by Bud F | Sep 3, 2020 | Uncategorized
“Meditation of the Day” from the Magnificat, August 13, 2020
In prayer we should freely unburden ourselves to God, telling Him, our Lord and Master, in the most familiar and confidential way everything, great and small. Of heaven or of earth, much or little. Opening our heart and pouring it all out to Him without reserve, recounting its burdens, its sins, its aspirations. Revealing our whole self, seeking repose in his company as with a friend on whom one relies and to whom one makes known alike the good and the bad. This is what Holy Scripture calls pouring out his heart like water in the divine presence, manifesting not only what is of importance but the least thing.
Seeing that divine providence governs all and that we can do nothing without its aid, it is wise to confer with God, for whatever good comers to us in any way it comes from Him. Let there be no timidity in our supplications. He does not like it…
The hour of prayer having come, the soul who with holy impatience awaits that happy moment ought straightaway to answer the signal and hasten to receive the honor about to be conferred on her. She should then invoke the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin, her good angel and such saints she may choose to help her in her prayer and to remain with her while she is before God. She should gather together all her powers and say to herself: My soul, you ae about to appear before God to hold converse with Him, a truce to all else.
St Jane Frances de Chantal (+1641) co-founded the Order of the Visitation with St Francis de Sales.
by Bud F | Sep 3, 2020 | Uncategorized
OBSERVATIONS Aug 29
Faith in the God of Jesus Christ means faith in the God who still opens up, really and truly, a future behind the wall of death. Only if that happens is the future truly promised.
— Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI)
from Faith and the Future
This was from “Daily Catholic Wisdom,” an email I get daily. Anything you can get to read by Pope Emeritus Benedict is worth reading.
Comments about the readings at Mass last Sunday (21st Sunday in Ordinary Time):
The first reading, from Isaiah ( ), the Lord tells Isaiah to replace Shebna, master of the palace. In comments about this reading I have seen Shebna referred to as the Royal steward, kind of like a prime minister in some governments. In the King’s absence, he has the authority and responsibility of the just as if he were King. This was common in Jewish culture, and the Royal Steward was the leader of twelve advisers to the King. Shebna forgot that he was NOT royalty and had a tomb carved for him among tombs of royalty. This presumption led to his dismissal and replacement.
Two things of note in this passage; one is that there was a Royal Steward with the keys to the palace, and what he closed stays closed, what he opened stays open. He was the King’s right-hand man. Secondly, there would be a replacement for him should he leave, even if God had to do it.
According to Dr Bergsma, Eliakim, son of Hilkaih, the replacement was probably a priest. The only mentions of Hilkiah elsewhere in scripture are related to priestly functions. Eliakim received the Key to the house of David from the Lord, just as did Peter in the Gospel reading. Peter is the Royal Steward to God’s Kingdom, a position that will always be filled.
by Bud F | Aug 1, 2020 | Uncategorized
What Are Sacramentals?
Eddie O’Neill
While they are similar in name, sacraments and sacramentals have a unique and distinct role in the life of the Catholic Church. Sacraments are outward signs that give grace to those who receive them in a worthy manner.
Sacramentals, on the other hand, “are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them, men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1667).
Blessings Come First
Sacramentals are often a stumbling block for non-Catholics who don’t understand their need or person. For instance, before his conversion to Catholicism, Dr. Scott Hahn was a staunch anti-Catholic Presbyterian minister. In his talks, Hahn often tells the story of how he discovered his grandmother’s rosary. His grandmother had just died and Hahn relates that he ripped the rosary beads to pieces pleading to God to set her free from the chains of Catholicism that had kept her bound.
Today, the internationally recognized Catholic author and speaker couldn’t be more of a supporter of the Blessed Virgin Mary and promoter of the Rosary.
When it comes to prioritizing sacramentals, the Church emphasizes the importance of blessings.
“Among sacramentals blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) come first. Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts. In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father ‘with every spiritual blessing’” (Catechism, No. 1671).
Blessings of priests and bishops have the power, so to speak, to turn objects such as a new rosary or statue into a sacramental. While the laity can bless, their blessings are more of a prayer or a plea to God.
For example, the blessing at meals is a chance to offer God a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. It makes holy the mere need for nutrition and is a reminder of the most blessed meal, the Eucharist. In a similar manner, a parent’s blessing of their children serves as a petition to God to keep their kids safe from all evil.
Interestingly, exorcism is a sacramental. It takes place when the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion.
Exorcisms may either be minor, also called simple exorcisms, or major, called solemn exorcisms. Minor exorcisms occur in the Rite of Baptism and during the RCIA process, where candidates are asked to rebuke Satan and all his evil ways. Thus if you have been baptized you have been part of an exorcism. A major exorcism, which attracts much attention and curiosity, is directed at the expulsion of demons or freedom from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church (see Catechism, No. 1673). Often used in a major exorcism are the sacramentals of holy water, blessed salt and a crucifix.
Are Sacramentals Found in the Bible?
While you will not find people in the Bible fingering rosary beads, wearing scapulars or donning Miraculous Medals, there are a number of passages of Scripture that support the use of sacramentals.
* In the Old Testament, Naaman went to Elisha for a cure for his leprosy. Elisha told him, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean” (2 Kgs 5:10).
* When the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet (see 2 Kgs 13:20-21).
* Jesus healed the blind man using mud (see Jn 9:6-12).
* The woman with hemorrhages was healed by touching Jesus’ garment (see Lk 8:44).
* In Acts 19:11-12, it is recounted that when face cloths or aprons that had touched the skin of Paul and were applied to the sick, diseases were healed and evil spirits released.
There are a number of sacramentals that are directly referenced in the Bible:
Holy Water — Numbers 5:17 states, “In an earthen vessel [the priest] shall take holy water, as well as some dust from the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water.” Water was also used for ceremonial cleansing (see Ps 16:4).
Sign of the Cross — St. Paul states emphatically, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified for me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14).
In the Old Testament: “The Lord said to him, ‘Pass through the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and mark an X on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the abominations practiced within it. Old and young, male and female, women and children — wipe them out! But do not touch anyone marked with the X” (Ez 9:4,6).
Blessed Salt — Jesus referred to this sacramental in the Gospel of Mark: “Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another” (9:49-50).
In the Old Testament: “When you have completed the purification, you must bring an unblemished young bull and an unblemished ram from the flock and present them before the Lord. The priests shall throw salt on them and sacrifice them as burnt offerings to the Lord” (Ez 43:23-24).
Finally, although the Rosary was not yet created during the time of the Bible, repetitive prayer is mentioned. Yes, the Rosary is often criticized due to its repetitious nature, which is forbidden in Matthew 6:7: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” However, that is the only verse in Scripture that condemns such practice. There are several biblical passages that state otherwise on this issue.
In the Agony of the Garden, Jesus prays three times that the cup would pass from Him (see Mt 26:39-44). Similarly, in Psalm 136, God is praised numerous times, and in Revelations 4:8, the four living creatures cry out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty.”
Eddie O’Neill writes from Missouri.
by Bud F | Jul 31, 2020 | Uncategorized
COVENANTS AND SALVATIONS HISTORY
The Bible is a love story – the tale of God who loves us so much that he came to us – the lost souls – to save us through great sacrifice. “Scripture records the highlights of a divine drama.” The prophetic nature of scripture needs to be understood as it is, “the covenantal pattern of divine justice and mercy.” Through a series of covenants, God move from dealing with Adam and Eve to dealing with the entire world.
A covenant is similar to a contract, but in fact is greatly different. A contract is made with a promise or pledge for the exchange of goods. A covenant is the extension of kinship by oath, an oath made by invoking God’s name.
There were five major covenants in the Old Testament, all of which are fulfilled in the final one, the New and Everlasting Covenant as the priest says in Mass. Testamentum(sp) was use the Latin translation of the word, covenant, by St Jerome when he translated Greek bible. So that part of the scripture came to be called the New Testament. Understanding the covenantal development of the bible story helps us understand why the Old Testament is so long.
The covenants are named for the mediator, the one who was speaking to God about the terms of the covenant. Here they are:
1. The Covenant with Adam – Adam was to till and keep the Garden of Eden, named and was given dominion over all of them, and was given a wife in a marriage covenant. All the plants in the garden were theirs to eat, except one. (family)
2. The Covenant with Noah – God promised to save Noah and his sons and their family from the flood in return for building an ark and saving the animals. (extended family)
3. The Covenant with Abraham (3 promises) – God promised Abraham a “Land of Milk and Honey” where his descendants would be a blessed nation, then a kingdom, and then all the families on earth would be blessed by him and his seed. (tribe)
4. The Covenant with Moses – Moses was called to lead his people out of bondage, to ratify a national covenant that made them a Holy Nation, and to occupy the Promised land of Canaan as their inheritance. (nation)
5. The Covenant with David – David was to build a worldwide kingdom, establishing a everlasting throne with the son of David destined to rule over all nations, united as one family, to worship the heavenly Father within his house, the Temple of Jerusalem. Kingdom)
All of these covenants were broken! The curses for breaking a covenant (Deut 28) came to bear.
“Finally, the Father kept all his previous promises by the gift of his Son, who boreall the curses of the previously broken covenants – in order to ratify the New Covenant – in the self-offering of his flesh and blood that permanently binds all of us together, both Jews and Gentiles, in one universal divine family: the one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” ( from Dr Hahn’s book “A Father Who Keeps His Promises”)
Studying the Old Testament in light of the covenants helps us to understand all the curses the Jews suffered through, and why they were cursed, and how all that came about because they did not trust in the Lord. There are consequences of the broken covenants that still haunt us today. Lots of lessons to be learned! This same study will enable us to see how we are in a covenantal relationship with God through our baptism.
The book I mentioned by Dr Hahn is a great aid in understanding these covenants, as is Dr Bergsma’s book “Bible Basics for Catholics”
by Bud F | Jul 28, 2020 | Uncategorized
Catholic and “catholic”
Fr. Paul D. Scalia
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Below is the first couple of paragraphs from Fr Scalia’s article recently posted at The Catholic Thing (a good site – sign up for their email notices). Sort of a review of how we were catholic before we were Catholic – good read. The entire article can be found in the sidebar at thecatholicthing.org
In today’s Gospel, our Lord likens the Kingdom of heaven to “a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.” (Mt 13:44-52) This net, which gathers not just one kind of fish but fish of every kind, serves as a good description of what we confess every Sunday: the Church is catholic.
Now, most people probably think of “Catholic” as the brand name of a particular Christian denomination. Yes, we speak colloquially of the Catholic Church as distinct from the Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist churches, etc. But that’s a fairly recent designation, only since the Reformation. Before the Church was “Catholic” she was already “catholic.” It’s a truth we find expressed in the Church’s earliest years. The word “catholic” means universal, embracing and bringing all things together into a unity (from the Greek kata holos, “according to the whole).
