 |
for Roman Catholics http://www.shrineofsaintjude.net/home-s08-2010.html |
 |
|
|
for Roman Catholics http://www.shrineofsaintjude.net/home-s08-2010.html |
|
Proper Preparation
Catholic Douay Rheims Bible
This is the Written Word of God
"Proximate preparation" includes two prayers:
1) The Act of Contrition.2) The Veni, Sancte Spiritus.
O my God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, because I love Thee above all things with my whole heart and soul. I detest all of my sins because it was for them and His Love for me that Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, my Lord and my God, suffered, was crucified, and died on the cross. O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee by my sins, faults, imperfections, negligences and carelessness, Who art all good and deserving of all of my love.
I firmly resolve with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more, to confess my sins, to do penance, to amend my life, to avoid all of the near occasions of sin, and always give to Thee freely, liberally and generously what is of supererogation and perfection, not only in greater things, but especially in lesser things, so that I may gain beforehand Thy efficacious, superabundant, particular and special Graces and Helps so that I will always be victorious in resisting and overcoming all temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil and his followers. Grant me those Graces and Helps needed so that my every thought, word and action may be done solely out of love for Thee, Who art Love. Amen.
Saint John Chrysostom
It was the custom of Patriarch Saint John Chrysostom [b. Antioch, c. 347 A.D. - d. at Commana in Pontus on Friday, September 14, 407 A.D.], Patriarch of Constantinople [Thursday, February 26, 398 A.D. - Thursday, June 24, 404 A.D.], exiled from his See the 2nd time on Thursday, June 24, 404 A.D., Father and Doctor of the Catholic Church, to properly prepare himself and his Congregation before preaching. He taught that unless God the Holy Ghost prepares the minds and hearts of the Preacher and of the Congregation, the Preacher preaches in vain and the Congregation listens in vain.
Therefore, so as not to waste your time, please pray the Veni, Sancte Spiritus, remembering how one Holy Saint was of the opinion that a Sermon is a Sacramental.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful
And kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be
created;
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray
O God, who didst instruct the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to relish what is right and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary; pray for us.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Patron Saint of Catholic Schools,
pray for us.
Epistle for the 2nd Sunday After Epiphany
Romans 12:6-16.
The Epistle appointed to be read during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass today is taken from Saint Paul's Epistle to the Romans, Chapter 12, Verses 6-16.
Brethren we have different Gifts, according to the Grace that is given us, either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine; He that exhorteth, in exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with carefulness; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good. Loving one another with the charity of brotherhood, with honour preventing one another. In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer. Communicating to the necessities of the saints. Pursuing hospitality. Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. Being of one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but consenting to the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Gospel for the 2nd Sunday After Epiphany
John 2:1-11.
The Gospel for today is taken from the Holy Gospel of Saint John Chapter 2, Verses 1-11.
At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the marriage.
And the wine failing, the Mother of Jesus saith to Him: They have no wine.
And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come.
His Mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye.
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece.
Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water.
And they filled them up to the brim.
And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast.
And they carried it.
And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, and saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested His glory, and His Disciples believed in Him.
Thus far are the words of today's Holy Gospel.
“And the wine failing, the Mother of Jesus saith to Him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come. His Mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye” (GOSPEL of today’s Mass, John 2:3-5).
VIn the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Saint John reports that the wine failed. But, why did the wine fail? Probably because the Bride and Groom were poor and so they were unable to provide the required quantity of wine? Remember that the Disciples of Christ, who had been invited along with Christ, also came to the wedding. Perhaps many more guests attended than what had been expected?
Our Blessed Mother had discreetly noticed the dilemma which is why she told her Divine Son: they have no wine.
Consider the concern and the compassion of Our Merciful Mother towards we, her Spiritual children! When she sees we need something, even before asking us for her intercession, she is ready to help us! Therefore, we should all pray with great confidence to Our Mother of Mercy. Let us ask her powerful intercession in all our necessities. She earned her titles of “Comforter of the afflicted”, “Our Lady of Good Remedy”, and “Help of Christians” the old-fashioned way - she earned them!
By the same token, all of us should all imitate Our Blessed Mother by making our hearts filled to overflowing with Charity and compassion for others so that we will always be ready, willing, and able to help others willingly and cheerfully whenever and wherever we can, especially our fellow Catholics who are faithful to the authentic Apostolic Tradition!
The response Christ made to His Mother may seem cold and harsh, telling her:
Woman, what is that to Me and to thee?But Christ was not cold and harsh because His words contain no reproach. Not only that, but the word Woman implies nothing contemptible since, in the Aramaic language in which Christ spoke, Woman is a word of great respect because, in English, it means: Madam, or Virgin.
By saying:
what is that to Me and to thee?He is really saying that He works His miracles, not moved by the love of His Mother, but by the will of His Heavenly Father, because He had not received His God-head, which works miracles, from His Mother, but from His Father.
And lastly, by saying:
My hour is not yet come,He means: The hour or time appointed by His Heavenly Father, when the miracle will produce its full effect, when the want of wine will be noticed by all, is not yet come.
From this answer of Christ to His Mother, we learn not to lose courage when God seems not to hear our prayers.
In this way, Christ gives us an opportunity to exercise faith, hope, trust, and confidence, as well as to practice patience, and to motivate us to more profitably use His Graces and gifts.
Therefore, let all us be steadfast in prayer because the help of God will be nearest to us when the necessity is the greatest.
This is what Our Merciful Mother did:
1) she perceived the mysterious meaning of His words;The Blessed Virgin Mary is indeed mighty as regards her intercession because God does not refuse her any request. Why?2) she was so confident of her petition being granted, that she said to the waiters:
Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye.
Because she is the Mother of God. What will not the intercession of Mary avail when the intercession of the Saints of Heaven avails so much?
The prayer of the just man and of the Holy Saints are only prayers of the servants of God, whilst the prayer of Mary is the prayer of His own Mother, the Queen of Heaven!
Let us then trust in Mary, but let us not forget her admonition:
Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye.This means we must do what Jesus requires of us:
keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17).How could anyone expect that Mary would pray for those who are the enemies of her Divine Son who never cease to crucify Christ anew by their sins and vices?
Resolutions
In our resolutions for today, let us resolve to pray with great confidence to our Blessed Mother, asking for her powerful intercession in all our necessities.
Let us pray to Our Blessed Mother for the Graces we need to fill us to overflowing with true Christian Catholic Charity and compassion for others so that we will always help others, especially our fellow Catholics who are faithful to the authentic Apostolic Tradition who, by the Grace of God, try to really live a real Spiritual Life every day, a life of prayer and mortification, a life of the practice of the Virtues and the Seven Gifts, a life of daily Spiritual Reading (a minimum of 5 minutes per day), a life of the imitation of Jesus Christ Who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14.6).
As a final resolution, in the Holy Name of Jesus, and in an exercise of Catholic Charity, please contribute to the support of the Church - in this case - the Shrine of Saint Jude. Please help us to save Souls! Thank you for your thoughtfulness and Charity! Remember, God is never outdone in generosity!!!
Think how happy you will be when, in the next life, God shows you all of the Souls you helped to save by helping our Apostolates, including this Sermon web site, because "he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).
“And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not failing. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).“And the wine failing, the Mother of Jesus saith to Him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come. His Mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye” (GOSPEL of today’s Mass, John 2:3-5).
V In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Blessing
| V. Sit X Nomen
Domini benedictum.
R. Ex hoc nunc, et usque in saeculum. V. U Adjutorium nostrum in Nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit cœlum et terram. V. Benedicat vos, Omnipotens Deus: V. Pa X ter, et Fi X lius, et Spiritus XSanctus, descendat super vos, et maneat semper. R. Amen. |
V. Blessed X
be the Name of the Lord.
R. Now and for ever more. V. U Our help is in the Name of the Lord. R. Who made Heaven and earth. V. May Almighty God bless thee: V. The Fa X ther, the S X on, and the Holy X Ghost, descend upon thee, and always remain with thee. R. Amen. |
 |
|
|