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My Prayer Box
the
Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
“You cannot strengthen the
weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the
wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You
cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You
cannot help men permanently by doing for them what
they could and should do for themselves.” -
Abraham Lincoln
To subscribe to the newsletter, please follow this
link. |
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Who
is |
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Daniel
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(From the Book of Daniel)
The Vision of Daniel |
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Introduction |
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In the third
year of his reign Jehoiakim, king of Judah, is
captured by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who
attacks Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar orders his
chief chamberlain to bring in some of the
Israelites of royal blood and of the nobility,
who are young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to
learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could
take their place in the king's palace.
They are to
be taught the language and literature of the
Chaldeans. Further he orders that after three
years' training they are to enter the king's
service. The king allots them a daily portion
of food and wine from the royal table.
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Among these were
men of Judah are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah. The chief chamberlain changes their
names, from Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to
Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to
Abednego.
However, Daniel
resolved not to defile himself with the king's
food or wine refuses to eat from the kings table. But the chief chamberlain
tells Daniel that the king allotted their food and
drink and if they refuse to eat from the king’s
table and look ill, he fears for his own life.
Then Daniel says to the steward whom the chief
chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, to test them for ten days.
Daniel asks him to feed them vegetables to eat and
water to drink. Then he tells the steward to
compare them to the rest of the young men who ate
from the royal table. He tells him to do with them
according to what they see. |
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The steward
agrees and tested them for ten days. After
that time the steward sees that Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah look
healthier and better fed than any of the young
men who ate from the royal table. So the
steward continues to take away the food and
wine they are to receive, and gives them
vegetables instead.
To these four young men God gives knowledge
and proficiency in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions
and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified
for their preparation, the chief chamberlain
brings them before Nebuchadnezzar.
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When the king had
spoken with all of them, he finds no one is equal
to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so
they enter the king's service. In any question of
wisdom or prudence which the king puts to them, he
finds them ten times better than all the magicians
and enchanters in his kingdom.
Daniel remains there until the first year of King
Cyrus. |
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In the second
year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar has a
dream that leaves his spirit restless and robs
him of his sleep. So he summons the magicians,
enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to
interpret the dream for him. When they come
and present themselves to the king, they ask
the king to tell them his dream so they can
interpret its meaning.
But the king has other plans.
He tell them to
tell him his dream and its meaning otherwise
the king will cut them to pieces and destroy
their houses. The king continues that if they
can tell him his dream they shall receive from
him gifts and presents and great honors.
But the
magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and Chaldeans
insist that the king tell them his dream so
they can give its meaning. The king repeats
his |
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decree but the
magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans
insist that there is no one on earth who can do
what the king has asked.
At this the king
becomes violently angry and orders all the wise
men of Babylon put to death. When the decree is
issued that the wise men should be slain, Daniel
and his companions are also sought out.
Then Daniel prudently takes counsel with Arioch,
the captain of the king's guard, who is assigned
to kill the wise men of Babylon. Daniel asks him what
caused this harsh order. When Arioch tells him
what happened Daniel asks for time with the king |
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Then Daniel goes home and informs his companions
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, that they might
implore the mercy of the God of heaven in regard
to this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions
might not perish with the rest of the wise men of
Babylon.
That night the
LORD reveals the mystery to Daniel in a
vision, and he blesses the God of heaven.
Daniel goes back to Arioch and tells him not
to put the wise men of Babylon to death but
instead to bring him before the king so that
he can tell the king the interpretation of the
dream.
Arioch brings Daniel to the king and says that
he has found a man among the Judean captives
who can give the interpretation to the king.
The king asks Daniel to tell him the dream
that he had, and its meaning. In the king's
presence Daniel tells the king the mystery
about which the king has inquired that the
wise men, enchanters, magicians, |
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and astrologers
could not explain to the king. Daniel tells the
king that there is a God in heaven who reveals
mysteries.
Daniel then
tells the king that in his dream the king saw
a statue, very large and exceedingly bright,
terrifying in appearance as it stood before
him. The head of the statue
was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its
belly and thighs bronze, the legs iron, its feet
partly iron and partly tile.
Daniel continues
that while the king was looking at the statue, a
stone which was hewn from a mountain without a
hand being put to it, struck its iron and tile
feet, breaking them in pieces. |
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The iron, tile,
bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once,
fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in
summer, and the wind blew them away without
leaving a trace. But the stone that struck the
statue became a great mountain and filled the
whole earth.
Daniel then tells the king the meaning of his
dream.
Daniel says
that the God of heaven has given the king
dominion and strength, power and glory.
However, Daniel continues, another kingdom
inferior to his shall take his place. Then a
third shall rule over the whole earth.
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There shall
then be a series of kingdoms, which after they
rise fall and crumble.
In the lifetime of those kings the God of
heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never
be destroyed or delivered up to another
people; rather, it shall break in pieces all
these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it
shall stand forever.Daniel then
says that is the meaning of the stone he saw
hewn from the mountain without a hand being
put to it, which broke in pieces the tile,
iron, bronze, silver, and gold. The great God
has revealed to the king what shall be in the
future; this is exactly what he dreamed, and
its meaning is sure. |
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With that King
Nebuchadnezzar falls down and worships Daniel.
He orders sacrifice and incense offered to
him. The king 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.
At Daniel's request the king made Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego administrators of the
province of Babylon, while Daniel himself
remains at the king's court. |
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To
be continued... |
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GREGORY THE GREAT: A MAN
OF GOD AT THE SERVICE OF OTHERS |
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(Vatican Information
Service, 5/27/08) |
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VATICAN CITY,
28 MAY 2008 (VIS) - In his general audience
today, held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope
turned his attention to St. Gregory the Great,
who was Bishop of Rome from 590 to 604 and
whom "tradition deemed worthy of the title of
'Magnus,' the Great,"
Gregory, said the Holy Father, "truly was a
great Pope and a great Doctor of the Church."
He was born in Rome in 540 to a rich and noble
family, which stood out "for its attachment to
the Christian faith and for its service to the
Apostolic See."
Benedict XVI
recalled how Gregory first entered upon an
administrative career, becoming prefect of
Rome in 572.
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"However such a life cannot have satisfied him for
shortly afterwards he decided to abandon all
public office and withdraw to his house on the 'Clivius
Scauri,' beginning life as a monk". In this way
"he acquired a profound knowledge of Holy
Scripture and of the Fathers of the Church, which
he later used in his own works."
Gregory's skills and experience caused Pope
Pelagius II to appoint him as deacon and send him
as ambassador to Constantinople "to help surmount
the last vestiges of the Monophysite controversy
and, above all, to obtain the emperor's support in
the struggle to counteract the pressure of the
Lombards." A few years later, "he was called back
to Rome by the Pope who made him his secretary."
When Pelagius II died, Gregory succeeded him in
the See of St. Peter. It was the year 590.
A large number of documents have been conserved
from Gregory's pontificate, said the Pope, "thanks
to the 'Registro' which includes around 800 of his
letters. ... Among the problems afflicting Italy
and Rome at that time, was one of particular
weight in both civil and ecclesial life: the
question of the Lombards." Gregory established
"fraternal relations with them, with a view to a
future peace founded on mutual respect and the
serene coexistence of Italians, Greeks and
Lombards."
Negotiations with the Lombard king, Agilulf "led
to a truce which lasted for nearly three years
(598-601), after which it proved possible to
stipulate a more stable armistice in 603," said
the Holy Father. "This positive result was
possible also thanks to the contacts which the
Pope had, in the meantime, established with Queen
Theodelinda, a Bavarian and a Catholic. ... Little
by little Theodelinda managed to lead the king to
Catholicism, thus preparing the way for peace."
The "beautiful" story of this queen, said the
Pope, "demonstrates the importance of women in the
history of the Church."
"Pope Gregory was also active in the field of
social work. With the income of the considerable
patrimony which the See of Rome possessed in
Italy, especially in Sicily, he bought and
distributed grain, helped those in need, assisted
poverty-stricken priests, monks and nuns, paid the
ransom of citizens who had fallen prisoner to the
Lombards, and bought armistices and truces."
"Gregory", the Pope explained, "undertook these
intense activities despite poor health which often
forced him to keep his bed for days on end. ...
Notwithstanding the difficult conditions in which
he had to work, he managed, thanks to the holiness
of his life and his abundant humanity, to conquer
the trust of the faithful, achieving what, for his
own time and for the future, were truly grand
results".
"He was a man immersed in God. The desire for God
was perpetually alive in the depths of his soul
and precisely for this reason he always remained
close to others, to the needs of the people of his
time. At a time of disaster - a desperate time -
he managed to create peace and bring hope. This
man of God shows us", Benedict XVI concluded,
"where the true sources of peace are, where true
hope comes from, and thus he is also a guide for
us today."
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AG/ST. GREGORY THE
GREAT/...VIS 080528 (670)
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So
you think you know -
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The Sacrament of Penance |
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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. |
Cite the most
important biblical reference for the Catholic
doctrine concerning the
forgiveness of sins
in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. |
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2. |
True or false.
The sins we commit wound not only ourselves and
God's honor, but also the spiritual well-being of
the Church. |
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True or false.
It is better that the universe be destroyed than
that one sin be committed. |
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4. |
True or false.
In sacramental confession a man confesses
drunkenness on a number of occasions, while having
made plans with his buddies to go barhopping and
get drunk again this coming weekend. Is he
forgiven for these past episodes? |
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True or false.
A repentance motivated by a love of God above all
else obtains forgiveness of mortal sin. |
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True or false.
The Church requires both the confession of grave
and venial sins. |
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The
purpose of "satisfaction"
as an element of the Sacrament is to:
Choose any combination of the below. |
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Repair the
harm done to others by sin.
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Satisfy
God's vengeance. |
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Repair
one's relationship with God. |
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Recover
full spiritual health. |
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Elicit
perfect contrition through suffering. |
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Which of
the following are
true?
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Bishops and
priests have the power to forgive all
sins. |
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Bishops, as
successors to the apostles to whom was
given the ministry of reconciliation, have
the principal power of reconciliation. |
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For some
sins, priests cannot ordinarily grant
absolution. |
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Serious
sins concerning possible grave harm to
others can be communicated by the
confessor to the proper authorities. |
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To exercise
the power of forgiveness priests need a
commission. |
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9. |
The
spiritual effects
of the sacrament of Penance are:
Choose any combination of the following.
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Reconciliation with God. |
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Reconciliation with the Church. |
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At least
partial remission of punishment for sins. |
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An increase
of spiritual strength. |
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Peace of
conscience and spiritual consolation. |
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10. |
True or false.
An indulgence is the right of the Church to
declare what is or is not a sin. |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 1, 2008
Everyone who listens to these words of
mine and acts on them will be like a
wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and
the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been
set solidly on rock. - Matthew 7:24-25 |
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First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy |
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Dt 11:18, 26-28, 32 |
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Moses told the people,
“Take these words of mine into your heart and
soul. Bind them at your wrist as a sign, and let
them be a pendant on your forehead.
“I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a
curse:
a blessing for obeying the commandments of the
LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today;
a
curse if you do not obey the commandments of the
LORD, your God, but turn aside from the way I
ordain for you today, to follow other gods, whom
you have not known.” |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 31:2-3, 3-4, 17,
25 |
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R.
Lord, be my rock of safety.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me,
incline your ear to me,
make haste to deliver me!
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.
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Second Reading from the Second Letter to the
Corinthians |
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Rom 3:21-25, 28
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Brothers and sisters,
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested
apart from the law, though testified to by the law
and the prophets, the righteousness of God through
faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
For
there is no distinction; all have sinned and are
deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as
an expiation, through faith, by his blood.
For we consider that a person is justified by
faith apart from works of the law. |
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 7:21-27 |
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Jesus said
to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who
does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will
say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ |
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“Everyone
who listens to these words of mine and acts on
them will be like a wise man who built his house
on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the
winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not
collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And
everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them will be like a fool who
built his house on sand.
The rain
fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and
buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was
completely ruined.” |
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Suggested Readings |
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Happiness Is a Serious
Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
by Dennis Prager.
In this unique blend of self-help and moral
philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager
asserts that we're actually obligated to be
happy, because it makes us better people.
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Praying With Frederic Ozanam
(Companions for the Journey Series)
-
Paperback, by Ronald Cm Ramson (Author) |
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Praying With Louise De
Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series)
by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves
(Author) |
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Praying with Vincent de
Paul (Companions for the Journey)
2004, by Thomas McKenna
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The Rise of Christianity:
How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became
the Dominant Religious Force ....
(Paperback) by Rodney Stark
(Author)
From the Publisher
"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire |
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is already the subject of much fanfare. "Anyone
who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to
dominance... must read it," ...
Read the first page. |
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Living Liturgy:
Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for
Sundays and Solemnities, Year A,
2008 (Paperback) by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann Zimmerman
(Author), Thomas A. Greisen (Author), S.N.D. de
N. Kathleen Harmon (Author), M.S. Thomas L.
Leclerc (Author) |
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"Perfect for home use or to prepare for weekly
liturgy . . . It includes help for the
celebration, ideas for catechesis on the
particular event, and ways to understand the
readings more deeply. Finally, it includes
sample questions from which priests, deacons,
lay groups, ministers and others can jump off
into deeper discussion." |
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Straight Answers, Answers
to 100 Questions about the Catholic Faith
by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by: Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of
Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response to the many questions concerning
the Catholic Church. It spells out profound
truths in very |
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simple language for all who seek a better
understanding of their Faith. I highly recommend
it for Catholics, both young and old. |
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The Power of Intention:
Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon:
After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and |
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bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel:
Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
as it walks you through a pivotal period in
Israel’s history, and illustrative maps will
give you a better picture of the physical
geography of this ancient land. |
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Read
more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the
Liturgical Year (Pueblo Books)
by Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World
of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C.
(Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus:
Sunday by Sunday)
by John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides those
who not only fill the pulpits across this
country but also all interested in the
cultural world in which Jesus lived with a
lot of pertinent information that sheds
light on a lot of areas that have been
"muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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Learn
more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the
Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these thirty-two
short chapters begins and ends with the
assumption that problems we experience
with the Old Testament are our problem,
not the Bible's. This subordinating of the
Bible reader to the well-weathered book he
holds in his hand opens doors, not to
forced harmonisations of problematic
passages, but to fresh reappraisal of
difficult texts on their own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible:
Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old
Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers
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and Doctors of the Church, and the works of
contemporary spiritual writers — particularly
St. Josemaría Escrivá, who initiated the
Navarre Bible project. |
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English
Bible itself, but these are further subdivided for the purposes of the
commentary, which is printed in short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
