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Welcome to the web site of The Doctors of the Catholic
Church.
Thursday, March 11th 2010
Praying and living the Stations of the Cross, out of love and thanksgiving to our suffering Savior, has been a favorite tradition during Lent, especially among the saints of God and Jesus’ own mother. In fact, she was the one who started and perpetuated this holy devotion after the Lord’s departure on earth. No one lived more in union with Jesus both in life and death, and no one could ever appreciate more than she did, especially, all that the Lord suffered for our salvation, than the woman who always said yes to him, and brought him into his world that he loved and died for. At the end of the homepage there is a link on the Stations, but you will find some representation of the Stations of the Cross in every catholic church that you will ever visit.
If anyone truly wants to appreciate and experience what his Redeemer has done for them, we only have to remember his beautiful and loving words: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all men (creatures) to myself (Jn 12: 32). No one has more power to draw us to love than Jesus Christ. We adore thee oh Christ and we bless thee, because by thy holy cross you have redeemed the world.
One of the undecided decisions, still, in the health care issue, that will be voted upon soon is the abortion issue with the bill. For many this is a major concern and important principles are at stake. To promote the Culture of Life issues to the maximum, please read Cardinal Justin Rigali's information on his two documents one entitled Where Do We Go from Here? and The Challenge of Building a Culture of Life after opening the link below. This will take you to another link: Every Child brings us God's smile.
Pro-Life Activities Home Page
Directly related to the Culture of Life issue is the Manhattan Declaration. See link below.
Manhattan Declaration
THE DOCTORS AND LIFE
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Today’s
Readings
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It was reported in Saturday's newspaper that the President 's top national security advisers will within days present him with an agonizing choice on how to guide U.S. nuclear weapons policy for the rest of his term.
Does he substantially advance his bold pledge to seek a world free of nuclear weapons by declaring that the "sole purpose" of the U.S. arsenal is to deter other nations from using them? Or does he employ a more modest option, supported by some senior military officials, that deterrence is the "primary purpose"?
Let us pray always for peace.
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Reflection
The kingdom of heaven was brought to the earth so that we may participate in its loving design. This gift from God makes us aware of God and his creating all things, and instills into our hearts a craving for the same works that Jesus transmitted to all for our own use and pleasure. Christ’s love is so powerful and gentle that we might have labored hard all the nights with our efforts but on the last day our sunrise will be forever in the day of eternal bliss because the old sun will never set again and we will have been given the radiant Redeemer shining as the new Son of Justice within us.
Hymn
Spread, O spread, thou mighty Word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe’er His breath has given,
Life to beings meant for Heaven.
Tell them how the Father’s will
Made the world, and keeps it still,
How He sent His Son to save
All who help and comfort crave.
Tell of our Redeemer’s love,
Who forever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice
All the guilt that on us lies.
Source:http://www.hymnlyrics.org/
Gospel: Lk 11:14-23
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Reflection Two
Isn’t it amazing and stupid that after Jesus performed a miracle (revealing Godly power) some accused Jesus of possessing demonic powers. Others, wanted a sign from heaven (as if Godly power that he already revealed, came from a place other than heaven).
Jesus patiently told the crowds that his healing of the mute was a real sign that the kingdom of God was before their very eyes in the healing of the mute and is an indication of a divine power that he possessed. Inasmuch as the crowds did not accept this, some were against him for failing to recognize it, and they would not allow the seeds of faith that Jesus was trying to plant and take root. Instead, they were scattering the faith-seeds from entering into many minds and hearts that could help many grow spiritually so that their souls could be saved and they would become firm believers in him.
Normally, seeing does cause believing, but not always. We know that the Lord worked many miracles but many didn’t want to believe. They did not want to trust what their eyes beheld. In short, they failed to believe in themselves or their eyes. One cannot understand a supernatural event or a happening with one’s eyes. They can only experience it and then one has to accept it because seeing physically, is not seeing supernaturally because seeing does not always lead one to believe. It has been said that sight is blind before God. It’s very simple but many have not the gift of faith because they do not want to believe.
Jesus was amazing to many and his crowds grew enormously large. However, for some, Jesus was a devil, a sorcerer, or a profound mystery. However, for many he was truly the Messiah and his miracles convinced them that he was a man of God. Their faith was growing but it wasn’t totally solid yet, and that was also true for some of the followers of Jesus.
Our faith becomes solidified and unified when we know and act in union with the holy will of God in all manners, the good and the bad. We know that bad things happen to good people and we also know that good things are permitted to happen to bad people and the Lord ordains all with loving and providential designs. Who can know the mind of God and who dare call his name?
It is enough for us to surrender and trust in our God in all things even when we can not fathom the infinite mystery and might of the Creator.
Who else has cupped the sea in hand,
Or set the skies alight?
Who else could carve from stone the land,
Or summon day from night?
In this gospel Jesus tells us that when a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. When we allow the Holy Spirit to live in us daily and completely we can be assured that we treasure our palace within and keep our delightful Guest’s attention. God stays united with us when we are strong. Our strength is our surrender and trust we extend to him. We are not always going to know the will of God but we can do the best we can by trusting and surrendering to the best of our ability. However we can greatly grow in trust and surrender and perfectly know the will of God when we are fully armed as the gospel today tells us.
How do we receive this fortification and armament? We have to do all of the above but the greatest gift to God is doing everything not only willingly and obediently but doing it lovingly. Perfect union with God is repaying his love in us with our love. For love is repaid with love alone according to St John of the Cross.
St. John of the Cross
12/14
The more we treat our delightful Guest within our palace or our soul with our undivided attention (prayer), frequently, the more we will be fully armed and then we will be unassailable and impregnable. The reason for this is because love is God’s personal power to guide, move, and lead us to always act, think, and be directed with the Holy Spirit. This is a most glorious state to be given and it is not something that we can earn or merit. It is God’s gift exactly as his presence in our soul is a gift. When one seriously considers life comprehensively, all is a gift from God for in him, we move, live and have our very existence according to St Paul.
Lent gives us a serious time to keep company with the Lord and look within our palace (soul). St Teresa of Avila calls this interiority our mansion.
St. Teresa of Avila
10/15
Perhaps during Lent some of our spiritual reading might be to explore this delightful Guest within our soul, or as the gospel states, our palace. In the below link, under True Devotion to the Spirit, Part I, under section II, we will find the reading for The Soul’s Delightful Guest.
THE DOCTORS AND HOLY SPIRIT
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Calendar includes: Aengus the Culdee (a remarkable summary in the Magnificat ), Saint Amunia, Saint Aurea of San Millán, Saint Eulogius of Cordoba, Saint Sophronius, and Blessed Thomas Atkinson
Calendar of Saints
Reflection Three
Jesus’ God-given Spirit gathers us up to be united with the divine will and empowers us to fulfill all the works that Christ enjoins us to do. God’s light allows all to be awaken and those who were faithful fly into his arms. We do not tire to work for someone we long to serve. We learn to yearn for his light and love as we praise his holy name and live his life within us forever. This is eternal life.
Hymn
Tell them of the Spirit given
Now to guide us up to heaven,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.
Word of life, most pure and strong,
Lo! for Thee the nations long,
Spread, till from its dreary night
All the world awakes to light.
Up! the ripening fields ye see,
Mighty shall the harvest be,
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.
Lord of harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thee,
Till the nations, far and near,
See Thy light, and learn Thy fear.
Source: http://www.hymnlyrics.org/
THE
HOLY FACE OF JESUS
APOSTLES OF THE LORD
ALMSGIVING SECTION
SUPPORT THE POOR
ROMAN
CATHOLIC SACRED MUSIC
THE DOCTORS AND HOLY SPIRIT
VATICAN.
The Stations of the Cross, a devotion that the Church encourages especially during the Lenten Season, is offered below through a wide variety.
The Stations of the Cross
Email tommyferris1@yahoo.com
The
background music is Andrea Bocelli's "Ave Maria".
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The Stations of the Cross, a devotion that the Church encourages especially during the Lenten Season, is offered below through a wide variety.<br><br>
<a href=http://www.doctorsofthecatholicchurch.com/TDATSOTC.html><font color=red>The Stations of the Cross</font></a><br><br>
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