Sunday, October 11, 2009
Prayer for Victory (Psalms 144)
"Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war, my safeguard and my fortress, my stronghold, and my deliverer. My shield in whom I trust who subdues people under me. Lord incline the heavens to come, touch the mountains and make them smoke, flash forth lightening and scatter my foes, shoot your arrows and root them. Reach out your hand from on high, and rescue me from the many waters, deliver me from the hands of my foreign foes."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
More good information online (click the links)
The Bible Online
Bible in a Minute (fun)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Augustine's Confessions (St. Augustine)
Summa Theologica (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. John of the Cross - Spiritual Canticle
St. John of the Cross - The Dark Night
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori- Uniformity With God's Will
Celtic Crosses (2 Sites)
http://www.thejukejoint.com/celhar.html
http://www.sunshinespirit.net/CelticHarmonies.htm
YOUTUBE: Augustine Confessions
St. John of the Cross: The Dark Night of the Soul
Bible in a Minute (fun)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Augustine's Confessions (St. Augustine)
Summa Theologica (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. John of the Cross - Spiritual Canticle
St. John of the Cross - The Dark Night
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori- Uniformity With God's Will
Celtic Crosses (2 Sites)
http://www.thejukejoint.com/celhar.html
http://www.sunshinespirit.net/CelticHarmonies.htm
YOUTUBE: Augustine Confessions
St. John of the Cross: The Dark Night of the Soul
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
4 Necessary Classes to Become a Priest
Fr. Leo Hoar, of Springfield, MA, recently told me that before a priest enters the seminary he must take these 4 Philosophy classes (in no order):
(1) Logic- deals with patterns of thinking that lead from true premises to true conclusions, including two broad divisions: mathematical logic (formal symbolic logic) and philosophical logic.
(2) Metaphysics- investigates principles of reality transcending those of any particular science, and the nature of being and the world. Traditional branches are cosmology and ontology.
(3) Cosmology- the study of the universe in its totality, and by extension, humanity's place in it. Its long history involves science, philosophy, esotericism, and religion.
(4) Epistemology- is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible. Among its central concerns has been the challenge posed by skepticism and the relationships between truth, belief, and justification.
If you're looking for electives or a minor, these classes might be a good idea. If a priest needs to take them, why shouldn't you too?
(1) Logic- deals with patterns of thinking that lead from true premises to true conclusions, including two broad divisions: mathematical logic (formal symbolic logic) and philosophical logic.
(2) Metaphysics- investigates principles of reality transcending those of any particular science, and the nature of being and the world. Traditional branches are cosmology and ontology.
(3) Cosmology- the study of the universe in its totality, and by extension, humanity's place in it. Its long history involves science, philosophy, esotericism, and religion.
(4) Epistemology- is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible. Among its central concerns has been the challenge posed by skepticism and the relationships between truth, belief, and justification.
If you're looking for electives or a minor, these classes might be a good idea. If a priest needs to take them, why shouldn't you too?
World's Smartest Man's Proves God
The highest measured IQ was that of Christopher Langan (estimated between 195-210).
His theory the "Cognitive Theoretic Model of the Universe" (CTMU) provides a proof for the existence of God. This is how Langan explains parts of the theological aspects of his theory:
"Scientific theories are mental constructs that have objective reality as their content. According to the scientific method, science puts objective content first, letting theories be determined by observation. But the phrase "a theory of reality" contains two key nouns, theory and reality, and science is really about both. Because all theories have certain necessary logical properties that are abstract and mathematical, and therefore independent of observation - it is these very properties that let us recognize and understand our world in conceptual terms - we could just as well start with these properties and see what they might tell us about objective reality. Just as scientific observation makes demands on theories, the logic of theories makes demands on scientific observation, and these demands tell us in a general way what we may observe about the universe.
In other words, a comprehensive theory of reality is not just about observation, but about theories and their logical requirements. Since theories are mental constructs, and mental means "of the mind", this can be rephrased as follows: mind and reality are linked in mutual dependence at the most basic level of understanding. This linkage of mind and reality is what a TOE (Theory of Everything) is really about. The CTMU is such a theory; instead of being a mathematical description of specific observations (like all established scientific theories), it is a "metatheory" about the general relationship between theories and observations…i.e., about science or knowledge itself. Thus, it can credibly lay claim to the title of TOE.
Mind and reality - the abstract and the concrete, the subjective and the objective, the internal and the external - are linked together in a certain way, and this linkage is the real substance of "reality theory". Just as scientific observation determines theories, the logical requirements of theories to some extent determine scientific observation. Since reality always has the ability to surprise us, the task of scientific observation can never be completed with absolute certainty, and this means that a comprehensive theory of reality cannot be based on scientific observation alone. Instead, it must be based on the process of making scientific observations in general, and this process is based on the relationship of mind and reality. So the CTMU is essentially a theory of the relationship between mind and reality.
In explaining this relationship, the CTMU shows that reality possesses a complex property akin to self-awareness. That is, just as the mind is real, reality is in some respects like a mind. But when we attempt to answer the obvious question "whose mind?", the answer turns out to be a mathematical and scientific definition of God. [Reality is self-distributed, self-reading, coherently self-configuring, and self-processing. This corresponds to the properties of God: omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence]. This implies that we all exist in what can be called "the Mind of God", and that our individual minds are parts of God's Mind. They are not as powerful as God's Mind, for they are only parts thereof; yet, they are directly connected to the greatest source of knowledge and power that exists. This connection of our minds to the Mind of God, which is like the connection of parts to a whole, is what we sometimes call the soul or spirit, and it is the most crucial and essential part of being human.
Thus, the attempt to formulate a comprehensive theory of reality, the CTMU, finally leads to spiritual understanding, producing a basis for the unification of science and theology. The traditional Cartesian divider between body and mind, science and spirituality, is penetrated by logical reasoning of a higher order than ordinary scientific reasoning, but no less scientific than any other kind of mathematical truth. Accordingly, it serves as the long-awaited gateway between science and humanism, a bridge of reason over what has long seemed an impassable gulf."
Click the link below to see Christopher Langan's Paper on the CTMU:
Cognitive Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU)
His theory the "Cognitive Theoretic Model of the Universe" (CTMU) provides a proof for the existence of God. This is how Langan explains parts of the theological aspects of his theory:
"Scientific theories are mental constructs that have objective reality as their content. According to the scientific method, science puts objective content first, letting theories be determined by observation. But the phrase "a theory of reality" contains two key nouns, theory and reality, and science is really about both. Because all theories have certain necessary logical properties that are abstract and mathematical, and therefore independent of observation - it is these very properties that let us recognize and understand our world in conceptual terms - we could just as well start with these properties and see what they might tell us about objective reality. Just as scientific observation makes demands on theories, the logic of theories makes demands on scientific observation, and these demands tell us in a general way what we may observe about the universe.
In other words, a comprehensive theory of reality is not just about observation, but about theories and their logical requirements. Since theories are mental constructs, and mental means "of the mind", this can be rephrased as follows: mind and reality are linked in mutual dependence at the most basic level of understanding. This linkage of mind and reality is what a TOE (Theory of Everything) is really about. The CTMU is such a theory; instead of being a mathematical description of specific observations (like all established scientific theories), it is a "metatheory" about the general relationship between theories and observations…i.e., about science or knowledge itself. Thus, it can credibly lay claim to the title of TOE.
Mind and reality - the abstract and the concrete, the subjective and the objective, the internal and the external - are linked together in a certain way, and this linkage is the real substance of "reality theory". Just as scientific observation determines theories, the logical requirements of theories to some extent determine scientific observation. Since reality always has the ability to surprise us, the task of scientific observation can never be completed with absolute certainty, and this means that a comprehensive theory of reality cannot be based on scientific observation alone. Instead, it must be based on the process of making scientific observations in general, and this process is based on the relationship of mind and reality. So the CTMU is essentially a theory of the relationship between mind and reality.
In explaining this relationship, the CTMU shows that reality possesses a complex property akin to self-awareness. That is, just as the mind is real, reality is in some respects like a mind. But when we attempt to answer the obvious question "whose mind?", the answer turns out to be a mathematical and scientific definition of God. [Reality is self-distributed, self-reading, coherently self-configuring, and self-processing. This corresponds to the properties of God: omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence]. This implies that we all exist in what can be called "the Mind of God", and that our individual minds are parts of God's Mind. They are not as powerful as God's Mind, for they are only parts thereof; yet, they are directly connected to the greatest source of knowledge and power that exists. This connection of our minds to the Mind of God, which is like the connection of parts to a whole, is what we sometimes call the soul or spirit, and it is the most crucial and essential part of being human.
Thus, the attempt to formulate a comprehensive theory of reality, the CTMU, finally leads to spiritual understanding, producing a basis for the unification of science and theology. The traditional Cartesian divider between body and mind, science and spirituality, is penetrated by logical reasoning of a higher order than ordinary scientific reasoning, but no less scientific than any other kind of mathematical truth. Accordingly, it serves as the long-awaited gateway between science and humanism, a bridge of reason over what has long seemed an impassable gulf."
Click the link below to see Christopher Langan's Paper on the CTMU:
Cognitive Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU)
The Existence of God according to a Rutgers Philosophy Professor
I took a Philosophy class at Rutgers University- Logic, Reason, and Persuasions.
The Professor, Jeff Buechner, had an interesting take on proving God:
"God exists and made us with certain limitations; in particular, 1 limitation is that we can never correctly prove God exists or does not exist. Faith is an important part of religious life. If you could prove or disprove His existence, then there's no reason to have faith."
The Professor, Jeff Buechner, had an interesting take on proving God:
"God exists and made us with certain limitations; in particular, 1 limitation is that we can never correctly prove God exists or does not exist. Faith is an important part of religious life. If you could prove or disprove His existence, then there's no reason to have faith."
Monday, April 6, 2009
Pascal's Wager
Analysis with decision theory
The possibilities defined by Pascal's Wager can be thought of as a decision under uncertainty.
So, we look at the four possibilities:
(1) If GOD EXISTS & WE BELIEVE, then there's eternal reward.
(2) If GOD EXISTS & WE DON'T BELIEVE, then there's eternal punishment.
(3) If GOD DOESN'T EXIST & WE BELIEVE, then nothing happens.
(4) If GOD DOESN'T EXIST & WE DON'T BELIEVE, then nothing happens.
Conclusion: Belief in God is the safe bet since you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by believing in Him.
Note: This is fun. But this is not what faith is about. You believe with your heart, not your mind.
The possibilities defined by Pascal's Wager can be thought of as a decision under uncertainty.
So, we look at the four possibilities:
(1) If GOD EXISTS & WE BELIEVE, then there's eternal reward.
(2) If GOD EXISTS & WE DON'T BELIEVE, then there's eternal punishment.
(3) If GOD DOESN'T EXIST & WE BELIEVE, then nothing happens.
(4) If GOD DOESN'T EXIST & WE DON'T BELIEVE, then nothing happens.
Conclusion: Belief in God is the safe bet since you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by believing in Him.
Note: This is fun. But this is not what faith is about. You believe with your heart, not your mind.
Forgiving God?! Taken from the Theories of Gil-White
An interesting take on things by my former Evolutionary Psychologist professor at the University of Pennsylvania...
Love One Another
"Love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." (Lev. 19.18)
"And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them." (Gen. 1.27) Which of these is the Torah's most important verse?
Two prominent rabbis of antiquity had a friendly debate over this. Each defended one. They were very wise and learned rabbis. But they were both wrong. You need both verses, because together they make it possible for you to forgive God. And Human Salvation begins with that step. I shall explain. If God made Man in his image, this does not settle what the essence of God is. Perhaps God is a Devil. We do not know. We do know that Humans are devils, often.
We kill, we rape, we burn…, And so if we are made in God's image, God could be a Devil.
Now look at the other verse. It resolves the question. God commands that we love our brother like our own self. We do that sometimes, don't we? We do know that Humans are angels, often.
We also hug, and feast, and love…, Don't we? God commands that: hugs, and feasts, and love.
So that's the Human side that is in His image. God is good. And if God is good, then we can forgive Him. Forgive Him for what? For all the killing, and raping, and burning.
After all, He created a world in which those things are possible. He did it.
And it is very tempting to hate Him for it. A lot of people do. I know exactly how they feel.
But you see, if God is good, which we have established, then all the killing and raping and burning offends Him. And if it offends Him, then the way in which all this killing and raping and burning offends you - and which perhaps makes you accuse God - is a laughable microcosm of the suffering that God experiences. He suffers for you, just as you suffer for yourself, but in addition He suffers for millions of other souls now alive, and for millions of other souls who lived in other times. Anything that happens anywhere, to anybody, at any time, is part of God's intimate experience - don't forget that. But that is not all. God also knows perfectly well, better than anybody else, that this is all His fault. Ponder that. Don't imagine the suffering, you can't.
I know you tried anyway. It's interesting, just trying to imagine it produces indescribable awe because you imagine something enormous, unthinkable, and you know that your effort to imagine is pathetic, no matter that you have just shocked yourself out of your wits.
But that is not all. Don't forget that God is Creator. This suffering that you cannot imagine and I cannot imagine…this suffering God inflicted on Himself. All by Himself. Nobody made Him do it.
And He knew exactly what He was doing. Why? Why did He do it?
How can any Being deliberately inflict on itself that kind of Pain?
Only a Being whose Love were even greater than this Pain, which we cannot imagine.
Please. It is pointless even to try to imagine this Love.
Best just to bracket it as this abstraction that is somehow, inexplicably, even bigger than this other thing which is so big it was already completely unthinkable.
Once so understood, it is clear that one can never reciprocate this Love.
It is simply impossible. And therefore, if God deserves to be Loved back, then no Human can ever Love Him enough. (So there is always room for growth.) But we haven't answered the question. Why did God do this to Himself? Why not create a world instead that would not make Him suffer? There must be a reason. And there is. In such a world there would be no Choice.
Your Life would have no Meaning. Your Existence would be pointless. There would be nothing for God to Love. So, unless Humans are good by Choice, there is no point in creating them.
At least there is no point in it for God, because God wants companions that are like Him.
(Yes, that means you.) And God can choose. And God has chosen. And God is good. And you can choose. You too can choose. You can be good. Here's what you do. First, try to imagine God's suffering. Let the feeling overwhelm you. But do no let yourself get too sad. You have to be strong for God. Imagine as much of the suffering of God as you can, and then allow this imagination to stir your Compassion for Him. Naturally, you have never felt this kind of Compassion before. All this time you were feeling anger at God because he allowed evil, not realizing that evil is more painful for Him than for you - infinitely more painful. The only way he could create a meaningful world, was by allowing Choice. Once He allowed Choice, He allowed evil. There was no other way to create you. So let yourself fill with Compassion for God.
Raise your arms up to Him and imagine that you hold one tiny end of His burden, shoulder to shoulder. Tell Him you forgive Him. You understand that this was the only way. How difficult this must be for Him. Be washed in his Gratitude. If you have really forgiven God, then you are experiencing something quite unlike anything else in your Life before. You are feeling His infinite multiplication of the Love you gave Him back when you forgave Him and felt Compassion for His suffering. Soak in this shower. It's what the mystics call Grace. Enjoy it as you would a warm bath. Sensitize yourself to it. Notice how it makes you Holy, and in doing so makes you good.
This is the gift of Your Compassion. This frustratingly indescribable and sublime experience occurs only because you have forgiven God. It occurs because you tried to share His burden by imagining a vanishing fraction of it that is nonetheless, for you, a Universe. You tried to see and think from God's point of view. And you did it not out of hubris but Compassion. And you were bathed in joy because the Universe has Meaning. And you deserve it. And you will be good.
Because having understood such things, you realize the urgency of Human Salvation. So long as we continue to kill and rape and burn…this Being whose Love is an unknowable of unknowables…who deserves to be Loved Back…will suffer The Torment. So Love One Another.
Be Good. For God's sake.
by Francisco Gil-White
Love One Another
"Love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." (Lev. 19.18)
"And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them." (Gen. 1.27) Which of these is the Torah's most important verse?
Two prominent rabbis of antiquity had a friendly debate over this. Each defended one. They were very wise and learned rabbis. But they were both wrong. You need both verses, because together they make it possible for you to forgive God. And Human Salvation begins with that step. I shall explain. If God made Man in his image, this does not settle what the essence of God is. Perhaps God is a Devil. We do not know. We do know that Humans are devils, often.
We kill, we rape, we burn…, And so if we are made in God's image, God could be a Devil.
Now look at the other verse. It resolves the question. God commands that we love our brother like our own self. We do that sometimes, don't we? We do know that Humans are angels, often.
We also hug, and feast, and love…, Don't we? God commands that: hugs, and feasts, and love.
So that's the Human side that is in His image. God is good. And if God is good, then we can forgive Him. Forgive Him for what? For all the killing, and raping, and burning.
After all, He created a world in which those things are possible. He did it.
And it is very tempting to hate Him for it. A lot of people do. I know exactly how they feel.
But you see, if God is good, which we have established, then all the killing and raping and burning offends Him. And if it offends Him, then the way in which all this killing and raping and burning offends you - and which perhaps makes you accuse God - is a laughable microcosm of the suffering that God experiences. He suffers for you, just as you suffer for yourself, but in addition He suffers for millions of other souls now alive, and for millions of other souls who lived in other times. Anything that happens anywhere, to anybody, at any time, is part of God's intimate experience - don't forget that. But that is not all. God also knows perfectly well, better than anybody else, that this is all His fault. Ponder that. Don't imagine the suffering, you can't.
I know you tried anyway. It's interesting, just trying to imagine it produces indescribable awe because you imagine something enormous, unthinkable, and you know that your effort to imagine is pathetic, no matter that you have just shocked yourself out of your wits.
But that is not all. Don't forget that God is Creator. This suffering that you cannot imagine and I cannot imagine…this suffering God inflicted on Himself. All by Himself. Nobody made Him do it.
And He knew exactly what He was doing. Why? Why did He do it?
How can any Being deliberately inflict on itself that kind of Pain?
Only a Being whose Love were even greater than this Pain, which we cannot imagine.
Please. It is pointless even to try to imagine this Love.
Best just to bracket it as this abstraction that is somehow, inexplicably, even bigger than this other thing which is so big it was already completely unthinkable.
Once so understood, it is clear that one can never reciprocate this Love.
It is simply impossible. And therefore, if God deserves to be Loved back, then no Human can ever Love Him enough. (So there is always room for growth.) But we haven't answered the question. Why did God do this to Himself? Why not create a world instead that would not make Him suffer? There must be a reason. And there is. In such a world there would be no Choice.
Your Life would have no Meaning. Your Existence would be pointless. There would be nothing for God to Love. So, unless Humans are good by Choice, there is no point in creating them.
At least there is no point in it for God, because God wants companions that are like Him.
(Yes, that means you.) And God can choose. And God has chosen. And God is good. And you can choose. You too can choose. You can be good. Here's what you do. First, try to imagine God's suffering. Let the feeling overwhelm you. But do no let yourself get too sad. You have to be strong for God. Imagine as much of the suffering of God as you can, and then allow this imagination to stir your Compassion for Him. Naturally, you have never felt this kind of Compassion before. All this time you were feeling anger at God because he allowed evil, not realizing that evil is more painful for Him than for you - infinitely more painful. The only way he could create a meaningful world, was by allowing Choice. Once He allowed Choice, He allowed evil. There was no other way to create you. So let yourself fill with Compassion for God.
Raise your arms up to Him and imagine that you hold one tiny end of His burden, shoulder to shoulder. Tell Him you forgive Him. You understand that this was the only way. How difficult this must be for Him. Be washed in his Gratitude. If you have really forgiven God, then you are experiencing something quite unlike anything else in your Life before. You are feeling His infinite multiplication of the Love you gave Him back when you forgave Him and felt Compassion for His suffering. Soak in this shower. It's what the mystics call Grace. Enjoy it as you would a warm bath. Sensitize yourself to it. Notice how it makes you Holy, and in doing so makes you good.
This is the gift of Your Compassion. This frustratingly indescribable and sublime experience occurs only because you have forgiven God. It occurs because you tried to share His burden by imagining a vanishing fraction of it that is nonetheless, for you, a Universe. You tried to see and think from God's point of view. And you did it not out of hubris but Compassion. And you were bathed in joy because the Universe has Meaning. And you deserve it. And you will be good.
Because having understood such things, you realize the urgency of Human Salvation. So long as we continue to kill and rape and burn…this Being whose Love is an unknowable of unknowables…who deserves to be Loved Back…will suffer The Torment. So Love One Another.
Be Good. For God's sake.
by Francisco Gil-White
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Lord's Mission Plan to All (Matthew 5:13-16)
[13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?...
[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
[15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven
"Ye are the salt of the earth...Ye are the light of the world...Let your light so shine before men..."
[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
[15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven
"Ye are the salt of the earth...Ye are the light of the world...Let your light so shine before men..."
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Motivational Words from God- Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture)
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
-Psalms 119:105
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them. And God Blessed them..."
-Gen 1: 27-28
"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."
-2Chronicles 15:7
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
-Ecclesiastes 9:10
"Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail or forsake you."
-Deuteronomy 31:6
"Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again."
-Proverbs 24:16
"...Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever thou goest." -Joshua 1:9
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."
-Proverbs 24:10
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!"
-Psalms 37:4
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak..."
-Habakkuk 2:3
"Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city."
-Ecclesiastes 7:19
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run..."
-Isaiah 40:31
"This is the word of the LORD...Not by might, not by power, but by spirit, says the LORD of hosts."
-Zechariah 4:6
"For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."
-Psalms 91:11-12
-Psalms 119:105
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them. And God Blessed them..."
-Gen 1: 27-28
"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."
-2Chronicles 15:7
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
-Ecclesiastes 9:10
"Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail or forsake you."
-Deuteronomy 31:6
"Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again."
-Proverbs 24:16
"...Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever thou goest." -Joshua 1:9
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."
-Proverbs 24:10
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!"
-Psalms 37:4
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak..."
-Habakkuk 2:3
"Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city."
-Ecclesiastes 7:19
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run..."
-Isaiah 40:31
"This is the word of the LORD...Not by might, not by power, but by spirit, says the LORD of hosts."
-Zechariah 4:6
"For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."
-Psalms 91:11-12
Motivational Words from God- New Testament
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeath them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."
-Matthew 7:24-25
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." "
-Colossians 3:23
"...You will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you."
-John 14:20
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain; move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
-Matthew 17:20
"...I am with you always, even to the end of the world."
-Matthew 28:20
"Let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places...Put on all the armor that God gives...Then...you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm."
-Ephesians 6:10-13
"With God all things are possible."
-Matthew 19:26
"For with God nothing shall be impossible."
-Luke 1:37
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
-Philippians 4:6,7,13
"For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control."
-Timothy 1:7
"Amen I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it will be yours."
-Mark 11:23-24
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
-Hebrews 12:1
"...Run in such a way as to get the prize."
- 1Corinthians 1:24
"...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all...are being transformed into...one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
2 Cor. 3:17-18
"Stand firm in faith; be men of courage; be strong."
-1Corinthians 16:13
"Fear Not!"
-literally 75 times in the Bible
-Matthew 7:24-25
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." "
-Colossians 3:23
"...You will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you."
-John 14:20
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain; move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
-Matthew 17:20
"...I am with you always, even to the end of the world."
-Matthew 28:20
"Let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places...Put on all the armor that God gives...Then...you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm."
-Ephesians 6:10-13
"With God all things are possible."
-Matthew 19:26
"For with God nothing shall be impossible."
-Luke 1:37
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
-Philippians 4:6,7,13
"For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control."
-Timothy 1:7
"Amen I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it will be yours."
-Mark 11:23-24
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
-Hebrews 12:1
"...Run in such a way as to get the prize."
- 1Corinthians 1:24
"...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all...are being transformed into...one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
2 Cor. 3:17-18
"Stand firm in faith; be men of courage; be strong."
-1Corinthians 16:13
"Fear Not!"
-literally 75 times in the Bible
Jeremiah (a message of love, courage, and destiny...from God)
(1)[4] Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[5] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.[6] ...thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
[8] Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee...
[9] Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
[10] See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.[12] ...Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
[17] Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces...
[18] For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land...
[19] And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee...to deliver thee.
(3)[15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
(11)[4] ...Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God;
(15)[19] ...thou shalt be as my mouth...
[20] And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee...
[21] And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.
(29)[11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you...thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
[12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
[13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
[14] And I will be found of you...and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you...and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
[5] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.[6] ...thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
[8] Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee...
[9] Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
[10] See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.[12] ...Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
[17] Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces...
[18] For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land...
[19] And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee...to deliver thee.
(3)[15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
(11)[4] ...Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God;
(15)[19] ...thou shalt be as my mouth...
[20] And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee...
[21] And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.
(29)[11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you...thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
[12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
[13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
[14] And I will be found of you...and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you...and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Sermon on the Mount
When asking Father Jim about the meaning of certain parts of the bible, he told me that I have to realize that Paul was speaking to different audiences in his different letters. What’s best to persuade one audience may not be the same as another since different people have different needs wants and values (ideals)…I think this too can apply to Jesus’ teachings. You have to consider the audience who he is speaking to, to get a full understanding of his meaning. This is why I like the Sermon on the Mount so much.
This is what I read a priest wrote…
The Sermon on the Mount was destined to become the universal charter of ethics and higher ideals that have shaped the moral principles of the civilized world. The Sermon on the Mount reminds us of Moses and the Mosaic law, the covenant and the Ten Commandments, which were delivered on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3f). At that time, God appeared in clouds and thunder; but in the Sermon on the Mount, God was present as a divine and human Being, the incarnate Jesus Christ, to utter clearly the revelation for the new creation of mankind.
To set the stage, I will start with Matt 4- 25: And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.
This point illustrates that this was one of Jesus’ most diverse audiences. So this to me means, this is how Jesus would talk to people of all faiths and from all different places. In other words, this is the message to the broadest audience on how to live a good life that is pleasing to the Father.
It’s worth posting and re-reading the full Sermon on the Mount
The Bible and my thoughts in parentheses
5:1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5: Blessed are the meek (showing patience and humility): for they shall inherit the earth. 6: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8: Blessed are the pure in heart (good intentions): for they shall see God. 9: Blessed are the peacemakers (keep peace, break up fights, don’t encourage confrontation): for they shall be called the children of God. 10: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15: Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (teach only good, do not lead others to any kind of sin, do not encourage evil in any form, encourage morality)20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (be patient, don’t get too angry with other people)23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25: Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. (don’t leave a problem unsettled, make sure things are okay with a person confronting you)26: Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29: And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31: It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33: Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (make no promises or swears, your yes is yes and no is no)38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (show goodness and mercy toward friend and foe alike and gove to them who ask of you as you would want given to you)45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (what separates you from other men if you only do good for good people and people that you like, rather do good for all, this is what makes you a Christian and different from others)48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (strive for greatness and perfection in all that you do but not doing so by sacrificing but one of your ideals or principles, win by the rules)
6:1: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2: Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3: But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (purity of heart and best intentions: do good for the Lord and not to be recognized)7: But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8: Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11: Give us this day our daily bread. 12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (To be forgiven by God you need to Forgive others. The amount you want to be forgiven, in that way you should forgive. In other words, forgive all, generously, and endlessly)16: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17: But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18: That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (your purity of heart and love for fellow man is well above any material thing on earth, one gives you salvation while the other only gives you temporary gratification)21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23: But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (show your eyes only pure sights)24: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (don’t make money and material possessions your top priority but make God and following his commandments top priority)25: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27: Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28: And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30: Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32: For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (do not put too much worry into trivial matters, you will be okay)33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (if you put following God as a top priority your other needs will be filled)34: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged. (don’t condemn others, or speak evil or gossip about others)2: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (accept others for who they are, as you'd want God to accept you, unconditionally)3: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4: Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? (don’t point the finger at others since you are by no means perfect yourself)5: Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (what you ask of God from your heart, you will be given)9: Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10: Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (good people will do good things and bad people will do bad things. Perhaps the fruits that the good bear are the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity [kindness and graciousness], goodness, longanimity [?], mildness, faith, modesty, continency [self-restraint, moderation, sexual abstinence, chastity)21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (not everyone who recognizes Jesus as the Lord will be saved but rather who live the way described here)22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (you'll always have a strong foundation if your guidelines to living and your ideals are founded upon these teachings)26: And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28: And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
This is what I read a priest wrote…
The Sermon on the Mount was destined to become the universal charter of ethics and higher ideals that have shaped the moral principles of the civilized world. The Sermon on the Mount reminds us of Moses and the Mosaic law, the covenant and the Ten Commandments, which were delivered on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3f). At that time, God appeared in clouds and thunder; but in the Sermon on the Mount, God was present as a divine and human Being, the incarnate Jesus Christ, to utter clearly the revelation for the new creation of mankind.
To set the stage, I will start with Matt 4- 25: And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.
This point illustrates that this was one of Jesus’ most diverse audiences. So this to me means, this is how Jesus would talk to people of all faiths and from all different places. In other words, this is the message to the broadest audience on how to live a good life that is pleasing to the Father.
It’s worth posting and re-reading the full Sermon on the Mount
The Bible and my thoughts in parentheses
5:1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5: Blessed are the meek (showing patience and humility): for they shall inherit the earth. 6: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8: Blessed are the pure in heart (good intentions): for they shall see God. 9: Blessed are the peacemakers (keep peace, break up fights, don’t encourage confrontation): for they shall be called the children of God. 10: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15: Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (teach only good, do not lead others to any kind of sin, do not encourage evil in any form, encourage morality)20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (be patient, don’t get too angry with other people)23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25: Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. (don’t leave a problem unsettled, make sure things are okay with a person confronting you)26: Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29: And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31: It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33: Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (make no promises or swears, your yes is yes and no is no)38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (show goodness and mercy toward friend and foe alike and gove to them who ask of you as you would want given to you)45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (what separates you from other men if you only do good for good people and people that you like, rather do good for all, this is what makes you a Christian and different from others)48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (strive for greatness and perfection in all that you do but not doing so by sacrificing but one of your ideals or principles, win by the rules)
6:1: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2: Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3: But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (purity of heart and best intentions: do good for the Lord and not to be recognized)7: But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8: Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11: Give us this day our daily bread. 12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (To be forgiven by God you need to Forgive others. The amount you want to be forgiven, in that way you should forgive. In other words, forgive all, generously, and endlessly)16: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17: But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18: That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (your purity of heart and love for fellow man is well above any material thing on earth, one gives you salvation while the other only gives you temporary gratification)21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23: But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (show your eyes only pure sights)24: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (don’t make money and material possessions your top priority but make God and following his commandments top priority)25: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27: Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28: And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30: Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32: For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (do not put too much worry into trivial matters, you will be okay)33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (if you put following God as a top priority your other needs will be filled)34: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged. (don’t condemn others, or speak evil or gossip about others)2: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (accept others for who they are, as you'd want God to accept you, unconditionally)3: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4: Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? (don’t point the finger at others since you are by no means perfect yourself)5: Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (what you ask of God from your heart, you will be given)9: Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10: Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (good people will do good things and bad people will do bad things. Perhaps the fruits that the good bear are the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity [kindness and graciousness], goodness, longanimity [?], mildness, faith, modesty, continency [self-restraint, moderation, sexual abstinence, chastity)21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (not everyone who recognizes Jesus as the Lord will be saved but rather who live the way described here)22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (you'll always have a strong foundation if your guidelines to living and your ideals are founded upon these teachings)26: And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28: And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Pattoo
It is appropriate that I started my religion blog today on February 6th because today is my Grandpa Louis Leva's 81st birthday. My brothers and I for some reason always call him "Pattoo" pronounced PAhh-too." The reason this is appropriate is because he is the main reason for my devotion to my religion. He is a Eucharistic Minister, the head usher for his parish, and a daily attendee at mass. Ever since I was little he would tell me about the different saints, especially Padre Pio. It was always very interesting to me.
Since then, whenever something that had to do with religion came up, he was always my "go to."
When I became an altar boy, he was the one I chose to put the rope around me.
He was the one to always take me to all the early masses I had to serve.
He took me to all 9 First Friday's when I made that devotion. (Speaking of which, today is a First Friday).
When I made my confirmation, he was my sponsor. (Not that this was too surprising, I knew he'd be my sponsor since 2nd grade).
And I just became a Eucharistic Minister this year to follow in his footsteps.
He deserved a shout-out on this page for all he has done for me and my family. Happy Birthday Grandpa. This Blog page will always be dedicated to you. I love you.
Since then, whenever something that had to do with religion came up, he was always my "go to."
When I became an altar boy, he was the one I chose to put the rope around me.
He was the one to always take me to all the early masses I had to serve.
He took me to all 9 First Friday's when I made that devotion. (Speaking of which, today is a First Friday).
When I made my confirmation, he was my sponsor. (Not that this was too surprising, I knew he'd be my sponsor since 2nd grade).
And I just became a Eucharistic Minister this year to follow in his footsteps.
He deserved a shout-out on this page for all he has done for me and my family. Happy Birthday Grandpa. This Blog page will always be dedicated to you. I love you.
CATHOLIC GRACES
Chaplet of Divine Mercy (Jesus to Sister Faustina)
“Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from my infinite mercy.”
3pm- The Hour of Great Mercy for the world
“In this hour I will refuse nothing to a soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My passion. “
Feast of Divine Mercy- Sunday after Easter
“On that day the very depths of My mercy are open. The soul that will go to confession and receive communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.”
Plenary Indulgences
www.ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/plenary.htm
Sacred Heart of Jesus (Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary)
To Christians devoted to the Sacred Heart.
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
7 Promises of Mary (Mary to St. Bridget)
Say 7 Hail Mary’s daily & meditate on her tears & 7 dolors- (1) Prophesy of Simeon (2) Flight into Egypt (3) Losing Jesus in the temple (4) Meeting with Jesus on way to Calvary (5) Crucifixion (6) Taking Jesus down from the Cross (7) Burial of Jesus
#1- I will grant peace to their families.
#2- They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
#3- I will give them as much as they ask for, as long as it does not oppose the will of Jesus in the sanctification of their soul.
#4- I will console their pains & accompany them in their work.
#5- I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the devil and protect them at every instant of their lives.
#6- I will visibly help them at the hour of their death, they will see their Mother.
#7- (through Jesus) Those following this devotion will be taken directly to heaven.
2 Divine Promises (Jesus to a Polish soul)
Promise I "Each priest who worthily offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for 30 consecutive days and, in addition, Makes the Stations of the Cross daily, will receive for himself and another soul selected by him, the assurance of eternal salvation.''
Promise II "Likewise, each individual who will receive Holy Communion worthily for 30 consecutive days, and will recite one Our Father and Hail Mary for the welfare of the Holy Catholic Church, will receive for himself and one other soul selected by him, the assurance of eternal salvation.”
Prayer of St. Gertrude (Jesus to St. Gertrude)
“Each time this prayer is said I will release 1,000 souls from Purgatory.”
+ Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus. In union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus +
15 Promises of Mary to Christians who recite the Rosary
1. To all those who shall recite my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.
2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary will receive some signal grace.
3. The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against Hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin, and dispel heresy.
4. The Rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies; it will substitute in hearts love of God for love of the world, and elevate them to desire heavenly and eternal good. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!
5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish.
6. Those who shall recite my Rosary piously, considering its mysteries, will not be overwhelmed by misfortune, nor die a bad death. The sinner will be converted; the just will grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary will not die without the consolations of the Church, or without grace.
8. Those who shall recite my Rosary will find during their life and at their death the light of God, the fullness of His grace, and will share in the merits of the blessed.
9. I will deliver very promptly from Purgatory the souls devoted to my Rosary.
10. The true children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in Heaven.
11. What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain.
12. Those who propagate my Rosary will obtain through me aid in all their necessities.
To those who honor His Holy Face (Jesus to Sister Mary of St. Peter)
1. "Our lord promised me that He would imprint His Divine likeness upon the souls of those who honor the features of His Face."
2. "By My Holy Face you will work wonders!"
3. "By My Holy Face you will obtain the conversion of many sinners."
4. "Nothing that you ask in virtue of the Holy Face will be refused you. Oh, if only you knew how pleasing is the sight of My Face to My Father."
5. "Just as, in an earthly kingdom, money which is stamped with the picture of the sovereign or ruling executive of the country procures whatever one desires to purchase, so, likewise, in the Kingdom of Heaven, you shall obtain all that you desire by offering the coin of My precious humanity, which is My adorable Face."
6. "Our Lord assured me that all persons who would apply themselves to this Work of Reparation to His Holy Face would perform the same service in His behalf as that which the saintly Veronica had performed."
7. "I will give you My adorable Face, and each time that you present it to My Father, My mouth will be open to plead your cause."
8. "In proportion to the care you take in making reparation to My Face, disfigured by blasphemies, I will take care of yours, disfigured by sin. I will imprint My image on it and render it as beautiful as when it was washed in the waters of Baptism."
9. "Then Our Lord promised me that all who defended His cause in the Work of Reparation, whether by their words, their prayers or by their writing, He would Himself defend before His Eternal Father, and that He would give them His Kingdom. Then it seemed to me that Our Lord urged me to extend this promise in His Name to His priests, who through a crusade of preaching would advance the cause of Reparation. "As for His spouses who would strive to honor and wipe His Holy Face in a spirit of atoning for blasphemies, Our Lord promised that at their death He would purify the face of their souls by effacing the stains of sin, and that He would restore to them their original beauty."
Brown Scapular (Mary to St. Simon Stock)
"...whosoever dies wearing this (the brown scapular) shall not suffer eternal fire"
*Must be enrolled in Brown Scapular
They may gain plenary indulgences, provided they fulfill the usual conditions, on the day they join the confraternity and on the following feasts: the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (July 16), St Elijah, prophet (July 20), St Simon Stock (May 16), St Therese of the Child Jesus (October 1), St Teresa of Jesus (October 15), All Carmelite Saints (November 14), and St John of the Cross (December 14).
Sabbatine Privilege to Brown Scapular wearers (Mary to Pope John XXII)"As a tender mother, I will descend into Purgatory on the Saturday after their death and will deliver them and bring them to the holy mountain, into the happy sojourn of life everlasting."
requires:
( 1 ) Must be enrolled and wearing a Brown Scapular.
(2) Observance of chastity according to one's state of life.
(3) For all who can read, the recitation of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin; otherwise, abstinence from flesh meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The latter conditions can be commuted by a priest possessing the faculties, into other good works -----such as the daily recitation of the Rosary, etc.
Miraculous Medal (Mary to St. Catherine Laboure)
Wearing the Medal- The Miraculous Medal is an approved sacramental and allows the the wearer to take advantage of Mary's promise:
"Those who wear it will receive great graces; abundant graces will be given to those who have confidence."
Enrollment in an Association Anyone, living or deceased, Catholic or not, may be enrolled as a member and obtain these graces and the spiritual benefit of Masses offered for members (for example, the Central Association in the U.S. offers 2,500 Masses a year).
Invested membership involves these obligations:
1. Formally enroll in an approved Association and renew the membership yearly
2. Wear the Medal (around the neck is highly recommended)
3. Have the intention to sanctify oneself and others by means of the Medal
4. Investiture which may be done publicly or privately
Benefits
1. Receive the graces promised by the Blessed Virgin Mary
2. Receive the spiritual benefits of numerous Masses offered for members by the Vincentians
3. Promoters who sign up others receive spiritual benefit from additional Masses
4. Invested members receive an indulgences on the following days:~ Day of joining the Association~ August 22 (Feast of the Queenship of Mary) ~ September 27 (Feast of St. Vincent de Paul)~ November 27 (Feast of the Miraculous Medal)~ November 28 (Feast of St. Catherine Laboure)~ Anniversary date of the founding of the Association in which one is enrolled
First Saturday Devotion (Our Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia)
Purposes:To establish devotion (in accordance with God's wishes) to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and to make reparation for...
1. Attacks upon the reality of Mary's Immaculate Conception
2. Attacks against her the reality of Mary's Perpetual Virginity
3. Attacks upon Mary's Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all mankind
4. Those who try to publicly implant in children's hearts indifference, contempt and hatred for Immaculate Mary
5. For those who insult Mary directly in her sacred images.
Practices: The devotion involves the following practices on five consecutive first Saturdays with the specific intention of making reparation for the offenses (above) against the Blessed Virgin.
1. Go to Confession (within 8 days before or after the first Saturday)
2. Receive Holy Communion
3. Recite five decades of the Rosary*
4. "Keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on fifteen mysteries of the Rosary" (separate from the Rosary itself)* (*Preferably done in the presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle or at Exposition)
Promises
1. The Virgin Mary's assistance at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation for those who practice the devotion.
2. Salvation of souls and peace as a result of promoting of the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart.
Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
500 Days Indulgence
+ O our Lady of Guadalupe, mystical rose, make intercession for holy Church, protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke thee in their necessities, and since thou art the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us thy most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, burning charity and the precious gift of final perseverance. +
Fivefold Scapular
The fivefold scapular conveniently combines the intentions and accompanying graces/indulgences of into a single scapular for practical wearing purposes.
Included are these scapulars, attached by the red cord of the Passion (and listed order from the top layer):Red Scapular of the Passion. Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception. Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Black Scapular of the Mother of Sorrows. White Scapular of the Trinity.
Practices
1. Investiture in each of the scapulars by a priest
2. Understand the fulfill the individual requirements of each scapular
3. Wear the scapular faithfully
Benefits:
1. Four plenary indulgences* on the day of reception
2. Four plenary indulgences at the hour of death upon reception of the Sacraments
3. Plenary indulgence every Friday (with meditation on the Passion) and two other days of the week
4. Plenary indulgence on feast days of the individual confraternities, the Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the Lord
5. Sabbatine privilege of the Brown Scapular
6. The 433 daily plenary indulgences from Rome, Portiuncula, Jerusalem and Galicia for the Blue Scapular referred to by St. Alphonsus Liquori are no longer valid according to the Apostolic Penitentiary in a letter, 2002. * Plenary indulgences must meet the usual conditions of Confession, Communion, freedom from attachment to sin, prayer for the Pope's intentions (and additionally those of the Church for this scapular specifically). Since normally only one plenary indulgence may be obtained in a day, the others may be applied to souls in Purgatory
Green Scapular Devotion
In addition to the Miraculous Medal, the Virgin Mary chose to use St. Vincent de Paul's Daughters of Charity to reveal a second great sacramental: the Green Scapular. Mary appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu in Paris, France, on Jan. 28, 1840. Actually the fifth of a series of apparitions, Justine was given the design of a new scapular. Sr. Justine was hesitant at first, but eventually revealed the devotion to her Spiritual Director Fr. Aladel (who was also the director of St. Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal). After much delay, the scapulars were produced and distributed with many conversions and cures following. The Green Scapular emphasized the theme of Mary's Immaculate Conception. Bl. Pope Pius IX twice strongly recommended its promotion and use.
Practices
1. Wear or carry the scapular
2. To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room)
3. Pray, at least daily: "Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death"
4. The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given (unless they pray themselves)
5. No enrollment of any kind is necessary, but each scapular should be blessed by a priest (general blessing of sacramentals)
6. Have confidence in the effects of the scapular:
"The greatest graces come from using the scapular but these graces come in direct proportion to the degree of confidence in me which the user has."
Promises/Benefits
1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith
2. Reconciliation to the
Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
3. Assurance of a happy death
4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular
Total Consecration
The Total Consecration' to Mary was popularized by St. Louis de Montfort (1673-1716). St. Louis wrote: "...this devotion consists in surrendering oneself in the manner of a slave to Mary, and to Jesus through her, and then performing all our actions with Mary, in Mary, through Mary, and for Mary".
A heart of the Consecration is trust in Mary on the highest level. Many devotional practices involve striving to allow Mary to guide one's actions and invoking her protection. Total Consecration, however, involves surrendering the value and merits of all prayers and good works (including indulgences) to the Blessed Virgin, trusting that her protection and provision is greater than anything we can do for ourselves.
Below is an outline of the 'process' of Total Consecration. However, The Secret of Mary or the True Devotion to Mary should be read and prayerfully studied prior to making the commitment (they are available at this site).
Benefits
1. Our good works are more effective since they are sanctified and embellished by the Blessed Virgin
2. Grace is increased in our soul through Mary's intercession and provision
3. Freedom of spirit which is delivered from weariness, sadness and scruples
4. Additional benefits are available to those who join the Confraternity of Mary, Queen of All Hearts
Initial Practices
1. Prayerfully read and study de Montfort's books on the subject
2. Read and follow the 30-day initial preparation formula in The Secret of Mary or the True Devotion to Mary
3. Renew the Consecration each year accompanied by an alm or mortification
Daily Practices
1. Recite the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin (3 'Our Fathers' and 12 'Hail Marys')
2. Wear a chain or medal reminding us of holy slavery (optional practice)
3. Have special devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation
4. Devotion and frequent recitation of the Rosary and the Magnificant
5. Have 'great contempt' for the world and its maxims
6. Make every effort do everything THROUGH, WITH, IN and FOR Jesus through Mary
“Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from my infinite mercy.”
3pm- The Hour of Great Mercy for the world
“In this hour I will refuse nothing to a soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My passion. “
Feast of Divine Mercy- Sunday after Easter
“On that day the very depths of My mercy are open. The soul that will go to confession and receive communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.”
Plenary Indulgences
www.ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/plenary.htm
Sacred Heart of Jesus (Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary)
To Christians devoted to the Sacred Heart.
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
7 Promises of Mary (Mary to St. Bridget)
Say 7 Hail Mary’s daily & meditate on her tears & 7 dolors- (1) Prophesy of Simeon (2) Flight into Egypt (3) Losing Jesus in the temple (4) Meeting with Jesus on way to Calvary (5) Crucifixion (6) Taking Jesus down from the Cross (7) Burial of Jesus
#1- I will grant peace to their families.
#2- They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
#3- I will give them as much as they ask for, as long as it does not oppose the will of Jesus in the sanctification of their soul.
#4- I will console their pains & accompany them in their work.
#5- I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the devil and protect them at every instant of their lives.
#6- I will visibly help them at the hour of their death, they will see their Mother.
#7- (through Jesus) Those following this devotion will be taken directly to heaven.
2 Divine Promises (Jesus to a Polish soul)
Promise I "Each priest who worthily offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for 30 consecutive days and, in addition, Makes the Stations of the Cross daily, will receive for himself and another soul selected by him, the assurance of eternal salvation.''
Promise II "Likewise, each individual who will receive Holy Communion worthily for 30 consecutive days, and will recite one Our Father and Hail Mary for the welfare of the Holy Catholic Church, will receive for himself and one other soul selected by him, the assurance of eternal salvation.”
Prayer of St. Gertrude (Jesus to St. Gertrude)
“Each time this prayer is said I will release 1,000 souls from Purgatory.”
+ Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus. In union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus +
15 Promises of Mary to Christians who recite the Rosary
1. To all those who shall recite my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.
2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary will receive some signal grace.
3. The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against Hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin, and dispel heresy.
4. The Rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies; it will substitute in hearts love of God for love of the world, and elevate them to desire heavenly and eternal good. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!
5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish.
6. Those who shall recite my Rosary piously, considering its mysteries, will not be overwhelmed by misfortune, nor die a bad death. The sinner will be converted; the just will grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary will not die without the consolations of the Church, or without grace.
8. Those who shall recite my Rosary will find during their life and at their death the light of God, the fullness of His grace, and will share in the merits of the blessed.
9. I will deliver very promptly from Purgatory the souls devoted to my Rosary.
10. The true children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in Heaven.
11. What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain.
12. Those who propagate my Rosary will obtain through me aid in all their necessities.
To those who honor His Holy Face (Jesus to Sister Mary of St. Peter)
1. "Our lord promised me that He would imprint His Divine likeness upon the souls of those who honor the features of His Face."
2. "By My Holy Face you will work wonders!"
3. "By My Holy Face you will obtain the conversion of many sinners."
4. "Nothing that you ask in virtue of the Holy Face will be refused you. Oh, if only you knew how pleasing is the sight of My Face to My Father."
5. "Just as, in an earthly kingdom, money which is stamped with the picture of the sovereign or ruling executive of the country procures whatever one desires to purchase, so, likewise, in the Kingdom of Heaven, you shall obtain all that you desire by offering the coin of My precious humanity, which is My adorable Face."
6. "Our Lord assured me that all persons who would apply themselves to this Work of Reparation to His Holy Face would perform the same service in His behalf as that which the saintly Veronica had performed."
7. "I will give you My adorable Face, and each time that you present it to My Father, My mouth will be open to plead your cause."
8. "In proportion to the care you take in making reparation to My Face, disfigured by blasphemies, I will take care of yours, disfigured by sin. I will imprint My image on it and render it as beautiful as when it was washed in the waters of Baptism."
9. "Then Our Lord promised me that all who defended His cause in the Work of Reparation, whether by their words, their prayers or by their writing, He would Himself defend before His Eternal Father, and that He would give them His Kingdom. Then it seemed to me that Our Lord urged me to extend this promise in His Name to His priests, who through a crusade of preaching would advance the cause of Reparation. "As for His spouses who would strive to honor and wipe His Holy Face in a spirit of atoning for blasphemies, Our Lord promised that at their death He would purify the face of their souls by effacing the stains of sin, and that He would restore to them their original beauty."
Brown Scapular (Mary to St. Simon Stock)
"...whosoever dies wearing this (the brown scapular) shall not suffer eternal fire"
*Must be enrolled in Brown Scapular
They may gain plenary indulgences, provided they fulfill the usual conditions, on the day they join the confraternity and on the following feasts: the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (July 16), St Elijah, prophet (July 20), St Simon Stock (May 16), St Therese of the Child Jesus (October 1), St Teresa of Jesus (October 15), All Carmelite Saints (November 14), and St John of the Cross (December 14).
Sabbatine Privilege to Brown Scapular wearers (Mary to Pope John XXII)"As a tender mother, I will descend into Purgatory on the Saturday after their death and will deliver them and bring them to the holy mountain, into the happy sojourn of life everlasting."
requires:
( 1 ) Must be enrolled and wearing a Brown Scapular.
(2) Observance of chastity according to one's state of life.
(3) For all who can read, the recitation of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin; otherwise, abstinence from flesh meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The latter conditions can be commuted by a priest possessing the faculties, into other good works -----such as the daily recitation of the Rosary, etc.
Miraculous Medal (Mary to St. Catherine Laboure)
Wearing the Medal- The Miraculous Medal is an approved sacramental and allows the the wearer to take advantage of Mary's promise:
"Those who wear it will receive great graces; abundant graces will be given to those who have confidence."
Enrollment in an Association Anyone, living or deceased, Catholic or not, may be enrolled as a member and obtain these graces and the spiritual benefit of Masses offered for members (for example, the Central Association in the U.S. offers 2,500 Masses a year).
Invested membership involves these obligations:
1. Formally enroll in an approved Association and renew the membership yearly
2. Wear the Medal (around the neck is highly recommended)
3. Have the intention to sanctify oneself and others by means of the Medal
4. Investiture which may be done publicly or privately
Benefits
1. Receive the graces promised by the Blessed Virgin Mary
2. Receive the spiritual benefits of numerous Masses offered for members by the Vincentians
3. Promoters who sign up others receive spiritual benefit from additional Masses
4. Invested members receive an indulgences on the following days:~ Day of joining the Association~ August 22 (Feast of the Queenship of Mary) ~ September 27 (Feast of St. Vincent de Paul)~ November 27 (Feast of the Miraculous Medal)~ November 28 (Feast of St. Catherine Laboure)~ Anniversary date of the founding of the Association in which one is enrolled
First Saturday Devotion (Our Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia)
Purposes:To establish devotion (in accordance with God's wishes) to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and to make reparation for...
1. Attacks upon the reality of Mary's Immaculate Conception
2. Attacks against her the reality of Mary's Perpetual Virginity
3. Attacks upon Mary's Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all mankind
4. Those who try to publicly implant in children's hearts indifference, contempt and hatred for Immaculate Mary
5. For those who insult Mary directly in her sacred images.
Practices: The devotion involves the following practices on five consecutive first Saturdays with the specific intention of making reparation for the offenses (above) against the Blessed Virgin.
1. Go to Confession (within 8 days before or after the first Saturday)
2. Receive Holy Communion
3. Recite five decades of the Rosary*
4. "Keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on fifteen mysteries of the Rosary" (separate from the Rosary itself)* (*Preferably done in the presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle or at Exposition)
Promises
1. The Virgin Mary's assistance at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation for those who practice the devotion.
2. Salvation of souls and peace as a result of promoting of the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart.
Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
500 Days Indulgence
+ O our Lady of Guadalupe, mystical rose, make intercession for holy Church, protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke thee in their necessities, and since thou art the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us thy most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, burning charity and the precious gift of final perseverance. +
Fivefold Scapular
The fivefold scapular conveniently combines the intentions and accompanying graces/indulgences of into a single scapular for practical wearing purposes.
Included are these scapulars, attached by the red cord of the Passion (and listed order from the top layer):Red Scapular of the Passion. Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception. Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Black Scapular of the Mother of Sorrows. White Scapular of the Trinity.
Practices
1. Investiture in each of the scapulars by a priest
2. Understand the fulfill the individual requirements of each scapular
3. Wear the scapular faithfully
Benefits:
1. Four plenary indulgences* on the day of reception
2. Four plenary indulgences at the hour of death upon reception of the Sacraments
3. Plenary indulgence every Friday (with meditation on the Passion) and two other days of the week
4. Plenary indulgence on feast days of the individual confraternities, the Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the Lord
5. Sabbatine privilege of the Brown Scapular
6. The 433 daily plenary indulgences from Rome, Portiuncula, Jerusalem and Galicia for the Blue Scapular referred to by St. Alphonsus Liquori are no longer valid according to the Apostolic Penitentiary in a letter, 2002. * Plenary indulgences must meet the usual conditions of Confession, Communion, freedom from attachment to sin, prayer for the Pope's intentions (and additionally those of the Church for this scapular specifically). Since normally only one plenary indulgence may be obtained in a day, the others may be applied to souls in Purgatory
Green Scapular Devotion
In addition to the Miraculous Medal, the Virgin Mary chose to use St. Vincent de Paul's Daughters of Charity to reveal a second great sacramental: the Green Scapular. Mary appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu in Paris, France, on Jan. 28, 1840. Actually the fifth of a series of apparitions, Justine was given the design of a new scapular. Sr. Justine was hesitant at first, but eventually revealed the devotion to her Spiritual Director Fr. Aladel (who was also the director of St. Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal). After much delay, the scapulars were produced and distributed with many conversions and cures following. The Green Scapular emphasized the theme of Mary's Immaculate Conception. Bl. Pope Pius IX twice strongly recommended its promotion and use.
Practices
1. Wear or carry the scapular
2. To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room)
3. Pray, at least daily: "Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death"
4. The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given (unless they pray themselves)
5. No enrollment of any kind is necessary, but each scapular should be blessed by a priest (general blessing of sacramentals)
6. Have confidence in the effects of the scapular:
"The greatest graces come from using the scapular but these graces come in direct proportion to the degree of confidence in me which the user has."
Promises/Benefits
1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith
2. Reconciliation to the
Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
3. Assurance of a happy death
4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular
Total Consecration
The Total Consecration' to Mary was popularized by St. Louis de Montfort (1673-1716). St. Louis wrote: "...this devotion consists in surrendering oneself in the manner of a slave to Mary, and to Jesus through her, and then performing all our actions with Mary, in Mary, through Mary, and for Mary".
A heart of the Consecration is trust in Mary on the highest level. Many devotional practices involve striving to allow Mary to guide one's actions and invoking her protection. Total Consecration, however, involves surrendering the value and merits of all prayers and good works (including indulgences) to the Blessed Virgin, trusting that her protection and provision is greater than anything we can do for ourselves.
Below is an outline of the 'process' of Total Consecration. However, The Secret of Mary or the True Devotion to Mary should be read and prayerfully studied prior to making the commitment (they are available at this site).
Benefits
1. Our good works are more effective since they are sanctified and embellished by the Blessed Virgin
2. Grace is increased in our soul through Mary's intercession and provision
3. Freedom of spirit which is delivered from weariness, sadness and scruples
4. Additional benefits are available to those who join the Confraternity of Mary, Queen of All Hearts
Initial Practices
1. Prayerfully read and study de Montfort's books on the subject
2. Read and follow the 30-day initial preparation formula in The Secret of Mary or the True Devotion to Mary
3. Renew the Consecration each year accompanied by an alm or mortification
Daily Practices
1. Recite the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin (3 'Our Fathers' and 12 'Hail Marys')
2. Wear a chain or medal reminding us of holy slavery (optional practice)
3. Have special devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation
4. Devotion and frequent recitation of the Rosary and the Magnificant
5. Have 'great contempt' for the world and its maxims
6. Make every effort do everything THROUGH, WITH, IN and FOR Jesus through Mary
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