Volume II/Issue 41/September 2019

 

 

Reflections on my Sixtieth Birthday

 

 

This month We celebrate Our sixtieth birthday. The celebration of the anniversary of one's birth became more prominent about a century ago with the use of a song sung to celebrate the anniversary of one's birth. But how should we as Christians celebrate the anniversary of our own birth? What does birth mean to us? With the exception of four people, we are all born subject to sin. Is this something to celebrate? In the Church we celebrate three birthdays, Jesus, Mary and John the Baptist. All three were free from original sin at birth. No other birthday is celebrated by the Church. Instead, often we celebrate a person's heavenly birthday, the day they died and went into heaven, especially the birthdays of the martyrs.

 

In the Gospels we read the wrong way to celebrate a birthday: "But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod." (Matthew 14:6) As a result of this birthday party, Saint John the Baptist was beheaded. We should not be celebrating our birthday with dancing girls. In Sacred Scripture we do not read of God's people celebrating birthdays. In Maccabees (II Maccabees 6:7) we read of some of the evils happening in God's temple at this time, which is a prefigure of our own: "But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's birthday to the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honour of Bacchus."

 

A friend of Ours had a custom. On his birthday he would call up his mother and thank her for bringing him into this world. "A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world." (John 16:21) Do we stop and consider the sacrifices our parents made to bring us into this world? Do we think of the sacrifices they made to raise us? Instead of thinking of ourselves, let us think of others on our birthday.

 

Saint John Eudes has some beautiful prayers for the anniversary of our birth. Saint John reminds us of the honor that is due to God, because of the great blessings He has given us; honor we should have paid on the day of our birth. He also reminds us that on this day we were born subject to original. We should ask God's forgiveness for this. Our birthday is not necessarily a day for rejoicing. We should thank God for the many blessings He has given us since our conception. "Before I formed thee in the bowels of thy mother, I knew thee." (Jeremias 1:5) God has been with us from the beginning and formed us for a special mission, as He informed Jeremias of his. God planned our life before we were ever conceived.

 

We should direct all of our thoughts to the spiritual. We begin with our birthday, thanking God for having patience with us, because of our original sin. Saint John Eudes also has devotions for the anniversary of our Baptism. Consider this great day, when we were freed from sin! We should also consider our patron saints. The patron saint given in Baptism and also in Confirmation. Religious also remember their patron in their religious name. We should get to know our patron saints and learn from them. If we have fallen away and come back to God, let us celebrate the anniversary of our conversion with prayer and penance as is befitting penitents. A priest observed last century that 85% of the saints were penitents. All a penitent is a baptized person, who fell into mortal sin and returned. Let us join the host of penitents who are now in heaven praising and thanking God for the gift of repentance.

 

Additionally, we should have our own favorite saints, saints whose lives speak to us in some way. We should come close to them and ask them to help us join us in the heavenly kingdom. Remember that saints have made it home. Once they were in exile as we are. Some for five years, some ten, some twenty, some sixty and even a few for over a century in exile here on earth. Our exile here is sixty years today, and God may yet have something for Us to accomplish.

 

Saint John Eudes is one of Our favorite saints. His feast is on August 19^th, and We remember him on this day. The Breviary tells us: "Courageously withstanding the doctrines of the Jansenists, he preserved unalterable obedience towards the Chair of Peter, and he constantly prayed to God, both for his enemies as well as for his brethren." Today we are also fighting Jansenism in unique forms. When We first became acquainted with this saint, the fight was fresh in Our minds. In order to fight Jansenism, which chills the heart, we read: "His matchless zeal was very conspicuous in promoting the salutary devotion towards the most sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, whose liturgical worship he was the first of all to devise, although not without some divine inspiration. He is therefore held to be the father, the teacher, and the apostle of that worship." These two devotions counter the pride and rigidity of the Jansenists, who are still among us today. Notice God aided this saint, as He will help us when we need it. God had a special plan for Saint John Eudes, as he has a special plan for each and every one of us. Our birthday is a good time to come before God and confess our sins and ask Him to keep us on the course He wants us on. Let us pray on our birthdays, remembering we would not have this birthday without God's loving care.

 

The Funny Pharmacy

A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones. - Proverbs 17:22 

  

 

 

The Pope Speaks: September 2019

A Most Common Sin

 

Let us consider five verses from Sacred Scripture on the sins of our own times. After this, we will consider one of these sins, although each one could have a whole book devoted to it.

 

Know also this, that, in the last days, shall come dangerous times. Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of God: Having an appearance indeed of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Now these avoid. ¹

 

As we read these verses, we recognize our own selves in some of these sins, and may be hoping that our pet sin will not be chosen today. Aren't we lovers of our own selves and lovers of pleasures more than of God? And yet, that is not our subject today. In fact, most likely there is one sin we have all decided we haven't committed, and yet we all have. Sacred Scripture is full of stories of these kinds of sinners. One priest ventures that eighty-five percent of the saints committed this sin, and the lives of the saints is full of these kind of sinners. Indeed, we focus on two people, who committed this sin on the first Good Friday. And so, just what is this sin we think we have not and are not committing?

 

“Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.” ² Yes, my friends, we are all traitors. However, let us not lose hope, for there were two traitors on Good Friday.

 

“And he said: I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, till thou thrice deniest that thou knowest me.” ³ And yet we know that Peter became a Saint, but on this day this prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled.

 

“And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as he had said: Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter going out, wept bitterly.” ⁴

 

Have we gone out and wept bitterly? No, we haven't even admitted that we are traitors, and yet all of us are. What bigger betrayal is there than sin, and we are all sinners. What we try to do is minimize our betrayal of Almighty God. We think to our-self: "We aren't really that bad," and yet this is simply not true. We are far worse than we want to admit. It is said that Peter wept over his betrayal the rest of his life. Do we weep over our own betrayal?

 

Of our own times we read: "And then shall many be scandalized: and shall betray one another: and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many." (Matthew 24:10-11) There are four terms we need to understand in here, which are often misunderstood.

 

Scandal means an action which is likely to lead another into sin. Many are led into sin today. Often we see an action and say that it scandalizes us, when this is not true. We are not edified by the action, but we are not led into sin either.

 

Scripture exhorts us to love and not to hate. We are even told to love our enemies. And yet today, what do we read of? Hatred, which often goes into action in other sins. Do we love everyone? We love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, body and strength. Then do we love each other for the love of God. In other words, out of love, we want what is most likely to bring all to salvation, which often means conversion from their current life of sin to a life of virtue. Let us consider someone, who has wronged us and has called us all manner of evil everywhere they can. There are many places to call someone evil today. Let us consider that the stories they are spreading are outright lies, they have made up. What are we praying for? Are we praying for their conversion or for their destruction? We should be praying for their conversion and ready to do anything God may ask us to to help them become fervent Christians.

 

Seduce means to deceive or to lead astray. Jesus warns us of these times: "For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect." (Matthew 24:24)

 

Let us return to our sin of treachery. We have also been considering the fruits of treachery, which are scandal and seduction. When we are sinners, we lead others to join us in our sins and attempt to seduce others. Sin doesn't seem so bad, when we are in the company of sinners. The book of Psalms begins with the admonition: "Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence." We should stay in the company of people who are striving to become saints, who heed the next admonition in the first Psalm: "But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night."

 

A man advised his son to stay around those who knew more than he did, because he just might learn something. We should surround ourselves with those who know more about the Science of the Saints than we do. This is the only class we must pass with flying colors. We can no longer be traitors, betraying Almighty God and those around us.

 

 

 

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Saints from East and West

Saints whose feasts are celebrated this month

September 10 (Byzantine) - The Holy Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, And Nymphodora

The Holy Virgins Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora (305-311), were sisters by birth, and they were from Bithynia (Asia Minor).

Distinguished for their especial piety, the Christian sisters wanted to preserve their virginity and avoid worldly association. They chose for themselves a solitary place in the wilderness and spent their lives in deeds of fasting and prayer.

Reports about the holy life of the virgins soon spread about, since through their prayers healings of the sick began to occur. The Bithynia region was governed at that time by a governor named Frontonus, who gave orders to arrest the sisters and bring them before him. At first he tried to persuade them to renounce Christ, promising great honours and rewards. But the holy sisters steadfastly confessed their faith before him, rejecting all the suggestions of the governor, and declaring to him, that they did not value temporal earthly blessings, and that they were prepared to die for their Heavenly Bridegroom. Going into a rage, the governor took out his wrath on the eldest of them, Saint Menodora. The saint bravely endured the torments and finally, she cried out: "Lord Jesus Christ, joy of my heart, my hope, in peace receive Thou my soul!" And with these words she gave up her spirit to God.

Four days later they brought to the court the younger sisters Metrodora and Nymphodora. They put before them the battered body of their elder sister to frighten them. The virgins wept over her, but they likewise remained steadfast. Then they subjected Saint Metrodora to torture. She died, crying out with her last breath to her beloved Lord Jesus Christ. Then they turned to the third sister Nymphodora. Before her lay the bruised bodies of her elder sisters. Frontonus hoped that this spectacle would intimidate the young virgin. Under pretense that he was charmed by her youth and beauty, he began amiably to urge her to worship the pagan gods, promising great rewards and honours. Saint Nymphodora rebuffed his words, and shared the fate of her older sisters. She was tortured to death with blows from iron rods.

The bodies of the holy martyrs were to be burnt on a bonfire, but a strong rain extinguished the blazing fire, and lightning felled Frontonus and his servant. Christians took up the bodies of the holy sisters and reverently buried them at the so-called Warm Springs at Pythias (Bithynia).

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September 18 - Saint Joseph of Cupertino

Joseph Desa was born June 17, 1603, at Cupertino, a small village between Brindisi and Otranto. His parents were poor and unfortunate. Joseph himself was born in a shed at the back of the house, because his father, a carpenter, was unable to pay his debts and the home was being sold up. His childhood was unhappy. His widowed mother looked on him as a nuisance and a burden, and treated him with great severity, and he developed an extreme absentmindedness and inertia. He would forget his meals, and when reminded of them say simply, "I forgot," and wander open-mouthed in an aimless way about the village so that he earned the nick-name of "Boccaperta," the gaper. He had a hot temper, which made him more unpopular, but was exemplary and even precocious in his religious duties. When the time came for him to try and earn his own living, Joseph was bound apprentice to a shoemaker, which trade he applied himself to for some time, but without any success.

When he was seventeen he presented himself to be received amongst the Conventual Franciscans, but they refused to have him. Then he went to the Capuchins, and they took him as a lay-brother; but after eight months he was dismissed as unequal to the duties of the order: his clumsiness and preoccupation made him an apparently impossible subject, for he dropped piles of plates and dishes on the refectory floor, forgot to do things he was told, and could not be trusted even to make up the kitchen fire. Joseph then turned for help to a wealthy uncle, who curtly refused to aid an obvious good-for-nothing, and the young man returned home in despair and misery. His mother was not at all pleased to see him on her hands again and used her influence with her brother, a Conventual Franciscan, to have him accepted by the friars of his order at Grottella as a servant. He was given a tertiary habit and put to work in the stables. Now a change seems to have come over Joseph; at any rate he was more successful in his duties, and his humility, his sweetness, his love of mortification and penance gained him so much regard that in 1625 it was resolved he should be admitted amongst the religious of the choir, that he might qualify himself for holy orders.

Joseph therefore began his novitiate, and his virtues rendered him an object of admiration; but his lack of progress in studies was also remarked. Try as he would, the extent of his human accomplishments was to read badly and to write worse. He had no gift of eloquence or for exposition, the one text on which he had something to say being, "Blessed is the womb that bore thee." When he came up for examination for the diaconate the bishop opened the gospels at random and his eye fell on that text: he asked Brother Joseph to expound it, which he did well. When it was a question of the priesthood, the first candidates were so satisfactory that the remainder, Joseph among them, were passed without examination.

From the time of his ordination St Joseph's life was one long succession of ecstasies, miracles of healing and supernatural happenings on a scale not paralleled in the reasonably authenticated life of any other saint. Anything that in any way could be particularly referred to God or the mysteries of religion was liable to ravish him from his senses and make him oblivious to what was going on around him; the absent-mindedness and abstraction of his childhood now had an end and a purpose clearly seen. Especially during Mass or the Divine Office he would be lifted off his feet in rapture. During the seventeen years he remained at Grottella over seventy occasions are recorded of his levitation, the most marvellous being when the friars were building a calvary. The middle cross of the group was thirty-six feet high and correspondingly heavy, defying the efforts of ten men to lift it. St Joseph is said to have "flown" seventy yards from the door of the house to the cross, picked it up in his arms as if it were a straw, and deposited it in its place. This staggering feat is not attested by an eye-witness, and, in common with most of his earlier marvels, was recorded only after his death, when plenty of time had elapsed in which events could be exaggerated and legends arise. But, whatever their exact nature and extent, the daily life of Saint Joseph was surrounded by such disturbing phenomena that for thirty-five years he was not allowed to celebrate Mass in public, to keep choir, to take his meals with his brethren, or to attend processions and other public functions.

In 1653, for reasons which are not known, the Inquisition of Perugia was instructed to remove Saint Joseph from the care of his own order and put him in charge of Capuchins at a lonely friary among the hills of Pietrarossa, where he was to live in the strictest seclusion. "Have I got to go to prison then?" he asked, and departed at once - leaving his hat, his cloak, his breviary and his spectacles hehind him. To prison, in effect, he had gone. He was not allowed to leave the convent enclosure, to speak to anyone but the friars, to write or to receive letters; he was completely cut off from the world. Apart from wondering why he should be sundered from his fellow Conventuals and treated like a criminal, this life must have been particularly satisfactory to Saint Joseph. But soon his whereabouts was discovered and pilgrims flocked to the place; whereupon he was spirited away to lead the same sort of life with the Capuchins of Fossombrone. The rest of his life was spent like this. When in 1655 the chapter general of the Conventual Franciscans asked for the return of their saint to Assisi, Pope Alexander VI I replied that one Saint Francis at Assisi was enough, but in 1657 he was allowed to go to the Conventual house at Osimo. Here the seclusion was, however, even more strict, and only selected religious were allowed to visit him in his cell. But all this time, and till the end, supernatural manifestations were his daily portion: he was in effect deserted by man but God was ever more clearly with him. He fell sick on August 10, 1663, and knew that his end was at hand; five weeks later he died, at the age of sixty. He was canonized in 1767.

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Books to feed your faith!

Bertha's Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1 carrot, chopped
1 head fresh broccoli, chopped
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
⅔ cup milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Steam carrots and broccoli in a covered pot for 3 minutes, until slightly tender but still firm.

In a large bowl, mix together carrots, broccoli, chicken, soup, milk, cheese, and salt. Spoon mixture into pastry-lined 9 inch pie pan and cover with top crust. Seal edges and cut steam vents in top.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until golden brown.

 

Mother's Own Apple Fritters

Ingredients:
1 quart vegetable oil for deep-frying
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 cups apples - peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup cinnamon sugar

Directions:
Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or electric skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Pour in the milk, eggs and oil and stir until well blended. Mix in apples until they are evenly distributed.
Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry until golden on both sides, about 5 minutes depending on the size. Fry in smaller batches so they are not crowded. Remove from the hot oil using a slotted spoon and drain briefly on paper towels. Toss with cinnamon sugar while still warm.

Video sermons and instructions: Timeless timely truths for living the Faith

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15th Sunday after Pentecost - 2011

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Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Getting the Gospel Right

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Ep 6 The Cost of Being A Disciple Of Christ

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VIE CATHOLIC RADIO EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

 

Each month of the liturgical year is devoted to a particular Catholic tradition, usually centered on a Feast during that month. As August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, September follows as the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows.

We see this theme of joy followed by affliction mirrored in the liturgical calendar in two September Feasts – the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

The name of Our Lady of Sorrows centers on the extraordinary and bittersweet suffering the Blessed Mother experienced during Christ's Passion. Her agony and sorrow was composed of The Circumcision and Prophecy of Simeon; the Flight into Egypt; Loss of Child Jesus for Three Days, Jesus on his Way to Calvary; the Crucifixion, Body of Christ and Lamentations; the Burial of Christ.

During this month of September, we are drawn into the spiritual martyrdom that the Blessed Mother experienced during the physical martyrdom of Jesus. The evils of sin are manifest but conquered through intense suffering. The Blessed Mother's tears of anguish reflect God's washing away of sin. If you haven't ever prayed the Seven Sorrows chaplet, you might want to consider exploring this devotion. This month we will be praying the chaplet Sunday through Monday during our Gregorian Chant programming at 1:30am/7:30am/1:30pm/7:30pm CST.

Other Programs You Do Not Want To Miss:

Sunday Sermon:

You can listen to six Sunday Sermons, including sermons by Saint Alphonsus, and Saint John Vianney each day that could cause permanent life changes by stepping on your toes!

 

Life Is Worth Living:

Fulton Sheen's renowned and inspiring television series was watched by millions of viewers from all walks of life and every religious belief. His timeless insights give wise, personal and inspiring guidance on the problems affecting our lives in today’s world. His talks cover an amazing variety of subjects, from the character of the Irish to the handling of teenagers. He discusses education, Christianity, relativity, and world affairs. He speaks about love, conscience, fear, motherhood, work. He tells amusing anecdotes, recites poetry, and ponders the fate of the free world as well as America’s destiny.
 

Fulton Sheen's Catechism:

...is a 50 part series on the fundamental teachings of the Catholic Church recorded in 1965 in the privacy of his own study. This Catechism program is truly priceless! Fulton Sheen's captivating voice and message comes through loud and clear, even for today.

 
Family Theater:

Family Theater is a dramatic radio show which was produced by Family Theater Productions, a film and radio studio extension of the Family Rosary Crusade founded by the Holy Cross Priest, Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, as a way to promote family prayer. The motto of Holy Cross Family Ministries is "The family that prays together stays together."

 
The Bible Comes Alive:

Your Story Hour produces family-friendly radio dramas based on the Bible, historical heroes, and true-to-life adventures. Our stories--brought to life by talented voice actors, descriptive sound effects and compelling music--teach Christian values, positive character traits and principles for good decision-making.

 
Ranger Bill:

Ranger Bill is a Christian radio program from the 1950s. Ranger Bill stars Miron Canaday as the title character and Stumpy Jenkins. And Ed Ronne Sr. as Grey Wolf. The main character, Ranger Bill, is a forest ranger located in the town of Knotty Pine along the Rocky Mountains. The show describes the various tales of the adventures of Ranger Bill and his friends

 

New! Our Daily Passion:

“I am nailed to the cross with Christ. nevertheless I live; yet not I; but Christ liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

It is only when the 'I' is crucified that Christ can manifest Himself within us. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ day by day, and year by year, But the pathway of transformation into the image of Christ is via the PASSION of the cross. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) If we through the Spirit, allow the passion of the cross to put to death our self-life, we shall know the abundance of Christ's life, not otherwise.

We, at OUR DAILY PASSION desire to help others die to self and live for God daily through our Sermons, Devotionals, Scripture Studies, and Catechism Lessons that come from a Catholic perspective! And now you can hear it each day on the VIE Catholic Radio Network.

 
Taking time To Pray:

Through out the week you can pray along with us. “I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men: For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) With that in mind join us in prayer!

1. The Angelus

2. The Rosary

3. The Divine Mercy

4. The Stations of the Cross

5. New! The Seven Sorrow Chaplet

6. Plus More Sprinkled Through out The Day

 
Sacred Moments:

“Hello Friends, Welcome to this weeks Sacred Moments. 

It has been said that “The higher goal of spiritual living is not to amass a wealth of information, but to face sacred moments.” and that is what our desire is for you today. To experience a sacred moment. One that you can savour through out the day. One that reminds you that God is alive and active in your live.” Tune in for Music and Meditation on Gods Word each week.

 

Lamp and Light Bible Study: 

Lamp and Light Bible Study is not a ‘theological’ study but a ‘life application’ study.

Our in house Priest will show that every single book of the Bible is interesting and has a message for us today. It deals with key aspects of the Christian life and speaks more to the heart than to the head.

Catechism Corner:

Catechizing with a fresh perspective. Using the Holy Scriptures and the Catechism of the Council of Trent as foundational bases.

The Catholic Bookshelf:

The Catholic Bookshelf is a program where you will hear fiction and non-fiction Classic Catholic books narrated and read by various men and women who are natural communicators and who brings each book alive with realism and emotion. You won’t want to miss a single chapter!

Check the Program Guide each week for all scheduled programming. 

 

Support from listeners like you make content like this possible. Why not Celebrate along with us and take a moment to support us by sending a donation to help us keep sharing with you good tradition Catholic programming to help you grow in your faith.

 

Catechism Catch-Up  

From Thence He Shall Come To Judge The Living And The Dead

Living Catholic:
 

How Can I Motivate A Teen To Get Up Early In The Morning?