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Praise for the Triune God!
7th Week of Ordinary
Time -
Use your
green candle!
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Sunday, May 18th is the Solemnity of the Most Holy
Trinity! |
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Start with the
Basics
(Click
here to learn more) |
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Prayer of the Week
We've often heard the term
doxology, and never really knew what it meant.
Are there
different doxologies? If so, what is the difference?
We thought it was about time to figure it out!
Doxology is defined simply as words (logos)
of praise (dox). The doxology is a hymn of praise used at the
end of prayers, especially the Eucharistic Prayer during Mass,
Liturgy of the Hours, psalms, canticles, novenas, and even the
Lord's Prayer. This hymn of praise originated in the Jewish
synagogues, however, we usually hear doxologies refer to the Trinity. The
Greater Doxology is what we pray during the introductory
rite at Mass, except during the season of Lent. It is commonly known
as the Gloria, and begins, "Glory to God in the Highest..."
The
Lesser Doxology is the prayer which begins, "Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit..." It is said alone
or with many other prayers, including the rosary.
The
Eucharistic Doxology concludes the Eucharistic Prayer during
Mass. The
Final
Doxology concludes the Lord's Prayer during Mass.
The
Doxology
for Liturgy of the Hours is a slightly different translation
of the Lesser Doxology.
Practically anything we say can
be a doxology, a hymn of praise! |
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Living Our Faith
This is our summer planning week. Not only
are we deciding on what activities we can afford, we are also
looking at the calendar to plan a few summer saint festivities.
Click here
to see our favorites.
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Celebrate All Year Long!
(Click here to learn more) |
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Saints to Celebrate
Use your
green candle Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday
to celebrate Ordinary
Time.
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Sunday, May 18 use a white candle for the solemnity
of the Most Holy Trinity. Introduction To Christianity (Communio Books)
by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI)
has an amazing intellectual yet reader-friendly explanation of the
Trinity, as well as the rest of the concepts included in the Creed.
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Tuesday, May 20
use a green
or white candle for the optional memorial of St.
Bernadine of Siena, patron saint of advertisers. St. Bernadine
was an Italian priest whose great gift was in preaching, yet he
remained humble when sharing his gift with others.
- Wednesday, May 21 use a white
candle for the memorial St. Magallanes and his
companions. Mexico of the 1920s was definitely anti-Catholic.
The government sought to abolish the Catholic Church. Priests and
lay people resisted the effort to defeat the Catholic Church, and
were persecuted, tortured, and murdered because they defended
their faith.
- Thursday, May 22 use a white candle for the
memorial of St. Rita of Cascia, patron saint of
impossible cases. St. Rita wanted to become a nun, but her parents
forced her to marry a cruel, abusive man. Many years later, after
the death of her husband and sons, she entered the religious life.
Throughout her years of suffering Rita never lost her faith, and
is an example of dignity in the face of pain.
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
It is already time to prepare for our next devotion celebrated
May 30, 2008.
Devotion to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus
It is through Christ's Sacred Heart that we enter into God's
kingdom. The Sacred Heart of Jesus contains the total divine and total human
love for God and for all mankind. It is no wonder devotion to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus is so popular. (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)
| Ex
34:4b-6, 8-9 |
2
Corinthians 13:11-13 |
John
3:16-18 |
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Praise for the Triune God!
Sunday we celebrate the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, three Persons in one God. Our understanding of the
Trinity did not just happen in a day. It was the result of centuries
of humans experiencing God in different ways. In the Old Covenant
God revealed Himself as Father, in the New Covenant we experienced
Jesus, the Incarnation, God made man. God promised His Spirit, and
we experience this Spirit deep within ourselves each and every day.
The first reading from Exodus shows
us a merciful and loving God. This is a huge difference from the
angry, unforgiving gods of other cultures. Moses feels such love
from God that he boldly asks a very human favor - please accept us,
even though we are wicked and sinful. As God has revealed Himself to
us, He has been loving and merciful, always.
The second reading contains the last
two paragraphs of the second letter to the Corinthians. St. Paul
ends his letter with the best possible expression of the Holy
Trinity. If we live in permanent union with the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, we can continue to seek perfection and, learning from
the union of the Three Persons, live in Christian unity here on
earth.
The Gospel reiterates the message of
ultimate love. God gave His Son to give humans eternal life. Our
response to this love need only be a humble and faithful, "I love
you, too." After all, why did God make us? To know Him, love Him,
and serve Him in this world, then be happy with Him in the next
world.
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Daily Dose of Scripture (our
picks of the week)
Lectionary
readings for the 7th Week of Ordinary Time:
| Monday |
James 3:13-18 |
Mk 9:14-29 |
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| Tuesday |
James 4:1-10 |
Mk 9:30-37 |
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| Wednesday |
James 4:13-17 |
Mk 9:38-40 |
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| Thursday |
James 5:1-6 |
Mk 9:41-50 |
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| Friday |
James 5:9-12 |
Mk 10:1-12 |
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| Saturday |
James 5:13-20 |
Mk 10:13-16 |
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James 4:1-10
The letter of James is actually very similar to the
Wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as Sirach and Proverbs.
Its focus is apostolic teaching, conversion of heart, and ethical
behavior. This week we hear many warnings - it is humbling to consider
each day's reading and evaluate our own lives.
We've chosen to focus on Tuesday's reading which hits
awfully close to home. This reading forces us to consider the
conflicts in our lives, of which we've had several lately.
For example, a few weeks ago a stranger was trespassing on our
property and fell down. She is now demanding we pay damages for her
injuries. A delivery truck hit a tree in our front yard; the company
complained to the city that the 60-year-old tree was too close to the
street and we should be cited with a violation and/or fined. We've had a
slew of conversations with people who simply want to complain about
other people in our community. These conflicts zapped our energy and
left us rather bewildered about what is going on.
Now we get to the point that James is making which makes us rather
uncomfortable. When we become focused on the things of this world we
experience conflict. We become adulterers, an enemy of God. We argue, gossip, and resent. We
forget about the love that is everything in our lives. Every incident
more closely entwines us in one or more deadly sins: envy, gluttony,
pride, lust, greed, sloth, and anger.
James tells us to give up such wasted
passions of this world. We are called to humble ourselves and deal
lovingly with others. To answer this call we have turned the
trespasser's case over to the insurance company, asked the city
forester (nicely) to reconsider the complaint and the age and beauty
of the tree, and are trying to divert gossip to more positive topics.
We also continue to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is
only with God's graces we are getting back on the right track.
Thankfully, it is that track that is bringing peace.
- Mk 9:14-29
We're back to the fast and furious Gospel of Mark. This week
we'll finish chapter 9 and begin chapter 10. Our pick of the week is a
story which can challenge each of us to thoughtfully consider the
depth of our prayer lives.
This reading from the Gospel of Mark is perfect for the beginning of
the second part of the season of Ordinary Time. The Apostles were unable to expel a demon from a young man.
When Jesus arrived the young man's father pleaded with Him to cure the
boy, which He did successfully. The Apostles, bewildered, asked what
they had done wrong. Jesus said, "This kind you can drive out only by
prayer."
How often do we fail to pray? When times get
tough, we may try to seek any means of control, considering prayer too
passive. We prefer action, any action, over peace of mind. That is the
time to open ourselves up to trusting in God and saying a prayer.
Open that Catechism!
To help appreciate the great feast we are celebrating
this week, read a summary of the Holy Trinity in paragraphs #261-267 of
the Catechism of the Catholic Church .
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