God' Perfect Timing

Lectio:
ROM 13:11-14

Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Studium:

Before this section in Romans, Paul was exhorting the Romans to abandon the surrounding culture and live like Christians, verses 11-14 urge the people to expect God's coming.  The day of God's wrath and judgement is coming. Paul refers to this when he says "the day of the Lord."  The people now have reason, immediate reason to act appropriately.
      "...put on the Lord Jesus Christ..." Paul is telling people to get baptized.  Don't follow the desires of the flesh for that is not where your future lies.

Meditatio:

Six years ago, my friend Omega and I pondered these passages. But we weren't looking at the literal meaning, we were wondering at the placement of them in that period of history.  Today we need to heed the same warnings.  Sins of the flesh are still prevalent. 
     Jesus had recently Ascended.  The disciples did expect Him to return soon.  And of course we're talking about God.  His timing would be perfect.  Hmmm. No one or most people couldn't read, so today we would think the coming of the Messiah was fake news.  There's so much of it. 
     I guess I just have to trust, that Jesus coming was perfect and His second coming will be also.

Oratio:

Everytime I dip my finders in holy water to bless myself, I pray, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."  I recall my baptism.

Contemplatio:

Come Lord Jesus!

Resolutio:

During Advent, I will meditate each day on the coming of Jesus.

Haurietis Aquas

Haurietis Aquas is an encyclical that Pius XII wrote on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The title "haurietis auas" is Latin for "You will draw waters."  This encyclical explains all the water we can receive from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Since prophecies in the Old Testament, the precious heart of God has given His children nourishment:

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation, 

and say on that day:

Give thanks to the Lord, 

acclaim His name;

among the nations make 

known His deeds,

proclaim how exalted

is His name.

Sing praise to the Lord

for His glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout 

all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O

city of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel.  Isaiah 12: 3-6

Pius XII goes through the history of Christianity, pointing out saints who called attention to Jesus' sacred heart.  For example, St. Augustine, St. Gertrude, and of course St. Margaret Mary Alocoque who had visions of the Sacred Heart and spoke to Jesus.
   It seems that some Masses were celebrated dedicated to the Sacred Heart, but in 1670 these masses were given episcopal approval.  These celebrations were popular in Poland, Austria, Spain, and France. Then in 1856, Pius IX made the Feast of the Sacred Heart obligatory for the whole Church.
    Haurietis Aquas was written on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pope Pius IX, May 15, 1956.
     What the image of the Sacred Heart brings to my mind are expressions using the word "heart:" I give you my heart.  My heart belongs to you. Cross my heart and hope to die.  You broke my heart. Follow your heart.  From the bottom of my heart. Eat your heart out.  Have a change of heart. He's all heart. I'm baring my heart.  Bleeding hearts. Do your heart good. Faint of heart. Win their hearts and minds.  My heart skipped a beat. Lose heart. Sick at heart. Etc.
     And with the human preoccupation with human hearts, how much more so should we honor Jesus' Sacred Heart?

He's Only God

One of the choices for the Morning Hymn was the song, All Good Gifts, with an odd placement of the word, "only." The credits say: text: Wir pilugen und wir streuen by M. Claudius, 1740-1815.  The translator was Jane N. Campbell.

I know the meaning and I think most people would sing it thinking that God alone is the Creator of all.  But to me, saying "only" sounds like, "That's all you did?  You only made one cake? Didn't you make something else?  Only one cake!!!"

Do you see what I mean?

He only is the maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the ev'ning star.
The winds and waves obey him,
By him the birds are fed:
Much more to us his children,
He gives our daily bread.

And curiously, this is the second verse that is omitted in all the YOUTUBE videos I watched and listened to.

Reasons for Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Haurietis Aquas, an encyclical by Pius XII, gives six reasons why the Church gives the highest form of worship to the Heart of Jesus.

1. We recognize that His Heart is hypostatically united to the Person of the Divine Word. This is an article of faith defined in the general Council of Ephesus and the Second Council of Constantinople. 
2. Jesus' Heart, more than all the other members of His body, is the natural sign and symbol of His boundless love for us. Leo XIII told us it is "the symbol and express image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ that moves us to love in return."
3. God's love for us is proclaimed and insisted upon in the Old and New Testaments by the kind of images which strongly arouse our emotion.
4. Jesus had a human body and heart but Jesus Christ is hypostatically united to the Word with divine charity and infinite love itself which Jesus shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
5. It is the perfect symbol of divine love.
6. Since, therefore, Sacred Scripture and the official teaching of the Catholic faith instruct us that all things find their complete harmony and order in the most holy soul of Jesus Christ, and that He has manifestly directed His threefold love for the securing of our redemption, it unquestionably follows that we can contemplate and honor the Heart of the divine Redeemer as a symbolic image of His love and a witness of our redemption and, at the same time, as a sort of mystical ladder by which we mount to the embrace of "God our Savior."     Paragraph 58

News Used to Manipulate

I'm working on writing an article on how to spot "fake news."  As I come across information that I think is worthwhile, I'll share it in a post.

Here are some examples of misinformation:

satire

misleading headline that really isn't discussed in the article

pictures that look photoshopped

information without data

outlandish claims obviously meant to deceive people

complete fabrication--the whole story is false

Did you know that Hitler founded the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels?  And that Goebbels got his ideas from Hollywood's advertising, which were obviously using manipulation to publicize their movies.


Joseph Goebbels

Resurrected Purple Shamrocks

When I first was given this plant, I didn't understand why it was called a "Purple Shamrock."  Shamrocks are clovers with three parts.  This plant wasn't a clover but it did have three parts.  They weren't rounded but rather pointed.  I think of it as three triangles.

  

Although this picture shows flowers, my plant didn't have anything.  I didn't know what to think of a purple shamrock.  Anyway, the thing died. The leaves would hang down very low.  Eventually, the leaves would shrivel up.  Next time I looked at it, the stems were thread-thin.  When you touched the stem, it fell off in your hand.  But I was too busy to throw it out, besides where. It was winter with a snow-covered ground. I put out on my deck and forgot about it.

In the spring I was going to see if I could reuse the soil and pot, but by the time I got around to it, a miracle had happened.  It resurrected itself.  Yes and more beautiful than ever.  I couldn't throw away such a miraculous plant!

I brought it back into the house and put it in my garden window.  It was so big it blocked a lot of the light!  Better!  Eventually it bloomed pretty white flowers. 

And I thought the plant was a loser!  Reminds me of “what good comes out of Nazareth” (John 1: 43-46. 

No Violation of Justice

In the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, you have the owner paying his laborers all the same wage.  It didn't matter whether they worked all day or only one hour.  Everyone received the same pay.

As a Union Steward, this really got my goat. I didn't buy the explanation that the owner can do what he wants; it's his money.  The owner may be showing his generosity but it was at the expense of the poor fools who slaved away all day. I would have slapped that employer with a grievance, for sure.

I understand I would have lost that grievance because there was no violation of justice. He paid what he said he would pay, and more.

And I understand also that I was thinking like a Pharisee.  And that Jesus used the parables to keep the Pharisees off his back.  While the Pharisees were trying to figure out the meaning, Jesus was explaining everything to His disciples.

As a disciple, I understand the parable to give me hope.  That even Dismas, on the cross with Jesus could enter heaven, just like the ones who had believed Jesus was the Lord, from the beginning. For some reason, this explanation didn't impress me.

However, this morning I was reading the parable and a footnote enlightened my mind.  The laborers who worked all day were the Jews.  They were the chosen people.  They believed from the beginning of Abraham.  The last workers hired were us Gentiles.  Now God was allowing the Gentiles to receive exactly what the faithful Jews were going to receive.


Why does this same fair and the union workers grievance not acceptable?  

Lectio:

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Reading 12 SM 5:1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:

"Here we are, your bone and your flesh.

In days past, when Saul was our king,

it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.

And the LORD said to you,

'You shall shepherd my people Israel

and shall be commander of Israel.'"

When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,

King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,

and they anointed him king of Israel.

Studium:

David was a chosen king.  He was already anointed by Samuel, by God's command.  Then the people anointed him as king of Judah. In this reading, David is anointed again over all the tribes Israel.  He was chosen for three reasons:

     1.  David was related to the same ancestors.

     2.  David was a strong military leader.

     3.  The Lord told David to shepherd His people.

As a result, David made a covenant with the people.  David agreed to be their king and the people promised him their loyalty.

Mediatio:

Jesus is the King of the Jews.  He is my King, also.  He is a strong shepherd.  He takes care of His people like a good shepherd.  I make a covenant with Jesus to be loyal to Him.

Oratio:

Jesus, thank you for loving me.  Help me be worthy of Your Love.

Contemplatio:

Jesus, I love You.

Resolutio:

I have to remember to act worthily of Jesus' expectation.

Crime and Punishment on the Solemnity of Christ the King

If you're a follower, as I am, of These Stone Walls, then you know the story of Father Gordon Macrae and Pornchai Maximilian Moontri. Crime and Punishment on the Solemnity of Christ the King 

 Well, Max is getting out.  Sadly, that's good news.  Click on the link to read what I mean.

My Debut

The senior players performed yesterday and I debuted in the last skit.  There were three of them.  I played a nun.  (See the picture with two nuns.I'm on the left) It was fun.  The fun was working together.  I liken it to a team working together to accomplish a goal.  It reminded me of being on team for Cursillo.
     You bring strangers together and you immediately start working together and when the goal is met you lean back and say, "That was fun." And you have a bond of camaraderie, even though you really are not friends with these people.

Prayer for My Family

Almighty Father,

You desire not the death of the sinner, but that he may be converted and live.  Pour out Your mercy and hear the prayers of my heart.

Soften the hearts of my husband and children who have strayed from the true path which You established for their salvation.  They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and have become so worldly.

Grant that they may quickly return to the practice of Christian virtue so that their lives may shine with faith, the fervor of piety, the ardor of charity, and love of the Eucharist. Restore them to Your sacraments and the life of Your grace.

Through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.

Amen

A Counterquestion

In my morning reading, I thought about Matthew 19: 3-9.  Here the Pharisees thought they'd get Jesus with the same subject that caused the demise of John the Baptist--divorce.  John condemned Herod Antipas for divorcing his wife and marrying his brother's wife, Herodias.  It was Herodias' scheme that resulted in John's death.

But Jesus turned the tables.  He quotes Genesis 19: 4-5--the Torah.  Shouldn't the Pharisees have known this?

Marriage is God's creation.

Stop Thinking Politically

The magazine, The Catholic Thing has an article by Father Bevil Bramwell, OMI, that gives the best reasons for reserving the priesthood for males only.  The article is Women priests?.

Father tells his readers to stop thinking politically.  Politics is about power.  Instead, think spiritually.  One cannot accept spiritual reasons if one is only thinking about power.

(1) Think about grace and communion.

(2) The Church needs a spouse, ergo a male.

(3)  Jesus gathers His followers into a Church.         (Maybe (3) should be (2).

(4)  Priests are personna Christi.

Father Bramwell continues his argument, but IMHO, these four points are the best reasons.

Where did Sacred Heart Come From

In reading Annum Sacrum, I learned where the devotion to the Sacred Heart came from.  I know that St. Margaret Mary Alocoque had visions and promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart.  But many people have visions and Catholics are not required to believe them.

In the encyclical, Annum Sacrum, however, Pope Leo XIII, in paragraph 14 states:

...We ordain that on the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of the coming month of June, in the principal church of every town and village, certain prayers be said, and on each of these days, there be added to the other prayers the Litany of the Sacred Heart approved by Our authority. On the last day, the form of consecration shall be recited which, Venerable Brethren, We sent to you with these letters.

 I posted about the Litany a few days ago.

Discarding God

In these later times, especially, a policy has been followed which has resulted in a sort of wall being raised between the Church and civil society.  In the constitution and administration of States the authority of sacred and divine law is utterly disregarded, with a view to the exclusion of religion from having any constant part in public life.  This policy almost tends to the removal of the Christian faith from our midst, and, if that were possible, of the banishment of God Himself from the earth.

Take a guess as to when these words were written.

Today?

The answer is 1899  This is from paragraph 10 in the encyclical Annum Sacrum, written by Pope Leo XIII.

I don't know whether to gather some hope, thinking that this description must always fit all times.  Maybe since the beginning of time, people have worried about the decline of faith in God.

Or, maybe Pope Leo XIII saw the beginning of the decline and was warning humanity of it.

Sadly, it is sobering.

Lay Dominican 12 Days of Christmas

I've been challenged.

On the first day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me                                     

A highlighted Particular Directory.

On the second day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the third day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the fourth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the fifth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the sixth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the seventh day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the eighth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the ninth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory

On the tenth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Ten formation modules
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Eleven preaching friars
Ten formation modules
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Twelve "cloistered brothers"
Eleven preaching friars
Ten formation modules
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomsts
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

The Chain Gang

My "cloistered" brothers are learning to crochet.  Do you believe it! They want to make baby blankets for newborns. 

You should see their focus.  The idea is to relax them and get them to share their thoughts and feelings but since they are just learning the room is quiet.  Everyone is focusing on their work.

I called this post "The Chain Gang" because the first thing one learns to do in crochet is to make a chain.

The Litany of The Sacred Heart: A Loving Prayer of Reparation to Our Lord

The Litany of The Sacred Heart: A Loving Prayer of Reparation to Our Lord: The Litany of the Sacred Heart is an important part of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in which we make reparation through adoration for the offenses committed against Our Lord’s Sacred Heart.

You know I'm a religious nut, already.  Well, if you don't, this should give you a hint.  I'm studying the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Why?  Because Frank Kelly told me that if I don't have a devotion to Margaret Mary Alacoque's spirituality to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I will.



So, I'm reading Haurietis Aquas          and Annum Sacrum

Promises:

In the apparitions to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus gives these twelve promises for those who are devoted to His Sacred Heart.

The Twelve Promises of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

"Look at 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."



.

Epic Fail

I keep seeing this photo and just pass it by.  I see it on Dominican pages so I know it's a Dominican Rite Mass caught right at the elevation of the Host. Nice.  (ho hum)

I never noticed the background. 

Look at the wall.  It's not a wall.  That's the tomb of St. Dominic in Bologna, Italy.  St. Dominic requested that he just be buried under the feet of his brothers to walk over him.  His wishes were ignored.  His body was moved a couple of times, for beatification and canonization.  His final resting place is in the  Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna, Italy.

His tomb took centuries to build.  It is now called an ark.  Many sculptors added to it, including Michelangelo. 

It is beautiful.

Back to the photo.  Mass is being celebrated.  But not by just any priest.  The Mass celebrant is the 87th Successor to Saint Dominic, Master Gerard Timoner, OP. And the photographer captured the quintessential moment of the raison d'etre of every priest, the Elevation of the Eucharist.A

Awesome.  How could I miss that?