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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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My Apologies: |
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The website hosting email system had been
problematic in the last few weeks.
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Who
is |
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Daniel
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(From the Book of Daniel) |
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Introduction |
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King
Nebuchadnezzar has another dream that Daniel
alone is able to decipher.
In this dream
the king realizes that His dominion is an
everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures
through all generations. All who live on the
earth are counted as nothing; he does as he
pleases with the powers of heaven as well as
with those who live on the earth. There is no
one who can stay his hand or say to him, "What
have you done?"
At the same time the king’s reason return his
kingdom, his majesty and his splendor return to
him. His nobles and lords seek him out. The king
is restored to his kingdom, and becomes much
greater than before.
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Part IV: Daniel in the Den of Lions |
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King Belshazzar
gives a great banquet for a thousand of his
lords, with whom he drinks. Under the
influence of the wine, he orders the gold and
silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had taken
from the temple in Jerusalem brought in so
that the king, his lords, his wives and his
entertainers might drink from them.
While the king, his lords, his wives and his
entertainers are drinking wine from the gold
and silver vessels taken from the house of God
in Jerusalem they praise their gods of gold
and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. |
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Suddenly human
fingers appear writing on the plaster of the wall
in the king’s palace and terrify him that his hip
joints shake, and his knees knock.
The king shouts for the enchanters, Chaldeans, and
astrologers to be brought in promising that the
one who can read the writing on the wall shall be
clothed in purple, wear a golden collar about his
neck, and be third in the government of the
kingdom. |
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But none of the
king’s wise men who came could either read the
writing or tell the king what it meant. This
leaves the king more terrified and his lords
are thrown into confusion.
When the queen hears of the discussion between
the king and his lords, she enters the banquet
hall and tells the king not to be so troubled.
She tells him that there is a man in his
kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy God.
She tells him his father King Nebuchadnezzar
had witnessed brilliant knowledge and god-like
wisdom. In fact, King Nebuchadnezzar made him
chief of the
magicians,
enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers. She
tells the king to call for Daniel.
When Daniel
arrives, the king shows him the writing on the
wall. The king repeats his offer that if he
can read |
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the writing he
shall be clothed in purple, wear a gold collar
about your neck, and be third in the government of
the kingdom. |
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Daniel tells
the king to keep the gifts but he will read
the writing.
He tells the king that his father was blest by
God but he became arrogant and proud that the
lord humbled him. The LORD cast him out from
among men and was made insensate as a beast.
He lived with wild asses, and ate grass like
an ox. His body was bathed with the dew of
heaven, until he learned that the Most High
God rules over the kingdom of men and appoints
over it whom he will.
The Daniel
tells the king that he, Belshazzar, has not
humbled his heart and knowingly |
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rebelled against
the Lord of heaven. Daniel reminds him that he had
the vessels of his temple brought before him from
which he and his nobles drank wine while he
praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and
iron, wood and stone. But the God in whose hand is
his life breath and the whole course of his life,
he did not glorify. |
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By Him were the
wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.
The writing on the wall Daniel says: MENE,
TEKEL, and PERES. Daniel continues that MENE
means God has numbered his kingdom and put an
end to it; TEKEL, means that God has weighed
the king on the scales and found wanting;
PERES, means that his kingdom has been divided
and will be given to the Medes and Persians.
Then by order of Belshazzar they clothed
Daniel in purple, with a gold collar about his
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neck, and
proclaimed him third in the government of the
kingdom.
The same night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, is
slain.
Darius the Mede succeeds to the kingdom at the age
of sixty-two. Darius decides to appoint over his
entire kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to
safeguard his interests. They are accountable to
three supervisors, one of whom is Daniel.
Daniel outshines all the supervisors and satraps
because an extraordinary spirit is in him. The
king considers giving him authority over the
entire kingdom.
Because of that the supervisors and satraps try to
find grounds for accusation against Daniel. But
they can accuse him of no wrongdoing. Because he
is trustworthy, no fault of neglect or misconduct
is to be found in him.
Then these men
say to themselves that they shall find no grounds
for accusation against this Daniel unless by way
of the law of his God. So these supervisors and
satraps go to the king. They all agree that the
following prohibition ought to be put in force by
royal decree: no one is to address any petition to
god or man for thirty days, except to the King
otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions.
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So the king
issues an immutable and irrevocable
prohibition under Mede and Persian law.
Even after Daniel hear that this law had been
signed, he continues his custom of going home
to kneel in prayer and give thanks to his God
in the upper chamber three times a day, with
the windows open toward Jerusalem.
So these men rush in and finds Daniel praying
and pleading before his God.
Then they go back to remind the king about the
prohibition. Then they tell him that Daniel
even with the law prohibiting it has continued
to praying three times a day.
The king is deeply grieved at this news and he
makes |
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up his mind to
save Daniel. He works till sunset to rescue
him. But these men insist on punishment. So
the king orders Daniel to be brought and cast
into the lions' den. The king tells Daniel
that may his God, whom he serves so
constantly, save him.
To forestall
any tampering, the king seals with his own
ring and the rings of the lords the stone used
to block the opening of the den. Then the king
returns to his palace for the night but he
refuses to eat and he dismisses the
entertainers. Since sleep is impossible for
him the king rises very early the next morning
and hastens to the lions' den.
As he draws near, he cries out to Daniel
sorrowfully asking if the living God whom he
served so constantly was able to save him from
the lions. |
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Daniel answers
the king that his God has sent his angel and
closed the lions' mouths so that they have not
hurt him for he has been found innocent before
him and that he has done the king any harm.
This gives the king great joy and orders
Daniel removed from the den, unhurt because he
trusted in his God.
The king then orders the men who had accused
Daniel, along with their children and their
wives, to be cast into the lions' den. Before
they reach the bottom of the den, the lions
overpower them and crush all their bones.
Then King Darius writes to the nations and
peoples of every language, wherever they dwell
on the earth that he decrees that throughout
his royal domain the God of Daniel is to be
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reverenced and
feared for he is the living God, enduring forever;
his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his
dominion shall be without end. The king continues
that He is a deliverer and savior, working signs
and wonders in heaven and on earth, and he
delivered Daniel from the lions' power.
So Daniel fares well during the reign of Darius
and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. |
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To
be continued... |
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Why do people do evil? |
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An article by
Dennis Prager, a conservative thinker. |
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Decent people have
sought to identify the roots of evil since the
first indecent person inflicted cruelty on an
innocent person. And people have come up with one
or more of nine explanations, most of which are
indeed valid.
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The devil (or
whatever name the devil goes by in any given
culture). I do not believe in a devil, but
when one observes the seemingly inexplicable
cruelty engaged in by some people, it is
understandable that people have attributed it
to some evil being that has taken over that
person. |
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Genes. The
contemporary term for devil is "genes." Just
as with the devil, when we observe a person
engaging in evil behavior for which we have no
rational explanation, we speak of it as coming
from the person's genes. |
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Parents. After
genes, parents have become another popular
explanation for much evil. "How was he
raised?" we wonder when we read about
evildoers, especially those who deliberately
hurt children. There is no question that
parental upbringing has both good and ill
effects on children. But there are too many
bad people raised in homes that did not abuse
them, and too many good people who were raised
in awful homes to allow us to make parents the
primary explanation for evil. |
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Religion.
Religion is a popular culprit these days. And
it is undeniable that religion can be a source
of evil – it certainly is in the case of the
true believing Islamic terrorist. And it was
in the wars over theology that racked Europe
for centuries. But two facts mitigate against
regarding religion as the primary explanation
for evil. One is that religion itself was
often developed precisely in order to reduce
human evil. Whatever evil individual
Christians may have ever engaged in, it is
hard to find advocacy of evil within Christian
scriptures. The other is that secular
ideologies and regimes – Nazism and Communism,
for example – have murdered and tortured far
more people than any religion has. |
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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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Holy
Orders |
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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 where
references are made in the Bible to the
appointing of presbyters. |
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True or false.
In the Catholic Church there exists only the
ordained priesthood. |
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True or false.
The ministerial priesthood confers on the men
ordained a power by which it differs in essence
from the common priesthood of the faithful. |
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True or false.
The priest receives the fullness of the sacrament
of Holy Orders. |
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True or false.
The priest, by virtue of the sacrament bestowed on
him, is able to act in the person of Christ the
head. |
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6. |
Which of the
following are
tasks of the deacon?
Choose any combination of the following. |
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Assisting
in the celebration of the Eucharist |
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Assisting
in the distribution of Holy Communion |
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Blessing
marriages |
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Proclaiming
the Gospel |
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Presiding
over funerals |
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True or false.
Ordination imprints an indelible sacramental
character. |
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8. |
True or
false.
The ordination of women remains an option
which the Church may choose in the future. |
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9. |
True or
false.
Acceptance of celibacy by the candidate for
priesthood is a sign that he is giving himself
completely to God and men. |
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True or
false.
Although it is the bishop who confers the
sacrament on deacons and priests, only the
Holy Father can confer the sacrament on the
bishop-designate. |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Thirteenth
Sunday in Ordinary Time :
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul,
Apostles
June 29, 2008
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my
Church, and the gates of the
netherworld shall not prevail against
it. Mat 16:18 |
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First Reading from the Acts of the
Apostles |
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Acts 12:1-11 |
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In those
days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of
the Church to harm them.
He had
James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was
the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him
taken into custody and put in prison under the
guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He
intended to bring him before the people after
Passover. Peter thus was being kept in prison, but
prayer by the Church was fervently being made to
God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to
trial, Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside
the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly
the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light
shone in the cell.
He tapped
Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.â€
The chains
fell from his wrists.
The angel
said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.â€
He did so.
Then he
said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.â€
So he
followed him out, not realizing that what was
happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the
first guard, then the second, and came to the iron
gate leading out to the city, which opened for
them by itself.
They
emerged and made their way down an alley, and
suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter
recovered his senses and said,
“Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his
angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and
from all that the Jewish people had been
expecting.†|
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7,
8-9 |
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R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who
fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who
fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who
fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who
fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who
fear him. |
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Second Reading from the Second Letter to
Timothy |
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2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18
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I,
Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I
have competed well; I have finished the race; I
have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me
on that day, and not only to me, but to all who
have longed for his appearance.
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that
through me the proclamation might be completed and
all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and
will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. |
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 16:13-19 |
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When
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?â€
They
replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others
Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.â€
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?â€
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.â€
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Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you,
Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And
so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock
I will build my Church, and the gates of the
netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I
will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.†|
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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 Year |
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The Origins of the
Liturgical Year (Pueblo Books)
by Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World
of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C.
(Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus:
Sunday by Sunday)
by John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides those
who not only fill the pulpits across this
country but also all interested in the
cultural world in which Jesus lived with a
lot of pertinent information that sheds
light on a lot of areas that have been
"muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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Learn
more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the
Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these thirty-two
short chapters begins and ends with the
assumption that problems we experience
with the Old Testament are our problem,
not the Bible's. This subordinating of the
Bible reader to the well-weathered book he
holds in his hand opens doors, not to
forced harmonisations of problematic
passages, but to fresh reappraisal of
difficult texts on their own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible:
Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old
Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers
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and Doctors of the Church, and the works of
contemporary spiritual writers — particularly
St. JosemarÃa Escrivá, who initiated the
Navarre Bible project. |
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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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.
