Oct 2 Monday: Holy Guardian Angels: For a short account
The Guardian Angel: Although the doctrine and traditional
belief in the Guardian Angel is not a dogma of Faith, it is based on the Bible.
Each person’s Guardian Angel is an expression of God’s enduring love and
providential care extended to him or her every day. Today’s prayers in the
Breviary and in the Roman Missal mention the three-fold function of the angels:
a) they praise and worship God, b) they serve as His messengers, and c) they
watch over human beings.
Historical note: Devotion to the Guardian Angels began to
develop in the monasteries. St. Benedict gave it an additional impetus and St.
Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century reformer), spread the devotion in its
present form. The feast of the Guardian Angels originated in the 1500s. It was
placed on the official liturgical calendar of the Church by Pope Paul V in
1607. “By God’s Providence, angels have been entrusted with the office of
guarding the human race and of accompanying every human being so as to preserve
him from any serious dangers […]. Our Heavenly Father has placed over each of
us an angel under whose protection and vigilance we are” (“St. Pius V
Catechism”, IV, 9, 4).
Biblical teaching: Today’s Gospel (Mt 16:10), clearly
states that even children have their Guardian Angels: “See that you do
not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in Heaven their
angels always behold the face of my Father Who is in Heaven.” Psalm
91:1 teaches: “For He has given His angels charge over you, to keep you in
all your ways.”
Life messages: 1) The conviction that we are
each protected by an angel is an encouragement against our baseless fears and
unnecessary anxieties. 2) The thought that a messenger from God is constantly
watching our thoughts, words and deeds is an inspiration for us to lead holy
lives and to do good for others and avoid evil. 3) We need to be grateful to
God every day, thanking Him for His loving care given us through His angel.
(Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Oct 3 Tuesday:
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the birth and
naming of St. John the Baptist, the last Old Testament prophet. He was given
the mission of heralding the promised Messiah and of preparing the Chosen
People to welcome that Messiah by preaching to them repentance and the renewal
of life. John was born to the priest, Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth in
their old age. Today’s Gospel passage describes John’s birth, Circumcision, and
Naming ceremony.
A miraculous birth and an event of double joy: His elderly
parents rejoiced in John’s birth, as he was a gift from God in their old age.
Since the child was a boy, all their neighbors rejoiced with them, and the
village musicians celebrated the birth by playing their joyful music. The
Naming followed the baby’s Circumcision, and Elizabeth insisted that the child
should be named John (which means “the Lord is gracious”), the name given him
by the Archangel Gabriel when he spoke to Zechariah. Appealed to by the
gathered people, the mute Zechariah approved that name by writing, “His name is
John.” At that action of obedient surrender to the Lord God, the priest’s
speech was restored, and he loudly proclaimed the praises of God for blessing
him with a son and Israel with her Deliverer, Whose herald his son would be.
Life messages: 1) We need to pray for our
parents and be thankful to them for the gift of life, the training, and the
discipline they have given us, and the love and affection they have lavished on
us. Let us ask God’s pardon if we are, or were, ungrateful to them, do/did not
take proper care of them in their illness or old age or ever inflicted pain on
them. 2) We need to remember and pray for our godparents who sponsored us in
Baptism, which made us children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, heirs of
Heaven, and members of Jesus’ Mystical Body, the Church.
3) We should have the courage of our Christian convictions
as John the Baptist did, and we should become heralds of Christ as the Baptist
was, by our transparent Christian lives. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Oct 4 Wednesday: St. Francis of Assisi: (Giovanni
Francesco Bernardone) is the best known and the most loved thirteenth century
Italian saint. He was born in Assisi, Italy, the son of a rich merchant. His
father, Pedro Bernardone, was a rich cloth merchant. As a carefree young man,
he loved singing, dancing and partying. He joined the local militia (which was
a defeated in a city to city battle), was imprisoned for one year and returned
home ill, as a changed man. He marked his conversion by hugging and kissing a
leper. While at prayer in the Chapel of St. Damiano, he heard the message:
“Francis repair my Church because it is falling down.” Francis took the command
literally, as referring to San Damiano, and got money by selling goods from his
father’s warehouse to repair it.. His father was furious and publicly disowned
and disinherited Francis. Francis promptly gave back to his father everything
except his hairshirt1 and started living as a free man, wearing sackcloth and
begging for food. Possessing nothing, he started preaching, and living out the
Gospel of Jesus literally. Strangely enough a few youngsters were attracted to
Francis’ way of life and joined him.
Pope Innocent III had a vision of a small man in sackcloth
supporting on his shoulder the leaning walls of St. Johns Lateran — the Archbasilica
Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and St John
the Evangelist, built AD 340; first public Church in Rome — the Pope’s
Cathedral Church as Bishop of Rome, and so the visible center of the Roman
Catholic Church! When Francis approached him to ask for permission to form a
religious order which would live out the Gospel in poverty, the Pope recognized
the ‘little man” in his dream and gave him approval. Subsequently, Pope Innocent
approved the Religious Order begun by Francis, namely the Friars Minor [Lesser
Brothers] which practiced Charity as a fourth vow along with Poverty, Chastity
and Obedience. Soon, the Franciscan Order became very popular, attracting large
numbers of committed youngsters. The friars traveled throughout central Italy
and beyond, preaching and inviting their listeners to turn from the world to
Christ. Francis sent missionaries to preach in other European countries and
England. In his life and preaching, Francis emphasized simplicity and poverty,
relying on God’s providence rather than worldly goods. The brothers worked, or
begged, for what they needed to live, and any surplus was given to the poor.
Francis wrote a more detailed Rule, which was further revised by new leaders of
the Franciscans in ways that changed Francis’ initial vision, so Francis gave
up leadership of the Order and retired to the mountains to live in secluded
prayer. There he received the Stigmata (the five wounds of Christ), on
September 14th, two years prior to his death. Francis became partially blind
and ill during his last years. He died at Portiuncula on October 4th, 1226 at
the age of 44 and was canonized in two years. Francis called for simplicity of
life, poverty, and humility before God. In all his actions, Francis sought to
follow, fully and literally, the way of life demonstrated by Christ in the
Gospels. He loved God’s gifts to us of nature, animals, and all natural forces,
praising God for these “brothers and sisters.” One of Francis’s most famous
sermons is one he gave to a flock of birds during one of his journeys. “From
that day on, he solicitously admonished the birds, all animals and reptiles,
and even creatures that have no feeling, to praise and love their Creator.”
Francis is well known for the “Canticle of Brother Sun” late in the his life,
when blindness had limited Francis’ ability to see the beauties of the outside
world. The canticle demonstrates Francis’ unfailing appreciation of the
beauties of this created world, and a soul were alive with love for God Who
created this world and gave it to us for joy..
Life messages: 1) Let us learn to practice the
spirit of detachment of St. Francis that we may be liberated from our sinful
attachments, addictions and evil habits. In poverty one makes oneself available
for the Kingdom. Once the goods are no longer one’s own, they become available
for all, for goods are made to be shared. Let us preach the Good News of Jesus’
love, mercy and forgiveness as St. Francis did, by imbuing the true spirit of
the Gospel, loving all God’s creation and leading transparent Christian lives
radiating Jesus all around us. Tony
Oct 5 Thursday: St. Faustina Kowalska, Virgin;
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the
sending forth of another group of 70 or 72 paired disciples by Jesus to prepare
towns and villages for Jesus’ own arrival there. Sent out with power and
authority from Jesus, they exercised their preaching and healing mission
according to Jesus’ action plan. Jesus sent out seventy disciples, just as God
had Moses commission 70 elders to be prophets in Israel. (Nm 11:24-25).
Their ministry anticipates the Church’s mission to the nations. Jesus’
instructions and travel tips. Elisha gave similar instructions
when he sent his servant on a pressing mission (2 Kgs 4:29). By these
instructions, it is clear that Jesus meant the disciples to take no supplies
for the road. They were simply to trust that God, the Provider, would open
the hearts of believers to take care of their needs. Jesus’ instructions also
suggest that the disciples should not be like the acquisitive priests of the
day, who were interested only in gaining riches. They were to be walking
examples of God’s love and providence. The Jews supported their rabbis and
judged doing so a privilege as well as an obligation, for hospitality was an
important religious tradition in Palestine. The Apostles and disciples were to
choose temporary accommodation in a reputable household, they were to bless the
residents with God’s peace, and they were to be satisfied with the food and accommodation
they received, not search for better.
Life messages: 1) We have a witnessing
mission: Each Christian is called, not only to be a
disciple, but also to be an apostle. As apostles, we are sent out to evangelize
the world by sharing with others, not just words, or ideas, or doctrines, but
our experiences of God and His Son. We are to make Jesus “visible” through our
transparent Christian lives, showing the people around us the love, mercy, and
concern of Jesus for them. 2) We also have a liberating mission: There
are many demons which can control our lives and the lives of people around us,
making us and them helpless slaves —the demon of nicotine, the demon of
alcohol, the demon of gambling, the demons of pornography and promiscuous sex,
the demons of secularism, materialism, and consumerism. We need the help
of Jesus to be liberated from these demons ourselves and to help Him liberate
others from these bondages. 3) We have a supporting mission:
According to Catholic tradition and Canon Law (Canon 222 #1), Christians are
obliged to contribute to the Church from their earnings to help to support the
clergy, to provide for the necessities of liturgical worship, and to equip the
Church to minister to the needy (CCC #2043, 2122). (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Oct 6 Friday: St. Bruno, Priest;
The context: Jesus reminds three cities,
including Capernaum, his headquarters, that they deserve God’s punishment
because they have forgotten the responsibilities that their numerous meetings
with the Messiah in their midst have laid upon them. They should have listened
to his message, put it into practice, and borne witness to the miracles he had
worked for them.
Chorazin and Bethsaida: Nothing is mentioned in
any of the Gospels about the “wonders” Jesus worked in Chorazin and Bethsaida.
Bethsaida was a fishing village on the west bank of Jordan at the northern end
of the lake. Chorazin was a town one hour’s walking distance north of
Capernaum. Jesus expresses his holy anger and sorrowful pity from a broken
heart at the irresponsible disregard of, and indifference to, his Good News,
which these two ungrateful cities have shown. Jesus also warns them that, “it
shall be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon,” than
for them, because Tyre and Sidon were not fortunate enough to hear Jesus and to
receive the opportunities for conversion given to Bethsaida and Chorazin.
Life Messages: Privileges always carry
responsibilities: 1) We are privileged to have the Holy Bible, so we have
the responsibility to make use of it. 2) We have the Eucharistic celebration
every day in our Churches, so we have the responsibility to participate in it
when we are able to do so. 3) We have the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so we
have the responsibility to use it to be reconciled with God and His Church and
to grow in holiness in correcting our sins and faults with His grace. 4) We are
blessed with having Holy Spirit to guide the teaching authority in the Church,
so we have the responsibility to study and follow the Church’s
directions. 5) We have Mary the mother of Jesus and numerous saints as
our role models, so we have the responsibility to follow Jesus in their
footsteps. (Fr. Tony)
Oct 7 Saturday: Our Lady of the Rosary:
Lk 1:26-38: This feast was established by
Pope St. Pius V in thanksgiving for the victory at Lepanto, 7 Oct 1571, which
stopped the Turkish invasion of Europe. Importance: The
word Rosary means “Crown of Roses,” and each prayer in the Rosary is considered
a flower presented to Mary. It is called the “Breviary of the Common People”
and the “Psalms of the Illiterate,” and “a compendium of the Gospel,”
Pope Pius XII) The prayers we repeat are Biblical and hence “inspired,” and the
mysteries we meditate upon are taken from the lives of Jesus and Mary.
The “Our Father” is a prayer taught by Jesus Himself. The “Hail Mary” is also
rooted in the Scriptures. Its first half echoes the words of the Archangel
Gabriel and those of Elizabeth, both addressed to Mary. The rest of our
petition, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now
and at the hour of our death” is added by the Church, seeking Mary’s
intercession for all of us. The third prayer — the “Glory be to the
Father….” — ancient in its wording, surely reflects the unceasing prayer of adoration
and praise found in the Book of Revelation. The various events in the lives of
Jesus and Mary on which we meditate during the Rosary are expressions of the
Paschal Mystery, that is, the Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension of Jesus to
Heaven and Decent of the Holy Spirit, in which Mary shared.
History: Prayer using rosary beads is as old as
mankind. The Hindus in India used to recite the thousand names of their
gods and goddesses and their “mantra” prayers using multi-beaded rosaries, and
their sages wear such rosaries around the neck, constantly rolling the beads in
prayer. The Jews used beads to repeat the psalms, the Laws of Moses and
the memorized sayings of the prophets. The Muslims use rosaries with a hundred
beads for their prayer. In the ninth century, the Christian monks who
recited the 150 psalms instructed the illiterate common people to recite
the Our Father 150 times. It was in the eleventh century
that the Europeans added the Hail Mary to the Our
Father. In 1214, according to the legend, the Blessed Virgin Mary
appeared to St. Dominic Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers, commonly
known now as the Dominicans, and instructed him to pray the Rosary in a new
form as an effective antidote against the Albigensian heresy. The Rosary
devotion attained its present form around 1500 A.D. An additional boost to the
Rosary devotion was given in 1917, when our Blessed Mother, in her sixth
apparition to the three shepherd children, on the thirteenth of May, asked them
to, “Say the Rosary every day… Pray, pray a lot and offer sacrifices
for sinners… I am Our Lady of the Rosary.” The “Fatima
prayer” (“O my Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the
fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most
in need of Your mercy”), requested by Mary herself at Fatima (July 13,
1917), was added following the “Glory be…” after the 1930 acceptance by the Bishop of the apparitions as genuine. Pope St. John Paul II enriched the
Rosary by adding the “Luminous Mysteries” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae).
How to pray the Rosary: The ideal is to recite at least five decades of the Rosary (and if possible, the entire twenty), with one’s whole family daily. We need to say the Rosary slowly enough to make its recitation devout and reverent. We are to reflect for a minute or two on the mystery, and then concentrate on the meaning of the prayers as we say them, to avoid distractions. Besides saying the Rosary with others in the family before bedtime, let us make it a habit of reciting the Rosary during our journey to the workplace and during our exercises.
