Posted on 01/23/2016 8:43:22 PM PST by Salvation
Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")
Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."
Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."
Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."
Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."
Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!
January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus
The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria
Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.
---Roman Breviary
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.
O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil:2:10-11
The Most Holy Name
The Power of Jesus Name
What does IHS stand for? The meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus [Catholic Caucus]
Litany Of The Holy Name of Jesus
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Jesus, The Name above all Names
Devotion to the Holy Name (of Jesus) [Catholic Caucus]
Lessons In Iconography : The Chi Rho - Christ
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Excerpt from a Sermon) (Catholic Caucus)
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
St. Bernard on the Most Holy Name of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Saving the day in His Holy Name: St. Genevieve gets a reprieve [Catholic Caucus]
The Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
The Holy Name of Jesus
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing"
When you read that: "He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him", take care not to consider Christ's listeners to be blessed and to think of yourselves as deprived of his teaching. If Scripture is true then God did not just speak in former times in the meeting places of the Jews but he still speaks today in our own assemblies. And not just here, in our own assembly, but in other meeting places. And all over the world Jesus teaches and seeks out bearers of his word to pass on his teaching. Pray that he may find me both ready and able to sing it.
Just as almighty God, seeking for prophets at a time when prophecy was lacking to men, finds Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, for example, so Jesus seeks out bearers of the message to pass on his word, to "teach in their synagogues and be praised by all." Today Jesus is even more "praised by all" than at the time when he was only known in a single province.
Homecomings can be powerful moments. In this account, taken from the pages of Luke's Gospel, Jesus returns home to Nazareth at the age of 30 after going away for some time to finalize preparations for His public ministry and to initiate it in Jerusalem. He knows that prophets often are not accepted in their own hometowns. He knows that it will be extra hard for the good folks from Nazareth to grasp that He is not only a prophet, but indeed the Messiah. Yet, He knows that He can't shy away from the task, so He goes home to proclaim the kingdom of God and reveal His identity.
Jesus, according to custom, enters the local synagogue on the Sabbath. I am sure that everyone in Nazareth was both excited and anxious to see what he would do or say. Jesus is handed the famous scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Our Lord unrolls it and announces in plain language that He is indeed the Messiah, the "Anointed One": "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me ... Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."
What comes next was also earthshaking. Jesus makes it clear that He has not come to overthrow the Romans and restore Jewish rule over Judea and Galilee, a most common hope and expectation for the long-awaited Messiah. He did not come to raise an army or reconstitute a government.
Rather, Jesus came down from heaven to build a kingdom of love and truth and to offer to the world the great gift of the Father's mercy: "He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free ..."
Pope Francis is, not surprisingly, profoundly inspired by Jesus' mission of mercy. He is convinced that Christians, and indeed the whole world, desperately need to hear the good news of God's tender mercy. The pope thinks that mercy is at the very core of the church's mission and that significant pockets of the church have lost their focus on this mission.
So, our Holy Father has inaugurated a Jubilee Year of Mercy. Jesus came down from heaven and took on our human nature to bring to a hurting and broken world the merciful love of God the Father. In fact, Pope Francis begins his document, âMisericordiae Vultus,â announcing this great year with a clear statement: "Jesus Christ is the face of the Fatherâs mercy." The Holy Father goes on to say: "The signs he (Jesus) works, especially in favor of sinners, the poor, the marginalized, the sick, and the suffering, are all meant to teach mercy. Everything in him speaks of mercy. Nothing in him is devoid of compassionâ (âMisericordiae Vultus,â No. 8).
In this inspired document, Pope Francis is summoning Christians all over the world to a threefold mission: to experience the mercy of God, to contemplate it with grateful hearts and to be a living instrument, carrying that mercy into every corner of creation. âJesus affirms that mercy is not only an action of the Father, it becomes a criterion for ascertaining who his true children are. In short, we are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to usâ (âMisericordiae Vultus,â No. 9).
Mercy, similar to charity, begins at home. Our homes need to be an oasis of mercy. Might this be the reason for Jesusâ return to the synagogue in Nazareth? Is there someone in your family who needs from you a generous outpouring of the Fatherâs tender mercy?
Fr. Peterson is assistant chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington and director of the Youth Apostles Institute in McLean.
http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=45"
The Work of God
Year C - 3rd Sunday in ordinary time
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.
Luke 1:1-4 4:14-21
1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
Luke 4:14-21 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.
15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (NRSV)
Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
After my Baptism I returned to Galilee filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. I went to the temple on the Sabbath and started to read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. At the end I told them that the passage of Scripture was fulfilled as I read it.
âThe Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me.â
In Baptism I received the fullness of the Holy Spirit, I had the power, the wisdom and the love of God in me. I was the God Man empowered to carry out the work of Salvation.
I came to announce the Good News; that the Kingdom of Heaven is very near to those who repent. I came to free the captives of sin by making my Mercy available to all sinners who acknowledge their guilt and ask for pardon. I came to heal the sick not only in their bodies but also in their souls. I came to open the eyes of the blind not just physically but spiritually, to bring them from darkness into the light. I came to free those oppressed by the evil one, those who are totally lost except for my intervention. I came to proclaim the goodness, the mercy and the grace of God.
I came to change the world for good. I am still here to transform the hearts of all those who listen to my word and believe that I am the same: yesterday, today and forever. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of every thing, the One with the power to save what is lost, to give life to what is dead, the One who paid the ransom for your Salvation.
I am the Lord your God, I am Spirit. I have come to offer you my Holy Spirit so that you partake of my gifts, that you may open your eyes and see what I am offering you. I give you everything in proportion to your faith. You see it is by believing in me that you acknowledge who I am. It is by trusting in me, that you come to enjoy the physical and spiritual healing that I give. My miracles are still available to the believers. I am the Son of God, the only way to Him, sent to give testimony of His Power, Wisdom and Love.
Everyone who is baptised is anointed with the Holy Spirit, he is a living temple of the Presence of God, he is invited to grow in the faith, to achieve knowledge of God and to become like Him.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary
The gospel for this Sunday is continued next week, so I will postpone the analysis of it until then. Instead, I will focus on the first reading, from Nehemiah 8. It is a wonderful meditation on the glory and wonder of the Word of God and it deserves our attention.
The background of the text is that in 587 BC, Israel had been conquered by the Babylonians and the survivors of the war were led into exile in Babylon. After 80 years the Persians conquered the Babylonians. Cyrus, King of Persia, permitted the Jews to return to the Promised Land. Sadly, only a small number chose to return and rebuild the ruined land and city. Among them was Nehemiah, a Jew and a royal official, who led the small band back and oversaw the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Along with Ezra the priest, he also led a spiritual renewal that was spurred on not only by the purification of exile, but also by the rediscovery of certain lost or forgotten sacred books. On one occasion the people gathered to hear the proclamation of one of the lost books. That is where we pick up today's reading.
I. HUNGER for the Word of God â The text says, And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.
Note that the people are hungry for the Word of God. They have gathered together and now make the unified request (as one man) that the Book of the Law be brought and proclaimed to them.
The book that is likely referred to here is the Book of Deuteronomy. It would seem that the book had either been lost or at least severely neglected in the preaching of the time prior to the Babylonian exile of Israel. In Deuteronomy was contained not only a development of the Law but also a list of blessings for following it and grave warnings for not doing so. After the painful experience of exile, the people who gathered are aware that, had they heard and heeded Deuteronomy, they could have avoided the terrible events of the Babylonian conquest and the captivity of Israel.
So now, chastised and sober, they are hungry for this Word from God. As the Book of Psalms says, Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word (Psalm 119:67).
Are you hungry for the Word of God? More so than for money? More so than for bodily food? Scripture says,
Are we hungry for the Word like this? It seems that we won't miss a meal for our bodies, but we'll go days without the Word. Our bodies gain weight and obesity is widespread in our culture. But our souls too easily languish and endure famine from the Word of God and the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Are you hungry for his Word? An old song says, "More about Jesus in his word, holding communion with my Lord, hearing his voice in every line, making each faithful saying mine. More, more about Jesus, more of his saving fullness, see more of his love who died for me."
II. HEARING of the Word of God â The text says, And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose
Notice these two things:
ASSEMBLY - There is a communal dimension to the celebration of God's Word here. It's not just a private celebration or reading. And while there is today in a more literate culture the possibility of reading the Scriptures alone, we should not neglect to gather with the Church and be taught the Word of God by others, especially the clergy, who are trained and anointed unto this task. Scripture says, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb 10:24). Too many think that all they need is the Bible alone. But notice that the proclamation of the Word is communal here. We'll develop more on this topic in a later portion of the text.
AMOUNT of time - The text says that the proclamation and explanation of this Word took place from "morning to mid-day." This is no "say it in seven minutes" sermon. It is an extended time spent studying, praying, and hearing the Word of God. Many today consider a Mass that runs longer than 45 minutes to be counterproductive. It's funny how we excited we get when a three-hour football game goes into overtime, but then we complain when a sermon lasts longer than "regulation" time. We find so much time for other things and our attention span for them is long, yet we have so little time for the Word of God and we are so impatient that the reflection be over sooner rather than later. Yes, we find time for everything else. You can blame the preacher, and we may deserve it, but there's usually more to the picture than just the preacher.
III. HONOR for the Word of God â The text says, And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Note the remarkable honor given to the Word through active listening. While it is true that many today, especially more traditional Catholics, see silent and passive listening as the proper, pious, and respectful demeanor during the readings and sermon, this is not the cultural setting described in this passage. Neither is a quiet demeanor the ubiquitous norm in the Church today. It is not a question of which is right and which is wrong, but of whether or not the Word of God is being honored.
The listeners that morning some 2,500 years ago stood and said "Amen, Amen!" They lifted up their hands and even prostrated themselves on the ground while the Word was read. They were engaged in active listening, giving the Word their undivided attention and interacting with its sounds as it resonated within them. This is attentive listening, reflective and responsive, hearing with thoughtful attention.
There are different cultural expression of attentiveness, but you can tell a lot by looking at peoples faces. Even in cultures in which people exhibit a prayerful silence, these same people get excited at football games, even jumping to their feet. Excitement and exuberant joy are not unknown in cultures in which religious reserve is the norm. One would hope to rule out that such reservation is merely indicative of boredom. For those of us who are more reserved, we don't want to be sour-faced saints, bored believers, distracted disciples, or cold Christians. While reverence is expressed by many through prayerful and attentive silence, we want to be sure it is not simply the face of the "frozen chosen."
And for those of us who are more demonstrative, we want to be sure those outpourings are not a merely formulaic recitations of "Amen" or a sort of egocentric, theatrical acting. Neither should one simply seek to exalt the preacher or the pew just to get everyone "pumped up." The "Amen corner," where it exists, should be sincere.
The key point is to honor the Word of God, whether by reverent silence or exuberant response. But in no way should the Word of God leave one bored and unmoved.
IV. HELP unto the Word of God â The text says, The Levites also, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
The Word is not alone. It is explained and interpreted. We need the Church in order to properly understand the Word of God, to have it authentically interpreted. And while devotional reading is to be encouraged, the Word of God is not meant to be read apart from the Church. As the Protestant experiment has shown, an attempt to have the Scriptures without the Church and the Magisterium, from whence the Holy Spirit uttered them, is to usher in disastrous, never-ending division. This truth is expressed well in the story about the Ethiopian official: So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him (Acts 8:30).
The authoritative preachers of God's Word; the Bishops, priests, and deacons; have the task to read, analyze, organize, illustrate, and apply the Word of God in the liturgical setting.
In the task of proclaiming the Word of God, there is a need beyond that for authoritative teachers; there is also the need for the pastoral assistance of others. In my own community there are excellent lectors who often read the Word with such power and inflection that I hear it as I have never heard it before. Further, I have a wonderful choir that often sings hymns and passages rooted in the Scripture such that I come to know them as never before. It's really pressed to my heart. My congregation, too, by its vivid response to the proclaimed Word and the preaching, brings forth insight and makes the Word of God an experienced reality.
V. HEARTFELT reaction to the Word of God - The text says, And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."
They are so moved by what is proclaimed that they weep. Their weeping is due to the realization of what their past stubbornness has brought about: disaster, decline, and exile. Had they but heard and heeded God's Law, this terrible period of Israel's history could have been avoided.
True listening to the Word of God should bring forth a response. The desired outcome of preaching the Word is to elicit a response. The purpose of the Word of God is not only to inform, but to transform. It might make you mad, or sad, or glad, but if you are really listening to the authentic Word of God, you cannot remained unmoved. Scripture says,
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do (Heb 4:12).
VI. HEEDING of the Word of God - Nehemiah chapter 8 continues beyond the passage in the lectionary today. It goes on to say, On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the law. And they found it written in the law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem, "Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written." So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and dwelt in the booths; for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
Among the things they discovered was that Israel had not been celebrating an important and appointed feast day: the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths). This feast, while a harvest festival, was also a celebration that acknowledged the gift of the Law on Mt. Sinai. It is quite symbolic that they had stopped celebrating this particular feast. The leaders, having studied the Word of God, reestablished it and commanded the people to observe it carefully. This illustrates heeding of the Word of God.
Notice all the respect we've seen for the Word of God: they hungered for it, heard it, honored it, helped in its proclamation, and had a heartfelt reaction to it. But here's where the real honor is given: now they heed it. There's a lot of "lip service" paid to the Word of God, a lot of praise. Some even shout "Amen" in Church. But the real acid test is whether we heed the Word. An old spiritual says, "Some go to Church for to sing and shout. Before six months they's all turned out." Another says, "Some seek God don't seek him right, they fool all day and pray at night."
We are warned of the danger of failing to heed:
There is wonder in the Word of God, but only if we heed it.
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Nehemia 8:2-4,5-6,8-10 II: 1Cor 12:12-30
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us,
2 just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,
3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-oph'ilus,
4 that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.
4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read;
17 and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
God is ever faithful to his people. In Jesus he fulfills his promise: to set us free, to bring awareness to our unenlightened (and thus blind) state.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Saint Francis de Sales,
Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Memorial
January 24th
Portrait of St. Francis de Sales by J. J. Owens (early 20th century)
"...I wish to recall the figure of St Francis de Sales, whom the Liturgy commemorates on 24 January. Born in Savoy in 1567, he studied law in Padua and Paris and then, called by the Lord, became a priest. He dedicated himself to preaching and to the spiritual formation of the faithful with great success. He taught that the call to holiness was for everyone and that each one as St Paul says in his comparison of the Church to the body has a place in the Church. St Francis de Sales is the patron Saint of journalists and of the Catholic press."
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) born in Thorens, Savoy, in France, was Bishop of Geneva; here he fought Calvinism vigorously. With St. Jane de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation. He wrote Introduction to the Devout Life, a classic of spiritual direction. He died in Lyons and was canonized in 1665. In 1877, Pius IX proclaimed him Doctor of the Church. Pius XI declared him patron of journalists and other writers.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
O God, who for the salvation of souls,
willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales
become all things to all,
graciously grant that, following his example,
we may always display the gentleness of your charity
in the service of our neighbor.
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. +Amen.
First Reading: Ephesians 3:8-12
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in Him.
Gospel Reading: John 15:9-17
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved You; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.
POPE BENEDICT XVI, GENERAL AUDIENCE, Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Saint Francis de Sales
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today deals with Saint Francis de Sales, an outstanding Bishop and master of the spiritual life in the period following the Council of Trent. After a powerful experience of God’s liberating love in his youth, Saint Francis became a priest and then Bishop of Geneva, at that time a stronghold of Calvinism. His fine education, his personal gifts of charity, serenity and openness to dialogue, together with his brilliance as a spiritual guide, made Francis a leading figure of his age. His spiritual writings include the celebrated Introduction to the Devout Life, which insists that all Christians are called to perfection in their proper state of life, foreshadowing the insistence of the Second Vatican Council on the universal call to holiness. His Treatise on the Love of God develops this teaching, stressing that we find ourselves and our true freedom in the love of God. The Christian humanism of Saint Francis de Sales has lost none of its relevance today. May this great Saint and Doctor of the Church guide us in the pursuit of holiness and help us to find our fulfilment in the joy and freedom born of the love of God.
Luke | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Luke 1 |
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1. | FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us; | Quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem, quæ in nobis completæ sunt, rerum : | επειδηπερ πολλοι επεχειρησαν αναταξασθαι διηγησιν περι των πεπληροφορημενων εν ημιν πραγματων |
2. | According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word: | sicut tradiderunt nobis, qui ab initio ipsi viderunt, et ministri fuerunt sermonis : | καθως παρεδοσαν ημιν οι απ αρχης αυτοπται και υπηρεται γενομενοι του λογου |
3. | It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, | visum est et mihi, assecuto omnia a principio diligenter, ex ordine tibi scribere, optime Theophile, | εδοξεν καμοι παρηκολουθηκοτι ανωθεν πασιν ακριβως καθεξης σοι γραψαι κρατιστε θεοφιλε |
4. | That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed. | ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem. | ινα επιγνως περι ων κατηχηθης λογων την ασφαλειαν |
Luke | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Luke 4 |
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14. | And Jesus returned in the power of the spirit, into Galilee, and the fame of him went out through the whole country. | Et regressus est Jesus in virtute Spiritus in Galilæam, et fama exiit per universam regionem de illo. | και υπεστρεψεν ο ιησους εν τη δυναμει του πνευματος εις την γαλιλαιαν και φημη εξηλθεν καθ ολης της περιχωρου περι αυτου |
15. | And he taught in their synagogues, and was magnified by all. | Et ipse docebat in synagogis eorum, et magnificabatur ab omnibus. | και αυτος εδιδασκεν εν ταις συναγωγαις αυτων δοξαζομενος υπο παντων |
16. | And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up: and he went into the synagogue, according to his custom, on the sabbath day; and he rose up to read. | Et venit Nazareth, ubi erat nutritus, et intravit secundum consuetudinem suam die sabbati in synagogam, et surrexit legere. | και ηλθεν εις την ναζαρετ ου ην τεθραμμενος και εισηλθεν κατα το ειωθος αυτω εν τη ημερα των σαββατων εις την συναγωγην και ανεστη αναγνωναι |
17. | And the book of Isaias the prophet was delivered unto him. And as he unfolded the book, he found the place where it was written: | Et traditus est illi liber Isaiæ prophetæ. Et ut revolvit librum, invenit locum ubi scriptum erat : | και επεδοθη αυτω βιβλιον ησαιου του προφητου και αναπτυξας το βιβλιον ευρεν τον τοπον ου ην γεγραμμενον |
18. | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart, | Spiritus Domini super me : propter quod unxit me, evangelizare pauperibus misit me, sanare contritos corde, | πνευμα κυριου επ εμε ου εινεκεν εχρισεν με ευαγγελισασθαι πτωχοις απεσταλκεν με ιασασθαι τους συντετριμμενους την καρδιαν κηρυξαι αιχμαλωτοις αφεσιν και τυφλοις αναβλεψιν αποστειλαι τεθραυσμενους εν αφεσει |
19. | To preach deliverance to the captives, and sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of reward. | prædicare captivis remissionem, et cæcis visum, dimittere confractos in remissionem, prædicare annum Domini acceptum et diem retributioni. | κηρυξαι ενιαυτον κυριου δεκτον |
20. | And when he had folded the book, he restored it to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. | Et cum plicuisset librum, reddit ministro, et sedit. Et omnium in synagoga oculi erant intendentes in eum. | και πτυξας το βιβλιον αποδους τω υπηρετη εκαθισεν και παντων εν τη συναγωγη οι οφθαλμοι ησαν ατενιζοντες αυτω |
21. | And he began to say to them: This day is fulfilled this scripture in your ears. | Cœpit autem dicere ad illos : Quia hodie impleta est hæc scriptura in auribus vestris. | ηρξατο δε λεγειν προς αυτους οτι σημερον πεπληρωται η γραφη αυτη εν τοις ωσιν υμων |
(*) κηρυξαι αιχμαλωτοις αφεσιν και τυφλοις αναβλεψιν αποστειλαι τεθραυσμενους εν αφεσει -- belongs to verse 19 in the translations.
St. Francis de Sales: How to make the Sign of the Cross [Ecumenical]
On St. Francis de Sales
The Authority of the Church, Chapter II: That the Church is an infallible guide for our faith.
Wise Advice from St. Francis de Sales for When People Question your Motives
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
St. Francis de Sales, the Providence of God, & the Primary Motive of the Incarnation
St. Francis de Sales on Hasty Judgement
St. Francis de Sales Counsels to Married Catholics
St. Joseph's Humility (By St. Francis de Sales)
St. Francis de Sales on St. Joseph (Some Excerpts for St. Joseph's Day 2004)
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
St. Francis de Sales: Catholic Encyclopedia Entry
January 24: The Feast Day of St. Francis de Sales: Bishop, Doctor of the Church, Gentleman Saint
Saint Francis de Sales
Feast Day: January 24
Born: 21 August 1567, Chateau de Thorens, Savoy
Died: 28 December 1622, Lyon, France
Canonized: 19 April 1665, Rome by Pope Alexander VII
Major Shrine: Annecy, France
Patron of: Catholic press; confessors; deaf people; educators; writers; journalists
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Sunday
January 24, 2016
Accompanied by God All Day Long!
St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, encouraged his followers to be âContemplatives in Action,â âseeking and finding intimacy with God, in all things,â and we can do that by continually tucking small prayer spaces into our days. Developing this pattern in our days can help us feel accompanied by God all day long.
Here are a few suggestions:
Brushing teeth is something we do every day for a few minutes. If we transform that time into a simple dialog with God, it can begin and end our day in prayer.
A drive in the car can become a brief retreat if we turn off the radio and use that time to have a conversation with God.
We can pray walking to a meeting, crossing a street or heading into a store.
As we reach to answer a phone, a 2 second prayer for the person calling can change my interaction with the caller.
If we find our mind wanders, gently transform it into a prayer by saying to God, âI am distracted by the meeting I have today. Let me tell you what I am worried about.â
The full article about âBeginning to Prayâ can be found at Creighton University.
Thought for Today: “Jesus promised his disciples three things - that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.” - G. K. Chesterton
Sunday, January 24
Liturgical Color: White
Today the Church remembers St. Babylas. He
was the Bishop of Antioch in 240 A.D. He
refused the emperor admittance to the church
until he repented his sins. Eventually he was
martyred for publicly proclaiming the faith.
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