Posted on 06/12/2018 10:20:55 PM PDT by Salvation
KEYWORDS: catholic; mt5; ordinarytime; prayer; saints;
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From: 1 Kings 18:20-39
The sacrifice on Mount Carmel
[30] Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me”; and all the people
came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown
down; [31] Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the
sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your
name”; [32] and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And
he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of
seed. [33] And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on
the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering,
and on the wood.” [34] And he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a se-
cond time. And he said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it a third time. [35] And
the water ran round about the altar, and filled the trench also with water.
[36] And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near
and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day
that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all
these things at thy word. [37] Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people
may know that thou, O LORD, art God, and that thou hast turned their hearts
back.” [38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and
the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the
trench. [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they
said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.”
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Commentary:
18:20-40. “Carmel” is a chain of mountains that starts near the port of Haifa and
runs some 30 km. (18.5 miles) south-east. Its height (almost 600 m. or 1800 ft.)
and its lush vegetation made it particularly suitable as a place of religious cult (at
that time, the local people worshipped Baal). There, the one, true God will make
himself manifest in the sacrificial fire. To begin with, the people have nothing to
say when Elijah upbraids them, but at the end of the episode (v. 38) they make a
profession of faith which echoes in a way the faith of the prophet, who bears wit-
ness to the living God. The name of Elijah, “The Lord is my God’, foretells the peo-
ple’s cry in response to his prayer on Mount Carmel” (”Catechism of the Catholic
Church”, 2582).
The fire which consumes the offering is a figure of the Holy Spirit: “While water
signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes
the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit’s actions. The prayer of the prophet E-
lijah, who ‘arose like fire’ and whose ‘word burned like a torch’ (Sir 48:1), brought
down fire from heaven on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel (cf. 1 Kings 18:38-39).
This event was a ‘figure’ of the fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he tou-
ches. John the Baptist, who goes ‘before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Eli-
jah’ (Lk 1:17), proclaims Christ as the one who ‘who will baptize you with Holy
Spirit and with fire’ (Lk 3:16). Jesus will say of the Spirit: ‘I came to cast fire up-
on the earth; and would that it were already kindled!’ (Lk 12:49). In the form of
tongues ‘as of fire’, the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pen-
tecost and fills them with himself (Acts 2:3-4). The spiritual tradition has retained
this symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of the Holy Spirit’s
actions (cf. St John of the Cross, “The Living Flame of Love”). ‘Do not quench
the Spirit’ (1 Thess 5:19)” (”Catechism of the Catholic Church”, 696).
The similarity between the fire of Elijah’s offering and the action of the Holy Spi-
rit in the eucharistic sacrifice was noted by the Fathers. But the typology can be
extended further: “The sacrifice on Mount Carmel is a decisive test for the faith
of the People of God. The Lord’s fire consumes the holocaust, at the time of the
evening oblation. The Eastern liturgies repeat Elijah’s plea in the Eucharistic epi-
clesis” (”Catechism of the Catholic Church”, 2583).
Elijah’s action at the end — killing the false prophets — needs to be understood
in the light of his zeal for the Lord and of the mentality of the time, for the Mosaic
Law prescribed exactly such treatment for prophets of pagan divinities in order
to safeguard the religious purity of the people (cf. Deut 13:13-19).
*********************************************************************************************
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: Matthew 5:17-19
Jesus and His Teaching, the Fulfillment of the Law
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
17-19. In this passage Jesus stresses the perennial value of the Old Testament.
It is the word of God; because it has a divine authority it deserves total respect.
The Old Law enjoined precepts of a moral, legal and liturgical type. Its moral
precepts still hold good in the New Testament because they are for the most
part specific divine-positive promulgations of the natural law. However, our Lord
gives them greater weight and meaning. But the legal and liturgical precepts of
the Old Law were laid down by God for a specific stage in salvation history, that
is, up to the coming of Christ; Christians are not obliged to observe them (cf.
“Summa Theologiae”, I-II, q. 108, a. 3 ad 3).
The law promulgated through Moses and explained by the prophets was God’s
gift to His people, a kind of anticipation of the definitive Law which the Christ or
Messiah would lay down. Thus, as the Council of Trent defined, Jesus not only
“was given to men as a redeemer in whom they are to trust, but also as a law-
giver whom they are to obey” (”De Iustificatione”, can. 21).
*********************************************************************************************
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.
Liturgical Colour: White.
First reading |
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1 Kings 18:20-39 © |
Elijah vanquishes the priests of Baal |
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Responsorial Psalm |
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Psalm 15(16):1-2,4-5,8,11 © |
Gospel Acclamation | Ps118:27 |
---|
Or: | Ps24:4,5 |
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Gospel | Matthew 5:17-19 © |
---|
I have not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to complete them |
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Pray for Pope Francis.
50 Boko Haram Islamic Radicals Killed; 1,000 Hostages, Women and Children, Rescued in Nigeria
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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
+
The devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make reparation for our ingratitude to God.
INVOCATION
O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART
Devotion to the Sacred Heart was the characteristic note of the piety of Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302), Benedictine nun and renowned mystic. She was, in fact, the first great exponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart. In our efforts to honor the Heart of Jesus we have this prayer as a model for our own:
Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, 0 my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude
FOR THE CHURCH
O most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.
A PRAYER OF TRUST
O God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
Roman Missal
ACT OF LOVE
Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine;
pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrong-doing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.
Cardinal Merry del Val
MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART
Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought its mercy was ever abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present ourselves before Thee, crushed beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our requests. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Only for Love: The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood [Catholic Caucus]
Catholic Word of the Day: LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART, 10-19-09
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart Today
The Biblical Foundation of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Heart to Heart (Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion) [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]
(June) The Month of the Sacred Heart {Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]
The Heart of the World (On the Sacred Heart of Jesus) (Catholic Caucus)
The Sacred Heart Is The Holy Eucharist(Catholic Caucus)
The Origin of the Sacred Heart Badge
Importance of Devotion to the Sacred Heart
An Awesome Homily on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Father Edmond Kline
Catholic Prayer and Devotion: June the Month of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Devotions: Sacred Heart of Jesus
Pope Urges Jesuits to Spread Sacred Heart Devotion
Homilies preached by Father Altier on the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Meditation and Devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Daily Recomendation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus powerful prayer!
The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist
The Love of the Sacred Heart
On the Sacred Heart - "We Adore God's Love of Humanity"
HAURIETIS AQUAS (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart) - Encyclical by Pope Pius XII
Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sacred Heart a Feast of God's Love, Says John Paul II
The Sacred Heart of Jesus: Symbol of Combativity and the Restoration of Christendom
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus-The Early Church, Middle Ages up to St. Margaret Mary
See this Heart
God Will Act and Will Reign
About Devotion To The Sacred Heart:The Story Of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Rediscover Feast of Sacred Heart, John Paul II Tells Youth
"Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth."
- Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary
Our Lord also made 12 promises to St. Margaret Mary for those that are devoted to His Sacred Heart.
The fulfilment of the Law
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus issued a solemn warning in which he presented God's law, given on Sinai during the first covenant, in light of the grace of the New Covenant: Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets: I have come not to abolish but to fulfil....
Jesus, Israel's Messiah and therefore the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, was to fulfil the Law by keeping it in its all embracing detail - according to his own words, down to "the least of these commandments". He is in fact the only one who could keep it perfectly... The perfect fulfilment of the Law could be the work of none but the divine legislator, born subject to the Law (Ga 3:10) in the person of the Son. In Jesus, the Law no longer appears engraved on tables of stone but "upon the heart" ( Jr 31:33) of the Servant who becomes "a covenant to the people" (Is 42:6), because he will "faithfully bring forth justice" (Is 42:3). Jesus fulfils the Law to the point of taking upon himself "the curse of the Law" (Ga 3:13) incurred by those who do not "abide by the things written in the book of the Law, and do them" (Ga 3:10), for his death took place to redeem them "from the transgressions under the first covenant" (Heb 9:15)...
Jesus taught the people "as one who had authority, and not as their scribes" (Mt 7:29). In him, the same Word of God that had resounded on Mount Sinai to give the written Law to Moses, made itself heard anew on the Mount of the Beatitudes. Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it by giving its ultimate interpretation in a divine way: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old. . . But I say to you. . ." (Mt 5:33-34). With this same divine authority, he disavowed certain human traditions of the Pharisees that were "making void the word of God" (Mc 7:8.13).
St. Ignatius of Loyola
|
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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