Ijournal entry 122914 # 52 The Christmas Season. Quotes from Pope Francis I, Henri Nouwen, St. Francis De Sales, and Mary Joshi. "WHY NUNS SHOULD WEAR HABITS", by Matthew Schmitz. "THE ANGELS’ SONG", by Dan Burke. My YouTube video of Bernice: "The Power of a Prayer in the Life of a Believer", Part I
SAINTS 23 BUCS 20
Thank you for a nice end of the season present
Experiencing a victory is always so pleasant
🙏 Please remember Mrs. Bush in prayer, today she is having surgery. (Thanks very much kind responders)
The Christmas Season: The Christmas season begins at the Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve and ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Because of the importance of Christmas, the Church extends the celebration of this solemnity to cover a period of eight days. This period is known as an octave, which comes from the Latin octavus, which means "eighth." Therefore, Christmas Day and the seven days that follow are part of the Octave of Christmas. The seven days include the following:
- The Sunday after Christmas is the feast of the Holy Family: The gospel recounts Jesus' childhood, and the other readings concern the virtues of family life.
- December 26 is the feast of St. Stephen, the first Martyr.
- December 27 is the feast of St. John, the apostle and evangelist.
- December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents.
- December 29, 30, and 31 are days within the octave of Christmas.
- January 1, the eighth day after Christmas, is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This day also honors the holy Name of Jesus. The readings from scripture speak of the Blessed Mother and the giving of the name of Jesus.
- Info from this site: http://www.cyberfaith.com/liturgical_year.cfm?season=christmas
The Cheese & Crackers
⚪️ “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:1). “An angel of the Lord appeared to [the shepherds] and the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Lk 2:9). This is how the liturgy of this holy Christmas night presents to us the birth of the Saviour: as the light which pierces and dispels the deepest darkness. The presence of the Lord in the midst of his people cancels the sorrow of defeat and the misery of slavery, and ushers in joy and happiness". By Pope Francis
🔵 "The light thrown on the smallness of Mary, Joseph, and the Child projects them as large, hopeful shadows against the walls of our life and our world. Without the radiant beam of light shining into the darkness there is little to be seen. I might just pass by these three simple people and continue to walk in darkness. But everything changes with the light". By Henri Nouwen
🔴 "Let us ignore this blind world, Philothea. Let it cry out as much as it wants, like an owl trying to disturb the birds of the day. Let us be firm in our intentions, unwavering in our decisions. Our very perseverance will prove that in good earnest we have sacrificed ourselves to God and committed ourselves to the devout life. Comets and planets shine almost with the same brightness; but comets disappear in a very short time since they are only passing lights, while planets are constantly shining. Similarly hypocrisy and true virtue are very much alike externally. But they may be easily distinguished from one another. Hypocrisy does not last long and vanishes like rising smoke. True virtue is ever firm and constant". By St. Francis De Sales
⚫️ "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. In the darkest, most lifeless season, the light of the day now begins to grow in length and strength. There is a promise of new life ahead. At the darkest point in our year, and in our lives, Christmas reminds us that there is no darkness powerful enough to overwhelm the power of God’s light and love. Our God is a God of endless life and hope. In Jesus, God has become Emmanuel: always with us and always for us! Alleluia! May all the ends of the earth come to know the saving power of God". By Mary Joshi
Sharing my Christmas morning contemplation:
The Father is saying to me: Merry Christmas, let this day be a new beginning. From now on, your gift of Christmas, Jesus the Christ, the "Newborn King" should be visible in you for all to see. Let others see the light within, this is evidenced by your behavior which will show that the King have indeed come, and is in residence in the manger of your heart. The straw will be fortified every time you consume the gift of finest wheat, by grace this Is accomplished. Live and pray in spirit and truth, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This will allow me to see an image of my dearly Beloved Son in you to my delight. By the love radiating from the light within, I am gladden that my "Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, have been born unto a Holy Virgin to save all who might believe.
The scripture that came to mind to capture the essence of our visit was:
Isaiah 9:1-6 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, The rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!"
This scripture was the wrap up to the beautiful Advent journey that was spent exclusively with the Father. On the heels of this, is the first article on my reading plate Christmas morning. The article was found on the "Spirit Daily" website, entitled: "WHY NUNS SHOULD WEAR HABITS". Who would have imagined the confirmation would come from an article with such a title. The article was an original taken from a site, new to me, called "First Things". Here is the link to that site:
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2014/12/why-nuns-should-wear-habits
Another confirmation came via the scripture passage used at the beginning of Pope Francis' Midnight Mass Homily. It was the same scripture that came to my mind at the end of the contemplation.
This scripture was the wrap up to the beautiful Advent journey that was spent exclusively with the Father. On the heels of this, is the first article on my reading plate Christmas morning. The article was found on the "Spirit Daily" website, entitled: "WHY NUNS SHOULD WEAR HABITS". Who would have imagined the confirmation would come from an article with such a title. The article was an original taken from a site, new to me, called "First Things". Here is the link to that site:
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2014/12/why-nuns-should-wear-habits
Another confirmation came via the scripture passage used at the beginning of Pope Francis' Midnight Mass Homily. It was the same scripture that came to my mind at the end of the contemplation.
Isaiah 9:1 ““The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined”
This statement:
"Do I allow myself to be taken up by God, to be embraced by him, or do I prevent him from drawing close?",
was presented before the text of the homily. After having experienced the contemplation, my answer to that question could be answered easily with an emphatic "yes". Think about and share if you please, what experience is allowing you to be be embraced by God, or how are you preventing Him from drawing near? What in my life prevents Him from getting even closer? It is the barrier of "too much self". It is for me to humbly get rid of touchiness, and embrace humility and learn how to handle roses. More on this another time. This concept of "handling roses", was given to me at the beginning of the new year, the Liturgical "New Year", that is. It's all about learning how to deal with difficult people.
Here is the link to the homily by Pope Francis, given at the Christmas Eve Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Square. It is worth reading.
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-midnight-mass-homily
The following excerpt from the article about nuns wearing habits, is in a round about way a confirmation to the message given to me in the contemplation on Christmas morning.
🔗 "In the 1970s, as many orders were shedding the habit, communications theorist Marshall McLuhan argued for its ongoing importance. He believed that television had promoted an image-based culture where visual communication was especially important. In a number of interviews and essays included in his book The Medium and the Light, he argues that Christians therefore must find everyday visual ways of expressing their distinctness from society"
The emphasis for me from the excerpt above, is on an everyday image-based visual expression communicated by the Christian to the world. No better image we can portray, than that of an authentic representative of Jesus Christ. As we allow the scriptures below to unfold as a reality in our lives, the mission will accomplished day by day, bringing glory to "Abba" ("Pop-Pea"), our Heavenly Good Father.
This statement:
"Do I allow myself to be taken up by God, to be embraced by him, or do I prevent him from drawing close?",
was presented before the text of the homily. After having experienced the contemplation, my answer to that question could be answered easily with an emphatic "yes". Think about and share if you please, what experience is allowing you to be be embraced by God, or how are you preventing Him from drawing near? What in my life prevents Him from getting even closer? It is the barrier of "too much self". It is for me to humbly get rid of touchiness, and embrace humility and learn how to handle roses. More on this another time. This concept of "handling roses", was given to me at the beginning of the new year, the Liturgical "New Year", that is. It's all about learning how to deal with difficult people.
Here is the link to the homily by Pope Francis, given at the Christmas Eve Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Square. It is worth reading.
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-midnight-mass-homily
The following excerpt from the article about nuns wearing habits, is in a round about way a confirmation to the message given to me in the contemplation on Christmas morning.
🔗 "In the 1970s, as many orders were shedding the habit, communications theorist Marshall McLuhan argued for its ongoing importance. He believed that television had promoted an image-based culture where visual communication was especially important. In a number of interviews and essays included in his book The Medium and the Light, he argues that Christians therefore must find everyday visual ways of expressing their distinctness from society"
The emphasis for me from the excerpt above, is on an everyday image-based visual expression communicated by the Christian to the world. No better image we can portray, than that of an authentic representative of Jesus Christ. As we allow the scriptures below to unfold as a reality in our lives, the mission will accomplished day by day, bringing glory to "Abba" ("Pop-Pea"), our Heavenly Good Father.
Romans 8:29 "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters"
John 15:5 ""I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing"
Galatians 2:20 " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me"
2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit"
The Potatoes
"WHY NUNS SHOULD WEAR HABITS", by Matthew Schmitz
Info from this site:Info from
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2014/12/why-nuns-should-wear-habits
"Dear reader,
First Things
When a reporter recently called me for comment on the Vatican investigation of American women religious, I told him that it was too little too late. The feelings surrounding the inquiry are intense, but the stakes are notably small. Those orders under scrutiny—ones that have given up the habit, communal life, and strict prayer, often out of a laudable desire to promote social justice—are in painful decline. Arguments over their choices grow more irrelevant by the day. Other orders that have embraced old disciplines like singing the Divine Office, performing manual labor, and wearing the habit have fared much better.
The habit seems to be a particularly important factor for the success of religious communities. A 2009 survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research of the Apostolate found that two-thirds of new members had joined religious orders that wore habits. The authors concluded:
Having a religious habit was an important factor for a significant number of new members. Interviews with vocation directors also suggest that many who are inquiring into religious life are looking for the possibility of wearing a habit even in those institutes in which few, if any, members regularly do so.
In the 1970s, as many orders were shedding the habit, communications theorist Marshall McLuhan argued for its ongoing importance. He believed that television had promoted an image-based culture where visual communication was especially important. In a number of interviews and essays included in his book The Medium and the Light, he argues that Christians therefore must find everyday visual ways of expressing their distinctness from society:
The need for participation in groups and social forms always requires some code whether verbalized or in the form of costume and vestment, as a means of involvement in common action. . . . What the young are obviously telling us is this: we want beards, we want massive costumes and vestments for everybody. We do not want of this simple, plain, individual stuff.
If anything, McLuhan argued, our time calls for more distinctive, more extreme forms of religious dress. “The same youngsters who detest the cop in his ordinary attire admire and imitate the motorcycle cop . . . in his more spectacular costume.” This, McLuhan said, “may offer a cue to each religious that it may be the wrong time to dim down clerical attire just when something very ‘far out’ and very unconventional may be needed.”
Last year, the New York Times reported on the growth of Dominican vocations in Ireland, giving credit to the habit: “Once, his medieval robes may have deterred some. But today he is convinced that the garment is his greatest selling point for enlisting new priests. Other religious orders largely stopped wearing their traditional garb in recent years, as they tried to attract new followers in secularizing societies. But the friars deliberately went on wearing the robes and promoting the spiritual benefits of shared prayer and a communal lifestyle.”
The Church still seems unsure of how best to evangelize post-Christian societies. Should we stress or suppress what makes us distinctive? Keeping in mind Pope Francis’s witness against the ongoing power of this world’s prince, we would do well to heed McLuhan’s warning: “There is no possibility of returning to private dress for those who are awake to the need for hostility to the values of the world.”
The Meat
"THE ANGELS’ SONG", by Dan Burke
Info from this site:
http://spiritualdirection.com/2014/12/26/the-angels-song?utm_source=Catholic+Spiritual+Direction&utm_campaign=f169505e96-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9dd96593f8-f169505e96-59773713
THE ANGELS’ SONG
Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of goodwill.”
"📌1. It was fitting that this manifestation of the angels should have been made on this night of the Nativity. The fathers of the Church, when speaking of the fall of the rebel angels, tend to explain it as the refusal to adore the Incarnate God that was to be; they would not bow down before Him who was to make Himself “less than the angels.” Hence, when the actual manifestation came, those who had been faithful could not but have rejoiced; they must have seen in that Child more than even Mary saw, for they saw His Godhead shining through His human frame, and they recognized in Him the great union of God with men. Later our Lord was to speak of His own love for and reliance on His angels; in the entrusting to them of children, in the use He would make of them to separate the just from the unjust, in the acceptance of an angel to strengthen Him in the Garden of Gethsemane; in the knowledge that He had but to ask His Father and legions of angels would come to His support. Christmas Day, then, is a feast of the angels as well as of men.
📌2. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of goodwill.” This was the angels’ song of praise. It has two divisions. First, at the moment of our Lord’s great humiliation on this earth, the angels break out with their chorus of praise. St. Paul saw it in the same light: “He hath humbled Himself . . . therefore God hath exalted Him.” Then the consequences to war-worn man are recorded. Man at war with God, man at war with himself, man all restless, is at last to be given peace, if only he will have it. Again St. Paul sees with the angels’ eyes: “He is our peace,” he says, “Who hath made both one, and breaking down the middle wall of partition, the enmities, in His flesh, making void the law of commandments contained in decrees, that He mighty make the two in Himself into one man, making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body on the cross, killing the enmities in Himself.” It was not merely the “Pax Romana,” at that moment reigning, that the angels announced; it was the still “greater Peace which the world cannot give,” which those know who possess it.
📌3. The Church has taken these words of the angels and has built upon them one of the most beautiful of her hymns. In the first part she dwells on and expands the first words of the angels, endeavouring to give expression to their affections when she sings: Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam [We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory]. Then the hymn turns to the earthly results of the great mystery, hailing our Lord as the Incarnate Son, the Lamb of God, who brings about peace on earth by means of the redemption in His blood. This is God and Man, the Redeemer, Who taketh away the sins of the world. And, lastly, He is called upon as having accomplished His work and reigning in heaven, where He is associated with the Father and the Holy Ghost: Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris [Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer…For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father].
"📌1. It was fitting that this manifestation of the angels should have been made on this night of the Nativity. The fathers of the Church, when speaking of the fall of the rebel angels, tend to explain it as the refusal to adore the Incarnate God that was to be; they would not bow down before Him who was to make Himself “less than the angels.” Hence, when the actual manifestation came, those who had been faithful could not but have rejoiced; they must have seen in that Child more than even Mary saw, for they saw His Godhead shining through His human frame, and they recognized in Him the great union of God with men. Later our Lord was to speak of His own love for and reliance on His angels; in the entrusting to them of children, in the use He would make of them to separate the just from the unjust, in the acceptance of an angel to strengthen Him in the Garden of Gethsemane; in the knowledge that He had but to ask His Father and legions of angels would come to His support. Christmas Day, then, is a feast of the angels as well as of men.
📌2. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of goodwill.” This was the angels’ song of praise. It has two divisions. First, at the moment of our Lord’s great humiliation on this earth, the angels break out with their chorus of praise. St. Paul saw it in the same light: “He hath humbled Himself . . . therefore God hath exalted Him.” Then the consequences to war-worn man are recorded. Man at war with God, man at war with himself, man all restless, is at last to be given peace, if only he will have it. Again St. Paul sees with the angels’ eyes: “He is our peace,” he says, “Who hath made both one, and breaking down the middle wall of partition, the enmities, in His flesh, making void the law of commandments contained in decrees, that He mighty make the two in Himself into one man, making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body on the cross, killing the enmities in Himself.” It was not merely the “Pax Romana,” at that moment reigning, that the angels announced; it was the still “greater Peace which the world cannot give,” which those know who possess it.
📌3. The Church has taken these words of the angels and has built upon them one of the most beautiful of her hymns. In the first part she dwells on and expands the first words of the angels, endeavouring to give expression to their affections when she sings: Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam [We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory]. Then the hymn turns to the earthly results of the great mystery, hailing our Lord as the Incarnate Son, the Lamb of God, who brings about peace on earth by means of the redemption in His blood. This is God and Man, the Redeemer, Who taketh away the sins of the world. And, lastly, He is called upon as having accomplished His work and reigning in heaven, where He is associated with the Father and the Holy Ghost: Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris [Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer…For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father].
Summary Meditation Points:
✏️1. The fitness of the adoration of the Angels at the Nativity.
✏️2. The fitness of their song: Glory to God, peace to men of goodwill.
✏️3. The development of this by the Church."
Note: This meditation is from Archbishop Alban Goodier’s “The Prince of Peace” (1915).
Praise The Lord, found a free copy of Archbishop Alban Goodier’s book. The price for a copy at Amazon.com is $15.21.
“The Prince of Peace” (1915, oldies sure are goodies, any Amens?)
Link to a free download.:
https://ia902307.us.archive.org/21/items/theprinceofpeace00gooduoft/theprinceofpeace00gooduoft.epub
The Dessert
My YouTube video of Bernice, who have a devotion to "The Holy Family", the feast we celebrate the Sunday after Christmas.
Link to Part I: The power of Prayer in the Life of a Believer, by Bernice
http://youtu.be/LdMQNXVIIFw
Stay tuned for Part II & III.
Thanks 4 taking a little time out to feed you soul
Trying to provide quality nourishment is my number one goal
To prevent a lack of spiritual knowledge from taking it's toll
✞ⓂⓂ/℘✞L̶o̶r̶d̶ \o/
http://gigapostolate.weebly.com/ |
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