Reflection Starter from Archbishop Fulton Sheen

"In all other religions you have to be good to come to God. In Christianity, you do not. Christianity is realistic: it begins with the fact that, whatever you are, you are not what you ought to be. If everything in the world were perfectly good, we would still need God, for all goodness comes from God. But the presence of evil makes that need more imperative. Christianity begins with the recognition that there is something in your life and in the world that ought not to be, that need not be, and that could be otherwise were it not for evil choices." - Ven. Fulton J. Sheen

World Wetlands Day

Today, 2 February, is being observed as World Wetlands Day, a celebration designed to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands for our planet. The 2023 theme, designed to highlight the urgent need to prioritize wetland restoration, is “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration.”

For additional information related to this observance, please visit:

United Nations: World Wetlands Day

Annual Celebration of World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life

The Catholic Church is holding its annual celebration of World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life today (2 February), and parishes will commemorate the event over the weekend of 4-5 February. This event is a special time for individual parishes to celebrate the gift of consecrated life and pray for men and women discerning a consecrated vocation with the global Catholic Church.

Instituted by Saint John Paul II in 1997, World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day, which commemorates through the blessing and lighting of candles that Christ is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.

Related document:

The Vatican: Message of the Holy Father John Paul II for the I World Day For Consecrated Life

"The Song of Simeon"

As we continue our celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, I offer this version of the Saint Tikhon Seminary Choir presenting  Benedict Sheehan's "The Song of Simeon":

 

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Today the Church  celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The assigned readings are Malachi 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, and Luke 2:22-40. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 24 (Psalm 24:7-10).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Psalm 24 Who is This King Of Glory? It is the Lord! Psalm 24

The Gospel reading is as follows:

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted - and you yourself a sword will pierce - so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Reflections on these readings:

Community in Mission: Perspectives on the Presentation - A Homily for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (1 FEB 22)

Crossroads Initiative: Presentation of the Lord - Candlemas, Candles & Light

Dominicana: Jerusalem Speaks as Her Lord Approaches (1 FEB 22)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of those who work in food service, whether in restaurants and other eating places or in institutions of various types.

Br. Samuel Trecost, O.P., on Hitting Rock Bottom

"Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, wrote that 'few people will sincerely try to practice the A.A. program unless they have hit bottom.' He found that utter desolation - rock bottom, as we call it - often incited alcoholics to admit their helplessness and surrender to a higher power.

"So, then, is rock bottom a good or a bad thing? Without downplaying the awfulness of suffering and how horrific the lowest low may be, I propose that the very idiom hitting rock bottom indicates a hopeful reality.

"Hitting rock bottom is not an experience known only to addicts, and it looks different from one situation to another. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Brother Samuel Trecost, O.P., reflected on how a person at rock bottom is unable to go any further down (the hopeful part) and on how, no matter what else one loses, he/she cannot lose God..

To access Br. Samuel's complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: God at Rock Bottom (27 JAN 23)

Reflection Starter

"You will never plough a field if you only turn it over in your mind." - Irish proverb

The Kodaks: "Guardian Angel"

It's time for some more doo wop. Here is a presentation of "Guardian Angel" by The Kodaks:

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of those who minister to those with mental health issues.

J-P Mauro on the Evangelization Ministry of a Skateboarding Friar

"An Arkansas Catholic school celebrated Catholic Schools Week in style with a special guest who helped spur the faith of students with a demonstration of skateboarding. While the means of the message may sound unusual, so too was the fact that the skater was a Franciscan Friar of the Immaculate.

"Brother Gabriel Cortez travels the country with skateboard in tow, mesmerizing watchers with intricate tricks, skating on whatever surfaces are available. However, the skateboard is just a vehicle, both literal and symbolic, for the message of Christ. . . ."

In a recent commentary, writer J-P Mauro reflected on the skateboarding/evangelization ministry of Br. Gabriel Cortez

To access his complete post, please visit:

Aleteia: J-P Mauro: Skateboarding friar wheels in the word for Catholic Schools Week (1 FEB 23)

Background information:

Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate USA

Reflection Starter from St. Mary MacKillop

"No duty is too little to be done well." - Saint Mary MacKillop