Day 9: November 17 (33rd Sunday Ordinary Time) Introduction: The “I” who is speaking in the phrase, “I believe” is first and foremost the Church herself, the bride of Christ. When we say, “I believe” we are speaking as members of a family stretched throughout time and eternity. The act of faith is not a chorus of individuals, but rather one choir with beautiful harmony. Therefore, if there is any separation between what I believe as an individual and what the Church believes, then to that extent I have placed myself outside the Body of Christ. To the extent that I do not fully give consent to the faith of the Church, I am not in full communion with the Church or with Jesus Christ. The Enemy continually tries to exploit the fissures that exist between us and Christ. He can see where our attachment is weak (or nonexistent) and it is there that he works to simultaneously deepen the cracks and distract our attention to other things which are more pleasant and interesting—usually having to do with ourselves. In order to make a sincere act of faith, what is needed is not understanding but trust in Jesus and in the Church He founded. Mary had this complete trust, and even though she was most likely confused at times, she never doubted. She is our exemplar of faith, and will help us to live the full communion with her Son Jesus. Pray: St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory Be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Meditation: From Called to Communion (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger; Ignatius Press, 1996), pp. 143-144. “True reform, then, is ablation (removal), which as such becomes congregation (gathering). Let us attempt to formulate this fundamental idea somewhat more concretely. In our initial approach we had said that we were contrasting the wonderer…to the maker and were deciding for the former. But what is the meaning of this contrast? The maker values his own activity above all. He thereby restricts his horizon to the realm of things that he can grasp and that can become the object of his making. Strictly speaking, he sees only objects. He has absolutely no capacity to perceive what is greater than he is, since such a reality would set a limit to his activity. He squeezes the world into the empirical realm; man is amputated. Man builds himself his own prison, against which he then noisily protests. True wonder, on the other hand, is a No to this confinement in empirical this-worldly reality. It prepares man for the act of faith, which opens to him the horizon of the eternal and infinite. And only the unlimited is large enough for our nature and in accord with the call of our essential being. When this horizon disappears, every remaining freedom becomes too small, and all the liberations that may then be offered are a vapid substitute that never equals what has been lost. The primary, the fundamental ablation that is needed for the Church is the act of faith itself, which breaks the barriers of finitude and thus creates the open space that reaches into the unlimited. Faith leads us into the “broad places,” as the Psalms put it (for example, Ps. 31 [30]: 9).” Examination of Conscience: Can I honestly say that I believe all that the Catholic Church believes and teaches to be true? Are there any areas where I withhold my assent? Have I spoken or acted against any of those teachings in private or in public? Pray: I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. Penance: Read 2 paragraphs of The Catechism of the Catholic Church today.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 23:34:35 +0000
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