Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: All
Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: October 13th

Saturday of the Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time

Daily Readings for: October 13, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. 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.

Old Calendar: St. Edward, king, confessor

St. Edward (1003-1066), called the Confessor, was the grandson of St. Edward, king and martyr, and became king of England at the age of forty-seven. As king he was noted for his gentleness, humility, detachment and angelic purity. He preserved perfect chastity in his wedded life. So little was his heart set on riches that he freely dispensed his goods at the palace gate to the sick and poor. His reign was one of almost continuous peace. The people were prosperous and ruined churches were rebuilt. All spoke affectionately of the wise measures of the "good King Edward." According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is his feast.

Also today in Fatima in 1917, the marvelous miracle of the sun took place in the sky before 70,000 witnesses.


St. Edward
Edward, the last king of the Anglo-Saxons, a grandson of the martyr-king Edward, passed his youth in exile with his uncle, a Norman leader. In an environment of sin he preserved innocence of life. Called to the throne of England in 1042, he sought to put into practice the Christian ideals for a ruler, with the help of God's grace. His first efforts were directed toward a renewal of religion in the hearts of his people. Priests were invited into his kingdom, churches were built. Yielding to pressure, he married, but is said to have retained virginity during his whole married life.

His favorite saint was St. John the Evangelist; he would not deny any request asked in his name. One day the Beloved Disciple appeared to him in the form of a beggar and asked alms in the name of the fourth evangelist; as Edward had no ready money, he gave up the ring on his finger. Shortly thereafter St. John returned the ring with the message that his death was near. The king ordered public prayers to be said for himself and died in the Lord on the day foretold, January 5, 1066.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Difficult marriages; kings; separated spouses.

Symbols: Elderly king offering a ring or coin to Saint John who is disguised as a beggar; ring in his hand; scepter surmounted by a dove; purse; St. John's Gospel; sealed scroll; crown; ring.

Things to Do:

  • Find out more about England and Europe during the time of St. Edward's life, particularly the Norman invasion.

  • Imitating St. Edward, we need to reach out to the needy, both spiritually and physically.

  • This holy king esteemed purity and innocence. His favorite saint was the virgin-disciple of the Lord. His body remained wholly incorrupt. Say a Hail Mary everyday for the virtue of purity.

  • Learn the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and put them into practice. St. Edward lived these daily.

32 posted on 10/13/2012 3:24:14 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies ]


To: All
The Word Among Us

Meditation: Galatians 3:22-29

 Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed your­selves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)

Why do so many department stores display their clothing on mannequins? Because clothes look so much better on a manne­quin than draped over a hanger. Mannequins of sizes and shapes make the same dress look differ­ent, as do a variety of accessories like a bright scarf or a bold piece of jewelry. The mannequins help shoppers release their imagination as they picture that same piece of clothing on themselves.

As part of our baptismal rite, we were all given a white garment to wear—a robe or a stole that signi­fies the fact that we have “put on Christ” (Romans 13:14). But that doesn’t mean that we will all look exactly alike. Jesus’ love is embod­ied differently in each of us because we are all unique creations of his love. Under that white garment, we retain our gender, our age, our life experiences, our outlook.

Now unlike the dress in the store, this white garment actu­ally alters our shape. It doesn’t just cover us up; it transforms us. Every unique feature in our personality is affected by the presence of Christ. If we have a generous disposition, that generosity is directed toward the poor and needy. If we have a stub­born disposition, the garment of Christ helps us become tenacious in our pursuit of holiness. It smooths out our rough edges and makes our bright areas shine with even greater intensity.

St. Paul tells us that before Christ came, we were “held in custody” under the Law of Moses and “con­fined for the faith that was to be revealed.” He likened the Law to a “disciplinarian” that regulated our every step and relegated us to the role of strict obedience (Galatians 3:23, 24). But now that Christ has come, the binding restrictions of the Law have given way to the dig­nified clothing of faith. We are now free to wear our baptismal garment according to our own gifts and call­ings. We are now free to show forth the glory of the Lord not by virtue of our conformity to one set pattern but as our very natures are filled, enlightened, and lifted up by the Spirit.

So how will you wear your gar­ment today?

“Jesus, thank you for clothing me in your freedom and love.”

Psalm 105:2-7; Luke 11:27-28


33 posted on 10/13/2012 3:38:11 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson