Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 9-19-03, Optional, St. Januarius

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 9-19-03 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

September 19, 2003
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Friday 40 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
1 Tm 6:2c-12

Beloved:
Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the religious teaching
is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,
supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith
and have pierced themselves with many pains.

But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20

R Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.
R Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one's life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
R Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down.
R Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
"They will praise you for doing well for yourself,"
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light.
R Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Gospel
Lk 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.

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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.

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Alleluia Ping!

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Thought for the Day

Yet if it were a delusion (as you assert) which tells us that the soul is immortal, and that there is a judgment after death and a reward of virtue at the resurrection, and that God is the Judge, we would gladly be carried by such a lie as that, which has taught us to lead good lives awaiting the hope of the future even while suffering adversities.

 -- St Apollonius

[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

Januarius was a saint who was martyred during the Diocletian
persecutions around the year 400. When the persecution began,
Januarius was bishop in the city of Benevento. When he heard that
some of his flock had been imprisoned, he made an effort to visit
them in prison and help ease their sufferings. His kindness was
noticed by the jailers and reported to the authorities. Januarius and
some companions were arrested on the suspicion of being Christians.

After their arrest, Januarius and those who had been captured with
him were put on trial to prove their belief in Jesus Christ. They did
not deny their faith, but fearlessly proclaimed it. The group was
condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts in the arena, but when
the beasts were let loose, they kept away from these holy people.
The group was taken out of the arena and each one was beheaded.
Januarius' body was buried in the cemetery near the city of Puzzuoli.

The relics of Januarius were later taken out of the cemetery and
translated to several different churches. After some time, the relics
were brought to Naples where they still remain. The city took
Januarius as their principle patron after several disasters were
averted through the intercession of the saint.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

Chastity, or cleanness of heart, holds a glorious and distinguished
place among the virtues, because she alone enables man to see
God; hence Truth Itself said: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
shall see God." -St. Augustine


TODAY IN HISTORY

690 Death of St. Theodore of Canterbury


TODAY'S TIDBIT

The city of Naples has a vial of St. Januarius' blood. Each year, on
his feast this vial of blood liquefies. In years when this miracle did not
occur, severe disasters fell upon the city.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all people who have had their lives changed by
natural or man made disasters.

[Salvation]

The Life Of St. Januarius

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The Word Among Us

Friday, September 19, 2003 Meditation Luke 8:1-3 For a significant portion of his ministry, Jesus made preaching tours of local Galilean towns and villages, accompanied by his apostles and other disciples. Try to picture a rabbi and his contingent traveling on foot through the rough and dusty roads of Palestine, accompanied by several women who provided for their needs. Imagine how radical this scene would have appeared to first-century Jews—especially those religious leaders for whom outward appearance was of the utmost importance. In Jesus’ time, women were regarded as socially and even spiritually inferior to men. The thought of women following a rabbi would have been considered scandalous if not sinful. Throughout history, God has chosen those who are of no account in the world’s eyes to receive and testify to the gospel. Earlier in Luke, we saw Mary responding to God’s call with joyful affirmation and a deep sense of her humility and God’s greatness (Luke 1:46-55). Later, Luke tells the story of a sinful woman who, moved by Jesus’ mercy and love, broke all social conventions by anointing his feet (7:36-50). Reading beyond this passage, we will encounter a scorned Samaritan who outdoes a priest and a Levite in his generosity (10:30-37) and a wayward, ritually defiled son who finds love and acceptance in his father’s embrace (15:11-32). Jesus chooses the humble because they are often the most teachable and the most faithful. The women who followed Jesus were no worse sinners than the men who followed him, but they seemed to be more ready to accept his mercy and to remain true to him. They followed him all the way to Jerusalem, and some of these very women stood by him on Calvary, when all the apostles fled in fear (Luke 23:49). Such faithfulness was ultimately rewarded. Some of these women had the privilege of being the first apostles, witnesses who proclaimed the wonder of Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24:10). History may not have much to say about these individuals, but in the Father’s eyes they shine like bright stars, testifying to the transforming power of God’s love. “Lord Jesus, help me see my poverty and need for your forgiveness as these women did. I confess that I am poor and small in this world. I believe that, through my faith in you, you will make me great in the kingdom of heaven.”

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

<< Friday, September 19, 2003 >>

St. Januarius

1 Timothy 6:2-12

Psalm 49

Luke 8:1-3

View Readings

BASIC NEEDS?

“For when he dies, he shall take none of it; his wealth shall not follow him down.” —Psalm 49:18 

According to Sirach in the Old Testament, “life’s prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy” (Sir 29:21). The New Testament may indicate that the basic needs of human beings have been reduced by Jesus’ coming (see Lk 9:58), for “if we have food and clothing we have all that we need” (1 Tm 6:8). Basic needs, according to the Bible, are very different from what most people today call basic needs. Today, in industrialized countries, transportation (like a car) and entertainment (a TV) are considered basic needs. Even the poor expect to eat more than bread and water. And items such as meat, sugar, and coffee are considered as the barest necessities?

Even if we don’t think the Lord wants us to take literally these Biblical passages, He is at the least commanding us to drastically simplify our lives, to reappraise as loss those things we used to consider gain (Phil 3:7). “The world with its seductions is passing away but the man who does God’s will endures forever” (1 Jn 2:17). The Lord is calling us to “have no love for the world, nor the things that the world affords” (1 Jn 2:15).

Pope John Paul II has warned us: “We need to turn to a more austere way of life...I therefore exhort the disciples of Christ and all Christian communities — from families to dioceses, from parishes to religious institutes — to carry out a sincere review of their lives regarding their solidarity with the poor” (Mission of the Redeemer, 59, 60).

In love for Jesus, let’s be among the first in our society to align our ways of living with the truth of God’s word.

Prayer: Father, although my lifestyle doesn’t make sense in our secularized culture, may it make sense on Judgment Day.

Promise: “We brought nothing into this world, nor have we the power to take anything out.” —1 Tm 6:7

Praise: Thousands witnessed the awesome power of God when the hungry animals in the arena would not touch St. Januarius.

[Salvation]

Yes!! It was these lines that caught my eye!

**Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the religious teaching
is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,**

All I could think about were some posters on FR Religion Forum. Not to be named at this point!

[Salvation]

Ping to the first reading and #7 and #9

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Looking for results of the miracle ... Looks like the Cardinal was to preside today for the feast as usual.

http://www.denaro.it/go/pub/articolo.qws?recID=138761&kwds=Gennaro&mod=AND

Patrono di Napoli San Gennaro
Napoli - Cattedrale ore 9. Inizio celebrazioni per la solennità del Patrono di Napoli, San Gennaro, con attesa per la liquefazione del sangue: presiede il cardinale Giordano.

[Salvation]

Did you want to post this on the Bishops thread?

[Hermann the Cherusker]

No, I want to know if anyone has heard yet if the blood liquified.

[Salvation]

Blood Liquefies - Good Omen for the World, September 20, 2001

Wasn't that the date that Bush gave his speech after 9-11?

[Salvation]

Prediction -- Second paragraph in yellow print

In a solemn procession, the priest holding the flasks containg the coagulated blood of St. Januarius, noticed that the contents began to liquify and bubble. Since this time the blood has repeated this phenomenon 18 times each year: on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May and eight days following; on the feast of St. Januarius, September 19, and during the octave, and on December 16. There have been times the blood has failed to liquify, each time coinciding with the outbreak of disease, famine, war, or political suppression. It is for this reason that Neapolitans rejoice at each liquefaction.

[Salvation]

From another thread

I should have mentioned, all is right in the world, San Gennaro's blood did liquify on 19 September.

11 posted on 09/23/2003 7:53 AM PDT by Hermann the Cherusker
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