Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Vatican Nativity Scene 2020 - Fr. Mark Goring, CC
Fr. Mark Goring pretty much sums up my thoughts about this whole situation!
Pope addresses 13,254th most important issue in the Church
Okay, I'm not saying this is necessarily wrong, but how is this a major issue for Catholics in the world? It just seems rather than teaching the Catholic Faith, Pope Francis is more concerned with promulgating his socialist economic theories. As mentioned before, these issues may be indirectly linked to Catholic teaching, but they are not the core of what the Church is about. All I ever hear from this pope is social justice commentary.
If Bergoglio wasn't the pope and said the same things, he'd be viewed a modern-day social justice warrior. Perhaps an idealistic, pie-in-the-sky activist who just makes random pronouncements about "making the world a better place".
He uses what Patrick Coffin calls "weaponized ambiguity". He continually talks in terms of solidarity, fraternity, community, etc. It's a very vague emotion-based approach. People can attach to whatever he says any meaning they want.
A quote from the news article:
The meeting is an event that “challenges every person of good will to rethink, even more today, the relationship between man, nature and the Creator as a factor of profound balance and communion,” the pope said, “in the search not for the logic of profit, but of service, not of the exploitation of resources, but of care and attention for nature as a welcoming home for all.”
What is the "logic of profit"? Can that be explained? Or are we to simply assume and attach our own ideas?
He says in search, not of exploitation of resources, but of care and attention for nature as a welcoming home for all. Again, what does this mean?
Think about it. What is exploitation? It has a negative connotation, meaning to just take advantage of someone or something for our own personal gain without considering the other person. Okay, so how does this apply to agriculture?
Imagine a farmer who grows carrots on many acres of land. He listens to the pope speaking on this subject. How does he implement what the pope is saying? How does he plant and harvest his carrots so that he is not "exploiting" the resource of carrots but instead he is searching for care and attention for nature as a welcoming home for all?
Does he go into his carrot field and shout out, "This carrot field is here for the care and attention for nature as a welcoming home for all!"
My point is what he is saying is meaningless. Does he think profits are bad? I would say he probably does. He has never spoken positively about them. So why not just come out and say he believes in a planned economy in which prices are determined and workers are compensated based on planned wages. At least then we'd know what he is saying. But he speaks in code. Half of what he says barely makes any sense. By and large, it just seems completely meaningless.
To be fair, I guess he is criticizing his impression of how agriculture works. In his mind, a farm owner goes to a place and takes over massive amounts of land. Probably in the process of doing so, he uproots many poor people who have nowhere to turn. In fact, the land is probably currently providing a sustainable life for hundreds of small farmers, who although not rich, have plenty to eat and can enjoy a good life.
So the rich man just kicks them all off the land. You see, rich people can do whatever they want and poor people are forced to comply. Once this rich person owns hundreds of acres of land, he employs people to work the land. Many of the workers he hires used to own the land themselves but now they work for very little. On top of this, hundreds of other poor people with no other choice but to work for him start doing the extremely difficult tasks while the rich landowner sits back in comfort in his huge mansion.
He pays everyone almost nothing, since the wages he pays are just based on a whim. Is he feeling stingy and paying them ten cents per hour or is he feeling generous and giving them a whole twenty cents an hour? It doesn't matter what he decides, workers have no other choice but to accept this wage.
The owner then has a massive harvest in which he sells his carrots or whatever else at a huge profit, again to very poor people who can barely afford what he is offering. For example, they make $20 per week, but he charges them $1 for a single carrot. What else can they do? The farmer incurred total expenses of a million dollars, but he will now sell his products for $100 million. He gets $99 million for himself. Meanwhile his workers are on the brink of starvation.
Eventually after several decades of making hundreds of millions of dollars and paying no taxes (because the rich never do), the rich man fires everyone and retires. Of course, he abandons the land and stops tending to it. In his thinking, he owns it, he can do whatever he wants with it! Soon after, the land dries up and everything dies. It becomes a sort of desert, devoid of all life.
In this cartoon world, as Tom Woods might call it, it's pretty simple. Maybe in this context the words of Pope Francis could have some discernible meaning? Hard to say really. But this isn't reality. In reality, capitalism is far more complex than this, and has benefitted people more than any other economic system by far.
A few points:
- Rich people pay way more taxes, as an amount and a percentage, than anyone else.
- Owners can't pay whatever wages they want. They must pay the prevailing wage or they won't get enough workers. A small percentage of people actually receive minimum wage.
- Having one's own business is far riskier than receiving wages. Most businesses fail. It's false to think that every business owner is wealthy and every worker is poor.
- Profits are far from guaranteed. Some people spend their life savings on a business and spend years working on it until they make any money. Sometimes they sadly never earn back their spending.
- If farmers can own their own land, they are incentivized to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and maintain the value of the land. Socialism encourages the opposite as there is no personal ownership.
- Many agencies, such as some in the UN, encourage small-time farming which is inherently risky to the farmers and far less efficient. It just sounds good.
- Profits are good. They are signals in the market that new companies should enter. Profits mean there is money to be made and eventually prices are reduced because of this.
How can anyone see the world and truly believe that capitalism makes people worse off? In communist countries you have bread lines. In capitalist countries you have lines and lines of various breads.
The pope's duty and mission is to spread the Gospel, to spread the Church and the message of Jesus Christ. Our Lord came for our salvation, not to tell us profit is a bad thing.
Boaz before he got married? [meme]
Source: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/21263948-catholic-memes
The Hail Mary Prayer - Catholic Prayers
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Latin Version:
AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Further Information about the Hail Mary Prayer:
The Hail Mary or Ave Maria Prayer is one of the most popular Catholic prayers and I would like to explain a little about its importance.
The Hail Mary comes from the words of the angel Gabriel during the Annunciation to Mary that she would bear a son named Jesus. The words of the first part of the prayer come from what the angel said to her. The second part of the prayer which begins with Holy Mary proclaims that she is the Mother of God and we ask her to pray for us now and at the hour of our death before our hopeful reunion with Our Lord. When reciting the prayer with others, typically one person will recite the first part and everyone else will recite the second part.
As you can see the prayer is Biblical. Everything in the first section comes directly from an Archangel of heaven. The second part is simply saying Mary is the Mother of God and asking her to pray for us.
We need to clarify a few points about this prayer. First, Catholics believe in the communion of saints, meaning we can ask for the intercession of saints in heaven just like we'd ask for the prayers of our friends and family on earth. We do not believe that death disconnects us from those who enjoy the beatific vision. Therefore there is nothing wrong with asking for saints to interceded for us. Mary, being the holiest human being who is perfect in all virtue, and the mother of our Savior is the best person of all the saints to ask for intercession. She knows her son better than any other human person. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to ask her to pray for you to her son.
Another point that requires some clarification is the appellation of Mary as "Mother of God". There is a simple syllogism which makes this point quite simple:
1. Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ
2. Jesus Christ is God.
3. Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.
It's straightforward. But some people have gone too far in alleging that Catholics are saying more than we actually are. By Mother of God, we are not saying Mary precedes God or brought God into existence or any such thing. Despite being the holiest and greatest of all creatures, Mary remains a creature and is not divine. She is not the fourth person of the Holy Trinity, nor is she equal to God. We give her great honour and respect, but never worship as that would be against the First Commandment and Catholic teaching.
I hope this explanation gives some clarification about the Hail Mary Prayer. Most prominently, the prayer is featured in the Holy Rosary which Our Lady in her appearance at Fatima tells people to recite daily. The Rosary is a beautiful collection of prayers. No one can love Our Blessed Mother more than Jesus does. Therefore there is no danger in asking for her powerful intercession. She loves us all like a Mother since she is the Mother of all Humanity.
Readings for Wednesday, December 16, 2020 in the Catholic Church
Readings for Wednesday, December 16, 2020 in the Catholic Church
Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 189
Reading 1
IS 45:6C-8, 18, 21C-25
I am the LORD, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the LORD, have created this.
For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not creating it to be a waste,
but designing it be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Who announced this from the beginning
and foretold it from of old?
Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God?
There is no just and saving God but me.
Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,
Saying, “Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.
Before him in shame shall come
all who vent their anger against him.
In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory
of all the descendants of Israel.”
Responsorial Psalm
PS 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (Isaiah 45:8) Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Alleluia
See IS 40:9-10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Raise your voice and tell the Good News:
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with power.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
LK 7:18B-23
At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind.
And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Cdl. Burke warns of 'Great Reset,' condemns 'Marxist materialism'
Cardinal Burke warns of Covid being used for purposes of secularism. He's right and the message is very clear. People are using Covid as their new religion. Rather than hoping in God and his salvation, people are using Covid as their new religion.
Tulsi Gabbard on two key pieces of legislation
Although I'm Canadian, I get a lot of American news. News these days is in kind of a bad state, but I came across a couple of things recently which have given me some hope. They are both pieces of legislation proposed by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. One proposal is that a child born alive during an abortion attempt must be given life-saving treatment. The other is a proposal to ban male athletes from competing in female sports.
First of all, if you were to tell someone from 50 years ago that these laws were being proposed, they'd probably look at you very strangely and wonder why on earth such laws were needed.
Person from 50 years ago: "Um, so you are proposing that men can't participate in women's sports... and that if a baby is born alive, we shouldn't kill him? Those two things aren't already obvious 50 years from now?"
That's how I imagine it would go. But the sad reality is that abortion absolutism has gotten so bad that even common-sense legislation is seen as extreme. I'm pretty sure Tulsi will be attacked for even mentioning this legislation, let alone actually officially putting it forward. The Democratic party, by and large from what I have read, has fully embraced abortion in any and all situations. They seem to believe that even the slightest restriction on this procedure will threaten the entire thing. Of course, that's not a bad thing. But what I mean is they are so fixated on an absolutist position that they won't allow even the tiniest disagreement. It's rather shocking when you think of it.
I'm glad to see a Democrat stand up for what's right. I know people will have an all or nothing approach, that relatively few babies are killed by being denied medical treatment after an abortion, and although I generally hate this expression, but if even one baby is saved because of this it will certainly be worth it.
Tulsi also proposed a law stating that biological men cannot compete with women. Captain Obvious approves. But again, our society in general has strayed so far from the idea of objective truth that even this is controversial. Regardless of the whole gender debate, one thing is obvious: in sports, players are not competing against gender identities, they are competing against bodies and minds. Therefore, if the body is that of a male, regardless of how that male perceives himself, it is simply unfair and uneven for a woman to compete against this male. In various areas, men are superior to women. Women are also better than men in various areas as well. Saying they are both the same is absurd and patently false.
Let's hope this is the start of the injection of some common-sense into the Democratic party in the United States.
The fish was so bad...... [meme]
source: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/21263948-catholic-memes
Catholic Act of Contrition - information and examples
If you are just looking for the acts, skip past this section first.
There are many possible ways to express an Act of Contrition within the Catholic Church. There is no "official" prayer that must be said each and every time in a particular way like it is with prayers like the Our Father or the Hail Mary.
Rather, as long as certain elements are present in one's Act of Contrition, it would be valid and sufficient. Having said that, it is often a great idea to memorize an act of contrition to ensure you are not missing any elements. What is really important is that one have contrition when confessing sins. An act of contrition is not only used during the Sacrament of Confession but can also be used at any time by Catholics or even non-Catholics. Basically an Act of Contrition is telling God you are sorry for offending him and that you will make a firm commitment to avoid sinning in the future.
The basic elements of a valid act of contrition are the following:
1) Sorrow for one's sins
2) An acknowledgement of wrongdoing
3) A firm commitment to avoid sinning and the occasion of sin.
Sorrow is of primary importance in the sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 1451 puts it this way:
Among the penitent's acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."
Sorrow for one's sins can be expressed as perfect or imperfect contrition, the latter indicating a form of contrition which stems from a fear of damnation, rather than the love of God which would be called perfect.
The Vatican website actually lists several acts of contrition which a Christian can avail of. I will post them all below:
Act of Contrition (traditional)
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
Act of Contrition (alternate form)
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
An Act of Contrition inspired by the Gospels
Father of mercy, like the prodigal son I return to you and say: "I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your child."
Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, I pray with the repentant thief to whom you promised Paradise: "Lord, remember me in your kingdom."
Holy Spirit, fountain of love, I call on you with trust: "Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light."
An Act of Contrition inspired by the Gospels
Lord Jesus, you opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, forgave the sinful woman, and after Peter's denial confirmed him in your love.
Listen to my prayer: forgive all my sins, renew your love in my heart, help me to live in perfect unity with my fellow Christians that I may proclaim your saving power to all the world.
An Act of Contrition to Our Lord Jesus
Lord Jesus, you chose to be called the friend of sinners. By your saving death and resurrection free me from my sins. May your peace take root in my heart and bring forth a harvest of love, holiness, and truth.
An Act of Contrition to Jesus, the Lamb of God
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Lamb of God; you take away the sins of the world.
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit restore me to friendship with your Father, cleanse me from every stain of sin in the blood you shed for me, and raise me to new life for the glory of your name.
An Act of Contrition inspired by Psalm 51
Lord God, in your goodness have mercy on me: do not look on my sins, but take away all my guilt. Create in me a clean heart and renew within me an upright spirit.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Readings for Tuesday, December 15, 2020 in the Catholic Church
Readings for Tuesday, December 15, 2020 in the Catholic Church
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 188
Reading 1
ZEP 3:1-2, 9-13
Thus says the LORD:
Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted,
to the tyrannical city!
She hears no voice,
accepts no correction;
In the LORD she has not trusted,
to her God she has not drawn near.
For then I will change and purify
the lips of the peoples,
That they all may call upon the name of the LORD,
to serve him with one accord;
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
and as far as the recesses of the North,
they shall bring me offerings.
On that day
You need not be ashamed
of all your deeds,
your rebellious actions against me;
For then will I remove from your midst
the proud braggarts,
And you shall no longer exalt yourself
on my holy mountain.
But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
Nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
They shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them..
Responsorial Psalm
PS 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 AND 23
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, O Lord, do not delay;
forgive the sins of your people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
MT 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
Monday, December 14, 2020
How Daily Mass & Rosary Have Helped Me
I think I have received many graces from God by attending daily. I have never done this before. My friend told me one day that he was completing a 9-day novena of Mass attendance and invited me on the 9th day. I noticed there were people saying the Rosary when I arrived. I determined that the Rosary started around 8:30, so from that point onward I arrived a little before 8:30 to participate.
Because of Covid restrictions, Mass attendance has been limited in our massive cathedral to only up to 100 people. However, there is plenty of space for those who attend the daily service and so pre-registration is not required like it on Sundays. Having said that, there is a significant number of people who actually attend Mass this frequently. Also, there is a committed group of people who come every day to participate in the Rosary followed by Mass.
Personally I have found that this has helped me in many ways. I am able to spend time with Our Lord each day as he is present with us in the Eucharist. It is a true blessing. Beyond this, this regular attendance offers many other benefits.
I feel it has an overall good effect on my life. Because I do not have a regular 9 to 5 job at the moment, the Rosary and Mass give structure to my day and gets me up in the morning. Although I am usually up anyway, I must rise at around 7:30 or earlier each and every day regardless of when I go to bed the day before. I find this routine to be very helpful. It gets me going and sets me on the right track throughout the day. I won't get into a lot of detail here, but I have certain issues which sometimes slow me down in the morning. Because of my commitment to the Mass and Rosary, I pull through. It has had a good impact.
I feel another great impact is the special grace I receive from Our Lord when I receive him body, blood, soul, and divinity each day. I believe it moves me away from sin and towards a life of Grace, all thanks to God Almighty. I have been saying the Rosary each day for quite some time but doing this every morning makes it much easier and it also seems more fruitful.
I am a big believer in making things routine in order to ensure they are carried out. By making daily Mass and Rosary part of my life, it remains consistent, and I have a special time in the day devoted to God.
Out of a duty to Justice, we are asked to spend time with God each day. Many theologians place the amount of time at a minimum of around 15 minutes daily. However, spending more than that can be part of the virtue of Charity, which goes above and beyond Justice.
I highly recommend daily Mass to anyone reading this, if it is possible for you. I really think it will help you become a holier person and move you closer to Jesus Christ. It brings great grace and reminds you of God's love. I hope to continue attending Mass each day as much as possible.
Feast Day of St. John of the Cross in the Catholic Church December 14
Information from: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=65
Saint John of the Cross was born Juan de Yepes y Alvarez, in Fontiveros, Avila, Spain in 1542. His father was employed by wealthy family members as an accountant, but they disowned him when he married a poor woman from the lower class. As a result of his family's poverty, John's family suffered greatly.
His father died when he was three, and his older brother, Luis died two years after that, likely because of malnutrition. John's mother eventually found work weaving which helped her to feed her family.
As a child, John was sent to a boarding school for poor and orphaned children. He was given a religious education from a young age and chose to follow a religious path, even as a child. He served as an acolyte at an Augustinian monastery. As he grew older, he went to work in a hospital while attending a Jesuit school.
In 1563, he was able to join the Carmelite Order and took the name, "John of St. Matthias." He made vows the following year, and was sent to the university in Salamanca to study theology and philosophy. He became an expert in the Bible and dared to translate the Song of Songs into Spanish, an act which was controversial since the Church forbade the translation of the Bible from Latin -a measure to protect the original meanings in the scripture.
John became a priest in 1567 and considered joining the Carthusian Order where monks lived cloistered in individual cells. He was attracted by the simple and quiet life. However, he encountered Theresa of Avila, a charismatic Carmelite nun. Theresa asked John to follow her.
John was attracted by the strict routine followed by Theresa, a routine she hoped to reintroduce to her order, as well as her devotion to prayer and simplicity. Her followers went barefoot, and were therefore known as the discalced Carmelites.
On Nov. 28, 1568, Theresa founded a new monastery. The same day, John changed his name again to John of the Cross. Within a couple years, John and his fellow friars, relocated to a larger site for their monastery. He remained at this location until 1572.
In 1572, John traveled to Avila at the invitation of Theresa to become her confessor and spiritual guide. He remained in Avila until 1577. While there, he had a vision of Christ and made a drawing that remains to this day called, "Christ from Above." The little drawing shows Christ on the cross, looking down on him from above. The image has been preserved for centuries.
Around 1575, a rift within the Carmelite order began to grow and create controversy between various monastic houses. There was disagreement between the Discalced Carmelites and the ordinary Carmelites, over reform.
The Discalced Carmelites sought to restore the original, strict routine and regimen that the order had when it was founded. In 1432, the strict rules of the order were "mitigated" relieving the Carmelites of some of their most strict rules. Some Carmelites, such as Theresa of Avila, felt this liberalization of their rule had interfered with their order and practice. Theresa, along with John, sought to restore the original rule.
The Carmelites had been undergoing reform since 1566, under the direction of two Canonical Visitors from the Dominican Order, sent by the Vatican. The intervention of the Holy See as well as the political machinations of King Phillip II and his court, led to dramatic, even violent disagreement between the Carmelites.
In late 1577, John was ordered to leave the monastery in Avila and to return to his original house. However, John's work to reform the order had already been approved by the Papal Nuncio, who was a higher authority. Based on that, John chose to ignore the lower order and stay.
On December 2, 1577, a group of Carmelites broke into John's residence and kidnapped him. He was taken by force to the order's main house in Toledo. He was brought before a court and placed on trial for disobedience. He was punished by imprisonment.
A cell was made for him in the monastery that was so small he could barely lie on the floor. He was fed only bread and water, and occasional scraps of salt fish. Each week he was taken into public and lashed, then returned to his cell. His only luxuries were a prayer book and an oil lamp to read it by. To pass the time he wrote poems on paper that was smuggled to him by the friar charged with guarding his cell.
John became known as a remarkable and influential poet, especially following his death. He has been cited as an influence to many poets, mystics, and artists, even Salvador Dali.
After nine months, John managed to pry his cell door from its hinges and escape.
He joined Teresa's nuns in Toledo, and spent six weeks in the hospital to recover. In 1579, he was sent to the town of Baeza to be rector of a new college and to support the Discalced Carmelites in Andalusia.
In 1580, Pope Gregory formally authorized the split between the Discalced Carmelites and the rest of the order. This ended the rift within the order. At that time, there were about 500 members in the order living in 22 houses.
During the last few years of his life, John traveled and established new houses across Spain.
In 1591, John became ill with a skin condition that resulted in an infection. He died on December 14, 1591, John of the Cross died.
Shortly following his burial, there was a dispute over where he should be buried. The dispute was resolved by removing his legs and arms. Over the years, parts of his body were placed on display or buried across several places.
Saint John of the Cross was beatified by Pope Clement X in 1675, and Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.
He is the patron of Contemplatives, mystics and Spanish poets and his feast day is celebrated on December 14.
Readings for Monday, December 14, 2020 in the Catholic Church
Readings for Monday, December 14, 2020 in the Catholic Church
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 187
Reading 1
NM 24:2-7, 15-17A
When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe,
the spirit of God came upon him,
and he gave voice to his oracle:
The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of a man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
your encampments, O Israel!
They are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
he shall have the sea within reach;
His king shall rise higher,
and his royalty shall be exalted.
Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle:
The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 25:4-5AB, 6 AND 7BC, 8-9
R. (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Alleluia
PS 85:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, LORD, your love,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
MT 21:23-27
When Jesus had come into the temple area,
the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him
as he was teaching and said,
“By what authority are you doing these things?
And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.
Where was John’s baptism from?
Was it of heavenly or of human origin?”
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet.”
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
He himself said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Sunday, December 13, 2020
Catholic Binding Prayer + Information
A Binding Prayer followed by Questions and Answers
A Binding Prayer:
Spirit of N., I bind you in the Name of Jesus, by the power of the most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ and by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Michael the Archangel, the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul and all of the saints, and I command you to leave N. (Name of person or object) and go to the foot of the Holy Cross to receive your sentence, in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Q&A Information Regarding Binding Prayer:
Binding Prayer is a subject area that is gaining more notice of late. I will look into what binding prayer is and some further information which I was able to acquire.
What is Binding Prayer:
Binding prayer is a form of prayer in which we bind demons. We command them to behave a certain way such as to leave a particular person. We can use binding prayers on ourselves and on those who are under our authority, such as a husband employing a binding prayer on his wife or a woman using binding prayer on her children. We bind evil spirits in the name of Jesus Christ.
Binding prayer is related to prayers of deliverance and exorcisms. The precise distinction of the three I am not sure.
Fr. Chad Ripperger points out that Jesus sets an example for us when he speaks to St. Peter saying "Get behind me Satan." He was commanding the evil spirit to get behind him. We can do something similar. It is considered a type of adjuration or command. Also, Fr. Ripperger says you can say "I bind you" to the demon or I exorcise you. However, a non-exorcist should not specifically name or seek the name of a demon (more on that below).
Do Binding Prayers show up in the Bible?
Yes, binding prayer is present in the Bible in several places. Fr. Ripperger lists 4 locations in the Bible: Tobit in the Old Testament, Gospel according to St. Mark, 2nd Letter of Peter, and the Book of Revelation.
Can we name a demon during a binding prayer?
Lay people are not permitted to directly name a demon or attempt to ascertain the name of the demon which is causing issues. However, a Catholic is allowed to name the effects of a particular demon.
Is Binding Prayer Catholic:
Yes, binding prayer has been part of the Catholic Church for centuries.
Are there any videos on this subject:
Yes, check out the following video on this subject:
Please let me know if you have any questions on this subject and I will do my best to answer them.
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