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My Prayer Box
for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
from 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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The
Origin of Words |
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Do Catholics Worship Saints? |
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Did you ever
wonder how this practice became ascribed to
Catholics? Here is a great article from
CatholicAnswers
that explains its origins.
(Note: The emphasis on this excerpt are
added.) |
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The word
"worship" has undergone a change in meaning in
English. It comes from the Old English
weorthscipe, which means the condition of
being worthy of honor, respect, or dignity. To
worship in the older, larger sense is to
ascribe honor, worth, or excellence to
someone, whether a sage, a magistrate, or God.
For many centuries, the term worship simply
meant showing respect or honor, and an example
of this usage survives in contemporary
English. British subjects refer to their
magistrates as "Your Worship," although
Americans would say "Your Honor." This doesn’t
mean that British subjects worship their
magistrates as gods (in fact, they may even
despise a particular magistrate they are |
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addressing). It means they
are giving them the honor appropriate to their
office, not the honor appropriate to God.
Outside of this example, however, the English
term "worship" has been narrowed in scope to
indicate only that supreme form of honor,
reverence, and respect that is due to God. This
change in usage is quite recent. In fact, one
can still find books that use "worship" in the
older, broader sense. This can lead to a
significant degree of confusion, when people who
are familiar only with the use of words in their
own day and their own circles encounter material
written in other times and other places. |
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In
Scripture,
the term "worship" was similarly broad in
meaning, but in the early Christian centuries,
theologians began to differentiate between
different types of honor in order to make more
clear which is due to God and which is not.
As the terminology of Christian theology
developed, the Greek term latria came to be used
to refer to the honor that is due to God alone,
and the term dulia came to refer to the honor
that is due to human beings, especially those
who lived and died in God’s friendship—in other
words, the saints. Scripture indicates that
honor is due to these individuals (Matt.
10:41b). A special term was coined to refer to
the special honor given to the Virgin Mary, who
bore Jesus—God in the flesh—in her womb. This
term, hyperdulia (huper [more than]+
dulia = "beyond dulia"), indicates that the
honor due to her as Christ’s own Mother is more
than the dulia given to other saints. It
is greater in degree, but still of the same
kind. However, since Mary is a finite creature,
the honor she is due is fundamentally different
in kind from the latria owed to the
infinite Creator.
All of these terms—latria, dulia,
hyperdulia—used to be lumped under
the one English word "worship." Sometimes
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when one reads old books discussing the subject of how
particular persons are to be honored, they will
qualify the word "worship" by referring
to "the worship of latria" or "the
worship of dulia." To contemporaries and to
those not familiar with the history of these
terms, however, this is too confusing.
Another attempt to make clear the difference
between the honor due to God and that due to
humans has been to use the words adore and
adoration to describe the total, consuming
reverence due to God and the terms venerate,
veneration, and honor to refer to the respect
due humans. Thus, Catholics sometimes say, "We
adore God but we honor his saints."
Unfortunately, many non-Catholics have been so
schooled in hostility toward the Church that
they appear unable or unwilling to recognize
these distinctions. They confidently (often
arrogantly) assert that Catholics "worship"
Mary and the saints, and, in so doing, commit
idolatry. This is patently false, of course, but
the education in anti-Catholic prejudice is so
strong that one must patiently explain that
Catholics do not worship anyone but God—at least
given the contemporary use of the term. The
Church is very strict about the fact that latria, adoration—what contemporary English
speakers call "worship"—is to be given
only to God. |
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For
the rest of the article,
please click here. |
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Health Notes |
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Food for (Positive) Thought |
Fire Up Your
Engines
One of the keys to successful, sustainable
weight loss is to keep your metabolism working
at top speed, burning as many calories as
possible. When you start to eat less, however,
your metabolism will slow down in order to
conserve energy. This is what causes the bane
of every dieter's existence: the plateau.
Every dieter
encounters a plateau at some point in the
weight-loss journey, and sometimes the best policy
is just to wait it out. Stick with your eating and
exercise routines for a few weeks and your weight
will most likely continue its downward swing. But
there are also measures you can take to try to
keep your metabolism fired up even as you eat fewer
calories.
To begin with,
you should never let your caloric intake drop
below 1,500 each day if you're a man and 1,200
each day if you're a woman. Restricting yourself
any further will bring your metabolism to a
screeching halt. Also, don't go too long without
eating. Eating small meals every 2-3 hours is
best. Don't skip meals, and always eat breakfast.
This will keep your blood sugar stable and your
cravings under control.
Another way
to prevent your metabolism from slowing down
is to vary your caloric intake from day to
day. Your body can't adjust to a reduced
caloric intake if your intake isn't fixed, so
dig in, and remember that in this one case,
inconsistency pays. |
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From a Company
Newsletter |
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Our
Faith: What you might want to know |
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Man's Response to God
as Found
in the Catechism of the Catholic Church |
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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! |
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1. |
The father
of all
who believe is:
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Abraham |
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b. |
David |
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Jesus |
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d. |
Paul |
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e. |
Adam
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2. |
The
personal adherence of
man to God,
and the free assent to the whole truth that
God has revealed, is called:
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a. |
perseverence |
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b. |
faith |
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c. |
hope |
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d. |
love |
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e. |
belief
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True or
false:
Faith is completely our own work which we
offer to God who, in return, gives us eternal
life.
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4. |
Of all human
persons,
who most perfectly
embodies the obedience of faith?
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By faith,
we can believe
because: |
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the truth
of our faith now appears as true and
intelligible in the light of our natural
reasoning powers. |
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of the
authority of God himself who reveals them. |
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c. |
God's gift
now enable us, by the leap of faith, to
believe that which, in fact, is false. |
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d. |
God has now
taken over our reason. |
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e. |
the
miracles of Jesus have provided undeniable
proof of his Godhood.
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6. |
True or
False:
The truths of faith and the truths of science
can, and sometimes do, contradict each others.
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7. |
True or False:
Without faith, even leading a good and upright
life will not suffice for us to obtain eternal
life. |
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8. |
To obtain
eternal life:
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We must
have the supernatural virtue of faith. |
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b. |
We must
persevere in our faith. |
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c. |
Once we
know God in faith, our salvation is
assured. |
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d. |
Our faith
must show itself in good works. |
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e. |
a, b, and
d. |
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a and c.
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9. |
True or
false:
We do not believe in formulas, but in those
realities which they express.
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10. |
Which is
more certain
-- faith, or human knowledge? Why? |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Twenty-eighth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 12,
2008
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First Reading from the Book of Isaiah |
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Is 25:6-10a |
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On
this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for
all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On
this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils
all peoples, the web that is woven over all
nations; he will destroy death forever.
The
Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove from the
whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this
mountain. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms |
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Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4,
5, 6 |
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R. I shall live
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all
the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all
the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all
the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all
the days of my life. |
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Second Reading from the Letter to the
Philippians |
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Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 |
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Brothers and sisters:
I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know
also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things I have
learned the secret of being well fed and of going
hungry, of living in abundance and of being in
need.
I
can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
My God will fully supply whatever you need, in
accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever.
Amen. |
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 22:1-14 or 22:1-10 |
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Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief
priests and elders of the people in parables,
saying,
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a
king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants to summon the
invited guests to the feast, but they refused
to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared
my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are
killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ |
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Some ignored the invitation and went away, one
to his farm, another to his business. The rest
laid hold of his servants, mistreated them,
and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their
city.
Then he said to his servants,
'The feast is
ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to
come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good
alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding
garment.
The king said to him,
'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding
garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants,
'Bind
his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of
teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen." |
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or |
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Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief
priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a
king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared
my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their
city.
Then he said to his servants,
'The feast is
ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to
come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good
alike,
and the hall was filled with guests." |
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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.
