Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

Meditation On The Epiphany OF Our Lord

January 6, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Epiphany Of Our Lord

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord.

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE

The mystery of the Christ-birth is a rich and glorious beginning, splendid with promise. Today we worship a partial fulfillment when Jesus, as an Infant King, is manifested to wise men of the Gentile world and through them to all peoples. His royalty is neither frightening nor pompous, for the kingly majesty of the sovereign Redeemer is robed in babyhood. Coming in the simplicity of true greatness, Jesus makes Himself acceptable and at home to the little and the great of every nation under heaven.

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The Introit of the Mass brings us at once into this spirit, presenting Jesus to us in the full majesty of His divinity. "Behold the sovereign Lord is come; in His hands He holds the kingdom, the power, and the empire." The Epistle (Is 60, 1-6) breaks forth in a hymn of joy, announcing the vocation of the Gentiles to the faith; they too will acknowledge and adore Jesus as their God: "Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come…. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and the kings in the brightness of thy rising…. All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense, and showing forth praise to the Lord." We no longer gaze upon the lowly picture of the shepherds at the manger; passing before us now is the resplendent procession of the Wise Men from he East, representing the pagan nations and all of the kings of the earth, who come to pay homage to the Child-God……

You have shown me that You want my poor cooperation in order to bring about the coming of Your kingdom. You wish me to pray, suffer, and work for the conversion of those who are near and of those who are far away. You wish that I, too, place before the manger of gifts of the Wise Men: the incense of prayer, the myrrh of mortification and of suffering borne with generosity out of love for You, and finally, the gold of charity, charity which will make my heart wholly and exclusively Yours, charity which will spur me on to work, to spend myself for the conversion of sinners and infidels, and for the greater sanctification of Your elect…..

O my loving King, create in me the heart of an apostle. If only I could lay at Your feet today the praise and adoration of everyone on earth!

O my Jesus, while I beg You to reveal Yourself to the world, I also beseech You to reveal Yourself more and more to my poor soul. Let Your star shine for me today, and point out to me the road which leads directly to You! May this day be a real Epiphany for me, a new manifestation to my mind and heart of Your great Majesty. He who knows You more, loves You more, O Lord; and I want to know You solely in order to love You, to give myself to You with ever greater generosity.

~Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, OCD

Reflections For The New Year

January 5, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Charity, Motto, New Year, Word of the Year 4 Comments

It’s a new year and I desire to be transformed, to live each day as though it were my last. I pray to die to self and become a true slave to Jesus through Mary.

A new year, a new creation in Christ. – Time is a Treasure!

A word was imprinted on my heart many years ago…….JOY. I was called to embrace the JOY of Christ and share it with all those around me, especially my family. I’m nowhere near where I need to be but continue to pray for this grace on a daily basis.

I desired (for some time) to add an additional word, virtue to my journey. This word has come to the forefront of my heart and mind for the past several months. I delayed in embracing it because I doubted my readiness and sought perfection with the need to create a JOYfilled heart. Then I surrendered and was reminded that perfection is not possible while on this earth. I must continue to prayerfully move forward and treasure each moment that I have been blessed with, to grow closer to Him. I trust that my new word will help me on this journey. My word is…….CHARITY.

Thanks to a providential friend, I was motivated to take action. She came up with a simple list that summed up our prayers and recent meditations. I adopted it for myself and immediately posted it in my kitchen, for all to see.

Thank you God for sending me Melody, to offer me inspiration and accountability, on this journey!

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2011 Motto

Be Charitable.

Be Useful.

Be Gentle.

Be Joyful.

Forget about yourself.

ALL FOR!

click here to create your own Wordle.

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You too can be inspired my Melody. Here’s a recent fav of mine and here she is at CatholicMom.com.

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“Time is a treasure that melts away. It escapes from us, slipping through our fingers like water through the mountain rocks. Yesterday is gone, and today is passing by. Tomorrow will soon be another yesterday. Our lives are so very short. But what a great deal can be done for God in this short space of time!” ~ St. Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God, 52

Prayer Request

January 4, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Prayers, Spiritual Bouquet

EWTN Prayer Intention Card

My family will offer a Spiritual Bouquet for Edie on her blessed day and during her time of trial.

She is celebrating her birthday today, exactly two weeks after her “life was forever changed.” Edie’s home caught fire early morning on Dec. 21, 2010. Her family made it out unharmed but everything is gone. She prayerfully moves forward.

Please keep Edie and her family in prayer.

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We pray that Edie will be filled with Christ’s peace and that she be given the graces to walk behind Him wherever this journey will lead her.

1 Family Rosary

3 Hail Mary’s

Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Intentions remembered in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament by the Friars of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

The icon shows the Blessed Virgin protecting Jesus with her arms around him. Her solemn face isn’t looking directly at him, but at us. The two archangels Michael and Gabriel carry instruments of Christ’s crucifixion, a lance and sponge, a 3-bar cross and nails. The letters beside each figure identify their names using the Greek alphabet. She has a star on her forehead, signifying her role as Star of the Sea. The Christ-child has been alarmed by a pre-sentiment of His passion, and has run to his mother for comfort. Jesus is portrayed clinging to His mother. Our Lady’s face is of unspeakable majesty and calm and yet her large eyes, partly closed, express ineffable sorrow and sympathy. Our Lady is not looking at Jesus, but rather to us, her adopted children, as if to express compassion for us in our fears and sorrows.

Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favored by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but the Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to you today as you loving children. Watch over us and take care of us. As you held the child Jesus in your loving arms, so take us in your arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help us. For God who is mighty has done great things for you, and his mercy is from age to age on those who love him. Our greatest fear is that in time of temptation, we may fail to call out to you, and become lost children. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon you, Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen.

Every Knee Shall Bow

January 3, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Most Holy Name of Jesus

Jesus Hominum Salvator "Jesus, Saviour of men"

The Adoration of the Name of Jesus by: El Greco 1578-79 (b. 1541, Candia, d. 1614, Toledo) Original Located: Chapter House, Monasterio de San Lorenzo, El Escorial, Madrid Spain

MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

Sunday after the Octave Day of the Nativity or January 2

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE

Extraordinary Form: The Most Holy Name of Jesus (Ordinary Form: The Epiphany of the Lord)

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this feast is celebrated on January 2. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was removed, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial in the Ordinary Form on January 3. – Catholic Culture

INTROIT Philip. 2:10-11

In the Name of Jesus let every knee bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. (Psalm) O Lord our Lord: hoe admirable is Thu Name in the whole earth! Glory be to the Father. In the Name…

At the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of the Father.

Ps. 8:2. O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth!
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O God, Who didst constitute Thine only-begotten Son the Savior of mankind, and didst bid Him be called Jesus:mercifully grant, that we who venerate His Holy Name on earth, may fully enjoy also the vision of Him in heaven. Through the same our Lord.

Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum! "Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

RESOURCES:

The Power of the Holy Name of Jesus – Audio Sermon from AudioSancto.org
Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus – The Church has granted an indulgence of 7 years for the recital of the Litany of the Most Holy Name.
Prayers to the Holy Name
St. Bernadino’s Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
Story of the Holy Name of Jesus
IHS Stencil – used to stencil/place the monogram of His Name ("IHS") over our doors for protection, in the same way that the Israelites in Egypt used lamb’s blood during the first Passover. ~Fisheaters
Devotion to the Holy Name
I.H.S. Coloring Page – from the Latin "Jesus Hominum Salvator" meaning "Jesus, Saviour of men"
I.H.S. and Cross Coloring Page