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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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Health Notes |
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Food for (Positive) Thought |
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As you now
know, in addition to restricting your caloric
intake, it's essential to eat the right kinds
of food to build muscle, strengthen your
immune system, stay energized, and, in
general, feel great in your everyday life.
When you
find yourself feeling low or battling a bad
mood, a few particular foods might help
improve your attitude. Check 'em out: |
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Low-fat, low-protein, high-carbohydrate snacks
are good for chasing away the blues. Try
air-popped popcorn or whole-wheat bread with
honey.
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To
ward off depression, go for fish. Omega-3 fatty
acids are reputed to ease mood swings.
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Fight stress with high-fiber foods, such as
apples, pears, olives, beets, squash, zucchini,
asparagus, spinach, lentils, beans, tofu,
barley, brown rice, buckwheat, and couscous.
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Drink water for a quick pick-me-up. Regular
hydration will keep you from feeling fatigued,
and it can also help you burn calories.
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Highs and Lows
Caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and chocolate are
all known for mood-altering effects, ranging from
waking you up to calming you down, but they can
also trigger mood swings, irritability, and
feelings of anxiety and stress. Experts suggest
moderating your intake of these substances so you
can stay on an even keel. |
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From a Company
Newsletter |
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Who
is |
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Daniel: A Summary |
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(From the Book of Daniel) |
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There are five
well known stories in the Book of Daniel.
In the first one King Nebuchadnezzar has a
dream after which he demands that his
magicians, exorcists, sorcerers describe the
dream to him, and to interpret its meaning. No
one is able to do this. Through his queen, the
king learns of and thus summons Daniel. Daniel
then describes the dream, and explains its
meaning.
Then King
Nebuchadnezzar declares to Daniel that his God
is the God of gods and Lord of kings and a
revealer of mysteries. He advances Daniel to a
high post, gives him many generous presents,
makes him ruler of the whole province of
Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise
men of Babylon. |
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The second
story relates how the king’s advisors are able
to convince the king to execute Daniel's three
friends. His advisors tell the king that
Daniel’s three friends did not worship the
golden image of his likeness, before which the
king ordered his people to prostrate
themselves whenever certain music was played.
Daniel’s
friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
refuse to worship the statue and are thrown
into a fiery furnace. Not only are they
unharmed, but they are accompanied by a fourth
figure who is later identified by
Nebuchadnezzar as an angel.
Nebuchadnezzar exclaims blessing the God of
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who sent his
angel to deliver the servants that trusted in
him.
The king
continues that he therefore decrees
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for nations and
peoples of every language that whoever blasphemes
the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall
be cut to pieces and his house destroyed. For
there is no other God who can rescue like this.
The king promotes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
in the province of Babylon. |
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The third story
is about a dream that foretold of
Nebuchadnezzar's madness. In this dream
Nebuchadnezzar is overcome by a mental illness
after which he roams like an animal through
the woods surrounding the palace for 42
months. As Daniel interpreted it the dream
comes to pass a year later.
And as
Daniel predicted the king is restored to his
right mind after 42 months of living with wild
beasts and feeding on grass like oxen. With
that Nebuchadnezzar praises, exalts and
glorifies the King of heaven, because all
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his works are right
and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he
is able to humble. 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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The next story
is about the handwriting on the wall of King
Belshazzar's banquet hall. When Jerusalem fell
Nebuchadnezzar had stolen the gold and silver
vessels from the temple. When his son,
Belshazzar, became king, Belshazzar prepares a
feast and orders that the vessels be brought
out and used at a party by the nobility,
himself and his concubines and courtesans.
Suddenly,
the fingers of a hand appears, and writes a
message on the wall of the palace. The king's
magicians, sorcerers are unable to decode the
words. |
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Daniel translates
the message as saying that God has brought his
kingdom to a close. That night, Belshazzar is
killed and "Darius the Mede" takes over. The
Babylonian empire ends and the Medes occupy the
land. |
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The fifth story
is about Daniel surviving in the den of lions.
"Darius" appoints Daniel as one of three chief
ministers of the new kingdom of the Medes.
Some jealous ministers and satraps conspire to
kill Daniel.
They
persuade the king to write an edict stating
that anyone who petitions any god or human
being other than the king during the following
30 days would be thrown into the lions' den.
The
conspirators catch Daniel praying to God, and
present him to the king for execution. The
king try to think of a way to avoid executing
Daniel, but is unsuccessful. Daniel is thrown
in to the pit, but survives. An angel shuts
the lions' mouths.
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 |
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domain the God of
Daniel is to be 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. |
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The rest of the
book tells of Daniel’s visions. One of them is
of the 4 beasts (lion with eagles' wings,
bear, leopard with four wings like a bird, and
a terrible beast with 10 horns, which later
became 8 horns). Again, these four animals
each symbolized an earthly kingdom.
Then there is Daniel’s vision of a powerful
ram and a male goat who fight each other. The
goat conquers the ram.
The final
vision is that of Israel's future, leading to
the end of the age. Some of the dead will
awake "to everlasting life and some to the
reproach of eternal abhorrence. The wise
leaders will shine like the bright vault of
heaven, and those who have guarded the people
in the true path will be like the stars for
ever and ever." This implies a resurrection of
the dead, a judgment and transfer of the
resurrected Jews to heaven or hell.
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Render
Unto Caesar
Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic
Beliefs in Political Life
by the
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.
Cap.
Archbishop of
Denver, Colorado USA, in Sydney Australia July
2008 |
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The
Most Rev. Charles J.
Chaput has just released his
latest book
Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life ,
which answers important questions, such as: |
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- Does
religious thought have any place in political
discourse?
- Do religious
believers have the right to turn their values
into political action?
- What does it
truly mean to have a separation of church and
state?
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Very Reverend David
M. O’Connell, C.M., President, The Catholic
University of America, wrote a review of this
book: |
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“Using
arguments from history as well as the wisdom of
the world’s greatest thinkers, Archbishop Chaput
urges Catholics to live our faith without
compromise and to use our faith as the
foundation for renewing American society in the
twenty-first century. His tone is one of ‘now or
never,’ and his presentation is crisp,
intelligent, and accessible to a wide audience.
This is an important book for Catholics to read
and consider if we are truly to make a
difference in the public square. Archbishop
Chaput has made a unique and significant
contribution to the Church and the nation at a
time when voices like his are needed to be
raised and heard.”
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Personally the book
is a guide and gives us reasons why we cannot
separate our faith from our life. |
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The following is a
part of a rather lengthy interview of Archbishop
Chaput by
Kathryn Jean Lopez, an award-winning
opinion journalist and editor and the editor of
National Review Online and an associate editor at
National Review (a.k.a. National Review on Dead
Tree). |
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Don’t Lie
A shepherd on
Catholic citizenship.
An NRO Q&A
‘When church leaders refrain from helping
political leaders see their moral
responsibilities, their lack of action implies
that religion has nothing to say to the public
square,” Charles J. Chaput, archbishop of the
Catholic archdiocese of Denver, writes in his
new book, Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation
by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political
Life. He’s one who is not refraining; his book
has guidance for good Catholic citizenship and
leadership. As Denver prepares to become the
focus of American politics for a week during the
Democratic convention, Archbishop Chaput took
questions from National Review Online editor
Kathryn Lopez.
Kathryn Jean Lopez: Did you watch the
Rick Warren forum over the weekend? Did anything
stand out to you?
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput: I did
listen, and I think each man proved himself as
intelligent and sincere. The differences in
their views — on abortion of course, but other
pressing issues as well — were clear. So the
event served a good purpose.
Overall though,
I’m skeptical about the importance of individual
forums and debates. We’re a long way from the
kind of rigorous public debates that happened
back in the 19th century between Abraham Lincoln
and Stephen Douglas for hours at a time. We
don’t have the attention span for really serious
discussion anymore; or to put it more
accurately, our news media can’t afford and
don’t allow that kind of attention span. So we
need to compensate privately by spending more
time sifting through the “whole package” of a
candidate — his words, his actions, his record
over the span of his career.
Politics is the exercise of power. Citizenship
implicates us in the morality of how that power
is used. So citizenship is serious business.
Lopez: What should it mean when someone
says, “I’m Catholic.”
Archbishop Chaput: It should mean that we
love Jesus Christ as our redeemer, love the
Catholic Church as our mother, and give our
hearts to what she teaches, because she teaches
in Christ’s name.
Lopez: What should it mean when I’m
“voting Catholic?”
Archbishop Chaput: We should see
ourselves as Catholic first — not white or
black, or young or old. or Democrat or
Republican, or labor militant or business owner,
but Catholic first as the main way we identify
ourselves. Our faith should shape our lives,
including our political choices. Of course, that
demands that we actually study and deepen our
Catholic faith. The Catholic faith isn’t a set
of clothes that we can tailor to a personal fit.
We don’t “invent” our faith, and we don’t “own”
it. If we really want to be Catholic, then we’ll
live by Catholic teaching. Otherwise we’re just
fooling ourselves and abusing the belief of
other Catholics who really do try to practice
what the Church teaches.
Lopez:
What extra responsibilities do Catholic
politicians have?
Archbishop Chaput: Catholic public
officials have a duty to see their work not
merely as a job or a profession, but as a
vocation flowing out of their Baptism. Every
Christian has an obligation to continue the work
of Christ’s redemption and to help sanctify and
humanize the world. Obviously, Catholic
politicians serve believers and non-believers
alike. They need to respect the proper autonomy
of secular affairs. But in dispensing justice
and administering power, they serve the common
good, and the common good is always tied to
moral truth. Their religious faith should be
their moral compass.
Lopez: How relevant is Thomas More today
in answering the previous question?
Archbishop Chaput: Like Chesterton said
many decades ago, Thomas More is always
relevant. He’s never been more relevant than he
is right now.
Lopez: Are there any Thomas Mores in
contemporary American history?
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To read the rest of
this interview,
please click here. |
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Our
Faith: What you might want to know about |
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The
Sacrament of Confirmation |
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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 these
statements regarding the
Eucharist
are true? |
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In the
Eucharist we unite ourselves with the
heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal
life. |
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The
Eucharist is the source and summit of the
Christian life. |
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All of the
ministries and sacraments of the Church
are bound up with the Eucharist. |
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As the
source of one's spiritual life, the
Eucharist must be the first sacrament to
be received. |
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a, b and c.
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The
Sacrament of the
Eucharist is called the Lord's
Supper because |
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of its
connection with the supper which the Lord
took with the disciples on the eve of the
Passion. |
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it
anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb
in the heavenly Jerusalem. |
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This was
the Latin equivalent of the Jewish term,
"Passover." |
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a, b and c. |
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a and b.
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3. |
Which of these is
not another name for the
Eucharist?
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The
Heavenly Liturgy |
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The
Breaking of the Bread |
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The
Eucharistic Assembly |
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The Holy
Sacrifice |
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Holy
Communion |
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4. |
True or False:
The Eucharist is also called Holy Mass because it
concludes with the sending forth of the faithful
to fulfill God's will in their lives. |
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5. |
True or False:
Since the Catholic Church teaches that Christ is
really present in the bread and wine, the
sacrifice of the Eucharist is then a re-sacrifice
of Christ on the altar. |
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6. |
True or False:
In the celebration of the Eucharist with the
apostles and his commandment to them to
celebrate it until His return, Jesus
constitutes the apostles as priests of the New
Testament.
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7. |
True or False:
The gospel of John has no counterpart of any kind
to the Last Supper accounts of the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark, and Luke. |
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8. |
True or False:
There is no instance in the New Testament of a
Eucharistic meal aside from the accounts of
the Last Supper. If you answered true, explain
why this is so. If your answer is false, give
examples. |
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9. |
True or False:
In the Eucharist we raise ourselves above
concern with the material order of creation in
order to maintain a spiritual union with the
Father. |
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We speak of the
Eucharist as a memorial of Christ's sacrifice.
In the sense that Sacred Scripture uses the
term 'memorial'
we mean that |
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we promise
to conform our lives to Christ's as the
events of his life are made present to us. |
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Christ's
unique sacrifice is made real, present and
sacramentally offered. |
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we remember
what Christ has done for us. |
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we are to
recreate visually the historical event as
food for meditation. |
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e. |
a and b. |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Twenty-first
Sunday in Ordinary Time
August
24,
2008
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First Reading from the Book of Isaiah |
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Is 22:19-23 |
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Thus
says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:
“I will thrust you from your office and pull you
down from your station. On that day I will summon
my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe
him with your robe, and gird him with your sash,
and give over to him your authority.
He
shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and to the house of Judah.
I
will place the key of the House of David on
Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall
shut when he shuts, no one shall open.
I
will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a
place of honor for his family.” |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms |
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Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6,
8 |
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R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the
work of your hands.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my
heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your
praise;
I will worship at your holy temple.
R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake
the work of your hands.
I will give thanks to your name,
because of your kindness and your truth:
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake
the work of your hands.
The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees,
and the proud he knows from afar.
Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake
the work of your hands. |
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Second Reading from the Letter to the Romans |
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Rom 11:33-36 |
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Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how
unsearchable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has
been his counselor?
Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be
repaid?
For from him and through him and for him are all
things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 16:13-20 |
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Jesus went into the region of Caesarea
Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do
people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist,
others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of
the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I
am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God.”
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. |
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Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.”
Then
he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one
that he was the Christ. |
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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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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.
