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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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In celebration of the year of Paul the Apostle,
here is the first part story of his life. |
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Who
is |
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Paul, the Apostle |
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Birth and education
He was born Saul in the memory of the
first king of the Jews, in Tarsus to
family belonging to the tribe of
Benjamin. He was raised in a strict
Pharisaic tradition and observances.
His father was a Roman Citizen, thus
he also carried the name Paul.
As a
young boy, Saul learned and became a
tentmaker. Later he was sent by his
family to Jerusalem to study Jewish
Law and all the rules that interpreted
it.
Conversion
Saul, at that time as a Pharisee had a
mission to destroy the young Church of
Jesus Christ. As he walked towards
Damascus, ready to take as prisoner
any follower of this new sect, heard a
voice from heaven: "Saul, Saul, why
are you persecuting me?" "Who are
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you, Lord?" he
asks. "I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Get
up...and you will be told what you have to do."
After this
vision, Saul became a convert and was baptized
into the sect he once vowed to destroy. |
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Saul then went
to Arabia to meditate on the Scriptures and to
preach. On his return to Damascus he was
forced to flee by night to avoid the Jews, by
being lowered over a wall in a basket.
Three years
after his conversion he went to Jerusalem
where he met James, and stayed with Simon
Peter for fifteen days. Saul tried to join the
disciples and was accepted only due to the
good word from Barnabas. The rest of the
disciples were obviously afraid of Saul –
after all he was a persecutor of the Church.
While there
he ran into trouble with the Greeks who
threaten his life, and he left for Tarsus.
Later Barnabas went to look for him and
brought him to Antioch where for a year they
work together spreading the word of God.
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Together Barnabas
and Saul went to Jerusalem to offer financial
support from the Antioch community to those
suffering from the famine raging at that time. |
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His Missions
In Saul’s first mission, the Holy Spirit
commanded him to leave Antioch and evangelize
the Gentiles in Cyprus. Saul and Barnabas then
left to spread the Gospel into the
predominantly Gentile island.
While preaching
throughout the island, Saul and Barnabas met a
false-prophet, a magician by the name of
Bar-Jesus, who was full of deceit and fraud.
The two rebuked the magician causing him to go
blind.
When they
left Cyprus, Saul changed his name to Paul for
ministering to the Gentiles. At this point
their helper, Mark left them and became the
cause of the tension between Paul and
Barnabas, which ultimately lead to their
split. |
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Paul and Barnabas
then started preaching in major cities as they
make their way across the provinces of Asia Minor.
While preaching in the God-less town of Lystra
they came across a man who has been crippled from
birth. Seeing that the man had faith enough to be
healed, at Paul's instruction, he got up and
walked. |
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Because of this
the people of Lystra became convinced that the
two were the human incarnation of Zeus and
Hermes and proceeded to sacrifice oxen before
them.
Paul and Barnabas were so distraught at this
that they torn off their clothes and cried out
to the people. Pleading with the crowd, Paul
started by stating that God is a living God
who made the heavens, earth and seas.
Paul was
again hunted by disgruntled Jews from Antioch
and Iconium and was stoned to the point where
he is thought to be dead. Amazingly he got up
to his feet and fled to Derbe and preached the
word there. He then returned to the cities he
visited to encourage the other disciples,
establish churches and appoint elders. |
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This emphasis on
the role of the whole church was strengthened once
at home in Antioch where he finally gathered
together the unified church to report to them on
all his experiences. Here he summarized the aim of
his journey well, to “give God the honor and the
glory.” |
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To be continued... |
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Health Notes |
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Food for (Positive) Thought |
Bite Into An Apple
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In 2007,
researchers at Pennsylvania State
University announced the results of a
study showing that people who ate an apple
15 minutes before lunch consumed nearly
190 fewer calories at lunch. The apples
were medium sized and peeled;
nutritionists estimated the effect would
have been even greater with the peel.
Juice
and applesauce, on the other hand, failed
to significantly reduce the number of
calories eaten at the test lunches. So go
on and eat an apple a day to keep the
weight gain away! |
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Add Intervals |
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A report
published in 2007 in the Journal of Applied
Physiology revealed that interval training
beats a consistent, moderate pace for burning
fat. Individuals burned 36 percent more fat
than during low-intensity workouts and
increased cardiovascular fitness by 13
percent!
The best way
to reap the benefits, it appears, is to add
interval training to your weekly cardio
workouts. |
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Choose and Lose |
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If you listen
to one thing and one thing only (but you'd
better be listening to more than that!), make
it this: Always choose the healthy option. Go
for low-cal, low-fat foods instead of junk.
Junk is always available, making it very easy
to justify, so this will take persistence —
but what worthwhile mission doesn't?
Have half an
apple instead of a candy bar. Have a bowl of
air-popped popcorn instead of a bag of potato
chips. You get the idea. Old habits die hard,
but keep at it. The results will affirm you in
ways you never imagined possible. |
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From a Company
Newsletter |
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Our
Faith: What you might want to know |
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Sacramentals and Funerals |
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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. |
True or
false.
Sacramentals are signs instituted by the
Church through which we receive sacramental
grace. |
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2. |
Which of
the following is
true?
Choose any combination of the following. |
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Every
baptized person is called to bless. |
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Blessings
are the first among sacramentals. |
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Lay people
may not preside at blessings. |
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Some
blessings consecrate persons to God. |
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Every
blessing praises God and prays for his
gifts. |
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3. |
True or
false.
Since Vatican II the Church has recommended
the suppression of the practices that are
known as "popular piety." |
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4. |
Which of
the following are considered
sacramentals?
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stations of
the cross |
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b. |
pilgrimages |
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c. |
processions |
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d. |
veneration
of relics |
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e. |
rosary |
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5. |
True or
false.
Sacramentals are distinct from the liturgy
and, in fact, their use may be a valid
substitute for it. |
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6. |
True or
false.
Exorcism is no longer considered a valid
practice given the progress of modern medical
science in determing the root illness of those
who appear to be "possessed." |
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7. |
True or false.
The day of death starts the fulfillment of the
Christian's new birth begun at Baptism. |
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8. |
True or
false.
The funeral is considered a liturgical
celebration. |
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Which of
the following are principal
elements
of the funeral liturgy?
Choose any combination of the following. |
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The
greeting of the community |
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The liturgy
of the Word |
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The
Eucharistic Sacrifice |
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d. |
A farewell
to the deceased |
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A final
anointing of the deceased |
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10. |
True or
false.
The character of the Christian funeral is
expressed by the Paschal mystery. |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Twenty-fifth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 21,
2008
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First Reading from the Book of Isaiah |
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Is 55:6-9 |
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Seek
the LORD while he may be found, call him while he
is near.
Let
the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his
thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to
our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are
your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so
high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts
above your thoughts. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms |
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Ps 145:2-3, 8-9,
17-18 |
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R. The Lord is
near to all who call upon him.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him. |
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Second Reading from the Letter to the
Philippians |
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Phil 1:20c-24, 27a |
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Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by
life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and
death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means
fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I
am caught between the two. I long to depart this
life and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary
for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the
gospel of Christ. |
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 20:1-16a |
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Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who
went out at dawn to hire laborers for his
vineyard. After agreeing with them for the
usual daily wage, he sent them into his
vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock, the landowner
saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my
vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon, and around
three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock, the landowner
found others standing around, and said to
them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ |
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They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my
vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard
said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the
first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock
came, each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they
would receive more, but each of them also got
the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the
landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you
have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s
burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not
agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take
what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same
as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish
with my own money? Are you envious because I
am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first
will be last.” |
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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. 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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by
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.
