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My Prayer Box
for the Solemnity of the Holy Family
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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Making Memories
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Father
Michael was again in his characteristic state of
animation, or depending on your mood that morning,
his state of agitation, during his sermon that
Sunday.
He spoke
of how as children we always look forward to the
future. Of how we couldn’t wait for the next day;
how we couldn’t wait for that special treat or
present for our birthdays; how we couldn’t wait to
rip open that Christmas present under the tree.
He
observed that we were always wishing we were older
so we could do the “fun” things adults did,
whatever those were. We couldn’t wait to be able
to drive; for girls, to be able to put on those
make up; and boys, to be able to indulge in those
vices that looked so cool, namely smoking and
drinking.
Father
Michael then flashed into the future and observed
that as adults we reminisce how “good” the old
times were. We look back with a hint of sadness
and wished things never changed. We look back at
how our children were when they were small and
cuddly. We look back at how they took their first
steps. How they took their first chance to drive a
car. We look back when our daughter went to a date
with “that guy.” |
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Now with
the young ones looking forward to the future
and wishing it would come sooner, and the
adults looking back and wishing it never
changed, Father Michael asked how many of us
actually lived in the present.
When my
son and daughter were small my wife and I took
them to a park with a lot of open space to fly
kites. We were all looking forward to that
adventure.
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So there we
were, out in the open with our children just
a-buzz with excitement just as we were, putting
two kites together, looking up to make sure the
breeze would not miss our spot. And then were
finally ready: My wife with our daughter waiting
for that perfect breeze to launch their creation
and I with my son to launch ours.
Then, with
divine intervention a stiff breeze came our way
and our kites were flying! We heard their
precious gasps as the breeze picked up the kites
and held them afloat! We saw those looks of wonder
at how such a flimsy invention could take to the
air. |
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And then
not even five minutes later with the
children’s boisterous burst of
enthusiasm they declared: “Let’s do something
else!”
And
off they ran to the monkey bars leaving us
with the kite strings!
With
chagrin, we observed that conventional kite
flying, after all, was like watching grass
grow once they are up
in air. Seriously, what else was there to do? |
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Was that the
end of the experience? Did we not live in the
present at that time? Of course we did.
Memories
are like jewels made with bits and pieces of the
present and strung up into a brilliant necklace
for us to admire sometime in the future. These are
what make us look to the past so longingly. And
there is nothing wrong with admiring them.
What's
wrong is to take those necklaces and re-live IN
them to the exclusion of everything present.
So when
someone asks you what to do next, make sure you
tell them, "Come. Let us string up some memories." |
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Finding the true joy in Christmas
Our Redeemer is born to deliver us from sin
and restore us to eternal life
by Archbishop of Denver Charles J.
Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
as published
the
Denver Catholic
Register, December 17, 2008 |
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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 year
in December, the noise, anxiety and party going
of the season tend to obscure the reality we
celebrate. But this year, in the midst of our
country’s troubling economic problems and the
uncertainty they breed, some of us may have a
hard time finding any joy in Christmas.
It’s worth remembering that the world we know
today is not so different from the world of the
first Christmas.
For Mary, the Jewish teenager, there was nothing
sentimental about being pregnant and unmarried
in the Galilean hill country. She had her faith
in God. She also had the protection of her
betrothed. But whether she had the understanding
of her local relatives and friends is another
matter. Women of her day could be, and sometimes
were, stoned for perceived adultery. The warmth
from her cousin Elizabeth may not have been
widely shared.
Nor could Mary’s story have been easy for
Joseph. No matter how great his faith, no matter
how vivid the angel’s message, no matter how
good his heart, he still likely struggled with
very human temptations to doubt and confusion.
In fact, the Eastern Church captures his
humanity beautifully in her traditional
iconography of the Nativity. The icons often
portray Joseph apart from the manger scene,
turned slightly away from the mother and child,
deep in thought.
The road to Bethlehem would have been dangerous
and physically demanding. Bandits and brigands
were common. The Roman occupiers could be
brutal. The inability to find shelter at an inn
would have been more than inconvenient; it would
have been life-threatening. And few of us today
can really imagine the squalor of giving birth
in a stable or a cave.
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To read
the entire article,
please click here. |
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The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and
Joseph
December 28,
2008
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First Reading
from the Prophet Sirach |
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Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 |
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God sets a father in
honor over his children; a mother’s
authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his
father atones for sins, and preserves
himself from them.
When he prays, he
is heard; he stores up riches who reveres
his mother.
Whoever honors
his father is gladdened by children, and,
when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres
his father will live a long life; he who
obeys his father brings comfort to his
mother.
My son, take care of your father when he
is old; grieve him not as long as he
lives.
Even if his mind
fail, be considerate of him; revile him
not all the days of his life; kindness to
a father will not be forgotten, firmly
planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you. |
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First Reading
from the
Book of Genesis |
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Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3 |
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The word of the LORD
came to Abram in a vision, saying:
“Fear not, Abram!
I am your shield;
I will make your reward very great.”
But Abram said,
“O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,
if I keep on being childless
and have as my heir the steward of my
house, Eliezer?”
Abram continued,
“See, you have given me no offspring, and
so one of my servants will be my heir.”
Then the word of
the LORD came to him:
“No, that one shall not be your heir; your
own issue shall be your heir.”
The Lord took
Abram outside and said,
“Look up at the sky and count the stars,
if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall
your descendants be.”
Abram put his
faith in the LORD, who credited it to him
as an act of righteousness.
The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said
he would; he did for her as he had
promised.
Sarah became
pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old
age, at the set time that God had stated.
Abraham gave the
name Isaac to this son of his whom Sarah
bore him. |
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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 and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks 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 and walk
in his ways.
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 and walk
in his ways.
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 and walk
in his ways. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms |
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Ps 105:1-2, 3-4,
5-6, 8-9 |
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R. The Lord remembers his
covenant for ever.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
constantly seek his face.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations
which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
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First Reading
from the Letter to the Colossians |
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Col 3:12-21 or
3:12-17 |
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Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and
beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing
with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another; as
the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also
do.And over
all these put on love, that is, the bond of
perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your
hearts, the peace into which you were also
called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one
another, singing psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs with gratitude in your
hearts to God.
And whatever you
do, in word or in deed, do everything in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as
is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your
wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your
parents in everything, for this is pleasing
to the Lord.
Fathers, do not
provoke your children, so they may not
become discouraged. |
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Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and
beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing
with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another; as
the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also
do.And over
all these put on love, that is, the bond of
perfection.
And let the peace
of Christ control your hearts, the peace
into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one
another, singing psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs with gratitude in your
hearts to God
And whatever you
do, in word or in deed, do everything in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him. |
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First Reading
from the Letter to the Hebrews |
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Heb 11:8, 11-12,
17-19 |
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Brothers and sisters:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called
to go out to a place that he was to receive
as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing
where he was to go.
By faith he received
power to generate, even though he was past
the normal age (and Sarah herself was
sterile for he thought that the one who had
made the promise was trustworthy.
So it was that
there came forth from one man, himself as
good as dead, descendants as numerous as the
stars in the sky and as countless as the
sands on the seashore.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test,
offered up Isaac, and he who had received
the promises was ready to offer his only
son, of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your
name.”
He reasoned that
God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
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Reading From the
Gospel of Luke |
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Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22,
39-40 |
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When the days were
completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses, they took
him up to Jerusalem to present him to
the Lord, just as it is written in the
law of the Lord, Every male that opens
the womb shall be consecrated to the
Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a
pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons, in accordance with the dictate
in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in
Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This
man was righteous and devout, awaiting
the consolation of Israel, and the Holy
Spirit was upon him. |
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It had been revealed to
him by the Holy Spirit that he should not
see death before he had seen the Christ of
the Lord.
He came in the Spirit
into the temple; and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus to perform the
custom of the law in regard to him, He took
him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in
peace, according to your word, for my eyes
have seen your salvation, which you prepared
in sight of all the peoples, a light for
revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for
your people Israel.”
The child’s father and
mother were amazed at what was said about
him; and Simeon blessed them and said to
Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is
destined for the fall and rise of many
in Israel, and to be a sign that will be
contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be
revealed.”
There was also a
prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel,
of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in
years, having lived seven years with her
husband after her marriage, and then as a
widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the
temple, but worshiped night and day with
fasting and prayer.
And coming forward
at that very time, she gave thanks to God
and spoke about the child to all who were
awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the
prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they
returned to Galilee, to their own town of
Nazareth.
The child grew and
became strong, filled with wisdom; and the
favor of God was upon him. |
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When the days were
completed for their purification according
to the law of Moses, they took him up to
Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
When they had fulfilled all the
prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they
returned to Galilee, to their own town of
Nazareth.
The child grew and
became strong, filled with wisdom; and the
favor of God was upon him. |
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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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