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My Prayer Box
for Feast of the
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
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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An autumn reflection:
The four last things
by Archbishop of Denver Charles J.
Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. |
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The
Most Rev. Charles Chaput
is the Archbishop of the
Catholic Archdiocese of Denver Colorado, USA. |
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Each
name and date on a cemetery headstone tells the
story of a person’s life—some lives brief,
others full of years. When we walk in a
cemetery, we’re reminded of the preciousness of
life and the significance of death.
The seasons every year are a reflection of a
greater reality. Most of us love autumn, which
always has a special beauty in Colorado. But as
the leaves fall from trees, and the days grow
shorter and colder, our spirit subtly changes.
November reminds us that all life, including our
own, comes to an end.
Over the centuries, the Church has often called
her people to reflect on the “Four Last
Things”—death, judgment, hell and heaven. She
has a good reason for doing so. Life is brief.
And all of us, whether rich or poor, unknown or
famous, will very soon encounter the Four Last
Things, directly and personally. They’re very
real, and they matter eternally.
When
the young man in the Gospel asked Jesus, “Good
Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal
life?” he was reminding us that each human soul
has something to be saved for ... and something
to be saved from. We are made for joy. We are
made for heaven. But we have alternatives. The
November feasts of All Saints and All Souls,
which we just celebrated, draw our attention to
the reality of the end of our lives. One day, we
will die, and the people we love most in this
world will die.
more...
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For the
whole article,
please click here. |
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Why
We do what We Do |
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Catholics Worship Saints, Icons and Statues |
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If there is one area
that a Catholic might be unwittingly guilty of
is this. In fact ask a practicing Catholic
about their beloved statues of saints, if they
pray TO the statue of the saint. Most
likely, you’ll get an answer saying, they pray
TO the saint. However, if you look at
the actual |
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prayers,
they’re requests for intercession between God and
us, and definitely NOT worshiping the
statue. That would be pagan idolatry.
So why do we
keep statues and pictures of saints, and for that
matter the Virgin Mary? If you happen to visit any
park or memorial, you’ll most likely find a statue
or a depiction of a hero or a political figure.
Those are there because we honor and cherish their
memory. In the same token, then we honor saints
and righteous men and women. There are several
passages in the Bible that actually require us do
just that, such as
1 Pet 2:17
:
"Give honor to all,
love the community, fear God, honor the king."
and
Rom 12:10
"love one another with
mutual affection; anticipate one another in
showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere
in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality."
And in
Heb 12:22-23:
"No, you have
approached Mount Zion and the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless
angels in festal gathering,
and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in
heaven, and God the judge of all, and the
spirits of the just made perfect,"
"the
assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven" is
an expression that may refer to the angels, or to
the heroes of the Old Testament, or to the entire
assembly of the new covenant. Statues and pictures
are visual reminders of our great saints and
heroes of the faith
(Heb 11)
whose life and faith God intended for us to
imitate, as in
Heb 13:7.
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to
you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and
imitate their faith.
God never
intended for the saints in heaven to be completely
separated from the body of Christ on earth. They
are involved in intercession, just as the saints
on earth are, and they are described as "so great
a cloud of witnesses"
(Heb 12:1).
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great
a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of
every burden and sin that clings to us and
persevere in running the race that lies before
us"
Christian
life is to be inspired not only by the men and
women of faith in the Old Testament but above all
by Jesus, whose suffering at the cross gave His
followers the courage to continue the struggle, if
necessary even to the shedding of blood. |
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To
read
the whole article,
please click here. |
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Our
Faith: What you might want to know |
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Jesus Christ, Son of God |
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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. |
True or false.
To be a Christian, it is necessary that one
believe that Jesus is the Son of God. |
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2. |
True or false.
Jesus Christ is God by adoption, which is the
reason we also can become partakers of the
divine nature. |
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3. |
Why is the child born of
Mary called "Jesus"?
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Because the name
"Jesus" means "God saves" |
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Because he will save
his people from their sins |
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Because the name
"Jesus" means "the anointed one" |
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d. |
Because the name
"Jesus" means "the sinless one" |
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a and b |
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4. |
True or false.
The assertion of Jesus as "Lord" is an
implicit recognition that we submit our
personal freedom to Jesus and the Father. |
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5. |
True or false.
It is because Jesus is both God and man that
he alone can be the mediator between God and
man. |
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6. |
Which of the following
are
true?
Choose none, some, or all of the below. |
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The Word became
flesh for us in order to save us by
reconciling us with God. |
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The Word became
flesh so that we might know God’s love. |
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c. |
The Word became
flesh to be our model of holiness. |
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d. |
The Word became
flesh to make us partakers of the divine
nature. |
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7. |
Which of the following
statements is
false? |
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The word "Christ"
comes from the Greek translation of the
Hebrew Messiah, which means
"anointed." |
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b. |
Jesus fulfilled the
messianic hope of Israel in his threefold
office of priest, prophet, and king. |
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c. |
The term "Christ"
became the name proper to Jesus only
because he accomplished perfectly the
divine mission that "Christ" signifies. |
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God called Joseph to
take Mary as his wife so that Jesus, who
is called Christ, would be born of the
wife of Joseph into the messianic line of
David. |
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e. |
Jesus accepted his
rightful title of Messiah, understood as
one who would break the political
oppression of the Chosen People. |
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8. |
True or false.
The truth that Jesus is true God and true man
means that he has both a human and a divine
nature. |
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9. |
True or false.
Jesus is a human person.
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10. |
True or false.
Jesus has not only a divine intellect and
will, but a human intellect and will. |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary
Time
November 16,
2008
“For to
everyone who has, more will be
given and he will grow rich; but
from the one who has not, even
what he has will be taken away."
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First Reading
from the Book of Proverbs |
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Prv 31:10-13, 19-20,
30-31 |
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When one finds a
worthy wife, her value is far beyond
pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart
to her, has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good,
and not evil, all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax and works with
loving hands. She puts her hands to the
distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor, and
extends her arms to the needy.
Charm is
deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman
who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward
for her labors, and let her works praise
her at the city gates. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms |
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Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 |
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R. Blessed are those who
fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
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First Reading
from the Letter to the Thessalonians |
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1 Thes 5:1-6 |
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Concerning times and
seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no
need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know
very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief at night.
When people are
saying, "Peace and security, "
then sudden disaster comes upon them, like
labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they
will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in
darkness, for that day to overtake you like a
thief. For all of you are children of the
light and children of the day. We are not of
the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not
sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert
and sober. |
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Reading From the
Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 25:14-30 or
25:14-15, 19-21 |
Jesus told his disciples
this parable:
"A man going on a journey called in his
servants and entrusted his possessions to
them.To one he
gave five talents; to another, two; to a
third, one-- to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one
who received five talents went and traded with
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made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made
another two. But the man who received one went
off and dug a hole in the ground and buried
his master's money.
After a long time the master of those servants
came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received
five talents came forward bringing the
additional five.
He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to
him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters, I
will give you great responsibilities. Come,
share your master's joy.’
Then the one who had
received two talents also came forward and
said,
'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have
made two more.'
His master said to
him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters, I
will give you great responsibilities. Come,
share your master's joy.’
Then the one who had
received the one talent came forward and said,
'Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant and
gathering where you did not scatter; so out of
fear I went off and buried your talent in the
ground. Here it is back.'
His master said to
him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So
you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the
bank so that I could have got it back with
interest on my return?
Now then! Take the
talent from him and give it to the one with
ten.
For to everyone who has, more will be given
and he will grow rich; but from the one who
has not, even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this
useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of
teeth.'" |
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or |
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Jesus told his disciples
this parable:
"A man going on a journey called in his
servants and entrusted his possessions to
them.
To one he gave five
talents; to another, two; to a third, one--
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
After a long time the
master of those servants came back and settled
accounts with them.
The one who had
received five talents came forward bringing
the additional five.
He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.'
His master said to
him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters, I
will give you great responsibilities. Come,
share your master's joy.'" |
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Suggested Readings |
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intersection of
morality, reason, and politics. This isn’t
just a book for Catholics, but for anyone who
cares about the state of America’s soul —and
how that concern might shape the 2008
elections.”
—John
L. Allen Jr., NCR and CNN senior Vatican
correspondent, Amazon |
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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 is already the
subject of much fanfare. |
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"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 |
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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
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faithfully Catholic
commentaries. Like other volumes in the
world-renowned Navarre Bible series, these
commentaries draw on Church documents, the
exegesis of Fathers 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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