Posted on 12/15/2012 9:45:15 PM PST by Salvation
This Religion Forum thread is labeled “Catholic Caucus” meaning if you are not currently, actively Catholic then do not post on this thread.
Your powers of censorship are admirable.
From: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Psalms of Joy in Zion
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Commentary:
3:14-18a. Now the promise becomes a song of jubilation. The Lord, the Savior,
sees to it that all is joy (v. 14), and there is no room for fear (v. 16). The Christian,
in reading these verses, cannot but be reminded of the scene of the Annunciation:
Mary, too, the humble Virgin (Lk 1:48), is invited to rejoice (Lk 1:28) and not to
fear (Lk 1:20), because the Lord is with her (Lk 1:28). And indeed, with the Incar-
nation of the Word, the Lord did come to dwell among his people,and the salva-
tion that was promised came to pass.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Philippians 4:4-7
Exhortation to Perseverance and Joy (Continuation)
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Commentary:
4. What St Paul says here is particularly impressive if one bears in mind that he
is writing this letter from prison. In order to have joy it does not matter if we are
living in difficult conditions. “For a Christian, joy is a treasure. Only by offending
God do we lose it, because sin is the fruit of selfishness, and selfishness is the
root of sadness. Even then, a bit of joy survives under the debris of our soul—the
knowledge that neither God nor his (Christ’s) Mother forgets us. If we repent, if
an act of sorrow springs from our heart, if we purify ourselves in the holy sacra-
ment of penance, God comes out to meet and forgive us. Then there can be no
sadness whatsoever” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 178).
The kind of profound joy that fills the soul with peace does not derive from the sa-
tisfaction of physical or material needs but from faithfulness to God and his com-
mandments by embracing the Cross. “This is the difference between us and
those who do not know God,” St Cyprian says: “they complain in adversity; but
difficulties do not draw us away from virtue or from the true faith. On the contrary,
our virtue and faith are reinforced in affliction” (”De Mortalitate”, 13).
In the Old Testament, God, speaking through Nehemiah, said, “Do not be grieved,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10). Joy, in fact, is a powerful ally
in the struggle to achieve victory (cf. 1 Mac 3:2ff), to conquer evil with good, for it
is something closely connected with grace. “The true worth of what a Christian
does is determined by the active presence of God’s grace in him and his deeds.
In a Christian’s heart, therefore, peace is inseparable from joy [...]. when the joy
that is in a Christian heart is poured out on others, it gives them hope and opti-
mism; it spurs them to be generous in their daily toil and infects the entire so-
ciety. My children, only if you have in you this divine grace which is joy and
peace, will you be able to do anything useful for others” (John Paul II, “Address”,
10 April 1979).
5-7. “The Lord is at hand”: the Apostle reminds the faithful of the nearness of our
Lord; he wants to encourage them to rejoice and to be understanding towards
one another. These words must surely have brought to their minds the exclama-
tion “Marana tha” (Come, Lord), which was often in the lips at liturgical celebra-
tions (cf. note on 1 Cor 16:21-24). In the sort of hostile environment that many of
them lived in, they needed to put their hope in their Savior, Jesus Christ, who will
come from heaven to judge the living and the dead (cf. Phil 3:20; 1 Thess 4:16ff;
2 Thess 1:5). St Paul does not mean to specify when the “Parousia” or second
coming of Christ will take place (cf. “Introduction to St Paul’s Epistles to the
Thessalonians” in “The Navarre Bible: Thessalonians; EB”, 414-461; note on Mt
24:36). Like the first Christians, we should make sure it does not catch us un-
prepared.
Besides, the Lord is always near us, always caring for us in his providence (cf.
Ps 119:151). There is no reason for us to feel ill at ease. He is our Father, he is
near to all who call on him (cf. Ps 145:18); he listens to our prayers, ever ready
to instruct us and to give us whatever we need to overcome difficulties that arise.
All that he asks is that we trustingly tell him our situation, speaking to him with
the simplicity of a child.
Constant dialogue with God in prayer is, as St Paul suggests, a good way to
prevent anything robbing us of peace of soul, for prayer “regulates our affections”,
St Bernard teaches, “directs our actions, corrects our faults, guides our conduct,
beautifies and orders our life; it brings with it knowledge of things divine and
things human also. It determines what we ought to do and reflects on what we
have done, in such a way that our heart never becomes wanton or in need of dis-
cipline” (”Book of Consideration”, I, 7).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Ya wohl!
From: Luke 3:10-18
The Preaching of John the Baptist (Continuation)
[15] As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts
concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, [16] John answered them
all, “I baptize you with water; but He who is mightier than I is coming, the thong
of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and with fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in His hand, to clear the threshing floor,
and to gather the wheat into His granary, but the chaff He will burn with unquen-
chable fire.”
[18] So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.
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Commentary:
12-13. With honesty and courage St. John the Baptist lays bare each person’s
fault. The chief sin of tax collectors lay in their using their privileged position as
collaborators of the Roman authorities to acquire personal wealth at the expense
of the Jewish people: Rome specified how much Israel as a whole should yield
by way of taxes; the tax collectors abused their position by extorting more than
was necessary. Take the case of Zacchaeus, for example, who, after his conver-
sion, admits that he acquired wealth unjustly and, under the influence of grace,
promises our Lord to make generous restitution (cf. Luke 19:1-10).
The Baptist’s preaching contains a norm of natural justice which the Church al-
so preaches. Public position should be regarded, above all, as an opportunity to
serve society, not to obtain personal gain at the expense of the common good
and of that justice which people holding such positions are supposed to admini-
ster. Certainly, anyone who has fallen into the temptation of unjustly appropria-
ting what belongs to another must not only confess his sin in the Sacrament of
Penance if he is to obtain pardon; he must also resolve to give back what is not
his.
14. The Baptist requires of everyone—Pharisees, tax collectors, soldiers—a deep
spiritual renewal in the very exercise of their job; they have to act justly and ho-
norably. God asks all of us to sanctify ourselves in our work and in the circum-
stances in which we find ourselves: “Any honest and worthwhile work can be
converted into a divine occupation. In God’s service there are no second-class
jobs; all of them are important” (St. J. Escriva, “Conversations”, 55).
15-17. Using excessive imagery, John announces Christian Baptism, proclaiming
that he is not the Messiah; He, who is on His way, will come with the authority
of supreme Judge that belongs to God, and with the dignity of the Messiah, who
has no human equal.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
| First reading | Zephaniah 3:14-18 © |
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| Canticle | Isaiah 12 © |
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| The rejoicing of a redeemed people |
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| Second reading | Philippians 4:4-7 © |
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| Gospel Acclamation | Is61:1(Lk4:18) |
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| Gospel | Luke 3:10-18 © |
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Thanks, I’ll look into that. In exchange, check out...ah nevermind. I don’t care what you believe...I just wish you’d reciprocate.
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 The following is the longer version of the vital prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 after his startling vision as to the future of the Church. This prayer was dedicated for the Feast of St. Michael 1448 years from the date of the election of the first Leo - Pope Saint Leo the Great. Everyone is familiar with the first prayer below which was mandated by His Holiness as part of the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass. Below are both the short and longer versions of this poignant prayer which should never be forgotten.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
O glorious Archangel Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of our Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the Name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay, and cast into eternal perdition, souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. That wicked dragon pours out. as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on Her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck the sheep may be scattered. Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious powers of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
R: The Lion of the Tribe of Juda has conquered the root of David. V: Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord. R: As we have hoped in Thee. V: O Lord hear my prayer. R: And let my cry come unto Thee. V: Let us pray. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as suppliants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin, immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel Saint Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of our souls. Amen.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
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Look down upon me, O good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; the while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my good Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."