January 8, 2013

Tuesday after Epiphany

Reading 1 1 Jn 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Gospel Mk 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor

Our Lady of Prompt Succor
January 8
Patroness of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans

Our Lady of Prompt Succor is known for protecting, by her intercession, the city of New Orleans during the Great Fire of 1812 . On the Eve of the Battle of New Orleans (Jan 7, 1815) the Ursuline Sisters and the people of New Orleans gathered to again ask the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor for victory.
On December 31, 1810 the statue was brought to New Orleans from France by Mother St. Michel Gensoul and several postulants came to join the Ursuline nuns in New Orleans. Mother Gensoul was only given permission from her bishop to go to New Orleans after a prayer to Our Lady and permission from the pope.

Litany to Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, ... pray for us.
Mother of the Infant Jesus, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of all who invoke you with confidence, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of all who are devout toward the Infant Jesus, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining a lively faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for sustaining the hope of Christians, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining and persevering in charity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for observing the law of God, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for observing perseverance in virtue and good works, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every spiritual necessity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the revolt of self-will, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in the occasion of sin,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every temptation, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the evil spirit, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining contrition, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of those wishing to re-enter the path of salvation, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for the conversion of sinners, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every temporal necessity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every affliction,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of afflicted families,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of the sick and the poor, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against contagious diseases and epidemics, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every accident, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against destruction by fire, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against lightning and tempest, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against destruction by flood, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of travelers, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of navigators,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of the shipwrecked, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the enemies of our country, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in time of war, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of those aspiring to the holy priesthood and the religious life, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of laborers in the Lord's vineyard, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of missionaries who spread the faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of our Holy Father the Pope, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for those searching for the faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the enemies of the Church,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor at the hour of death, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for the deliverance of the souls in purgatory,...
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, pray for us.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O Almighty and Eternal God, Who sees us surrounded by so many dangers and miseries, grant in Your infinite goodness that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Divine Son, may defend us from the evil spirit and protect us against all adversities, that always and with prompt succor she may deliver us from every evil of soul and body, and safely guide us to the kingdom of heaven, through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Contemplation:
If our eyes are always on heaven and God, at the end of life we will find ourselves in His Presence.
Rosary follows

Prayer to Our Lady of Prompt Succor
O Mary, Mother of God, who amid the tribulations of the world, watches over us and over the Church of your Son, be to us and to the Church, truly, Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Make haste to help us in all our necessities, that in this fleeting life you may be our succor, and obtain for us (petition). As you once saved our beloved city from ravaging flames and our country from an invading army, have pity on us and obtain for us protection from hurricanes and all other disasters. Be to us truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor now and especially at the hour of our death. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Hasten to Help us!

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Thorfinn

Feast Day: January 08
Born: (around) 1230 :: Died: 1285

The Church found out about St. Thorfinn's life long after he had died. Fifty years later, his tomb was opened by accident during some construction work to renovate the church. Everyone was surprised by the strong, pleasant smell that came out of his coffin.

The abbot started making enquiries about Thorfinn. He found one elderly monk, Walter de Muda, who knew Thorfinn. In fact, Father Walter had been so impressed with Thorfinn's gentle goodness, patience, generosity and firmness against the evil and ungodly, that he had written a poem about him.

Walter had placed the poem with Thorfinn in the tomb. The monks went to look for the poem and found the parchment just as new and fresh as the day it had been put there.

The monks felt this was a sign that God wanted Thorfinn to be remembered and honored. People started praying to him and miracles began to happen around his tomb. Father Walter was asked to write whatever he could remember about Thorfinn.

Thorfinn had come from Norway and was a Cistercian monk at the abbey of Tautra. Later he had probably served at the cathedral as a priest. It seems that Thorfinn had signed an important document while at the cathedral.

He had been a witness to the Agreement of Tonsberg in 1277. This agreement between King Magnus VI and the archbishop set the Church free from state control. But a few years later, King Eric rejected the agreement and turned against the archbishop and those who had supported him.

The archbishop was sent away and so was Thorfinn, who was now bishop of Hamar, Norway. Thorfinn started a hard journey to Flanders. He was even shipwrecked on the trip. Finally, he arrived and went to live at the abbey of TerDoest in Flanders, Belgium.

He made a pilgrimage to Rome, but he returned to the abbey very ill. Before he died on January 8, 1285, Thorfinn divided the few possessions he had among his family members and some charitable groups.

Then in a monastery in Belgium. Reports of St. Thorfinn's holiness and the miracles at his tomb soon spread devotion to him among the Cistercians and Catholics in Hamar, Norway. Today Norwegians still honor St. Thorfinn and celebrate his feast day.

Reflection: Some people live famous and well-known lives; others slip in and out of our lives without much notice. Take the time today to notice someone who usually doesn't attract much attention.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: January 08, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: O God, who in the blessed childbearing of the holy Virgin Mary kept the flesh of your Son free from the sentence incurred by the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have been taken jup into this new creation, may be freed from the ancient taint of sin. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

Little Mince Pies

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

Meal Prayers for the Christmas Season

Christmas: January 8th

Tuesday Christmas Weekday

The Magi are called "saints" for the first time in the writings of Archbishop Hildebert of Tours (1133). In the twelfth century their veneration spread over all of Europe. The authorities of the Church did not prohibit this cult, and Epiphany acquired the popular name of "Feast of the Three Holy Kings" in most countries of Europe.

The name Magi is not a Hebrew word, but of Indo-European origin, and means "great, illustrious." Saint Matthew mentioned the term without explanation because it was well known to the people of Palestine. The Magi originated in Media (Persia), and their caste later spread to other Oriental countries. They were a highly esteemed class of priestly scholars, devoting themselves not only to religion but also to the study of natural sciences, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and astrology. In several countries they were members of the king's council.

Where did the Magi come from? Saint Matthew gives a general answer: "Wise men from the East." In modern terms, it could have been from any one of the countries of Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, or India. It has never been exactly determined from which of these countries they came.

Quite early in the Christian era a popular tradition conferred on them the title of "kings". This tradition became universal at the end of the sixth century. It was based on Biblical prophecies which described the conversion of the pagans and, although not referring to the Magi, were applied to their visit:

The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Sheba shall bring gifts. (Psalms 71, 10) The kings shall walk in the brightness of thy rising.... They all shall come from Sheba, bringing gold and frankincense. (Isaiah 60, 3-6)

The Gospel does not tell us how many they were. The Christians in the Orient had an old tradition of twelve Magi. In early paintings and mosaics they are represented as two, three, four, and even more. In the occidental Church a slowly spreading tradition put their number at three. It does not seem to have any historical foundation, but was probably based on the fact of the threefold presents. Another reason for the number three was the early legend that they represented all humanity in its three great races. Thus one of them was pictured as a member of the black race, and this choice seemed to be confirmed by the Bible:

Let the great ones come forth from Egypt, let Ethiopia stretch out her arms to God. (Psalms 67, 32)

The book Collectanea et Flores, ascribed to Saint Bede the Venerable (735), records an earlier legend of their names and appearance:

The first was called Melchior; he was an old man, with white hair and long beard; he offered gold to the Lord as to his king. The second, Gaspar by name, young, beardless, of ruddy hue, offered to Jesus his gift of incense, the homage due to Divinity. The third, of black complexion, with heavy beard, was called Baltasar; the myrrh he held in his hands prefigured the death of the Son of man.

There is an old legend that when many years had passed the Magi were visited by Saint Thomas the Apostle, who, after instructing them in Christianity, baptized them. They were then ordained to the priesthood and made bishops. It is said that once more the star of Bethlehem appeared to them and reunited them toward the end of their lives. "The city of Sewa in the Orient" is given as the place of their burial.

The legendary relics of the Magi were brought from Constantinople to Milan in the sixth century. In 1164 Emperor Frederick Barbarossa obtained them from the archbishop of Milan and transferred them to Cologne. Their shrine in Cologne was, and still is, the center of many pilgrimages.

The Fifteenth Day of Christmas

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 6
34.	And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.	Et exiens vidit turbam multam Jesus : et misertus est super eos, quia erant sicut oves non habentes pastorem, et cœpit docere multa.	και εξελθων ειδεν ο ιησους πολυν οχλον και εσπλαγχνισθη επ αυτοις οτι ησαν ως προβατα μη εχοντα ποιμενα και ηρξατο διδασκειν αυτους πολλα
35.	And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past:	Et cum jam hora multa fieret, accesserunt discipuli ejus, dicentes : Desertus est locus hic, et jam hora præteriit :	και ηδη ωρας πολλης γενομενης προσελθοντες αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου λεγουσιν οτι ερημος εστιν ο τοπος και ηδη ωρα πολλη
36.	Send them away, that going into the next villages and towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat.	dimitte illos, ut euntes in proximas villas et vicos, emant sibi cibos, quos manducent.	απολυσον αυτους ινα απελθοντες εις τους κυκλω αγρους και κωμας αγορασωσιν εαυτοις αρτους τι γαρ φαγωσιν ουκ εχουσιν
37.	And he answering said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said to him: Let us go and buy bread for two hundred pence, and we will give them to eat.	Et respondens ait illis : Date illis vos manducare. Et dixerunt ei : Euntes emamus ducentis denariis panes, et dabimus illis manducare.	ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις δοτε αυτοις υμεις φαγειν και λεγουσιν αυτω απελθοντες αγορασωμεν δηναριων διακοσιων αρτους και δωμεν αυτοις φαγειν
38.	And he saith to them: How many loaves have you? go and see. And when they knew, they say: Five, and two fishes	Et dicit eis : Quot panes habetis ? ite, et videte. Et cum cognovissent, dicunt : Quinque, et duos pisces.	ο δε λεγει αυτοις ποσους αρτους εχετε υπαγετε και ιδετε και γνοντες λεγουσιν πεντε και δυο ιχθυας
39.	And he commanded them that they should make them all sit down by companies upon the green grass.	Et præcepit illis ut accumbere facerent omnes secundum contubernia super viride fœnum.	και επεταξεν αυτοις ανακλιναι παντας συμποσια συμποσια επι τω χλωρω χορτω
40.	And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.	Et discubuerunt in partes per centenos et quinquagenos.	και ανεπεσον πρασιαι πρασιαι ανα εκατον και ανα πεντηκοντα
41.	And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes: looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave to his disciples to set before them: and the two fishes he divided among them all.	Et acceptis quinque panibus et duobus pisces, intuens in cælum, benedixit, et fregit panes, et dedit discipulis suis, ut ponerent ante eos : et duos pisces divisit omnibus.	και λαβων τους πεντε αρτους και τους δυο ιχθυας αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον ευλογησεν και κατεκλασεν τους αρτους και εδιδου τοις μαθηταις αυτου ινα παραθωσιν αυτοις και τους δυο ιχθυας εμερισεν πασιν
42.	And they all did eat, and had their fill.	Et manducaverunt omnes, et saturati sunt.	και εφαγον παντες και εχορτασθησαν
43.	And they took up the leavings, twelve full baskets of fragments, and of the fishes.	Et sustulerunt reliquias, fragmentorum duodecim cophinos plenos, et de piscibus.	και ηραν κλασματων δωδεκα κοφινους πληρεις και απο των ιχθυων
44.	And they that did eat, were five thousand men.	Erant autem qui manducaverunt quinque millia virorum.	και ησαν οι φαγοντες τους αρτους πεντακισχιλιοι ανδρες

34. And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Little indeed is the rest of the saints here on earth, long is their labor, but afterwards, they are bidden to rest from their labors. But as in the ark of Noah, the animals that were within were sent forth, and they that were without rushed in, so is it in the Church, Judas went, the thief came to Christ. But as long as men go back from the faith, the Church can have no refuge from grief; for Rachel weeping for her children would not be comforted. Moreover, this world is not the happiest, in which the new wine is drank, when the new song will be sung by men made anew, when this mortal shall have put in immortality.

BEDE; But when Christ goes to the deserts of the Gentiles, many bands of the faithful leaving the walls of their cities, that is their old manner of living, follow Him.

35. And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came to him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36. Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
37. He answered and said to them, Give you them to eat. And they say to him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
38. He said to them, How many loaves have you? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
39. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies on the green grass.
40. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
41. And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, He looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
42. And they did all eat, and were filled.
43. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
44. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

THEOPHYL. The Lord, placing before them, first, what is most profitable, that is, the food of the word of God, afterwards also gave the multitude food for their bodies; in beginning to relate which the Evangelist says, And to when on, the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, and said, This is a desert place.

BEDE; The time being far spent, points out that it was evening. Wherefore Luke says, But the day had begun to decline.

THEOPHYL. See now , how those who are disciples of Christ grow in love to man, for they pity the multitudes, and come to Christ to intercede for them. But the Lord tried them, to see whether they would know that His power was great enough to feed them.

Wherefore it goes on, He answered and said to them, Give you them to eat.

BEDE; By these words He calls on His Apostles, to break bread for the people, that they might be able to testify that they had no bread, and thus the greatness of the miracle might become more known.

THEOPHYL. But the disciples thought that He did not know what was necessary for the feeding of so large a multitude, for their answer shows that they were troubled. For it goes on, And they said to him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

AUG. This in the Gospel of John is the answer of Philip, but Mark gives it as the answer of the disciples, wishing it to be understood that Philip made this answer as a mouthpiece of the others; although he might put the plural number for the singular, as is usual. It goes on, And he said to them, How many loaves have you? go and see. The other Evangelists pass over this being done by the Lord. It goes on, And when they knew, they say, Five, a two fishes. This, which was suggested by Andrew, as we learn from John, the other Evangelists, using the plural for the singular, have put into the mouth of the disciples.

It goes on, And he commanded them enter to make all sit do down by companies upon the green grass,

and they sat down in ranks by hundreds and by fifties. But we need not be perplexed, though Luke says that they were ordered to sit down by fifties , and Mark by hundreds and fifties, for, one was mentioned a part, the other the whole. Mark, who mentions the hundreds, fills up what the other has left out.

THEOPHYL. We are given to understand that they lay down in parties, separate from one another, for what is translated by companies, is repeated twice over in the Greek, as though it were by companies and companies. It goes on, And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them, and the two fishes divided he among them all.

CHRYS. Now it was with fitness that He looked up to heaven, for the Jews, when receiving manna in the desert, presumed to say of God, Can he give bread? To prevent this therefore before He performed the miracle, He referred to His Father what He was about to do.

THEOPHYL. He also looks up to heaven that He may teach us to seek our food from God, and not from the devil, as they do who unjustly feed on other man labors. By this also He intimated to the crowd, that He could not be opposed to God, since He called upon God. And He gives the bread to His disciple's to set before the multitude, that by handling the bread they might see that it was an undoubted miracle. It goes on: And they did all eat, and were filled:

and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments.

Twelve baskets of fragments remained over and above, that each of the Apostles, carrying a basket on his shoulder, might recognize the unspeakable Worker of the miracle. For it was a proof of overflowing power not only to feed so many men, but also to leave such a superabundance of fragments. Even though Moses gave manna, yet what was given to each was measured by his necessity, and what was over and above was overrun with worms. Elias also fed the woman, but gave her just what was enough for her; but Jesus, being the Lord, makes his gifts with superabundant profusion.

BEDE; Again, in a mystical sense, the Savior refreshes the hungry crowds at the day's decline, because, either, now that the end of the world approaches, or now that the Sun of justice has set in death for us, we are saved from wasting away in spiritual hunger. He calls the Apostles to Him at the breaking of bread, intimating that daily by them our hungry souls are fed, that is, by their letters and examples. By the five loaves are figured the Five Books of Moses, by the two fishes the Psalms and Prophets.

THEOPHYL. Or the two fishes are the discourses of fishermen that is, their Epistles and Gospel.

BEDE; There are five senses in the outward man which shows that by the five thousand men are meant those who, living in the world, know how to make a good use of external things.

GREG. The different ranks in which those who ate lie down, mark out the divers churches which make up the one Catholic. But the Jubilee rest is contained in the mystery of the number fifty, and fifty must be doubled before it reaches up to a hundred. As then the first step is to rest from doing evil, that afterwards the soul may rest more fully from evil thoughts, some lie down in parties of fifty, others of a hundred.

BEDE; Again, those men lie down on grass and are fed by the food of the Lord, who have trodden under foot their concupiscences by continence, and apply themselves diligently to hear and fulfill the words of God. The Savior, however, does not create a new sort of food; for when He came in the flesh He preached no other things than were predicted, but showed how pregnant with mysteries of grace were the writings of the Law and the Prophets. He looks up to heaven, that He may teach us that there we must look for grace. He breaks and distributes to the disciples that they may place the bread before the multitudes, because He has opened the mysteries of prophecy to holy doctors, who are to preach them to the whole world. What is left by the crowd is taken up by the disciples, because the more sacred mysteries, which cannot be received by the foolish, are not to be passed by with negligence, but to be inquired into by the perfect. For by the twelve baskets, the Apostles and the following Doctors are typified, externally indeed despised by men, but inwardly full of healthful food. For all know that carrying baskets is a part of the work of shaves.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Or, in the gathering of the twelve baskets full of fragments, is signified the time, when they shall sit on thrones, judging all who are left of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel, when the remnant of Israel shall be saved.

Catena Aurea Mark 6

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Feast Day:	January 8
Died:	175