🧀The Cheese & Crackers = Quotes by St. Hildegard von Bingen, St. Albert the Great, and St. Alphonsus Liguori
🥗The Veggies = My 2💰
🥔The Potatoes = “Catholic House Blessing Prayers”, from Catholic Striving for Holiness
🥩The Meat = “Few Love the Cross of Jesus”, by Thomas A Kempis
🥜The Dessert = YouTube video: "Plan of Life: Habits to Help You Grow Closer to God”, by Fr. Roger Landry
The gift on the Sixth Day of Christmas is Six Geese a Laying.
The eggs of the geese hold the promise of fertility and life to come; which reflects the maintenance and expansion of God’s creation. Six geese a laying represent the six days of creation.
🎄1st Day: Creation of light and its separation from darkness
🎄2nd Day: Creation of the firmament and division of the waters
🎄3rd Day: Collection of waters (sea) and formation of dry land (earth); creation of plants according to their own likeness
🎄4th Day: Creation of heavenly bodies in the firmament (sun, moon, and stars)
🎄5th Day: Creation of sea creatures and winged fowl from the waters
🎄6th Day: Creation of cattle, creeping things, and beasts from the dry land; creation of mankind, male and female
“There is a figure of this in the book of Genesis. When Abraham was about to go off to sacrifice his son, he said to his young men, ‘Stay you here with the ass: I and the boy will go with speed as far as yonder, and after we have worshipped, will return to you& rsquo; The servants are anxieties and worries about the necessities of this life. The ass, an animal that cannot be disciplined and yet is useful for bearing burdens, is our body: for this is lazy and will not accept discipline, yet bears the burden of labour. The boy is a pure spirit, and the patriarch prefigures the priest. And so the priest who is about to sacrifice the Son of God must leave behind his anxieties and cares and the weight of the body, and advance to the altar for the sacrifice with his spirit alone. Hence the people say, et cum spiritu tuo. And just as the greeting Dominus vobiscum is taken from what Booz says to the reapers, so the reply is taken from the second letter to St. Timothy: The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit”
🍝"He who enters into the secret place of his own soul passes beyond himself, and does in very truth ascend to God. Banish, therefore, from thy heart the distractions of earth and turn thine eyes to spiritual joys, that thou mayest learn at last to repose in the light of the contemplation of God." By St. Albert the Great
🌟“St. Augustine says, that to prevent the sheep from seeking assistance by her cries, the wolf seizes her by the neck, and thus securely carries her away and devours her. The Devil acts in a similar manner with the sheep of Jesus Christ. After having induced them to yield to sin, he seizes them by the throat, that they may not confess their guilt; and thus he securely brings them to Hell. For those who have sinned grievously, there is no means of salvation but the confession of their sins." By St. Alphonsus Liguori
📖Luke 19:44 “and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
Some1 just recounted an experience wit da Lord where da person heard loud & clear Him saying dat if da person did not get serious about da spiritual life da person was living, Jesus would no longer b journeying along. What comes 2mind explaining what Jesus is saying is this scripture:
📖Psalms 51:13 “Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your Holy Spirit”
Well needless to say, shock was a very strong reaction & da person is now serious about seeking da Lord’s way to practice da faith as God so wishes. Just want to add that person is just like all of us, this was a person not on da fringe, but in2 daily Mass, Adoration, spiritual activities, etc. We can get engaged, but be strapped 2 our own ways & choices & cast 2 da side da Lords way and orthodox manner of how we should be doing what we are doing. A perfect example from yesterday. After Holy Mass, in da pew trying to pray and do what da Lord have taught me in interacting with Him after receiving communion. We these people are near da alter laughing &talking 4@ least 5 minutes or more. Then b4 one leaves she goes on the altar where da credence table is & goes to the person there gives da person a hug & exchange a few brief words of goodbye. Well it was like: why don’t u, my dear daily Holy Mass goer, respect Jesus & respect the Holy altar? Always an abuse someway or somehow, Lord have mercy, how will the younger generation learn?But comfort & peace quickly entered the scene. Thoughts reverted back to a conservation with someone about The Holy Liturgy. She is homeschooling & is teaching her kids from the old Baltimore catechism. She did not grow up on it, & finds dat she herself is maturing by using it wit her kids.
Well they have been looking for a place to truly worship in a Holy Mass setting that is in line with old school worship, dress, behavior etc. hope u get da drift.They have been going different places ,& just like Linda, had driven about an hr away to attend somewhere, they liked it there. Hearing about their visiting experiences, was so edifying, especially her kids reaction to one place. The kids bring so much hope dat The future will b great. For example manner in one instance how the priest preached, the kids said to their mom it was 2 distracting. It was like train them up on Meat & Potatoes & entertainment type songs &entertaining snacks aren’t needed, it’s not a concert going on.we fill that need, which is good at a prayer meeting. The kids could not articulate all that but their spirits could decipher what is Holy Liturgy appropriate. Certain things are not wrong, but not necessarily appropriate for Holy Liturgy. Study to show thyself approved.
📖 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth”
Just using da example dat things done in a Novus Ordo Mass would would never be a part of a Latin Mass. Wish all da reverence in a Latin Holy Mass would be carried thru in a regular Novus Ordo Holy Mass, dat would B having ur cake & eating it 2. So God had provided me an opportunity to meet a dynamic mom dat would bring me comfort when she would no longer be around.
Now back on track 2 da person going all the way on da altar 2 hug & say a few words and goodbye 2person at credence table. Prayed for them & 4 myself, how many errors R apart of my life, known or unknown. Well it just turned our after my prayers were finished & Da person had gone 2 da bathroom we exited, we ended up in the parking @ da same time. Decided to tell her about the Alrar & talking. No surprised as da response about God understanding our lil quirks & it’s not a bid deal. She ended with making it know she taught theology for 21 years. My response to her was ok, well God bless you. She said God bless to me & dat was dat. In da car, the comfort from the kids “getting it” & how da Lord Himself through study is helping me to get things together (& R.I.P. Fr. John who stated da ball rolling about not talking) will do da same for others who are open. Kids get it, then their kids will get it, & da Holy Spirit will be able to renew the face of the earth.
📖 Matthew 10:14 “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet”
Info from this site: https://www.catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/catholic-house-blessing-prayers/
“Have you just transferred to a new house, apartment, dorm or flat? If so, as a Catholic, you might want to have it blessed. Gather together as a family or group (roomates, friends, relatives) in any room you desire, preferably with a crucifix, and you can bless your own home, apartment, dorm or flat even with the absence of a priest.
🏡Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
🏘Leader: “Peace be to this house and: to all who dwell here, in the name of the Lord.
All: Blessed be God forever.
🏘Leader: When Christ took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary, he made his home with us. Let us now pray that he will enter this home and bless it with his presence.
May he always be here among us; may he nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, comfort us in our sorrows. Inspired by his teachings and example, let us seek to make our home before all else a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.
Reader: + A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; He loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful. Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you.
Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; And never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
After the scripture reading, all go from room to room, offering prayers of intercession and sprinkling holy water, if desired. Some of the following prayers may be used.
At the entrance:
🏡Leader: O God, protect our going out and our coming in; Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
In the living room:
🏘Leader: O God, give your blessings to all who share this room, that we may be knit together in companionship. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
In the kitchen:
🏡Leader: O God, you fill the hungry with good things. Send your blessing on us, as we work in this kitchen, and make us ever thankful for our daily bread. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
In the dining room:
🏡Leader: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, for you give us food and drink to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad. Help us to be grateful for all your mercies, and mindful of the needs of others. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
In the bedrooms:
🏡Leader: Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in his peace. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
In the bathroom:
🏡Leader: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. You formed us in wisdom and love. Refresh us in body and in spirit, and keep us in good health that we might serve you. Grant this through Christ our Lord
All: Amen.
All return to the starting place. A cross or icon is kissed by each person, and then put in a permanent place of honor. A candle may be lighted before it.
🏡Leader: Let us pray the prayer that our savior taught us.
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
🏡Leader: Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return and at last receive us into the dwelling place you have prepared for us in your Father’s house, where you live forever and ever.
All: Amen.
🏡Leader: May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (+), and may the word of Christ in all its richness dwell in us, so that whatever we do in word and in work, we will do in the name of the Lord.
All: Amen.
“Jesus has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him. Many follow Him to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross. Many love Him as long as they encounter no hardship; many praise and bless Him as long as they receive some comfort from Him. But if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them for a while, they fall either into complaints or into deep dejection.
Those, on the contrary, who love Him for His own sake and not for any comfort of their own, bless Him in all trial and anguish of heart as well as in the bliss of consolation. Even if He should never give them consolation, yet they would continue to praise Him and wish always to give Him thanks. What power there is in pure love for Jesus—love that is free from all self-interest and self- love! Do not those who always seek consolation deserve to be called mercenaries? Do not those who always think of their own profit and gain prove that they love themselves rather than Christ? Where can a man be found who desires to serve God for nothing? Rarely indeed is a man so spiritual as to strip himself of all things. And who shall find a man so truly poor in spirit as to be free from every creature? His value is like that of things brought from the most distant lands.
If a man give all his wealth, it is nothing; if he do great penance, it is little; if he gain all knowledge, he is still far afield; if he have great virtue and much ardent devotion, he still lacks a great deal, and especially, the one thing that is most necessary to him. What is this one thing? That leaving all, he forsake himself, completely renounce himself, and give up all private affections. Then, when he has done all that he knows ought to be done, let him consider it as nothing, let him make little of what may be considered great; let him in all honesty call himself an unprofitable servant. For truth itself has said: “When you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: ‘we are unprofitable servants.’”
📖Luke 17:10 So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”
Then he will be truly poor and stripped in spirit, and with the prophet may say: “I am alone and poor”.
📖 Psalms 25:16 “Look upon me, have pity on me, for I am alone and afflicted”
No one, however, is more wealthy than such a man; no one is more powerful, no one freer than he who knows how to leave all things and think of himself as the least of all”
Video link: youtu.be/WOOG1kw0Yv0