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My Prayer Box
the
Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
“You cannot strengthen the
weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the
wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You
cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You
cannot help men permanently by doing for them what
they could and should do for themselves.” -
Abraham Lincoln
To subscribe to the newsletter, please follow this
link. |
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Who
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Daniel
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(From the Book of Daniel) |
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Introduction |
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Jews are held
captives by king
Nebuchadnezzar after the siege of Jerusalem. The king asks for Jews who
were young, wise and healthy to be set aside
and trained in the ways of the Chaldeans.
Later, Daniel, along with Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah are chosen among all the youths because
they are blessed by the LORD for keeping his
commandments and not eating from the table of
the king.
Daniel rises in
the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar by telling him
his dream and by giving him the meaning.
The king
makes Daniel ruler of the
whole province of Babylon and chief prefect
over all the wise men of Babylon.
At Daniel's request the king makes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
administrators of the province of Babylon. |
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Part II: The Fiery Furnace |
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King
Nebuchadnezzar orders a golden statue made,
which he sets up in the plain of Dura in the
province of Babylon.
Then he
orders his officials to attend the dedication
of the statue. During the dedication, the king
proclaims through a herald that everyone in
every nation must fall down a worship the
golden statue when they hear the sound of the
trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe,
and all the other musical instruments. The
herald continues that those who do not do so
will be thrown into the white hot furnace.
Therefore,
as soon as they hear the sound of the trumpet,
flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all
the
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other musical
instruments, the nations and peoples of every
language fall down and worship the golden
statue of King Nebuchadnezzar.
However, some
of the Chaldeans come to King Nebuchadnezzar.
They tell the king that the Jews whom he has
made administrators of the province of
Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego (Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah), did not do as the king
ordered. The Chaldeans said that the Jews will
neither serve the king’s god nor worship the
golden statue which he set up. |
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Nebuchadnezzar
flies into a rage and sends for Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, who are promptly
brought before the king. King Nebuchadnezzar
questions them if what they are accused of is
true.
The Jews
answer King Nebuchadnezzar that may God save
them from the white hot furnace but even if He
will not they will not serve his god or
worship the golden statue which he set up.
Nebuchadnezzar's face becomes livid with utter
rage against Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah. He orders the furnace to
be heated seven times more than usual and has
some of the strongest men in his army bind Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah and cast them into the white hot
furnace. |
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They are then bound
and cast into the white hot furnace with their
coats, hats, shoes and other garments, for the
king's order was urgent.
But the three men fall, bound, into the midst of the
white-hot furnace. |
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They walk about
in the flames, singing to God and blessing the
Lord. In the fire Azariah stands up and loudly
pray to the LORD their God.
He praises Him
and humbly asks to be delivered and bring
glory to His name. He asks the LORD to let all
those be routed who inflict evils on His
servants and to let them be shamed and
powerless, and their strength broken.
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He asks the
LORD to let them know that He alone is the
Lord God, glorious over the whole world.
Just then the flames from the furnace rise
high above and spread out burning the
Chaldeans.
Then the
angel of the LORD goes down to the furnace
with Azariah and his companions. He drives the
flames out of the furnace and makes the inside
of the furnace as though a dew-laden breeze
were blowing through it. The fire in no way touch
them or cause them pain or harm.
Then these three
in the furnace with one voice sing, glorifying and
blessing God.
Hearing them sing, and astonished at seeing them
alive, King Nebuchadnezzar rises in haste and asks
his nobles if they did throw three bound men into
the fire. His nobles say they did. The king
replies that he sees four men unfettered and
unhurt walking in the fire and the fourth one
looks like a son of God. |
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Then
Nebuchadnezzar comes to the opening of the
white hot furnace and calls to Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah to come out. Thereupon
the men come out of
the fire.
When the satraps, prefects, governors, and
nobles of the king come together, they see
that the fire had had no power over the bodies
of these men; neither a hair of their heads had
been singed, nor were their garments altered;
there is not even a smell of fire about them.
Nebuchadnezzar exclaims blessing the God of Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, who sent his
angel to deliver the servants that trusted in
him; they disobeyed the royal command and
yielded their bodies rather than
serve or worship any god except their own God. |
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The king continues
that he therefore decrees for nations and peoples
of every language that whoever blasphemes the God
of Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah shall be cut to pieces and his house
destroyed. For there is no other God who can
rescue like this.
Then the king promotes Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah in the province of Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar writes to the nations and
peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on
earth, abundant peace! The king also proclaims that
it seems good to him to publish the signs and
wonders which the most high God has accomplished
in his regard.
The king proclaims how great are His signs, how
mighty His wonders; His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and His dominion endures through all
generations. |
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To
be continued... |
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Come to me: Be with me |
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Relationships have
consequences |
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An address
on Christian Life and Evangelization by the
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.,
delivered on June 16, 2001 during the Atlanta
Congress. |
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The topic
for our reflection this afternoon is “Come
to me: Be with me,” and as I was pulling
together my thoughts for today, I asked a
married friend what he thought I should say.
He said, “Relationships have consequences.”
I asked
him what he meant. He just grinned and began
counting off four kids, two car loans, a
mortgage, property tax, medical bills,
grocery bills, dental bills, tuition bills,
heating bills, clothing bills – all of it
traceable to a day in 1970 when he told a
young woman he wanted to marry her and be
with her for the rest of their lives.
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Relationships
have consequences. My friend is very happily
married, by the way, and has been for 30 years.
But my point is that every relationship has its
seasons of joy and sorrow, suffering and
happiness.
The easy and
the difficult are part of the same package. They
can’t be separated. Our choices matter because
every choice we make shapes us. Every choice we
make is the seed of a certain kind of future
that includes some possibilities and excludes
others. In choosing a spouse, a man and a woman
say yes to one direction in life — and no to
others.
The same
applies to our relationship with God. It has
consequences. Christian faith isn’t just a set
of ideas or moral principles. It’s an encounter
with a living person, Jesus Christ. We meet Him
in Scripture, in each other, and most intimately
in the Eucharist. And when we enter into a
relationship with Jesus Christ, it has
consequences — very big consequences.
Jesus Christ
is alive — here, today, now. He lives tangibly –
flesh and blood – in the Communion we receive.
That’s why, following the lead of Scripture, we
call Jesus “Emmanuel” – the Hebrew word for “God
with us.” The Eucharist is our bread of life.
It’s more than a symbol, more than a community
meal, more than a sign of our unity. It’s all of
those things, but much more than those things.
The Eucharist is not “like” the flesh and blood
of God, or a “reminder” of the flesh and blood
of God. In Latin, Corpus Christi means, “the
body of Christ.” The Eucharist is the flesh and
blood of Jesus, who is the flesh and blood of
God – and in the Eucharist, Jesus is saying to
each of us today, “Come to me: Be with me.”
We all like to
be with Jesus at times like the Transfiguration,
with sun rays streaming through the clouds and
glory shining in the Lord’s face. That’s the
easy part. Peter, James and John liked that part
so much they wanted to set up tents and stay on
the mountain. But Jesus led them back down into
the world, and that’s where the story gets
difficult. Not many of us want to be in
Gethsemane when Jesus asks us to pray with Him
awhile. Not many of us want to stay around when
He asks us: Be with me, among the lepers and the
paralytics. Be with me, when I stand before
Pilate. Be with me, when I hang on the cross.
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To read the rest of this
great article, please click here. |
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So
you think you know -
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Marriage |
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The Office of Catechism
of the United States Congress of Catholic Bishops
website puts our knowledge of the Catholic
Faith to a test!
This
is just a sample. |
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1. |
Cite Paul's
most famous
exhortation
concerning marriage. |
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2. |
True or false.
The meaning, nature, and essential attributes of
marriage can change depending upon those cultures
or societies in which marriage takes place, or
upon the intentions of the individuals who desire
to marry each other. |
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True or false.
The grace of the sacrament of marriage derives
from the love of Christ for his Church. |
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4. |
True or false.
The indispensable element which makes a marriage
is the consent of the spouses. |
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Why is it
deemed necessary that a
Christian marriage
take place before a minister and witnesses?
Choose any combination of the following.
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It
expresses the ecclesial reality of the
marriage. |
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Without a
minister and witnesses, no true marriage
can take place. |
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As a
liturgical act, it should be done in the
Church's public liturgy. |
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It brings
the marriage into an ecclesial realm in
which there are rights and duties in the
Church between spouses and toward the
children. |
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The public
character gives a certainly to the fact
that a marriage has taken place, and helps
the spouses remain faithful to it. |
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6. |
Which of the
following are elements essential to a
valid sacramental
marriage?
Choose any combination of the following.
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Unity
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Birth of
children |
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Indissolubility |
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Openness of
all marital acts to the possibility of
children |
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Fidelity |
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7. |
True or false.
The remarriage of a person divorced from a living,
lawful spouse is not an obstacle to the reception
of Holy Communion. |
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8. |
True or
false.
Because the Church is called the "family of
God," we can therefore refer to the family as
the "domestic church." |
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True or
false.
Christ's presence at the wedding feast at Cana
is a sign of the goodness of marriage. |
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10. |
True or false.
Church teaching on virginity for the sake of
the Kingdom denigrates the good of marriage. |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Tenth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 8, 2008
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
I did not come to call the righteous
but sinners. Matthew 9:13 |
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First Reading from the Book of Hosea |
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Hos
6:3-6 |
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In
their affliction, people will say:
“Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as
certain as the dawn is his coming, and his
judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He
will come to us like the rain, like spring rain
that waters the earth.”
What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew
that early passes away.
For this reason I smote them through the prophets,
I slew them by the words of my mouth; for it is
love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge
of God rather than holocausts. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 50:1, 8, 12-13,
14-15 |
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R. To
the upright I will show the saving power of God.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your holocausts are before me always.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power
of God.
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for mine are the world and its fullness.
Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls,
or is the blood of goats my drink?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power
of God.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power
of God.
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Second Reading from the Second Letter to the
Romans |
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Rom 4:18-25
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Brothers and sisters:
Abraham believed, hoping against hope, that he
would become “the father of many nations,”
according to what was said, “Thus shall your
descendants be.”
He
did not weaken in faith when he considered his own
body as already dead - for he was almost a hundred
years old - and the dead womb of Sarah.
He did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief;
rather, he was strengthened by faith and gave
glory to God and was fully convinced that what he
had promised he was also able to do.
That is why it was credited to him as
righteousness.
But it was not for him alone that it was written
that it was credited to him;
it was also for us, to whom it will be credited,
who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord
from the dead, who was handed over for our
transgressions and was raised for our
justification. |
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 9:9-13 |
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As Jesus
passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew
sitting at the customs post.
He said to
him, “Follow me.”
And he got
up and followed him.
While he
was at table in his house, many tax collectors and
sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. |
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The
Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and
sinners?”
He heard
this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but
the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the
words,
‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” |
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Suggested Readings |
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Happiness Is a Serious
Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
by Dennis Prager.
In this unique blend of self-help and moral
philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager
asserts that we're actually obligated to be
happy, because it makes us better people.
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Praying With Frederic Ozanam
(Companions for the Journey Series)
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Paperback, by Ronald Cm Ramson (Author) |
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Praying With Louise De
Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series)
by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves
(Author) |
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Praying with Vincent de
Paul (Companions for the Journey)
2004, by Thomas McKenna
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The Rise of Christianity:
How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became
the Dominant Religious Force ....
(Paperback) by Rodney Stark
(Author)
From the Publisher
"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire |
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is already the subject of much fanfare. "Anyone
who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to
dominance... must read it," ...
Read the first page. |
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Living Liturgy:
Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for
Sundays and Solemnities, Year A,
2008 (Paperback) by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann Zimmerman
(Author), Thomas A. Greisen (Author), S.N.D. de
N. Kathleen Harmon (Author), M.S. Thomas L.
Leclerc (Author) |
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"Perfect for home use or to prepare for weekly
liturgy . . . It includes help for the
celebration, ideas for catechesis on the
particular event, and ways to understand the
readings more deeply. Finally, it includes
sample questions from which priests, deacons,
lay groups, ministers and others can jump off
into deeper discussion." |
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Straight Answers, Answers
to 100 Questions about the Catholic Faith
by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by: Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of
Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response to the many questions concerning
the Catholic Church. It spells out profound
truths in very |
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simple language for all who seek a better
understanding of their Faith. I highly recommend
it for Catholics, both young and old. |
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The Power of Intention:
Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon:
After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and |
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bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel:
Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
as it walks you through a pivotal period in
Israel’s history, and illustrative maps will
give you a better picture of the physical
geography of this ancient land. |
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Read
more about the Liturgical | | | | | | | | |
This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English
Bible itself, but these are further subdivided for the purposes of the
commentary, which is printed in short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
