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Let's Hear it for the Rock!
3rd Week of
Easter -
Use your white candle!
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April 4, 2008 is a First
Friday.
If you're joining us in the devotion of The Sacred Heart of Jesus on
First Fridays, don't forget to attend Mass! (Learn
more about First Fridays) |
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Please add Coming Home Catholic to your safe senders list.
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Start with the
Basics
(Click
here to learn more) |
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Prayer of the Week
Our children,
who seem to be eating every waking moment, insist that the
Eucharistic fast is from the beginning of Mass to the time we
actually receive the Eucharist, which means they can keep eating
while driving to Mass! We looked it up to find out if they were
correct. To review Eucharistic Fasting guidelines,
click here. |
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Living Our Faith
Just in time for Confirmation! We're reviewing the
gifts of the Holy Spirit during the Easter
season.
The third gift is Knowledge
Knowledge is the spiritual gift which allows us to know God's will. We can
use the teachings of Jesus and the Church to know what is right and what is
wrong, or what is right and what is even better. (Read
more) |
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Celebrate All Year Long!
(Click here to learn more) |
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Saints to Celebrate
Use your white candle
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
to celebrate the season of Easter!
- Monday, April 7
continue to use a white candle for the
memorial of St. John Baptist de la Salle, the patron saint
of teachers. He was the first person to set up training programs
for teachers who would educate the poor. His standards for
Christian schools are classic.
- Friday, April 11 use a
red candle for the memorial of
St. Stanislaus, the patron saint of Poland. St. Stanislaus was
a bishop who courageously confronted the notorious king of Poland,
reprimanding and finally excommunicating the sinful man. The king,
himself, murdered his bishop.
A solemnity is a day of greatest
importance. The celebration starts the evening before the actual
solemnity. Easter is our most important solemnity. A feast is
the next most important day. It commemorates Mary, the apostles,
martyrs and other saints, and the events associated with them. Mass
readings often reflect the special feast day. A memorial is a
special day, but often an optional celebration. The scripture
readings for Mass may or may not be specially selected for the
memorial.
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Devotion of the Month
There's more to Divine Mercy than just one Sunday of the year. This
week we'll learn the
Daily Hour of Prayer, which can be
commemorated every single day, each day of the year.
(Click here
to learn more)
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Keep Building that Faith!!
(click
here to learn more) |
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Start the Week off Right
(prepare for the Sunday Scriptures)
| Acts
2:14, 22-33 |
1 Peter 1:17-21 |
Luke
24:13-35 |
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Let's Hear it for the Rock!
The first two readings this Sunday are the words of St. Peter, the
man who gives us so much hope. He may have faltered on numerous
occasions, but once he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he shared
his faith in the Savior even to his own crucifixion and death. In
both readings Peter proclaims the meaning of Christ's crucifixion
and resurrection - He overcame death for each and every one of us.
Peter even quotes Psalm 16, this week's responsorial psalm, to show
the complete fulfillment of God's plan of salvation through Christ.
The Gospel according to Luke shares the story of the
two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They met the risen Jesus on the
road, but did not recognize Him at first. Only through the breaking
of bread and understanding Scripture did they realize their Savior
was in their midst.
How often do we fail to recognize
Jesus in our everyday lives? The failure may result in a lack of
faith, in frustration, depression, and sinful behavior. Fortunately,
by listening to Scripture and incorporating Jesus' teaching in our
lives, by accepting and defending the teachings of St. Peter and his
successors, our popes, bishops, and priests, and by faithfully
participating in the sacraments, we, too, can recognize Jesus and
share our faith on the road to salvation. |
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Daily Dose of Scripture (our
picks of the week)
Lectionary
readings for the 3rd Week of Easter:
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First Reading |
Gospel |
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| Monday |
Acts 6:8-15 |
Jn 6:22-29 |
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| Tuesday |
Acts 7:51-8:1a |
Jn 6:30-35 |
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| Wednesday |
Acts 8:1b-8 |
Jn 6:35-40 |
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| Thursday |
Acts 8:26-40 |
Jn 6:44-51 |
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| Friday |
Acts 9:1-20 |
Jn 6:52-59 |
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| Saturday |
Acts 9:31-42 |
Jn 6:60-69 |
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- Acts 9:1-20
We're reading most of the New Testament book, Acts of the Apostles,
during the seven weeks of the Easter season. This book is the second
volume of Luke's writings. Volume 1, of course, is the Gospel
according to Luke.
This week we see challenges arising in the Christian community. The
deacon Stephen is martyred. Saul is arresting followers of Christ.
Meanwhile amazing signs are being done in the name of the Lord: the
paralyzed man walks, a dead woman lives.
Our reading for this week is the conversion of Saul. Some people have
a tried and true faith that never wavers. For others the road is
rockier. It is useful to remind ourselves that many people have times
in which they are more concerned with the things of this world than
the message of God. Saul was blinded by his own prejudices, his own
hate. He was unable to see the message of love Jesus brought.
How often do we
focus on the things of earth? How often do we focus on our own
opinions and not the love of God and neighbor? Do we need to be knocked off a
horse to see the way of love? When do we get irritated with a local priest, a
parish administrator, a bishop? Does that cloud our view of the
message of Christ? Easter should always shake up our world. Throughout
Lent we tried to push out worldly concerns. Throughout Easter, and
beyond, we need to live the life of Christ. We cannot go back to our
old ways. We need to remove the blinders from our eyes and see the
world as the Kingdom of Heaven.
- John 6:60-69
Last week we heard of Nicodemus seeking Christ in the darkness.
This week we hear the Bread of Life Discourse. In the sixth chapter of
John Jesus shakes up society. He challenges His followers to eat His
flesh and drink His blood for eternal life.
The entire chapter is certainly important to read. We've chosen to
concentrate on the reading for Saturday, though. It is the last
reading of this week in which we see disciples, horrified by the
thought of eating flesh and drinking blood, leave Jesus forever.
Many Catholics today deny that the Eucharist is the Real Presence of
Jesus. It is easier to accept the non-Catholic idea that the Eucharist
is only partially the Presence of Jesus, or just represents the
Body and Blood of Jesus. This reading makes it quite clear that Jesus
meant His True Presence. He never ran after the departing disciples
and explained He was speaking figuratively. No, He let them leave.
Only a few remained at His side, and He asked them, "Do you want to
leave me too?" Simon Peter responded, "Lord, to whom shall we go?"
Jesus died to give us eternal life. He gave us His Real Presence in
the Eucharist, not just a partial presence or a symbol. We need go no
further.
Open that Catechism!
Divine revelation has been transmitted, in part, by
St. Peter and his fellow apostles. Read about apostolic tradition in
paragraphs #75-79 in the
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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