Sep. 21:Death of Nathan Hale, Captain in the American Army

During the war for American Independence, the Battle of Long Island was the first battle after the Declaration of Independence, first battle of the army of America, the largest battle in the whole war, and was won only in that we successfully fled. This is the world in which Nathan Hale gave his one life for our country.

After the evacuation of Long Island, George Washington expressed a desire to Colonel Knowlton that he wished to learn about the British situation, strength, and future movements. This was communicated to a Captain Nathan Hale of Connecticut. Being animated by a sense of duty and considering this an opportunity to serve his country, he at once offered himself as a volunteer for this service. He successfully passed in disguise to Long Island but was apprehended during his return. Once the proof of his object was shown clearly, he openly and frankly expressed his purpose and views. Sir William Howe at once gave the order to have him executed the next morn.

The next morning he asked for a clergyman; he was denied. He asked for a Bible; he was denied. He asked that two letters he had written be delivered to his mother and sister; he was denied and his letters destroyed. "Unknown to all around him, without a single friend to offer him the least consolation, thus fell as amiable and worthy a young man as America could boast, with this as his dying observation, that 'he only lamented that he had but one life to lose for his country.'"

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

You only get just one time around
You only get one shot at this
One chance, to find out
The one thing that you don't wanna miss
One day when it's all said and done
I hope you see that it was enough, this
One ride, one try, one life...
To love....

-33miles, One Life to Love

September 14: Triumph of the Holy Cross

When the Sacred Body of Christ was taken down from the Cross, the Cross itself was buried to prevent the the followers of Christ from finding it. In 312, Constantine, not yet a Christian, was doing battle for the throne. He prayed to the Christian God to aid him in his struggle. In answer to his prayers, a cross appeared in the heavens bearing the inscription: "In This Sign You Will Conquer." In gratitude for the victory over his foe, Constantine had the Sign of Christianity placed on the Roman standards and shields.

When the Edict of Milan was issued (granting freedom of worship to

Christians), Constantine's mother, St. Helena, gladly converted. According to tradition, she is credited with finding the true cross in 326. She engineered a dig around its burial place. The wood was declared the true cross when a woman experienced a cure when she touched it. The wood was enshrined in a silver casket and placed within a church on that spot. This event is celebrated on May 3 on the "The Invention of the Cross." (Invention in Latin means 'to come upon, to discover')

In the year 614, the king of Persia, invaded, sacked Jerusalem, and carried off the relics of the True Cross. The Emperor of Constantinople, Heraclius, in response, invaded Persia and forced them to sue for peace. Part of the deal was to restore the True Cross. Heraclius piosuly brought the the relics back to Jerusalem. When he reached the city gate to Calvary, he laid aside every robe and mark of royalty and, wearing only sackcloth, carried the relics back to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (burial place). These events are celebrated on September 14 in the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross.

Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ,
our salvation and our hope.
Let us bow in homage to the Lord of Life,
who was broken to make us whole.
There is no greater love, as blessed as this:
to lay down one's life for a friend.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God's great love.

Glory in the Cross -Dan Schutte

September 8: Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

September 8: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8th. Nine months later (funny how that works out), we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8th.

Theotokos is the Greek title for Mary. It means God-bearer or one who gives birth to God. Nativity just means birth. I have to admit I was kinda disappointed there was not more meaning behind it...

When I love I give it all I can

Like my mother does.

When I'm scared I bow my head and pray

Like my mother does.

When I feel weak and un-pretty

I know I am beautiful and strong

Because I see myself

Like my mother does.

Like My Mother Does -Lauren Alaina

Lyrics worth know (Pg. 1)

So... I like music (and by like I mean I could not live without). Here are a bunch of lyrics I think are worth knowing, songs worth hearing. If I don't post which song it is from, google it. If you can't find it, post and ask. I will answer as best I can. If you have any suggestions of lyrics that should be added, let me know.

Chains He shall break for the slave is our brother

Give to your brother if he is in need

Offer up thanks for the gifts you receive

There's treasure in heaven for the generous few

That was the gospel according to Luke

I celebrate the day that you were born to die so I could one day pray for you to save my life.

And by his wounds we are healed

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Sickness and healing are in every heart. Death and deliverance are in every hand.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

I have been there

Here I am, Lord send me

This one ride, One try, One life, To love.

I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus live through you and me

Why are you trying to earn grace?

I don't have a thing that I got on my own
I don't have a care that I carry alone
But I have a God who's carrying me

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

Yahweh! Ancient of days, Yahweh!

I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously
Who is like You, oh Lord, among the celestial
Who is like You, majestic in holiness
In Your love, You lead the people You redeemed
I will sing, I will sing, I will sing

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of Your plan,
Here I am

May 24: Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians

By the year 1597, the the Litany of Loreto contained the title of Mary "Advocata Christianorum" (Help of Christians). The phrase was used largely after the battle of Lepanto, where a coalition of fleets which formed the "Holy League" defeated the main Ottoman fleet which was sailing from Lepanto, Greece. The defeat of the Turks was attributed to Divine Will (as the Ottomans had not lost a major naval battle for a century).

The Feast day of Our Lady, Help of Christians did not come until 1816. On July 5, 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte had Pope Pius VII arrested and taken to a prison outside Paris. It was not until 1814 (after the battle of Leipzig) that he was released. On March 17, he was set free in Savona, Italy, on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Mercy. The pontiff attributed this victory to Our Lady and on his march back to Rome, he entered every sanctuary to Our Mother and crown her images. People crowded the streets to catch a glimpse of the pontiff who had stood up to Napoleon himself. He re-entered Rome on May 24th and assigned that day as the Feast of Our Lady, Help of Chrstians.

-Litany of Loreto

V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Christ have mercy.
V. Lord have mercy. Christ hear us.
R. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, [etc.]
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good Counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace,

V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be freed from present sorrow, and rejoice in eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

May 9: Workman Pizza Day

An excerpt from Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card.

A great rabbi stands teaching in the marketplace. It happens that a husband has found proof that morning of his wife's adultery, and a mob carries her to the marketplace to stone her to death. (There is a familiar version of this story, but a friend of mine, a speaker of the dead, has told me of two other rabbis that faced the same situation. Those are the one's I'm going to tell you.)

The rabbi walks forward and stands beside the woman. Out of respect for him the mob forbears, and waits with the stones heavy in their hands. "Is there anyone here," he says to them, "who has not desired another man's wife, another woman's husband?"

They murmur and say, "We all know the desire. But, Rabbi, none of us has acted on it."

The rabbi says, "Then kneel down and give thanks that God made you strong." He takes the woman by the hand and leads her out of the market. Just before he lets her go, he whispers to her, "Tell the lord magistrate who saved his mistress. Then he'll know I am his loyal servant."

So the woman lives, because the community is too corrupt to protect itself from disorder.

Another rabbi, another city. He goes to her and stops the mob, as in the other story, and says, "Which of you is without sin? Let him cast the first stone."

The people are abashed, and they forget their unity of purpose in the memory of their own individual sins. Someday, they think, I may be like this woman, and I'll hope for forgiveness and another chance. I should treat her the way I wish to be treated.

As they open their hands and let the stones fall to the ground, the rabbi picks up one of the fallen stones, lifts it high over the woman's head, and throws it straight down with all his might. It crushes her skull and dashes her brains onto the cobblestones.

"Nor am I without sin," he says to the people. "But if we allow only perfect people to enforce the law, the law will soon be dead, and our city with it."

So the woman died because her community was too rigid to endure her deviance.

The famous version of this story is noteworthy because it is so startling rare in our experience. Most communities lurch between decay and rigor mortis, and when they veer too far, they die. Only one rabbi dared to expect of us such a perfect balance that we could preserve the law and still forgive the deviation. So, of course, they kill him.

Philip Workman was a death row inmate executed on May 9th, 2007. What he did is not important. It is a custom to allow a death row inmate a last meal of whatever they wished right before their execution. As his last meal, he asked that a pizza be given to a homeless person. The prison officials denied his request and he died on schedule. Afterwards, when word got out about his last request, thousands of dollars worth of pizza were donated to homeless shelters.

For a greater respect for all human life, from conception to natural death, we pray to the Lord.

May 1st: Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

Apparently in response to the "May Day" celebrations for workers sponsored by Communists, Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph the Worker in 1955. But the relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers has a much longer history.

In a constantly necessary effort to keep Jesus from being removed from ordinary human life, the Church has from the beginning proudly emphasized that Jesus was a carpenter, obviously trained by Joseph in both the satisfactions and the drudgery of that vocation. Humanity is like God not only in thinking and loving, but also in creating. Whether we make a table or a cathedral, we are called to bear fruit with our hands and mind, ultimately for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Joseph, by the work of your hands
and the sweat of your brow,
you supported Jesus and Mary,
and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.

Teach me to work as you did,
with patience and perseverance, for God and
for those whom God has given me to support.
Teach me to see in my fellow workers
the Christ who desires to be in them,
that I may always be charitable and forbearing
towards all.

Grant me to look upon work
with the eyes of faith,
so that I shall recognize in it
my share in God’s own creative activity
and in Christ’s work of our redemption,
and so take pride in it.

When it is pleasant and productive,
remind me to give thanks to God for it.
And when it is burdensome,
teach me to offer it to God,
in reparation for my sins
and the sins of the world.