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January 13, 2008 - The Baptism of the Lord
January 11, 2008
 

 

 

My Prayer Box
the Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition

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  Did you Know?
Of the thousands of religious in the Catholic Church, some wear red, violet, black and white zucchettos. How many wear the white one?

Only one, and that's the pope.

A zucchetto is the small, round skullcap of the ecclesiastic, officially name the pileolus.

The pope's zucchetto is white, the cardinal's is red and the bishop's is violet, that of other ecclesiastic's, including the prelate's, unless a special privilege to wear violet is granted, is black.

Bishops and cardinals wear their zucchettos at Mass, except during the Canon. However, other ecclesiastics may not wear it at Mass without special papal permission. However, according to a decision of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (23 September, 1837), a bishop also may not wear it while giving Benediction.

   
   
   
  From the Vatican
View Images of the celebration of the Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, held at the Vatican Basilica.
   
   
 
 

The Baptism of the Lord

  This is from the St. Vincent de Paul website, on the Gospel of Matthew, Mt 3:13-17, for The Epiphany of the Lord
 

Reflection:
At his baptism the heavens were opened and the Spirit descended upon Jesus, anointing him as Messiah. Thus anointed, he was enabled to “fulfill all righteousness”, to bring forth justice to the nations: he makes the blind see, gives prisoners freedom, brings light to those dwelling in darkness, went about doing good and healing all those oppressed.

The voice from heave revealed to Jesus his identity and a mission that called forth a response-his life of preaching, teaching, healing, forgiving, etc. This same identity and mission is revealed to us, and calls forth from us the same faithful response. This is our Christian and our Vincentian life. (Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities, Year A, 2008, p.40)

Vincentian Meditation:
 

“Blessed are those persons who, under the guidance of Divine Providence, are called upon to continue the ordinary practices of the life of the Son of God through the exercise of charity.” – Praying With Louise De Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series) - Gibson and Kneaves, p. 36

   Praying with Vincent de Paul (Companions for the Journey), 2004, by Thomas McKenna, p. 113)
 
 

References:
Praying With Louise De Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series) by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves (Author)

Praying with Vincent de Paul (Companions for the Journey), 2004, by Thomas McKenna (Author)

Seasons in Spirituality: Reflections on Vincentian Spirituality in Today's World, 1997, by Robert P. Maloney

Deep Down Things: Selected Writing, 1995, by Richard McCullen

Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities, Year A, 2008, 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)

 
   
 

In These Times

  One sign of healing is acceptance that there is a problem.

Believe it or not, no matter how one shies away from it, we are in one very political culture intent on not just the separation of Church and State, but also on eliminating the Church. What can one do? Be informed through the guidance of the Church. I agree some of our Catholic leaders do not have the fire-and-brimstone charisma of the Protestant preachers, and will most likely put one to sleep.

But out many, there is bound to be a diamond!

The following is an excerpt from an address given by the Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Denver, in St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, NY, on Friday, October 26, 2007, on our role as Catholics in these times. As you will see in his writings, Archbishop Chaput IS a very readable writer, as well as an encouraging speaker on current issues affecting, generally the Church, and most specifically, us.

I encourage you strongly to read the whole article and let Archbishop Charles J. Chaput know what you think about the article.

   
 

"... one of the distinguishing marks of debate both outside and within the Church over the last 40 years is how uncivil the disagreements have become. Being a faithful Catholic leader today - whether you're a layperson or clergy -- isn't easy. It requires real skill, and in that regard, I've admired the great ability and good will of Bishop Murphy for many years. So it's a special pleasure to be with him tonight. New York's Cardinal Edward Egan is another leader who's given extraordinary and sometimes difficult service to the Church.

...

It's time for all of us who claim to be "Catholic" to recover our Catholic identity as disciples of Jesus Christ and missionaries of his Church. In the long run, we serve our country best by remembering that we're citizens of heaven first. We're better Americans by being more truly Catholic -- and the reason why, is that unless we live our Catholic faith authentically, with our whole heart and our whole strength, we have nothing worthwhile to bring to the public debates that will determine the course of our nation.

Pluralism in a democracy doesn't mean shutting up about inconvenient issues. It means speaking up - respectfully, in a spirit of justice and charity, but also vigorously and without apologies. Jesus said that we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free. He didn't say anything about our being popular with worldly authority once we have that freedom. In the end, if we want our lives to be fruitful, we need to know ourselves as God intends us to be known -- as his witnesses on earth, not just in our private behavior, but in our public actions, including our social, economic and political choices.

If pagan Rome could be won for Jesus Christ, surely we can do the same in our own world. What it takes is the zeal and courage to live what we claim to believe. All of us here tonight already have that desire in our hearts. So let's pray for each other, and encourage each other, and get down to the Lord's
work.

  Be informed through the Church. Read the complete transcript of this speech and other address by the Most Rev. Chaput by clicking here.

This is the link to the book The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force, referenced by Archbishop Chaput in the article.

 

 

   
 
The Baptism of the Lord
"
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”" -  Mt 3:17

January 6, 2008

First Reading From the Book of Isaiah:
Is 42:1-4, 6-7
Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.

a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

 
Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

 
Second Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians
Acts 10:34-38
  Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.

You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.

He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

   
 
Reading From the Gospel of Matthew:
Mt 3:13-17
 
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”

Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Then he allowed him.

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

   
 
 

References

Praying With Louise De Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series) by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves (Author)
Praying with Vincent de Paul (Companions for the Journey) 2004, by Thomas McKenna
 
 
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. "Anyone who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to dominance... must read it," ... Read the first page.

 
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)

"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."

 
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

simple language for all who seek a better understanding of their Faith. I highly recommend it for Catholics, both young and old.

 
The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way

From Amazon:
After years of spiritual study and reflection, inspirational speaker and 

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."

 
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.
 
   

The First Book of Kings (Cambridge Bible Commentaries on the Old Testament)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.
Canon Robinson suggests that the editors of I Kings compiled their history in order to teach the Hebrews that their existence as Israel, the covenant people of God, depended upon their continuing loyalty to their own religious traditions, and their refusal to exchange them for the very different traditions of the Canaanites among whom they lived.
   
 
   

I & II Samuel: A Commentary (Old Testament Library)
First sentence in the book:
""THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL contain that part of the history of Israel which describes the foundation of the State, running from the close of the period of the Judges to the establishment of the united kingdom."
   
Read more about the Liturgical Year
 

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.
 
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
 

Learn more and read the Old Testament.

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
 
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

and Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible project.

 
  Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.

If you have any comments or contributions, please use the form in this link.

 

 
 

Excerpts from
Lamentations of the Father
by Ian Frazier
Laws When at Table

 

And if you are seated in your high chair, or in a chair such as a greater person might use, keep your legs and feet below you as they were.
Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the table, for that is an abomination to me.
Yes, even when you have an interesting bandage to show, your feet upon the table are an abomination, and worthy of rebuke.
Drink your milk as it is given you, neither use on it any utensils, nor fork, nor knife, nor spoon, for that is not what they are for; if you will dip your blocks in the milk, and lick it off, you will be sent away.
When you have drunk, let the empty cup then remain upon the table, and do not bite it upon its edge and by your teeth hold it to your face in order to make noises in it sounding like a duck; for you will be sent away.
When you chew your food, keep your mouth closed until you have swallowed, and do not open it to show your brother or your sister what is within; I say to you, do not so, even if your brother or your sister has done the same to you.
Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe your lips.
I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is.
And though your stick of carrot does indeed resemble a marker, draw not with it upon the table, even in pretend, for we do not do that, that is why.
And though the pieces of broccoli are very like small trees, do not stand them upright to make a forest, because we do not do that, that is why.
Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away.
Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass.
 
 

Recipes

 

Moroccan Carrot Salad

 
SERVES FOUR

Ingredients
2 potatoes
1 medium fennel bulb
2 1/4 oz butter
2 cups chicken stock
4 1/2 oz cream cheese, chopped
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 tbsp lemon juice

Click here for the Web Version

Click here for a Printer Friendly Version

 
 
 
 

Haddock with Fennel Butter

 
SERVES FOUR

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb haddock fillet, skinned and cut into 4 portions
1/4 cup butter
1 lemon
3 tbsp coarsely chopped fennel

Click here for the Web Version

Click here for a Printer Friendly Version

   
 
 
 

CRISP POTATO SKINS WITH CHILLI CHEESE DIP

 

MAKES 4 - 6

Ingredients
6 medium potatoes (about 2-3 lbs)
Oil, for shallow-frying

Chilli Cheese Dip
1 tbsp oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp mild chilli powder
3/4 cup sour cream
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese

Click here for the Web Version

Click here for a Printer Friendly Version

 
 
  Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.

If you have any comments or contributions, please use the form in this link.

   
 
   
 

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