not to be ordained to the priesthood.

Many young men came to join these holy founders. They were known as Servants of Mary or Servites.

Reflection: These men have left us a remarkable example of fraternal charity and solidarity. How can I help cultivate unity and charity in my family, in my work place, or in the community that I live in? He was cruelly tortured in Rome, for eighteen days, by a governor of that city, who became angry by his preaching of the Gospel. His legs were broken and he was then stoned to death.

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 8
11.	And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, asking him a sign from heaven, tempting him.	Et exierunt pharisæi, et cœperunt conquirere cum eo, quærentes ab illo signum de cælo, tentantes eum.	και εξηλθον οι φαρισαιοι και ηρξαντο συζητειν αυτω ζητουντες παρ αυτου σημειον απο του ουρανου πειραζοντες αυτον
12.	And sighing deeply in spirit, he saith: Why doth this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, a sign shall not be given to this generation.	Et ingemiscens spiritu, ait : Quid generatio ista signum quærit ? Amen dico vobis, si dabitur generationi isti signum.	και αναστεναξας τω πνευματι αυτου λεγει τι η γενεα αυτη σημειον επιζητει αμην λεγω υμιν ει δοθησεται τη γενεα ταυτη σημειον
13.	And leaving them, he went up again into the ship, and passed to the other side of the water.	Et dimittens eos, ascendit iterum navim et abiit trans fretum.	και αφεις αυτους εμβας παλιν εις πλοιον απηλθεν εις το περαν

11. And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12. And He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, Why does this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13. And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

AUG. Now in Matthew we read that He entered into the parts of Magdala. But we cannot doubt that it is the same place under another name; for several manuscripts even of St. Mark have only Magdala. It goes on, And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question to with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

BEDE; The Pharisees, then, seek a sign from heaven, that He, Who had for the second time fed mammy thousands of men with a few loaves of bread, should now, after the example of Moses, refresh the whole nation in the last time with manna sent down from heaven, and dispensed amongst them all.

THEOPHYL. Or they seek for a sign from heaven, that is, they wish Him to make the sun and moon stand still, to bring down hail, and change the atmosphere; for they thought that He could not perform miracles from heaven, but could only in Beelzebub perform a sign on earth.

BEDE; When, as related above, He was about to refresh the believing multitude, He gave thanks, so now, on account of the foolish petition of the Pharisees, He groans; because, bearing about with Him the feelings of human nature, as He rejoices over the salvation of men, so He grieves over their errors. Wherefore it goes on, And he groaned in spirit, and said, Why does this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, If a sign shall be given to this generation. That is, no sign shall be given; as it is written in the Psalms, I have sworn once by my holiness, if I shall fail David, that is, I will not fail David.

AUG. Let no one, however, be perplexed that the answer which Mark says was given to them, when they sought a sign from heaven, is not the same as that which Matthew relates, namely, that concerning Jonah. He says that the Lord's answer was, that no sign should be given to it; by which we must understand such a one as they asked for, that is, one from heaven; but he has omitted to say, what Matthew has related.

THEOPHYL. Now the reason why the Lord did not listen to them was, that the time of signs from heaven had not arrived, that is, the time of the second Advent, when the powers of the heaven shall be shaken, and the moon shall not give her light. But in the time of the first Advent, all things are full of mercy, and such things do not take place.

BEDE; For a sign from heaven was not to be given to a generation of men, who tempted the Lord; but to a generation of men seeking the Lord, He shows a sign from heaven when in the sight of the Apostles He ascended into heaven. It goes on, And He left them, and entering into a ship again, he departed to the other side.

THEOPHYL. The Lord indeed quits the Pharisees, as men uncorrected; for where there is a hope of correction, there it is right to remain; but where the evil is incorrigible, we should go away. There follows: Now they had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in their ship with them more than one very loaf.

Catena Aurea Mark 8

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:February 17, 2014
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Impart to us, O Lord, in kindness the filial devotion with which the holy brothers venerated so devoutly the Mother of God and led your people to yourself. 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

o Cream of Tomato Soup

ACTIVITIES

o Raising Truthful Children

o Religion in the Home for Elementary School: February

PRAYERS

o To Mary in Honor of Her Seven Sorrows

o Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary

LIBRARY

o Mary Through the Ages, Her Beauty Bespeaks the Beauty of God | Sylvie Barnay

o Some Practical Lessons of Historical Spirituality | Basil Cole O.P.

· Ordinary Time: February 17th

· Optional Memorial of Seven Founders of the Order of Servites

Today the liturgy honors seven noble Florentines who in the thirteenth century, at a time when Florence and all Italy was torn by civil strife, banded together to found, not far from Florence on Monte Senario, the Order of Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially dedicated to penance and meditation on the sorrows of our Lady in the passion of our Savior. This order was approved by the Holy See in 1304. One of the seven, Alexis Falconieri, died on this date in 1310. According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this feast is celebrated on February 12.

Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites
These seven men were the founders of the Servite Order, a community instituted for the special purpose of cultivating the spirit of penance and contemplating the passion of Christ and Mary's Seven Sorrows. Due to the spirit of humility cherished by the members of the Order, their accomplishments are not too widely known. But in the field of home missions great things are to their credit, and certainly they have benefited millions by arousing devotion to the Mother of Sorrows.

The Breviary tells us that in the midst of the party strife during the thirteenth century, God called seven men from the nobility of Florence. In the year 1233 they met and prayed together most fervently. The Blessed Mother appeared to each of them individually and urged them to begin a more perfect life. Disregarding birth and wealth, in sackcloth under shabby and well-worn clothing they withdrew to a small building in the country. It was September 8, selected so that they might begin to live a more holy life on the very day when the Mother of God began to live her holy life.

Soon after, when the seven were begging alms from door to door in the streets of Florence, they suddenly heard children's voices calling to them, "Servants of holy Mary." Among these children was St. Philip Benizi, then just five months old. Hereafter they were known by this name, first heard from the lips of children. In the course of time they retired into solitude on Monte Senario and gave themselves wholly to contemplation and penance. Leo XIII canonized the Holy Founders and introduced today's feast in 1888.

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

Things to Do:

With the aid of the Gospels, meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary: the prophecy of Simeon; the flight into Egypt; the loss of the Child Jesus in the temple; the meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross; the Crucifixion; the taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross; the burial of Jesus.
Learn more about the Order of Servites at Patron Saints Index and EWTN.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 8:11-13

The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order

He sighed. (Mark 8:12)

You’re going about your business, when out of the blue, someone makes a snide comment to your face. What would you do? If you’re like most people, you would get angry, and you would be tempted to make a vengeful retort. If you’re already stressed, that same comment might make you explode into a rage. But with the eyes of faith, we can see how these reactions are a sign that our fallen nature might be taking over—and that it’s a good time to remember what Jesus did in that same situation.

Surrounded by enemies who were constantly testing him, Jesus would have been justified in losing his temper. He was fully human, after all, so their slights likely hurt him just as much as they hurt us. But Jesus never returned their hostility with venom. When his tormentors asked him for yet another sign, Jesus just “sighed from the depth of his spirit” (Mark 8:12). Although clearly frustrated by their persistent unbelief, he didn’t retaliate. He just moved on quietly.

Jesus had a phenomenal mastery over his emotional life! While we often don’t need much to provoke us to pride or defensive anger, he always chose the way of humility. He knew that he didn’t have to promote himself. He knew that his mission was to do his Father’s will and to make him known. In this way, as in so many other ways, he showed himself to be the “perfect Son.”

But all is not lost for us. We can do more than just try with all our might to imitate Jesus—or worse, just give up in the face of challenges. Jesus’ own divine strength can become our strength. Because he experienced all the temptations we face and yet never gave in, we can ask him to bear our aggravation and frustrations. Because he offered a perfect sacrifice on the cross, we can share in his victorious life. When we embrace Godly self-control in our moments of anger, it’s a sign that his Spirit is at work in us. Then, people won’t see our “bad side”—they’ll see only Jesus!

“Lord Jesus, I marvel that you took on my ‘messy’ emotions as well as my sin. Fill me with your compassion so that I can forgive and love those who have hurt me.”

James 1:1-11; Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76

Regnum Christi

Loving Christ for Who He Is

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation." And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

Introductory Prayer:Lord, I can be so cold to your salvific presence as I hurry about living the moment and becoming so sufficient unto myself. There is little wonder that I find it hard to bring myself to prayer—to use faith to know you, divine love to live in you, and theological hope to trust in you. I approach you now, wanting only to be a more faithful disciple of your Kingdom.

Petition: Lord, grant a faith that will console your heart.

1. Sending Christ away:G. K. Chesterton once asserted, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” Jesus truly loves us and would never refuse a humble soul the true goods he needs for fulfillment and salvation. If our wants, like those of the Pharisees, end up leaving God silent and our spiritual life cold, it may be a call for us to purify our hearts of the remaining dregs of our self-centeredness. We should carefully avoid the attitudes and words that repel Christ. Christ will not let himself be loved for who he is not, and he will not indulge the desires we have for who we are not. We can want our happiness to be many things, but Christ wants us to accept that his will is the heart of our fulfillment.

2. Prayer Is My Daily Breath of Air for the Soul: Jesus converses with our souls in a language that flows from supernatural attitudes of faith, hope and love. He will remain silent, however, if we drag him down to the small, narrow framework of our reason and calculations—wanting to “figure it out for ourselves” before we will act. Jesus does not want to be Superman, who comes into our lives only when things are really bad and all is lost. Rather, Christ intervenes because he wants a life of communion and grace day after day, sharing his life with each and every soul. He wants our living in fidelity and childlike trust to be like breathing the air.

3. The Signs That Bring Christ to Us:Christ did give us sure signs of his daily presence in our lives. The first is the sign of the cross. Only faith will unlock its mystery and bring us to the encounter between our sin and God’s mercy. Sin is at the heart of the worst that can go wrong with our life; the sign of the Crucified One is its cure. Faith will permit us, as it did the good thief, to see Christ’s love at the center of the universe and the world being drawn towards it as if into a vortex. Another sign he left us is the Eucharist. It is the most powerful sign because it contains the author of the sign himself. Christ humbles himself to stay with us at all costs. Under the appearance of bread and wine, he reveals what he wants to be for our souls; Under the veil of the sacrament, we learn to encounter Christ personally as pure love. “On the night he was betrayed he showed the depth of his love…” Let these signs be the “love language” by which we talk to Christ in the way he wants to be known, loved and adored.

Conversation with Christ: Christ, let my prideful demands melt away before a mature encounter with your divine love. Keep my immaturity from impeding the expansion of your Kingdom; rather, let me humbly accept my need to change the way I relate to your true plan for my life.

Resolution: I will spend some time today acknowledging and thanking Jesus for the signs he has given me to know, love and serve him better in my life

Day 71 - Why did Jesus call apostles?

Why did Jesus call apostles?

Jesus had a large circle of disciples around him, both men and women. From this circle he selected twelve men whom he called apostles (Lk 6:12-16). The apostles were specially trained by him and entrusted with various commissions: "He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal" (Lk 9:2). Jesus took only these twelve apostles with him to the Last Supper, where he gave them the command, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Lk 22:19b).

The apostles became witnesses of Jesus' Resurrection and guarantors of the truth about him. They continued Jesus' mission after his death. They chose successors for their ministry: the bishops. To this day, the successors of the apostles exercise the authority conferred by Jesus: They govern and teach and celebrate the liturgy. The cohesiveness of the apostles became the foundation for the unity of the Church (apostolic succession). Preeminent once again among the Twelve was Peter, on whom Jesus bestowed special authority: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Mt 16:18). From Peter's special role among the apostles developed the papal ministry. (YOUCAT question 92)

Dig Deeper: CCC section (551-553) and other references here.

Part 1: The Profession of Faith (26 - 1065)

Section 2: The Profession of the Christian Faith (185 - 1065)

Chapter 2: I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God (422 - 682)

Article 3: "He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary" (456 - 570)

Paragraph 3: The Mysteries of Christ's Life (512 - 570)

III. THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS' PUBLIC LIFE ⇡

"The keys of the kingdom" ⇡

765
858
(all)

551

From the beginning of his public life Jesus chose certain men, twelve in number, to be with him and to participate in his mission.²⁸⁰ He gives the Twelve a share in his authority and 'sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal."²⁸¹ They remain associated for ever with Christ's kingdom, for through them he directs the Church: As my Father appointed a kingdom for me, so do I appoint for you that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.²⁸²

280.

Cf. Mk 3:13-19.

281.

Lk 9:2.

282.

Lk 22:29-30.

153
424
442
880
(all)

552

Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve;²⁸³ Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Through a revelation from the Father, Peter had confessed: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Our Lord then declared to him: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."²⁸⁴ Christ, the "living Stone",²⁸⁵ thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it.²⁸⁶

283.

Cf. Mk 3:16; 9:2; Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5.

284.

Mt 16:18.

285.

1 Pet 2:4.

286.

Cf. Lk 22:32.

1445
641
881
881
(all)

553

Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."²⁸⁷ The "power of the keys" designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: "Feed my sheep."²⁸⁸ The power to "bind and loose" connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgements, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles²⁸⁹ and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.

287.

Mt 16:19.

288.

Jn 21:15-17; cf. 10:11.

289.

Cf. Mt 18:18.

One Bread One Body

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 2

<< Monday, February 17, 2014 >>

Founders of the
Order of Servites

James 1:1-11
View Readings

Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76

Mark 8:11-13
Similar Reflections

DIVINE MERCY IN DIVINE FRUSTRATION

"With a sigh from the depths of His spirit He said, 'Why does this age seek a sign?' " —Mark 8:12

Jesus drove out demons, cured the leprous; healed the paralyzed, handicapped, hemorrhaging, and deaf; raised the dead, calmed a storm, walked on the water, and multiplied loaves and fish, among other miracles, signs, and wonders. Then "the Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Him. They were looking for some heavenly sign from Him as a test" (Mk 8:11). Jesus sighed from the depths of His spirit (Mk 8:12) and was understandably frustrated.

Likewise, the apostles did not grasp the meaning of Jesus' miracles, including the double multiplication of the loaves. Jesus expressed His frustration with a barrage of questions: "Do you still not see or comprehend? Are your minds completely blinded? Have you eyes but no sight? Ears but no hearing?" (Mk 8:17-18) "Do you still not understand?" (Mk 8:21)

Despite His frustration, Jesus worked another sign by healing a blind man at Bethsaida (Mk 8:22-25). Jesus met the unreasonable demands of the Pharisees and also continued to work with the apostles who He knew would eventually abandon Him.

Jesus is merciful. He doesn't give up on us, no matter how sinful or shameful our behavior. No matter if everyone else gives up on us, Jesus keeps loving us and trying to transform us (see Is 49:15). Jesus always forgives us and will in no way reject us (Jn 6:37). Jesus is so merciful that He died on the cross in our place. Lord Jesus, mercy.

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner" (the Jesus Prayer).

Promise: "Count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial." —Jas 1:2

Praise: The Servites serve their Lady and their Lord by serving their brothers and sisters. Their seven founders lived lives of gospel poverty and shared Christian community.

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