I was laughing too since I didn’t notice it until I had completed the entire list of posts.

Oh well, just too tired, probably.

Saint Hilary, Bishop & Doctor of the Church

Saint Hilary,
Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Optional Memorial
January 13th

Anonymous illumination, St. Hilary writing his commentary on Matthew

Saint Hilary of Poitiers (315-368) was a leading defender of the Church against the Arian heresy. He wrote twelve books about the Holy Trinity as well as commentaries on St. Matthew's Gospel and the Psalms.

Collect:
All-powerful God,
as Saint Hilary defended the divinity of Christ Your Son,
give us a deeper understanding of this mystery
and help us to profess it in all truth.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

First Reading: 1 John 2:18-25
Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is what He has promised us, eternal life.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-19
"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 1
29.	And immediately going out of the synagogue they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.	Et protinus egredientes de synagoga, venerunt in domum Simonis et Andreæ, cum Jacobo et Joanne.	και ευθεως εκ της συναγωγης εξελθοντες ηλθον εις την οικιαν σιμωνος και ανδρεου μετα ιακωβου και ιωαννου
30.	And Simon's wife's mother lay in a fit of a fever: and forthwith they tell him of her.	Decumbebat autem socrus Simonis febricitans : et statim dicunt ei de illa.	η δε πενθερα σιμωνος κατεκειτο πυρεσσουσα και ευθεως λεγουσιν αυτω περι αυτης
31.	And coming to her, he lifted her up, taking her by the hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.	Et accedens elevavit eam, apprehensa manu ejus : et continuo dimisit eam febris, et ministrabat eis.	και προσελθων ηγειρεν αυτην κρατησας της χειρος αυτης και αφηκεν αυτην ο πυρετος ευθεως και διηκονει αυτοις
32.	And when it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all that were ill and that were possessed with devils.	Vespere autem facto cum occidisset sol, afferebant ad eum omnes male habentes, et dæmonia habentes :	οψιας δε γενομενης οτε εδυ ο ηλιος εφερον προς αυτον παντας τους κακως εχοντας και τους δαιμονιζομενους
33.	And all the city was gathered together at the door.	et erat omnis civitas congregata ad januam.	και η πολις ολη επισυνηγμενη ην προς την θυραν
34.	And he healed many that were troubled with divers diseases; and he cast out many devils, and he suffered them not to speak, because they knew him.	Et curavit multos, qui vexabantur variis languoribus, et dæmonia multa ejiciebat, et non sinebat ea loqui, quoniam sciebant eum.	και εθεραπευσεν πολλους κακως εχοντας ποικιλαις νοσοις και δαιμονια πολλα εξεβαλεν και ουκ ηφιεν λαλειν τα δαιμονια οτι ηδεισαν αυτον
35.	And rising very early, going out, he went into a desert place: and there he prayed.	Et diluculo valde surgens, egressus abiit in desertum locum, ibique orabat.	και πρωι εννυχον λιαν αναστας εξηλθεν και απηλθεν εις ερημον τοπον κακει προσηυχετο
36.	And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him.	Et prosecutus est eum Simon, et qui cum illo erant.	και κατεδιωξαν αυτον ο σιμων και οι μετ αυτου
37.	And when they had found him, they said to him: All seek for thee.	Et cum invenissent eum, dixerunt ei : Quia omnes quærunt te.	και ευροντες αυτον λεγουσιν αυτω οτι παντες σε ζητουσιν
38.	And he saith to them: Let us go into the neighbouring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am I come.	Et ait illis : Eamus in proximos vicos, et civitates, ut et ibi prædicem : ad hoc enim veni.	και λεγει αυτοις αγωμεν εις τας εχομενας κωμοπολεις ινα και εκει κηρυξω εις τουτο γαρ εξεληλυθα
39.	And he was preaching in their synagogues, and in all Galilee, and casting out devils.	Et erat prædicans in synagogis eorum, et in omni Galilæa, et dæmonia ejiciens.	και ην κηρυσσων εν ταις συναγωγαις αυτων εις ολην την γαλιλαιαν και τα δαιμονια εκβαλλων

29. And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and immediately they tell him of her.
31. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them.

BEDE; First, it was right that the serpent's tongue should be shut up, that it might not spread any more venom; then that the woman, who was first seduced, should he healed from the fever of carnal concupiscence. Wherefore it is said, And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, &c.

THEOPHYL. He retired then as the custom was on the sabbath-day about evening to eat in His disciples' house. But she who ought to have ministered was prevented by a fever. Wherefore it goes on, But Simon's wife's mother was lying sick with a fever.

PSEUD-CHRYS. But the disciples, knowing that they were to receive a benefit by that means, without waiting for the evening prayed that Peter's mother should be healed. Wherefore there follows, who immediately tell him of her.

BEDE; But in the Gospel of Luke it is written, that they besought him for her. For the Savior sometimes after being asked, sometimes of His own accord, heals the sick, showing that he always assents to the prayers of the faithful, when they pray also against had passions, and sometimes gives them to understand things which they do not understand at all, or else, when they pray unto Him dutifully, forgives their want of understanding; as the Psalmist begs of God, Cleanse me, O Lord, from my secret faults.

Wherefore He heals her at their request; for there follow, And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up.

THEOPHYL. By this it is signified, that God will heal a sick man, if he ministers to the Saints, through love to Christ.

BEDE; But in that He gives most profusely His gifts of healing and doctrine on the sabbath day, He teaches, that He is not under the Law, but above the Law, and does not choose the Jewish sabbath, but the true sabbath, and our rest is pleasing to the Lord, if, in order to attend to the health of our souls, we abstain from slavish work, that is, from all unlawful things. It goes on, and immediately the fever left her, &c. The health which is conferred at the command of the Lord, returns at once entire, accompanied with such strength, that she is able to minister to those, of whose help she had before stood in need. Again, if we suppose that the man delivered from the devil means, in the moral way of interpretation, the soul purged from unclean thoughts, fitly does the woman cured of a fever by the command of God mean the flesh, restrained from the heat of its concupiscence by die precepts of continence.

PSEUDO-JEROME; For the fever means intemperance, from which, we the sons of the synagogue, by the hand of discipline, and by the lifting up of our desires, are healed, and minister to the will of Him who heals us.

THEOPHYL. But he has a fever who is angry, and in the unruliness of his anger stretches forth his hands to do hurt; but if reason restrains his hands, he will arise, and so serve reason.

32. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
33. And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

THEOPHYL. Because the multitude thought that it was not lawful to heal on the sabbath day, they waited for the evening, to bring those who were to be healed to Jesus. Wherefore it is said, And at even, when the sun had set. There follows, and he healed many that were vexed with divers diseases.

PSEUD-CHRYS. Now in that he says many, all are to be understood according to the Scripture mode of expression.

THEOPHYL. Or he says many, because there were some faithless persons, who could not at all be cured on account of their unfaithfulness. Therefore He healed many of those who were brought, that is, all who had faith. It goes on, and cast out many devils.

PSEUDO-AUG. For the devils knew that He was the Christ, who had been promised by the Law: for they saw in Him all the signs, which had been foretold by the Prophets; but they were ignorant of His divinity, as also were their princes, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

BEDE; For, Him whom the devil had known as a man, wearied by His forty days' fast, without being able by tempting Him to prove whether He was the Son of God, he now by the power of His miracles understood or rather suspected to be the Son of God. The reason therefore why he persuaded the Jews to crucify Him, was not because he did not think that He was the Son of God, but because he did not foresee that he himself was to be condemned by Christ's death.

THEOPHYL. Furthermore, the reason that He forbade the devils to speak, was to teach us not to believe them, even if they say true. For if once they find persons to believe them, they mingle truth with falsehood.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. And Luke does not contradict this, when he says, that devils came out of many, crying out, and saying, You are Christ the Son of God: for he subjoins, And he rebuking them, suffered them not to speak; for Mark, who passes over many things for the sake of brevity, speaks about what happened subsequently to the above-mentioned words.

BEDE; Again, in a mystical sense, the setting of the sun signifies the passion of Him, who said, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. And when the sun was going down, more demoniacs and sick persons were healed than before: because He who living in the flesh for a time taught a few Jews, has transmitted the gifts of faith and health to all the Gentiles throughout the world.

PSEUDO-JEROME; But the door of the kingdom, morally, is repentance and faith, which works health for various diseases; for divers are the vices, with which the city of this world is sick.

35. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
37. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
39. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

THEOPHYL. After that the Lord had cured the sick, He retired apart. Wherefore it is said, And rising very early in the morning, he went out and departed into a desert place. By which He taught us not to do any thing for the sake of appearance, but if we do any good, not to publish it openly. He goes on, and there prayed.

PSEUD-CHRYS. Not that He required prayer; for it was He who Himself received the prayers of men; but He did this by way of an economy, and became to us the model of good works.

THEOPHYL. For He shows to us that we ought to attribute to God whatever we do well, and to say to Him, Every good gift comes down from above, from Thee. He continues: And Simon followed him, and they that were with him.

PSEUD-CHRYS. Luke however says, that crowds came to Christ, and spoke what Mark here relates that the Apostles said, adding, And when they came to him, they said to him, All seek you. But they do not contradict each other; for Christ received after the Apostles the multitude, breathlessly anxious to embrace His feet. He received them willingly, but chose to dismiss them, that the rest also might be partakers of His doctrine, as He was not to remain long in the world.

And therefore there follows: And he said, Let us go into the neighboring villages and towns, that there also I may preach.

THEOPHYL. For He passes on to them as being more in need, since it was not right to shut up doctrine in one place, but to throw out his rays every where. It goes on: For therefore am I come.

PSEUD-CHRYS. In which word, He manifests the mystery of His emptying himself, that is, of His incarnation, and the sovereignty of His divine nature, in that He here asserts, that He came willingly into the world. Luke however says, To this end was I sent, proclaiming the Dispensation, and the good pleasure of God the Father concerning the incarnation of the Son.

There follows: And he continued preaching in their synagogues, in all Galilee.

AUG. But by this preaching, which, he says, He continued in all Galilee, is also meant the sermon of the Lord delivered on the mount, which Matthew mentions, and Mark has entirely passed over, without giving any thing like it, save that he has repeated some sentences not in continuous order, but in scattered places, spoken by the Lord at other times.

THEOPHYL. He also mingled action with teaching, for whilst employed in preaching, He afterwards put to flight devils. For there follows: And casting out devils. For unless Christ showed forth miracles, His teaching would not be believed; so do thou also, after teaching, work, that your word be not fruitless in thyself.

BEDE; Again mystically if by the setting of the sun, the death of the Savior is intended, why should not His resurrection be intended by the returning dawn? For by its clear light, He went far into the wilderness of the Gentiles, and there continued praying in the person of His faithful disciples, for He aroused their hearts by the grace of the Holy Spirit to the virtue of prayer.

Catena Aurea Mark 1

Healing of Apostle Peter's Mother In Law

Aprakos Gospel
1693

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: January 13, 2010
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: All-powerful God, as St. Hilary defended the divinity of Christ your Son, give us a deeper understanding of this mystery and help us to profess it in all truth. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

Prayer for Perseverance in Faith

13th

Optional Memorial of St. Hilary of Poitiers, bishop and doctor; Memorial of St. Kentigern, bishop (Scotland) Old Calendar: Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

St. Hilary of Poitiers was one of the great champions of the Catholic belief in the divinity of Christ. By his preaching, his treatise on the Trinity, his part in the Councils, his daring opposition to the Emperor Constantius, he showed himself a courageous apostle of the truth. He could not tolerate that the specious plea of safeguarding peace and unity should be allowed to dim the light of Gospel teaching. St. Pius IX proclaimed him a doctor of the Church.

In Scotland St. Kentigern's feast is a memorial. He was a missionary to Scotland and bishop of the Strathclyde Britons. Exiled, he fled to Wales.

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Hilary
St. Hilary was one of those great Christian heroes who poured out their lives laboring and suffering in defense of Christ's divinity. Scarcely had the days of bloody persecution ended (313), when there arose, now within the Church, a most dangerous enemy of another sort, Arianism. The heresy of Arianism denied the divinity of Christ; it was, in fact, hardly more than a form of paganism masquerading as the Christian Gospel. The smoldering strife soon flared into a mighty conflict endangering the whole Church; and its spread was all the more rapid and powerful because emperors, who called themselves Christian, proved its best supporters. Once again countless martyrs sealed in blood their belief in Christ's divinity; and orthodox bishops who voiced opposition were forced into exile amid extreme privations.

Among the foremost defenders of the true faith stood Hilary. He belonged to a distinguished family and had received an excellent education. Though a married man, he was made bishop of Poitiers by reason of his exemplary life. It was not long before his valiant defense of the faith precipitated his exile to Phrygia. Here he composed his great work on the Blessed Trinity (in twelve books). It is a vigorous defense of the faith, which, he said, "triumphs when attacked." Finally, after four years he was permitted to return to his native land. He continued his efforts, and through prudence and mildness succeeded in ridding Gaul of Arianism. Because of his edifying and illustrious writings on behalf of the true religion, the Church honors him as one of her doctors.

Here is an example of Hilary's vigorous style: "Now it is time to speak, the time for silence is past. We must expect Christ's return, for the reign of Antichrist has begun. The shepherds must give the warning signals because the hirelings have fled. Let us lay down our lives for the sheep, for brigands have entered the fold and the roaring lion is rampaging about. Be ready for martyrdom! Satan himself is clothed as an angel of light." A favorite motto of St. Hilary was, Ministros veritatis decet vera proferre, "Servants of the truth ought speak the truth."

—The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Against snakes; backward children; snake bites.

St. Kentigern
St. Kentigern was also known as Mungo ("dear one" or "darling"), his mother was a British princess named Thenaw (or Thaney or Theneva). When it was discovered that she was pregnant of an unknown man, she was hurled from a cliff and, when discovered alive at the foot of the cliff, was set adrift in a boat on the Firth of Forth. She reached Culross, was given shelter by St. Serf, and gave birth to a child to whom Serf gave the name Mungo. Raised by the saint, he became a hermit at Glasgow and was so renowned for his holiness that he was consecrated bishop of Strathclyde about 540. Driven to flight because of the feuds among the neighboring chieftains, he went to Wales, met St. David at Menevia, and founded a monastery at Llanelwy. About 553, Kentigern returned to Scotland, settled at Hoddam, and then returned to Glasgow, where he spent his last days. He is considered the first bishop of Scotland and with Thenaw is joint patron of Glasgow.

—Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney

Glasgow's Coat of Arms includes a bird, a fish, a bell and a tree; the symbols of Kentigern.

The Bird commemorates the pet robin owned by Saint Serf, which was accidentally killed by monks who blamed it on Saint Kentigern. Saint Kentigern took the bird in his hands and prayed over it, restoring it to life.

The Fish was one caught by Saint Kentigern in the Clyde River. When it was slit open, a ring belonging to the Queen of Cadzow was miraculously found inside it. The Queen was suspected of intrigue by her husband, and that she had left with his ring. She had asked Saint Kentigern for help, and he found and restored the ring in this way to clear her name.

The Bell may have been given to Saint Kentigern by the Pope. The original bell, which was tolled at funerals, no longer exists and was replaced by the magistrates of Glasgow in 1641. The bell of 1641 is preserved in the People's Palace.

The Tree is symbol of an incident in Saint Kentigern's childhood. Left in charge of the holy fire in Saint Serf's monastery, he fell asleep and the fire went out. However he broke off some frozen branches from a hazel tree and miraculously re-kindled the fire.

Patron: Glasgow, Scotland; salmon.

Symbols: Bell; bird; fish; ring; robin; salmon; tree.

Things to Do:

Make a custard pie in honor of St. Kentigern.

Doctors of the Catholic Church

Saint Hilary is the Doctor of Christ's Divinity. As bishop, he brilliantly defended the sacred humanity of Jesus. He was the only married doctor and protected the church and its members by defeating Arianism which denied the divinity of Christ.

Since he is the only married Doctor of the Church, Hilary can be a lifeline for troubled marriages. Is your marriage tearing you apart? Is it your fault or her fault? Could it be that you don't know? All ages of couples come to Retrouvaille to explore and find answers about their marriage and their important concerns. Husbands and wives from many walks of life and ethnic backgrounds, some who are struggling, some already separated or divorce, want to try again.

Retrouvaille begins with a weekend experience in which husbands and wives are helped to re-establish communication and to gain new insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. See link below.

Retrouvaille

For those Christians who can not identify Christ as God but think it is possible, don't be afraid to approach Hilary. If you feel reluctant to talk with anyone who has died for any reason, just imagine that Henry is truly listening to you by God's power. If you are a non-believer, don't be afraid to investigate Hilary, for when he lived on earth, he too was a non-believer at one time. He was all these and more.

One of his title was "The Athanasius of the West" after the great Eastern Doctor and The Father of Orthodoxy, St Athanasius.

Hilary was criticized, slandered, and banished from his country. By refusing to obey the Emperor, he was exiled. He boldly and bravely defended Jesus Christ in his fullness, both sacred humanity and eternal divinity.

Saint Henry clung to his faith when most yielded to worldly, authoritative powers and influences. He surrendered to God, lived his faith, faithfully, and would not be intimidated.

St Hilary, 315-368. Doctor of Christ's Divinity. Feast, Jan 13th.

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted here.

Psalm 35 (36) The sinner's wickedness; God's goodness

O God, in your light we shall see true light.

Evil whispers to the sinner in the depths of his heart:

the fear of God does not stand before his eyes.

Evil’s flattering light disguises his wickedness,

so that he does not hate it.

His words are false and deceitful,

he no longer considers how to do good.

Even when in bed he plots mischief;

he follows the wrong path; he does not hate malice.

Lord, your mercy fills the heavens,

your faithfulness rises to the sky.

Your justice is like the mountains of God,

your judgements are like the deeps of the sea.

Lord, you protect both men and beasts.

How precious is your kindness, O God!

The sons of men will take shelter under your wings;

they will eat their fill from the riches of your house,

drink all they want from the stream of your joy.

For with you is the spring of life-giving water.

In your light we shall see true light.

Hold out your mercy to those who know you,

offer your justice to the upright in heart.

Let me not be crushed under the heels of the proud,

nor dispossessed by the hands of sinners.

The doers of evil have fallen where they stood,

they are cast down and cannot rise.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

O God, in your light we shall see true light.

Canticle	Judith 16

The Lord, creator of the world, protects his people

Lord, you are great, you are the almighty one.

Make music to my God with drums,

sing to my Lord with cymbals.

Begin a new song to him,

extol and call upon his name.

You are the God who crushes battle-lines,

you set up your camp among your people,

you save me from the grip of my persecutors.

I will sing a new song to God:

Lord, you are great and glorious,

wonderful in your unconquerable power.

Let all your creatures serve you,

for you spoke and they were made,

you sent forth your spirit, and they were created:

there is no-one who can resist your command.

For the mountains will be shaken to their roots,

the seas will be stirred up,

at your sight the rocks will melt like wax –

but to those who fear you,

you will show your loving kindness.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Lord, you are great, you are the almighty one.

Psalm 46 (47) The Lord is King

Cry out to God in exultation.

All nations, clap your hands;

cry out to God in exultation,

for the Lord, the Most High, is greatly to be feared,

and King over all the earth.

He has made whole peoples our subjects,

put nations beneath our feet.

He has chosen our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

God ascends amid rejoicing,

the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

Sing to God, sing praise.

Sing to our king, sing praise.

God is king over the whole earth:

sing to him with all your skill.

God reigns over the nations;

God sits on his holy throne.

The nobles of the peoples join together

with the people of the God of Abraham,

for to God belong the armies of the earth;

he is high above all things.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Cry out to God in exultation.

Short reading	Tobit 4:14-15,16,19 ©

Be careful, my child, in all you do, well-disciplined in all your behaviour. Do to no one what you would not want done to you. Give your bread to those who are hungry, and your clothes to those who are naked. Whatever you own in plenty, devote a proportion to almsgiving. Bless the Lord God in everything; beg him to guide your ways and bring your paths and purposes to their end.

Short Responsory

Turn my heart, Lord, to your judgements.

– Turn my heart, Lord, to your judgements.

Give me life and make me follow your path.

– Turn my heart, Lord, to your judgements.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Turn my heart, Lord, to your judgements.

Canticle	Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

Remember your holy covenant, Lord, and take pity on us.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.

He has raised up the sign of salvation

in the house of his servant David,

as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,

his prophets through the ages:

to rescue us from our enemies

and all who hate us,

to take pity on our fathers,

to remember his holy covenant

and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,

that he would give himself to us,

that we could serve him without fear

– freed from the hands of our enemies –

in uprightness and holiness before him,

for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:

for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,

to let his people know their salvation,

so that their sins may be forgiven.

Through the bottomless mercy of our God,

one born on high will visit us

to give light to those who walk in darkness,

who live in the shadow of death;

to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Remember your holy covenant, Lord, and take pity on us.

Prayers and Intercessions

Let us thank Christ and praise him always: he has sanctified us himself, yet does not disdain to call us brothers. So we ask him:

– Lord, sanctify your brethren.

Grant that with pure hearts we may consecrate the start of the day to the honour of your resurrection;

and that throughout today we may please you with good works.

– Lord, sanctify your brethren.

You have given us a new day, for our salvation and joy, as a proof of your love:

in each new day renew our hearts, for your greater glory.

– Lord, sanctify your brethren.

Teach us today to recognise your presence in all men,

most of all, in the sorrowful and the poor.

– Lord, sanctify your brethren.

Grant that we may be at peace with everyone today,

and never repay evil actions with evil.

– Lord, sanctify your brethren.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be 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.

Listen to our prayers, God our salvation: make us hold fast to the light and work for the truth.

Just as you have made us children of light,

so make us worthy to bear witness to you before all the world.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

Secret Harbor ~ Portus Secretioris

13 January 2010

The Enthronement of the Messiah

On this day, 13 January, the Carthusian Order, other monastic communities, as well as the Extraordinary Form Mass goers celebrate liturgically the Baptism of the Lord. Below are some brief thoughts about baptism by a Carthusian monk. We have to be careful how we understand this piece: the deliverer of this reflection is by no means trying to suggest that Jesus didn’t know Who He was. It is designed, rather, so that we the reader look at this from a human perspective, that is, the Humanity of Jesus and how His example should be followed. Jesus was at prayer waiting on the Father: so should we be a people of prayer, trusting in God’s time. We have received the Holy Spirit in baptism, and the Father has proclaimed His love for His son/daughter. Sealed with the Holy Spirit, we have a purpose/mission in this life. And certainly, as God’s property, expect the evil one to try and take you away from the Lord. Jesus experienced all of this because His full commitment to humanity demands it, and as Jesus embraced what happens to humanity by taking it upon Himself, He has the divine authority to teach us what to do about it.

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove. And a Voice came from heaven, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You’” (Luke 3:21-22).

At the inauguration of His public mission, Jesus is in prayer, turned towards the Father, waiting. He has just taken part in the baptism of repentance given by John, which was an invitation to purification and humility: “Those who humble themselves. . .” It is then that the Spirit descends upon Him, and from heaven the Voice of the Father is heard: You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” This verse from the psalm (2:7) signifies the enthronement of the Messiah. Thus the Father manifests to Jesus Who He is, His fundamental identity as Son, and His mission to the people of God as Messiah.

It is in humble prayer that He is given the light to know Who He is, the Son in the presence of the Father, and what the Father wants of Him; and it is in prayer that He receives the power of the Spirit in order to bring His Sonship to fulfillment, in His obedience to the Father.

The adventure has begun. . . Filled with the Holy Spirit, and led by this same Spirit, He is, immediately after, to be tempted by the devil in the desert for forty days. “If You are the Son of God. . . You must make the most of it! Make use of Your spiritual powers in order to satisfy Your hunger, to stun the crowd with marvelous acts, to force Your Father to manifest His love for You.” No!

* Man does not live by bread alone.
* Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.

* Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted here.

Psalm 26 (27) Keeping faith in time of peril

The Lord is my light and my help: whom should I fear?

The Lord is my light and my help:

whom should I fear?

The Lord protects my life:

what could terrify me?

When they come to do me harm,

to consume my flesh,

my enemies and my persecutors,

it is they who stumble and fall.

If their armies encamp against me,

my heart will not fear;

if battle flares up against me,

even then will I hope.

One thing I beg of the Lord, one thing will I ask:

that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

so that I may behold the joys of the Lord

and always see his temple.

For he will shelter me in his tent in the time of evils.

He will hide me in the hidden parts of the tabernacle;

then raise me up on a rock,

lift me high up above the enemies who surround me.

In his tabernacle I will offer him a sacrifice

of shouts, of songs, of psalms to the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The Lord is my light and my help: whom should I fear?

Psalm 26 (27)

I seek your face, Lord: do not turn it away from me.

Listen, Lord, to my voice as I cry:

have mercy and listen to me.

“Seek his face,” my heart has said,

and so I will seek your face, O Lord.

Do not turn your face away from me,

do not turn from your servant in anger.

You are my helper, do not reject me;

do not abandon me, God, my help.

For when my father and mother have abandoned me,

the Lord will take me up.

Show me your ways, Lord, and guide me along the right path,

out of the reach of my enemies.

Do not hand me over to the whim of those who would persecute me,

when lying witnesses have risen up against me,

with those who plan to do me violence.

I trust I shall see the joys of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Hope in the Lord, be brave,

let your heart take comfort and trust in the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

I seek your face, Lord: do not turn it away from me.

Canticle	(Colossians 1)

Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead

He is the first-born of all creation, he is pre-eminent above all.

Let us give thanks to God the Father,

who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance.

He has rescued us from the power of the shadows

and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption

and the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God,

the first-born of all creation,

for in him all things were created,

in heaven and on earth,

visible and invisible,

thrones and dominations,

principalities and powers.

All things were created through him and for him:

he is before all things,

and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the Church.

He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead,

and so he is pre-eminent above all.

For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him,

and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself.

Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things,

both on Earth and in the heavens.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

He is the first-born of all creation, he is pre-eminent above all.

Short reading	James 1:22,25 ©

You must do what the word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves. But the man who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and makes that his habit – not listening and then forgetting, but actively putting it into practice – will be happy in all that he does.

Short Responsory

Redeem me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

– Redeem me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

Do not cast me away with sinners.

– Redeem me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Redeem me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

Canticle	Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

The mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

Prayers and Intercessions

Glory be to the name of the Lord, for he cares for his chosen people with infinite love. And so we send our prayers up to him:

– Lord, show us your love.

Remember your Church, Lord:

keep her free from evil and make her grow perfect in your love.

– Lord, show us your love.

Make all peoples recognise that you alone are God,

with Jesus Christ your Son, whom you have sent to us.

– Lord, show us your love.

May all go well with those who are near to us:

bless them and give them unending life.

– Lord, show us your love.

Give solace to those who are burdened by hard labour,

and uphold the dignity of those the world despises.

– Lord, show us your love.

In your compassion, open wide your gates for those who have left the body today,

and graciously welcome them into your kingdom.

– Lord, show us your love.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be 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.

Lord, support us as we pray to you, and keep us day and night under your protection.

Guide us as we live in this world of change,

and let your own unchangeability be a firm foundation for us.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

Regnum Christi

Jesus at Prayer

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Wednesday, 1st week in OT

Father Paul Campbell, LC

Mark 1:29-39

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon´s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed and Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Introductory Prayer:Lord, thank you for this time we will spend together. I wish to step away from the world and all its activities to be alone with you now. You are my beginning and my end: You created me, and you are leading me home to you in heaven. Thank you for your love. I know I deserve nothing from you and that my sins compound my unworthiness, yet you would still enfold me in your unfathomable love.

Petition:Lord, increase my love for prayer and the interior life.

1. A Man for Others. Here is Jesus in action. He works tirelessly from morning to night. He never thinks of himself. He never says he’s too tired or too busy to serve someone or to give others part of his time. He is there for everyone, and he keeps pushing himself to do more and more. He loves, and his love compels him to give himself to everyone around him without counting the cost. The whole city gathers to see him, and he opens his heart to all. He teaches. He heals the sick. He casts out demons. He is a man for others.

2. A Man of Prayer. After a full day of work, Jesus rested for just a little while, and then he rose early for prayer. There was a balance between his apostolic work and his life of prayer. Jesus wasn’t too busy to seek the solitude necessary to speak heart-to-heart with his Father. He found strength in prayer. He strengthened his resolve to follow his Father’s plan in prayer. He was absorbed in prayer for so long that the others began to go in search of him. Prayer wasn’t just a one-time activity: It was part of his daily routine.

3. Everyone Is Searching for Him. “Everyone is searching for you,” they said when they found Christ. They expressed the desire of every person. We all need God. He is the deepest desire of the human heart. God is searching for us, too. Jesus gets up from his prayer and heads out to the next town. We are searching for Christ, and he is searching for us. Where do we meet him? In prayer. In prayer we speak heart-to-heart with the one whom we know loves us. In prayer we can speak about the things that are important to us and about those things that are most important to him. This vital encounter gives light and strength to every other encounter we will have during the rest of the day. Through prayer, our love for others is enkindled so that we can spend ourselves tirelessly for others as Jesus did. Through prayer, we can be a men and women for others.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me to put you first in my life by giving you the best of my time. Help me not to give into laziness, but to rise early in the morning so that I can be with you. I need you in my life. Help me to experience your love so that I can share it with others. Help me to give myself to your plan of salvation and to reach out to those who are searching for you. Help me to hunger for you alone so that you will satisfy my hunger.

Resolution: I will invoke Our Lord in short and simple prayers throughout today, telling him I love him and asking for the grace of a greater intimacy with him through prayer.

Homily of the Day

Speak, Lord, Your Servant Is Listening

January 13th, 2010 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 / Mk 1:29-39

One of the saddest things we can ever see is a person getting off to a fine start and then ending badly. It’s bad enough when it’s just a game or a race, but it’s tragic when it’s someone’s life that goes badly off course. That kind of tragedy is what we are watching in the life of the high priest Eli.

With the passing of the years, Eli had grown jaded to things spiritual and had lost much of his awareness of God’s presence at his side. God was still there, and still speaking to him every day, but Eli rarely heard Him. He was too caught up in his own thoughts and his own desires to hear what God wanted.

Not so young Samuel, who though still just a boy, could already hear God’s voice clearly. And hearing that voice, he responded as we all would hope to: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Don’t let your heart become jaded or grow deaf to God’s quiet whisperings. Listen, and draw strength from the One who walks always at your side.

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

Hymn

Now that the daylight dies away,

By all thy grace and love,

Thee, Maker of the world, we pray

To watch our bed above.

Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,

The offspring of the night,

Keep us, like shrines, beneath thine eye,

Pure in our foe’s despite.

This grace on thy redeemed confer,

Father, co-equal Son,

And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,

Eternal Three in One.

Psalm 30 (31) Trustful prayer in time of adversity

O God, protect me; be my refuge.

In you, Lord, I put my trust: may I never be put to shame.

In your justice, set me free,

Turn your ear to me,

make haste to rescue me.

Be my rampart, my fortification;

keep me safe.

For you are my strength and my refuge:

you will lead me out to the pastures,

for your own name’s sake.

You will lead me out of the trap that they laid for me –

for you are my strength.

Into your hands I commend my spirit:

you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

O God, protect me; be my refuge.

Psalm 129 (130) Out of the depths

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord.

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord:

Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears listen out

for the voice of my pleading.

If you took notice of our transgressions, Lord –

Lord, who would be left?

But with you is forgiveness,

and for this we revere you.

I rely on you, Lord,

my spirit relies on your promise;

my soul hopes in the Lord,

more than the watchman for daybreak.

More than the watchman for daybreak,

let Israel hope in the Lord:

for with the Lord there is kindness

and abundant redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel

from all its transgressions.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord.

Reading	Ephesians 4:26-27

Be angry if you must, but do not sin: do not let your anger outlast the sunset: do not give the Devil his chance.

Short Responsory

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.

You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;

the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, you lay a gentle yoke upon those who follow you. Meek and humble, you give them a light burden to carry. Receive the work and the prayers we have offered to you today; and give us rest, to make us more eager to serve you, who live and reign for ever and ever, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

	Alma Redemptoris Mater

Revered mother of our Redeemer,

the way to heaven for us, now and always,

come to our help as we fall and strive to rise.

All nature stood still in wonder

when you gave flesh

to your own flesh’s Creator.

Virgin at Gabriel’s greeting,

Virgin now and always –

take pity on us sinners.

Daily Readings for: January 13, 2010(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

13th

Optional Memorial of St. Hilary of Poitiers, bishop and doctor; Memorial of St. Kentigern, bishop (Scotland) Old Calendar: Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

A M E N

13 January 2010

The Enthronement of the Messiah

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

A M E N

Homily of the Day

Speak, Lord, Your Servant Is Listening

Compline (Night Prayer)

A M E N

Daily Readings for: January 13, 2010
(Readings on USCCB website)