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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Feast of St. Andrew - November 30th
St. Andrew is the brother of St. Peter. As told in Matthew 4:18-20; "As [Jesus] was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is now called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him". John the Evangelist presents Andrew as a disciple of John the Baptist. When Jesus walked by one day, John said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus. "Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come, and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day" (John 1:38-39a). There is little we can learn about Andrew from the Gospels however you do know that Andrew was part of Jesus' inner circle. People were brought to meet Jesus through him. In John's gospel we hear that Andrew was a introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist. Immediately after meeting Jesus, Andrew ran and proclaimed to his brother Peter, "We have found the Messiah" and he brought Peter to meet Jesus. Credit is also given to Andrew as being the one to bring the boy with the five barley loaves and two pieces of fish to Jesus so that the crowd could be fed. Like Andrew, we are called to spread the Good News and bring others to Jesus. We are like an image of the door that can lead others to know Jesus. That is truly a gift and we must use it and share the love of Jesus Christ with all that we meet. Blessings, Cathi D. cathid@thecatholicgiftshop.com Labels: fishermen, Good News, Jesus, John the Baptist, St. Andrew, St. Peter by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments 
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
I read a blog yesterday about keeping Sunday as a day of rest. I keep thinking about this and I think maybe I'm failing in my observance of the Sabbath.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Second Edition) has this to say about the Sabbath:
2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath. In Christ's Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man's eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and when was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ: Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the sabbath, but the Lord's Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death 2176 The celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribe by nature in the human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public and regular worship "as a sign of his universal beneficence to all "Sunday worship fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people.
After reading this I thought; my family attends Mass every Sunday, we almost always have at least one but sometimes two meals together and our activities are usually less than they would be during the week. My teenage boys have jobs over the weekend because it's best they don't work too late while they're in school. Unfortunately more and more sports are being played on Sunday (to fit them in). I wish it weren't that way but I don't have the courage or conviction to have my children not participate in something they really enjoy because a coach or league has decided to play on Sunday. As I'm typing this my words "they enjoy" do hit me. I know it's a choice, I know.
Further reading of the Catechism brings me to "A day of grace and rest from work" , this is it. I found what I was looking for. Above in 2175 and 2176 I was not doing anything I wasn't supposed to do. I have a feeling I may not get the same from 2184 and 2185 that follow.
2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done", human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social and religious lives.
I do think my family treats Sunday as a special day for the Lord. I do make every effort to limit the number of activities we partake in on Sunday and do feel we have our focus in the right place, on God. For now the best I can do is try to balance my rest and the lives of my family. This may just be one of those things that will remain between "me and God" for now. Are we perfect? No. Is anyone?
Please share your "Sabbath" traditions with us. We'd love to hear how you have been able to truly observe the Sabbath, the Lord's Day, as a day of rest.
Blessings,
Cathi D.
cathid@thecatholicgiftshop.com
Labels: Catholic, Christian, Christianity, church, family, Lord, rest, Sabbath by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Monday, November 28, 2011
Did you survive the First Sunday of Advent and the first Mass using the new Roman Missal?
I'm happy to report that we made it just fine. My family arrived at Mass to find lovely "pew cards" or "cheat sheets" if you prefer for everyone to use. Mass began with the Priest letting everybody know that the cards were for our use to make the changes a bit easier to follow. My girls are ages 7 and 9 and I must tell you, they were actually excited. They've never really used the Missal for Mass. Their responses at Mass have come from being present and picking it up as they go. The changes for them should be very easy as they will now be learning them from the "pew cards". There were a few "And also with you" replies to which the new response is "And with your spirit". Overall, with the help of the cards, most everyone caught on. It seems to me, like most things, it's your attitude toward change in general that my impact how you feel about the changes to the Roman Missal and our participation in the Mass. If you understand why the changes were done, so that we as Catholics around the world can give God the proper reverence He deserves, this change may be easier for you. Being born post-Vatican II I haven't grown up with too much change, if any, in our Mass. I don't have any problem with the Mass not being in Latin either. I rather enjoy that I understand all of the language used at Mass. I don't have any problem with the new responses either. For those that attend Mass weekly or even daily the change will come soon enough, not to worry. For those that maybe don't attend Mass too often and use the Missal as a guide for Mass, they may not even notice. Offering prayers for those that are upset or not open to the changes in the Missal maybe what's needed. A smile for them as they sit in Mass with their shoulders hunched or their arms folded, or worse with their teeth clenched could help. Prayers and smiles can't hurt so that's my plan. I do hope the "cheat sheets" are still there next week, and the week after that and the week after that. A priest that was at our Parish a few years ago told me "it takes 30 days to break a habit". Here's hoping thirty days will be enough for me to "unlearn" the parts of the Mass that have changed. I'm willing, open minded and open hearted, so I'm not worried. How did it go for you and your Parish? I'd love to hear from you about it. We're all in this together. Blessings, Cathi D. cathid@thecatholicgiftshop.com Labels: Catholicism, church, Mass, prayers, Priest, Roman Missal by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Saint Cecilia is considered one of the most famous of the Roman martyrs.
Very little was known of St. Cecilia in Rome until Pope Gelasius (496) introduced her name into his Sacramentary. Later in 821, however, there was an old church fallen into decay with dedication to Saint Cecilia; but Pope Paschal I dreamed that the body of the saint lay in the cemetery of Saint Celestas, along with that of her husband Valerian. He accordingly looked for them and found them in the catacombs, which he was pleased to regard as those of Cecilia and Valerian. He translated these relics to the church of Saint Cecilia, and founded a monastery in their honor.
Cecilia promised her virginity to God, but her parents married her anyway. On her wedding day, she played the organ and had her husband baptized. When his faith was learned, he was martyred. Cecilia buried her husband and was suffocated and beheaded for the act.
Saint Cecilia's feast day is November 22nd. She is the patron saint of musician and singers.Photo file Wikipedia Labels: angels, Catholic Saints, Feast Day, martyr, musicians, Pope Gelasius, Pope Paschal, St. Cecilia by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Monday, November 21, 2011
Do you have moments, days or perhaps weeks when you just don't seem to have peace? You know when you can't quite put your finger on it. Nothing out of the ordinary is really happening with you but you just have a feeling of "somethings not right here". I've had a few weeks like that. It's times like these that I am brought closer to the Lord. It's when I realize most that the more I focus on God the more He brings peace to my heart.
I came across this prayer to St. Therese which I thought was beautiful and wanted to share it with you. Our time is precious and we should spend as much of the time we have giving thanks to the Lord for our blessings and crying out to him when we are in need. Please say this prayer for yourself or someone you think might be in need of it. My Novena Rose Prayer O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. It's really such a beautiful prayer and I'm so glad I found it today. I believe it was meant for me today and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Blessings, Cathi D. cathid@thecatholicgiftshop.com Labels: Child of Jesus, faith, God, Little Way, Lord, St. Therese of Lisieux by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Walter Rauschenbusch
O God, we thank you for this earth, our home;
For the wide sky and the blessed sun, For the salt sea and the running water, For the everlasting hills And the never-resting winds, For trees and the common grass underfoot. We thank you for our senses By which we hear the songs of birds, And see the splendor of the summer fields, And taste of the autumn fruits, And rejoice in the feel of the snow, And smell the breath of the spring. Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty; And save our souls from being so blind That we pass unseeing When even the common thornbush Is aflame with your glory, O God our creator, Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
From Living God’s Justice: Reflections and Prayers, compiled by The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors Labels: birds, Catholic, creator, earth, glory, God, spring, Thanksgiving by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Monday, November 14, 2011
Did you know that the "Lords Prayer" known also as the "Our Father" comes right out of the bible? So many prayers come from biblical interpretations from Saints and sinners alike. But, the "Lord's Prayer" has been given to us directly from Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel , Jesus was actually telling his followers how not to pray, how "not to babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard". He said, "do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him". This is how Jesus told them to pray in Matthew 6:9-13.
Also in Luke's Gospel (Chapter 11, Verses 1-4), when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray as John taught his disciples. He said to them, 'When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test."
Blessings, Cathi D. cathid@thecatholicgiftshop.com Labels: Catholic, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Matthew, Lord's Prayer, Mother of Jesus, Our Father by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Feast Day: November 10th
Pope Benedict XIV proclaimed Pope Saint Leo the Great as a Doctor of the Church in 1754. Leo is credited with as having insisted upon the mysteries of Christ and the Church and the spiritual life given to humanity in Christ and in his Body, the Church. It is because of this strong convictions that Leo held firmly in the belief that everything he did and said as Pope for the leadership of the flock, the Church, represented Christ, the head of the Mystical Body, and St. Peter, in whose place Leo followed. Unanimously elected in 440, while having been a deacon, Leo worked tirelessly as the successor of Peter to guide his fellow bishops as "equals in the episcopacy and infirmities." Leo is highly regarded as one of the administrative popes of the ancient Church. The works of St. Leo have reflected his belief that the pope’s total responsibility for the flock of Christ. He worked very hard to control the heresies of Pelagianism as well as Manichaeism. Another major interest of his was doctrinal controversy in the Church in the East, to which he responded with a classic letter setting down the Church’s teaching on the two natures of Christ. With strong faith, he also led the defense of Rome against barbarian attack, taking the role of peacemaker. "My dear brethren, there is no doubt that the Son of God took our human nature into so close a union with himself that one and the same Christ is present, not only in the firstborn of all creation, but in all his saints as well. The head cannot be separated from the members, nor the members from the head. Not in this life, it is true, but only in eternity will God be all in all, yet even now he dwells, whole and undivided, in his temple the Church. Such was his promise to us when he said: See, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. How powerful that last statement is "See, I am with you always, even to the end of the world". God remains with us and He lives IN us. We must pray each day to live faithful, holy lives and remember that we are believers in Christ and desire to come into HIS kingdom when called. Blessings, Cathi D. cathid@thecatholicgiftshop.com Labels: Christ, Doctor of the Church, faith, Pope Benedict XIV, St. Leo the Great by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
This poem, Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue was written by Mary Dixon Thayer and was made popular in the 1950's by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lovely Lady dressed in blue -------
Teach me how to pray! God was just your little boy, Tell me what to say! Did you lift Him up, sometimes, Gently on your knee? Did you sing to Him the way Mother does to me? Did you hold His hand at night? Did you ever try Telling stories of the world? O! And did He cry? Do you really think He cares If I tell Him things ------- Little things that happen? And Do the Angels' wings Make a noise? And can He hear Me if I speak low? Does He understand me now? Tell me -------for you know. Lovely Lady dressed in blue ------- Teach me how to pray! God was just your little boy, And you know the way. Wow, as a mother this poem just touches my heart so deeply. Can you imagine being asked to be the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ? No pressure really? God Bless Mary for saying YES! Labels: Jesus, Mary, Mother of Jesus, prayer by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Monday, November 7, 2011
So what is faith anyway? According to Websters dictionary it's a few things:
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions 2a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust 3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; Looks to me like our Catholic Faith is all three. The word faith comes from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust. It's not blind faith that has us believe in God. It's not really a a leap of faith either. Faith is not something you take lightly. Yes our faith is tempted by suffering and doubt but it is our faith that sees us through. Our belief that the Lord is always with us even when we don't think or feel as though He is, this is our Catholic Faith. Mark Chapter 10:51&52 Then Jesus spoke, 'What do you want me to do for you?' The blind man said to him, 'Rabbuni, let me see again.' Luke 7:47-50 For this reason I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.' Then he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven" Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man, that even forgives sins?' But he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.' How comforting is it that we can turn to the Bible and see so many examples of the healing power of faith. God has given the gift of faith to us. We need to use it to keep us close to Him. Let not your hearts be troubled, have faith.
Labels: Catholic, faith, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, Jesus by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
St. Teresa of Avila was born in 1515. When she was five years old she convinced her older brother that they
should, as she says in her Life, "go off to the land of the Moors and
beg them, out of love of God, to cut off our heads there." They got as
far as the road from the city before an uncle found them and brought
them back. Can you imagine a five year old today saying we must go away and be murdered? Definitely a "what was she thinking" moment.
It's been written that while Teresa was a teenager she cared only about boys and clothes and flirting and rebelling (sounds so familiar). When she was only sixteen, her father decided she was out of control and sent her to a convent (again sounds a bit familiar). She resisted at first but eventually she accepted being there and even began to enjoy it (her father was very strict). It was this time that her love for God was growing. Teresa's decision to become a nun was not made with ease. She finally chose religious life because she thought that it was the only safe place for someone as prone to sin as she was. For many years she suffered with illness and she used her illness as an excuse to give up prayer. After being convinced by a priest to return to prayer, she found it difficult. She said, "I was more anxious for the hour of prayer to be over than I was to remain there. I don't know what heavy penance I would not have gladly undertaken rather than practice prayer". Teresa sympathizes with those who, like her, who have a difficulty with prayer. "All the trials we endure cannot be compared to these interior battles."
St. Teresa is credited as the founder of the Discalced Carmelites. She was acknowledged as a Doctor of the Church in 1970 because of her writings and teachings on prayer. The symbols often shown with St. Teresa are
a heart, an arrow and a book.
Canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV Feast Day October 15 Patron Saint of Headache sufferers, Spanish Catholic Writers Born 1515 -Died 1582 Labels: Carmelite, Catholic Saints, Catholicism, nun, St. Teresa of Avila by: The Catholic Gift Shop 0 Comments
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