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Ash Wednesday 2012
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Forgiveness
Forgiveness—the key to healing
It’s probably true to say that most of us have been hurt in someway in our childhood. Too often we remain, to a greater extent, bound and oppressed by the resulting negative emotions and feelings from the past. These arise from our memory of the hurts that may be stored in our conscious or subconscious. So we have difficulty in living in peace with ourselves; and when we marry we may both bring this “baggage” of anxiety, rejection, anger, inferiority or low self-image into our relationship, with often disastrous results, and probably without knowing why. Continue here…
© Tony & Betty Dady
Further reading:
“Hidden Springs to Healing” Sr. M. Usha
“Marriage a Beautiful Covenant between God, Man and Woman”
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Let us not set aside what God has planned for us, a perfect gift of love.
THE EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
1638 “From a valid marriage arises a bond between the spouses which by its very nature is perpetual and exclusive; furthermore, in a Christian marriage the spouses are strengthened and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and the dignity of their state by a special sacrament.”
The marriage bond
1639 The consent by which the spouses mutually give and receive one another is sealed by God himself. From their covenant arises “an institution, confirmed by the divine law, . . . even in the eyes of society.” The covenant between the spouses is integrated into God’s covenant with man: “Authentic married love is caught up into divine love.”
1640 Thus the marriage bond has been established by God himself in such a way that a marriage concluded and consummated between baptized persons can never be dissolved. This bond, which results from the free human act of the spouses and their consummation of the marriage, is a reality, henceforth irrevocable, and gives rise to a covenant guaranteed by God’s fidelity. The Church does not have the power to contravene this disposition of divine wisdom.
The grace of the sacrament of Matrimony
1641 “By reason of their state in life and of their order, [Christian spouses] have their own special gifts in the People of God.” This grace proper to the sacrament of Matrimony is intended to perfect the couple’s love and to strengthen their indissoluble unity. By this grace they “help one another to attain holiness in their married life and in welcoming and educating their children.”
1642 Christ is the source of this grace. “Just as of old God encountered his people with a covenant of love and fidelity, so our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony.” Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another’s burdens, to “be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ,”[148] and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. In the joys of their love and family life he gives them here on earth a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb: How can I ever express the happiness of a marriage joined by the Church, strengthened by an offering, sealed by a blessing, announced by angels, and ratified by the Father? . . How wonderful the bond between two believers, now one in hope, one in desire, one in discipline, one in the same service! They are both children of one Father and servants of the same Master, undivided in spirit and flesh, truly two in one flesh. Where the flesh is one, one also is the spirit.
Resource: Catechism of the Catholic Church
Saint Brigid of Kildare
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Daughter of Dubtach, pagan Scottish king of Leinster, and Brocca, a Christian Pictish slave who had been baptized by Saint Patrick. Just before Brigid’s birth, her mother was sold to a Druid landowner. Brigid remained with her mother till she was old enough to serve her legal owner Dubtach, her father.
She grew up marked by her high spirits and tender heart, and as a child, she heard Saint Patrick preach, which she never forgot. She could not bear to see anyone hungry or cold, and to help them, often gave away things that were Dubtach’s. When Dubtach protested, she replied that “Christ dwelt in every creature”. Dubtach tried to sell her to the King of Leinster, and while they bargained, she gave a treasured sword of her father‘s to a leper. Dubtach was about to strike her when Brigid explained she had given the sword to God through the leper, because of its great value. The King, a Christian, forbade Dubtach to strike her, saying “Her merit before God is greater than ours”. Dubtach solved this domestic problem by giving Brigid her freedom.
Brigid’s aged mother was in charge of her master’s dairy. Brigid took charge ,and often gave away the produce. But the dairy prospered under her (hence her patronage of milk maids, dairy workers, cattle, etc.), and the Druid freed Brigid’s mother.
Brigid returned to her father, who arranged a marriage for her with a young bard. Bride refused, and to keep her virginity, went to her Bishop, Saint Mel of Ardagh, and took her first vows. Legend says that she prayed that her beauty be taken from her so no one would seek her hand in marriage; her prayer was granted, and she regained her beauty only after making her vows. Another tale says that when Saint Patrick heard her final vows, he mistakenly used the form for ordaining priests. When told of it he replied, “So be it, my son, she is destined for great things.”
Her first convent started c.468 with seven nuns. At the invitation of bishops, she started convents all over Ireland. She was a great traveller, especially considering the conditions of the time, which led to her patronage of travellers, sailors, etc. Brigid invented the double monastery, the monastery of Kildara, which means Church of the Oak, that she ran on the Liffey river being for both monks and nuns. Saint Conleth became its first bishop; this connection and the installation of a bell that lasted over 1000 years apparently led to her patronage of blacksmiths and those in related fields.
Resource: http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-brigid-of-ireland/
Our Lady ~ Soothe Our Sorrow
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Commemorated on January 25
- Prayer
O my All-gracious Queen Theotokos, my hope, who befriends orphans, and intercedes for strangers, Joy of those who sorrow, Protectress of those offended, look upon my troubles and see my sorrow: help me for I am weak, guide me for I am wandering: for you know my offense, resolve it as you will: for I have no other help than you, no other intercessor nor good comforter, only you, O Mother of God, may you keep and protect me, unto ages of ages. Amen.
A SOLEMN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.
Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.
O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.
We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen. -Venerable Pope Pius XII-
Native Americans Overjoyed!
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Native Americans overjoyed at news of first saint
By Michelle Bauman
The statue of Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha that stands in front of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe, NM. Credit: Jim McIntosh (CC BY 2.0)
Washington D.C., Jan 20, 2012 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The recent announcement that Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha has been approved for sainthood is generating great excitement among the Native American community. continue…
Every Life Is Beautiful: Gianna
Please help Gianna Jessen get the word out about her new film..
“Aaaaaaww, I just realized that my new brothers released the clip we filmed at my house last week. Thank you to Andrew Erwin, Jonathan Daniel Erwin, and the entire Erwin family who have helped to make my life beautiful.
Can you help us get the word out about the film by sharing the clip?
With gratitude, Gianna
Please WATCH
Saint John Neumann
Presentation by Redemptorist Father Daniel Francis on St. John Neumann, C.Ss.R. (1811-1860) Saint John Neumann
Prayer
Merciful Father, You have given me all that I have in this world, even life itself. In all my daily needs, help me to remember the needs of others too. Make me aware of the need to pray to You not just for myself but for the Church, the Pope, for the clergy and for people who suffer any need. Make me as selfless as Saint John Neumann. Throughout my life, give me the grace to direct my first thoughts to the service of You and of others. Make my prayer – “Your will be done” knowing that in Your mercy and love, Your will for me is my sanctification. I ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Chaplet of the Holy Name
The Chaplet of the Holy Name is prayed on a 33 bead chaplet (3 decades of 1 large bead followed by ten small beads). 33-bead “rosaries” or 33-knot “chotki” of the Eastern tradition can be used for this devotion. To pray the Chaplet of the Holy Name:
Make an Act of Contrition (i.e., pray this prayer earnestly):
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
And pray:
Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me.
First Decade:
On the first large bead:
Lord, Thou hast said: “Ask and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” I seek, I knock, I ask this favor [name your intention].
On each of the first group of ten small beads:
Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Second Decade:
On the second large bead:
“Amen, I say unto you, if ye ask the Father anything in My Name it shall be given unto you.” It is of the Father and in Thy Name, Lord, I ask this favor.
On each of the second group of 10 small beads:
Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Third Decade:
On the third large bead:
Lord, Thou hast said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Word shall not pass away,” Thou wilt grant me this favor because Thou hast said it and Thy word is true.
On each of the third group of 10 small beads:
Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me.
See also the Novena to the Holy Name.
Pray for a Miracle!
This is a message sent to us from the Poor Clare Colettine Nuns in Wales, thank you for your prayers and intercession. If you are going to Mass or Adoration today please keep this little boy and his family in your prayers.
Dear Little hearts,
Please join us in prayer to pray for this little boy…. and the heroic family who already lost a child a few years ago to cancer, all things are possible to God.
This family has been a light of faith for so many, bless you all.
Lovingly all your sisters
For all of you praying for Anthony S. and wanting an update, here it is (I’ve gotten permission to share this by Doug, Anthony’s dad): Anthony remains in the ICU at “…” Hospital. He is in critical condition as a result of a tragic accident while playing with a necktie by himself in his room. He got it tied… too tightly around his neck and couldn’t loosen it before he passed out. He was discovered shortly afterwards but had by that time already stopped breathing and his heart had stopped beating. Doug and Kristen began CPR until the ambulance arrived and the EMT’s took over. In the past 18 hours an amazing medical team have been stabilizing Anthony and also trying to ascertain the level of brain activity present, which is not altogether clear because of medications. But the medical team has indicated that there are signs that Anthony has suffered significant trauma. The next 24 hours are critical for showing signs of improvement in brain activity. They are also needing to repair a tear in Anthony’s trachea that likely occured while intubating him.