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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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Daniel has
visions so terrifying he decides to keep it to
himself.
However, he has
another on a different night.
Part V: Daniel's Visions
After this
first vision Daniel has another, in the third
year of the reign of King Belshazzar.
In this second vision Daniel sees himself in
the fortress of Susa in the province of Elam,
beside the river Ulai. He looks up and sees
standing by the river a ram with two great
horns, the one larger and newer than the
other.
Daniel sees the ram butting toward the west,
north, and south. No beast could withstand it
or be rescued from its |
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power; it did what
it pleased and becomes very powerful.
As Daniel reflects
on the vision, a he-goat with a prominent horn on
its forehead suddenly comes from the west across
the whole earth without touching the ground.
It approaches the two-horned ram he had seen
standing by the river, and rushes toward it with
savage force.
Daniel sees it attack the ram with furious blows
when they met, and breaks both its horns. It
throws the ram, which had not the force to
withstand it, to the ground, and tramples upon it;
and no one could rescue it from its power.
The he-goat becomes very powerful. But at the
height of its power the great horn is shattered,
and in its place comes up four others, facing the
four winds of heaven. |
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Out of one of
them come a little horn which keeps growing
toward the south, the east, and the glorious
country.
Its power extends to the host of heaven, so
that it cast down to earth some of the host
and some of the stars and tramples on them.
It boasts even against the prince of the host,
from whom it removes the daily sacrifice, and
whose sanctuary it cast down, as well as the
host, while sin replaces the daily sacrifice.
Daniel hears holy ones talking and learns that
the events of this vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, the desolating sin which is placed
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there, the sanctuary, and the trampled host will
last two thousand three hundred evenings and
mornings; then the sanctuary shall be purified.
While Daniel, seeks
the meaning of the vision he had seen, a manlike
figure stand before him and he hears a human voice
that saying, "Gabriel, explain the vision to this
man."
Then a man comes near where Daniel is standing and
Daniel falls prostrate in terror. The man says to
Daniel that these visions refer to the end of
time. |
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The man
continues that he will show Daniel what is to
happen later in the period of wrath; for at
the appointed time, there will be an end.
He says that the two-horned ram Daniel saw
represents the kings of the Medes and
Persians. The he-goat is the king of the
Greeks, and the great horn on its forehead is
the first king. The four that rose in its
place when it was broken are four kingdoms
that will issue from his nation, but without
his strength.
He continues
that after their reign, when sinners have
reached their measure, there shall arise a
king, impudent and skilled in intrigue. He
shall be strong and powerful, bring about
fearful ruin, and succeed in his undertaking.
He shall destroy powerful peoples.
He continues that his cunning shall be against
the holy ones, his treacherous conduct shall
succeed. He shall be proud of heart and
destroy many by stealth. But when he rises
against the prince of princes, he shall be
broken without a hand being raised.
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The man says that
the vision of the evenings and the mornings is
true, as spoken, and warns to keep this vision
undisclosed, because the days are to be many.
Daniel becomes weak and ill for some days. Then he
gets up and takes care of the king's affairs. He
is appalled at the vision, which he could not
understand. |
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To
be continued... |
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So
you think you know -
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The
Celebration of the Liturgy
(Part 1) |
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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. |
Which of the following are signs and actions which
emphasize the integral part of the liturgy of the
Word in
sacramental celebrations?
Choose any combination of the below.
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The book |
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Lectern |
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c. |
Incense |
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d. |
The act of reading |
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e. |
The responses of the assembly |
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2. |
True or false.
Proper song and music in the liturgy, although
acting as signs in regard to liturgical action,
are not elements which can promote the
sanctification of the faithful. |
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3. |
True or false.
The use of icons and images in the Catholic home
is now recognized as an obstacle to faith and the
true worship of God. |
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4. |
Why is Sunday the principal day for the
celebration of the Eucharist?
Choose any combination of the following.
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It is the "eighth day", the day that the
Lord has made. |
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b. |
It is the "first day" a memorial of the
first day of creation. |
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c. |
It is the day of the Jewish Passover. |
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d. |
It is the day on which Jesus began his
ministry. |
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e. |
It is the day of Christ's Resurrection. |
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5. |
True or false.
In the course of the liturgical year the whole
mystery of Christ's life and the coming of the
Spirit is celebrated. |
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6. |
Why does the Catholic Church recommend the
veneration
of the saints and their memorials on fixed dates
of the liturgical year?
Choose any combination of the following. |
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a. |
It gives glory to Christ for having
accomplished his salvation in the saints. |
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b. |
The Paschal mystery is proclaimed in those
who have suffered and been glorified. |
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c. |
It shows, in these celebrations, that the
Church is united with the liturgy in
heaven. |
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d. |
Following Vatican II, the Church no longer
recommends veneration. |
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e. |
Their examples encourage us and draw us to
the Father through Christ. |
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7. |
Which of the following is
not true
of the Liturgy of the Hours?
Choose any combination of the following.
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It allows the whole course of the day to
be made holy. |
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It is a prayer exclusively reserved for
the clergy and religious. |
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c. |
Through it, the Eucharist transfigures the
time of each day. |
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d. |
It demands a deeper understanding of the
liturgy and the Bible. |
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e. |
It unites us with Christ |
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8. |
The members of the
Church are "living stones" out of which the
Church is built.
True or false.
This means that it is the sense of community
as the People of God gathered together that
makes the body of believers into a "spiritual
house." |
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9. |
True or
false.
The visible churches and holy places are
images of the heavenly Jerusalem. |
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10. |
Which of the following
actions are
not appropriate
in a church?
Pick any combination of the following.
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a. |
Personal prayer |
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b. |
Hearing the word of God |
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c. |
Offering the sacrifice of Christ |
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d. |
Celebrating public worship |
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e. |
None of the above |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Thirteenth
Sunday in Ordinary Time :
FifteenthSunday in Ordinary Time
July 13,
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 Book of Isaiah |
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Is 55:10-11 |
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Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come
down and do not return there till they have
watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the
one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth
from my mouth; my word shall not return to me
void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for
which I sent it. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 65:10, 11,
12-13, 14 |
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R. The seed that
falls on good ground will yield a fruitful
harvest.
You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God’s watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will
yield a fruitful harvest.
Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its
furrows,
breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will
yield a fruitful harvest.
You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will
yield a fruitful harvest.
The fields are garmented with flocks
and the valleys blanketed with grain.
They shout and sing for joy.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will
yield a fruitful harvest. |
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Second Reading from the Letter to the Romans |
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Rom 8:18-23
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Brothers and sisters:
I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are as nothing compared with the glory to be
revealed for us.
For
creation awaits with eager expectation the
revelation of the children of God; for creation
was made subject to futility, not of its own
accord but because of the one who subjected it, in
hope that creation itself would be set free from
slavery to corruption and share in the glorious
freedom of the children of God.
We know that all creation is groaning in labor
pains even until now; and not only that, but we
ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselves as we wait for
adoption, the redemption of our bodies. |
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9 |
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On
that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down
by the sea.
Such
large crowds gathered around him that he got into
a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood
along the shore.
And he spoke to them at length in parables,
saying:
“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some
seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it
up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little
soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was
not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched,
and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew
up and choked it.
But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced
fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever
has ears ought to hear.” |
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The disciples approached him and said,
“Why do you speak to them in parables?”
He said to them in reply,
“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it
has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will
grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he
has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not
listen or understand.
Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which
says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand, you
shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the
heart of this people, they will hardly hear with
their ears, they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes and hear with their
ears and understand with their hearts and be
converted, and I heal them.
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and
your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to
you, many prophets and righteous people longed to
see what you see but did not see it, and to hear
what you hear but did not hear it.
“Hear then the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the
word of the kingdom without understanding it, and
the evil one comes and steals away what was sown
in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears
the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because
of the word, he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears
the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of
riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.
But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who
hears the word and understands it, who indeed
bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or
thirtyfold.” |
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or |
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On
that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down
by the sea.
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got
into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd
stood along the shore.
And he spoke to them at length in parables,
saying:
“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some
seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it
up.
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little
soil. It sprang up at once because the soil
was not deep, and when the sun rose it was
scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew
up and choked it.
But some seed fell on rich soil and produced
fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.” |
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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)
-
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. Josemaría 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.
