Thursday, March 14, 2013
"Laws strickly enforced"
Today as I was driving down the road I was struck by a sign below the speed limit sign which stated "strickly enforced." I found it interesting that there was a need to make this statement to remind those of us on the road that the laws are enforced, and therefore we should follow them. Shouldn't the law's existance simply speak for itself in that it is a law and it should be followed. Why must we be threatened with "enforcement" before we will adhere to the laws laid before us? How does this coorelate to the commandments and teachings of the Catholic Church? Do we follow the commandments before us because we know them and we know they should be followed, or do we follow them only when we fear the threat of "enforcement?"
Friday, March 15, 2013
Reflection: From the beginning the Church has been
persecuted and told what she should or should not be doing, yet she continues
to speak out for the truth and for the faith.
We see Jesus travel to a city where those who wanted to skill Him were,
and we see Him openly speak out for the faith amongst their inhabitants. Though He was threatened with arrest and
death, and they sought to put Him to the test “with revilement and torture,” He
still did His Father’s will in an attempt to convert souls. The Church today continues this mission of evangelization. The Church continues to “profess to have
knowledge of God.” Some see the Church’s
traditions as “a hardship,” while others say the Church must conform to modern
society “because his life is not like that of ours.” Just as Christ held strong and held His
ground to follow the will of “the one who sent me,” the Church and its
followers continue to follow and live out the first teachings of Christ from
many years ago.
Reflection
for younger saints:
Even in Jesus’ time people treated Him poorly because He did not fit
in. The Catholic Church continues to
stand out and follow the teachings of Jesus.
Others may tell the Church it has to change to be like them, but the
Church continues to follow the path laid out by Jesus.
Big
Picture: Jesus
reached out to evangelization in spite of great threats
Discussion
Starters:
Younger saints: Did Jesus try to fit in with the teachings and laws of His time? Did Jesus follow His will or did He follow God’s will? What was Jesus’ mission in His time here? What is the Church’s mission?
Older saints: Did Jesus try to fit in with the teachings and laws of His time? Did Jesus follow His will or did He follow God’s will? What was Jesus’ mission in His time here? What is the Church’s mission? How are you helping to live out the Church’s mission?
Younger saints: Did Jesus try to fit in with the teachings and laws of His time? Did Jesus follow His will or did He follow God’s will? What was Jesus’ mission in His time here? What is the Church’s mission?
Older saints: Did Jesus try to fit in with the teachings and laws of His time? Did Jesus follow His will or did He follow God’s will? What was Jesus’ mission in His time here? What is the Church’s mission? How are you helping to live out the Church’s mission?
Fun
Fact: The First
Reading is always taken from the Old Testament, except during the Easter
season, when it is taken from the Acts of the Apostles.
Saint
of the day:
Name: Saint Louise de Marillac
What they are remembered for: St. Louise de Marillac was orphaned by the age of 15 and despite her desire to become a nun, a marriage was arranged for her by her confessor. She later lost her husband to a long illness. St. Louise had a desire on her heart to serve and care for the poor, which would later bring her to serve under St. Vincent de Paul and later built up “The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul” under the guidance of St. Vincent de Paul.
Feast day: March 15
Patron Saint of: Social Workers
Daily Notes:
Name: Saint Louise de Marillac
What they are remembered for: St. Louise de Marillac was orphaned by the age of 15 and despite her desire to become a nun, a marriage was arranged for her by her confessor. She later lost her husband to a long illness. St. Louise had a desire on her heart to serve and care for the poor, which would later bring her to serve under St. Vincent de Paul and later built up “The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul” under the guidance of St. Vincent de Paul.
Feast day: March 15
Patron Saint of: Social Workers
Daily Notes:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Why do we have a Pope? Why can't the Church conform to modern society?
Father Robert Barron does such a fantastic job of
describing the role and importance of the Pope in his series “Catholicism.” With all the media attention and discussion
of the Papacy, it seemed a fitting time to post on that topic. The Pope provides the Church with a living
voice of authority, to allow the life of the Church to evolve without turning
into bickering over slight matters. Just
as an umpire serves a pivotal role in a baseball game, so does the Pope. A baseball game would quickly spiral out of
control if onlookers, players, or coaches were allowed to call the baseball
game. The game would turn into bickering
and fighting and little would be accomplished.
The umpire has the voice of authority and keeps things moving fluidly. The Papacy functions in the same capacity, in
which the Pope functions as the living voice of authority so as to prevent the
Church from quickly evolving into bickering and fighting and little being
accomplished.
Saint Peter was given the
keys to the Kingdom by Jesus, and the Pope is called to maintain that position
of authority. Certainly we have heard
many discussion being had on the rigid nature of the Church and her “failure”
to conform to modern society. Father
Barron has a great way of describing this lack of flexibility in falling prey
to the “whims” of society. Saint Peter
was given the key to the Kingdom. Think
for a moment about how you would describe a key. A key is not flexible and changing, otherwise
it would no longer serve its purpose in being able to open a particular
lock. A key must be strong and rigid in
order to maintain its form and function to be able to open that lock. The same can be applied to the Church. While ideas change and evolve based on changing
perspectives, the key must still maintain its original form and function. While the Church must be a light to the
nations, it cannot allow itself to fall prey to the ever changing whims of
society and social norms.
What is your "golden calf?" Thursday, March 14, 2013
Reflection: Today we see just how
quickly the Israelites forget the help and the guidance that God provided for
them. God delivered them from slavery
and delivered them out of Egypt, yet they quickly turn toward worshiping other
Gods. We see this also in the experience
of John the Baptist in which Jesus describes that “he was a burning and shining
lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.” We tend to so quickly stray from following a
holy path, and tend toward the path of least resistance in that “if another
comes in his own name, you will accept him.”
Who are you following? Are you
following Christ and His Church, or have you been led astray to accept and
follow another? Have you forgotten the
good deeds and gifts God has given you in your life and have turned toward
worshiping your own “molten calf?”
Reflection
for younger saints:
Today we are reminded of God’s first commandment: I am the Lord thy God; though shalt not have
strange gods before me. In this, God
commands us to offer supreme worship and honor to God alone. The Israelites were drawn into sin and into
worshiping their golden calf instead of honoring and worshiping and praising
God for all He had done for them.
Big
Picture: God is God
alone
Discussion
Starters:
Younger saints: Sometimes we can be tempted to think other things in our life are more important than God. Sometimes people desire money, sometimes people want things, and sometimes they spend more time on work or sports than they do in prayer with God. God wants us to love Him the most. God reminds us of this by making that the first commandment. What is God’s first commandment to us? What did the Israelites worship instead of worshiping God?
Older saints: Just as the Israelites quickly turned from God and fell into the temptation of worshiping something else, we can quickly fall to this temptation in our own life. It can start out small, such as leaving Mass early for a sporting event or focusing our thoughts and attention on wanting the latest tech gadgets instead of focusing on God’s will for our life. But, it can quickly evolve into our lives being consumed with our own desires and serving things other than God. Do you have a “golden calf” in your life? What do you need to change or re-structure in your life so that you can turn from this “golden calf” and turn back toward God?
Younger saints: Sometimes we can be tempted to think other things in our life are more important than God. Sometimes people desire money, sometimes people want things, and sometimes they spend more time on work or sports than they do in prayer with God. God wants us to love Him the most. God reminds us of this by making that the first commandment. What is God’s first commandment to us? What did the Israelites worship instead of worshiping God?
Older saints: Just as the Israelites quickly turned from God and fell into the temptation of worshiping something else, we can quickly fall to this temptation in our own life. It can start out small, such as leaving Mass early for a sporting event or focusing our thoughts and attention on wanting the latest tech gadgets instead of focusing on God’s will for our life. But, it can quickly evolve into our lives being consumed with our own desires and serving things other than God. Do you have a “golden calf” in your life? What do you need to change or re-structure in your life so that you can turn from this “golden calf” and turn back toward God?
Fun
Fact: The
Tabernacle is the sacred box which holds the consecrated Body of Christ.
Saint
of the day:
Name: Saint Matilda
What they are remembered for: St. Matilda was a daughter of royal lineage and married the man that soon became the King of Germany. She is remembered for her charitable works throughout her life, along with building three convents and a monestary.
Feast day: March 14
Patron Saint of: parents of large families
Daily Notes:
Name: Saint Matilda
What they are remembered for: St. Matilda was a daughter of royal lineage and married the man that soon became the King of Germany. She is remembered for her charitable works throughout her life, along with building three convents and a monestary.
Feast day: March 14
Patron Saint of: parents of large families
Daily Notes:
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Reflection: “My judgment is just, because I do not seek
my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” The thought of a God who always judges
justly, who forgives without a second-thought, and who’s love is never ending
can be a difficult concept to grasp. We
often try to put human qualities on God, because all we know are human
qualities. We know, however, that God is
not constrained by our sinful and fallen nature, and can therefore accomplish
these feates that we, as humans, struggle to accomplish on even a minor
scale. What great joy, though, to know
that God will not judge us as humans do.
God knows our hearts and our love for Him, and He will judge us justly
and accordingly.
Reflection
for younger saints:
God loves us, and when He looks at our life and the choices we made, He
will judge us justly and judge our behavior with the loving eyes of a Father.
Big
Picture: Our Father
is a just and loving Father
Discussion
Starters:
Younger saints: What does it mean to judge justly? Do people always judge justly? What does God tell us about judging others?
Older saints: Reflect on the statement “My judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” Do you sometimes judge others? Do you judge others and measure others against your own measuring stick? What does God tell us about judging others? Are we called to judge, or are we called to love and guide others toward God?
Younger saints: What does it mean to judge justly? Do people always judge justly? What does God tell us about judging others?
Older saints: Reflect on the statement “My judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” Do you sometimes judge others? Do you judge others and measure others against your own measuring stick? What does God tell us about judging others? Are we called to judge, or are we called to love and guide others toward God?
Fun
Fact: The Ambo is
the lectern from which the sacred Word is proclaimed.
Saint
of the day:
Name: Saint Leander of Seville
What they are remembered for: St. Leander of Seville introduced the practice of saying the Nicene Creed during Mass in the sixth century. He spent much of his life serving the church and fighting against heresy.
Feast day: March 13
Daily Notes:
Name: Saint Leander of Seville
What they are remembered for: St. Leander of Seville introduced the practice of saying the Nicene Creed during Mass in the sixth century. He spent much of his life serving the church and fighting against heresy.
Feast day: March 13
Daily Notes:
2013 Conclave Schedule to elect the new Pope
As I was looking through the schedule for the conclave, I was struck by just how much time was spent in prayer, reflection, and Mass. What a wonderful example for the Catholic faithful of our need to seek God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we make dicisions in our own lives. Certainly, we do not have weeks to set aside and travel to a foreign country. That being saind, we can certainly find time in our busy schedules to seek God's guidance through prayer and reflection when we need His advice and guidance. God is waiting for us to ask "what should I do here, Lord" all we have to do is ask the question.
Below you will find the schedule for the Conclave:
Schedule for first day, Tuesday:7:00 a.m.: Cardinals move in to Santa Marta
10:00 a.m.: Pro Eligendo Pontifice Mass at St.
Peter's Basilica
3:45 p.m.: Depart from Hotel to Apostolic
Palace
4:30 p.m.: Procession from Pauline to Sistine
Chapels
4:45 p.m.: Swear-in ceremony, meditation and
first vote by cardinals
7:15 p.m.: Vespers (prayer) at Sistine Chapel
7:30 p.m.: Return to Santa Marta
8:00 p.m.: Dinner
After the first vote is taken on Tuesday evening, the first fumata, or smoke, is expected between 7-7:30 p.m. The smoke is widely expected to be black.
After the conclusion of the first day, the cardinals will follow a set schedule each day until the next Pope is chosen. There will be four rounds of voting, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. They will break for lunch at 1 and end with dinner at 8 p.m.
Full-day schedule for the Conclave:
6:30 a.m.: Breakfast for one hour
7:45 a.m.: Depart from Hotel to Apostolic
Palace
8:15 a.m.: Hour-long Mass at Pauline Chapel
9:30 a.m.: First two rounds of voting inside
Sistine Chapel
12:30 p.m.: Return to Santa Marta
1:00 p.m.: Lunch
4:00 p.m.: Depart from Hotel to Apostolic Palace
4:50 p.m.: Remaining two rounds of voting
inside Sistine Chapel
7:15 p.m.: Vespers (prayer) at Sistine Chapel
7:30 p.m.: Return to Santa Marta
8:00 p.m.: Dinner
The fumata after the morning votes will appear between 11:30 a.m.-Noon, while the smoke for the evening votes will appear between 6:30-7 p.m.
In the event that a Pope is chosen during the first votes of the morning or evening, the smoke would appear at around 10:30 a.m. or 6 p.m.
Below you will find the schedule for the Conclave:
Schedule for first day, Tuesday:7:00 a.m.: Cardinals move in to Santa Marta
10:00 a.m.: Pro Eligendo Pontifice Mass at St.
Peter's Basilica
3:45 p.m.: Depart from Hotel to Apostolic
Palace
4:30 p.m.: Procession from Pauline to Sistine
Chapels
4:45 p.m.: Swear-in ceremony, meditation and
first vote by cardinals
7:15 p.m.: Vespers (prayer) at Sistine Chapel
7:30 p.m.: Return to Santa Marta
8:00 p.m.: Dinner
After the first vote is taken on Tuesday evening, the first fumata, or smoke, is expected between 7-7:30 p.m. The smoke is widely expected to be black.
After the conclusion of the first day, the cardinals will follow a set schedule each day until the next Pope is chosen. There will be four rounds of voting, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. They will break for lunch at 1 and end with dinner at 8 p.m.
Full-day schedule for the Conclave:
6:30 a.m.: Breakfast for one hour
7:45 a.m.: Depart from Hotel to Apostolic
Palace
8:15 a.m.: Hour-long Mass at Pauline Chapel
9:30 a.m.: First two rounds of voting inside
Sistine Chapel
12:30 p.m.: Return to Santa Marta
1:00 p.m.: Lunch
4:00 p.m.: Depart from Hotel to Apostolic Palace
4:50 p.m.: Remaining two rounds of voting
inside Sistine Chapel
7:15 p.m.: Vespers (prayer) at Sistine Chapel
7:30 p.m.: Return to Santa Marta
8:00 p.m.: Dinner
The fumata after the morning votes will appear between 11:30 a.m.-Noon, while the smoke for the evening votes will appear between 6:30-7 p.m.
In the event that a Pope is chosen during the first votes of the morning or evening, the smoke would appear at around 10:30 a.m. or 6 p.m.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Daily Readings:
EZ 47:1-9, 12; PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; JN 5:1-16
Reflection: As you read through the first reading today did you see the link that could be made between the water flowing from the temple and the water flowing from Christ. Think back to Christ crucified and being pierced by the sword. Blood and water flowed from His side. From His death and the water that flowed from Him, we have been washed clean and made fresh, just as the salt water is made fresh when the river flows into it. “For wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.” Wherever the love of Christ flows, new life will spring up and bear fruit. We are washed clean and healed in the waters of Baptism and from there we will be nourished and grow and bear much fruit through our ongoing seeking of God and the truth through the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Reflection for younger saints: When Jesus died on the cross He saved us and made it so we can live forever in heaven. Jesus continues to give us all that we need so we can grow and be strong, and we can serve and love Him in all that we do.
Big Picture: We are watered by Christ
Discussion Starters:
Younger saints: In what Sacrament are we washed clean and the sins of original sin are forgiven? When we are older, how does Jesus wash us clean and forgive our sins?
Older saints: Today’s first reading gives us a beautiful picture of Jesus’ love and forgiveness flowing into and transforming our lives just as the fresh water invades the salt water. It is only through Jesus that we can grow and bear fruit, for nothing will grow in salt water. Are you trying to “go it alone” and trying to grow and flourish in salt water? Or are you allowing Jesus to invade your life and fill you with fresh water so you can bear much fruit? What areas of your life are you holding back from God?
Fun Fact: The Paten is the sacred plate that holds the Body of Christ.
Saint of the day:
Name: Saint Maximilian
What they are remembered for: St. Maximilian was martyred for his faith at the age of 21. He refused to serve in his country’s army as he saw this as something a faithful Christian would not do. He was executed as a result. He is quoted as stating: "I will never serve. You can cut off my head, but I will not be a soldier of this world, for I am a soldier of Christ. My army is the army of God, and I cannot fight for this world. I tell you I am a Christian."
Feast day: March 12
Daily Notes:
EZ 47:1-9, 12; PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; JN 5:1-16
Reflection: As you read through the first reading today did you see the link that could be made between the water flowing from the temple and the water flowing from Christ. Think back to Christ crucified and being pierced by the sword. Blood and water flowed from His side. From His death and the water that flowed from Him, we have been washed clean and made fresh, just as the salt water is made fresh when the river flows into it. “For wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.” Wherever the love of Christ flows, new life will spring up and bear fruit. We are washed clean and healed in the waters of Baptism and from there we will be nourished and grow and bear much fruit through our ongoing seeking of God and the truth through the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Reflection for younger saints: When Jesus died on the cross He saved us and made it so we can live forever in heaven. Jesus continues to give us all that we need so we can grow and be strong, and we can serve and love Him in all that we do.
Big Picture: We are watered by Christ
Discussion Starters:
Younger saints: In what Sacrament are we washed clean and the sins of original sin are forgiven? When we are older, how does Jesus wash us clean and forgive our sins?
Older saints: Today’s first reading gives us a beautiful picture of Jesus’ love and forgiveness flowing into and transforming our lives just as the fresh water invades the salt water. It is only through Jesus that we can grow and bear fruit, for nothing will grow in salt water. Are you trying to “go it alone” and trying to grow and flourish in salt water? Or are you allowing Jesus to invade your life and fill you with fresh water so you can bear much fruit? What areas of your life are you holding back from God?
Fun Fact: The Paten is the sacred plate that holds the Body of Christ.
Saint of the day:
Name: Saint Maximilian
What they are remembered for: St. Maximilian was martyred for his faith at the age of 21. He refused to serve in his country’s army as he saw this as something a faithful Christian would not do. He was executed as a result. He is quoted as stating: "I will never serve. You can cut off my head, but I will not be a soldier of this world, for I am a soldier of Christ. My army is the army of God, and I cannot fight for this world. I tell you I am a Christian."
Feast day: March 12
Daily Notes:
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