January 14, 2007 - - - Second Sunday After Epiphany

Father Richard J. Rego
Fr. Isaac Fynn and Fr. David Reinders, Weekend Clergy

Sancta Gianna! Ora Pro Nobis!

January 14, 2007 - - - Second Sunday After Epiphany

Saints of the Week
Mon, Jan 15 - - Saint Paul, the First Hermit
Tues, Jan 16 - - Saint Marcellus I, Pope & Martyr
Wed, Jan 17 - - Saint Anthony, Abbot
Thurs, Jan 18 - Saint Prisca, Virgin & Martyr
Fri, Jan 19 - - - Feria
Sat, Jan 20 - - - Saints Fabian, Pope & Sebastian, Martyrs

Gospel Words of Jesus Christ Our Divine

21 And when his friends had heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him. For they said: He is become mad. 22 And the scribes who were come down from Jerusalem, said: He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of devils he casteth out devils. 23 And after he had called them together, he said to them in parables: How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan be risen up against himself, he is divided, and cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into the house of a strong man and rob him of his goods, unless he first bind the strong man, and then shall he plunder his house. 28 Amen I say to you, that all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and the blasphemies wherewith they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, shall never have forgiveness, but shall be guilty of an everlasting sin. 30 Because they said: He hath an unclean spirit. (Mark 3: 1-5)

From the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans

1 Wherefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou dost the same things which thou judgest. 2 For we know that the judgment of God is, according to truth, against them that do such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them who do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and patience, and longsuffering? Knowest thou not, that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance? 5 But according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up to thyself wrath, against the day of wrath, and revelation of the just judgment of God. (2: 1-5)

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

Taken from the Introduction to the Devout Life, by Saint Francis De Sales, written in the year 1609, Part One, CHAPTER V. The First Step (toward holiness) must be purifying the Soul. “The angels on Jacob’s ladder had wings, yet nevertheless they did not fly, but went in due order up and down the steps of the ladder. The soul which rises from out of sin to a devout life has been compared to the dawn, which does not banish darkness suddenly, but by degrees. That cure which is gradually effected is always the surest; and spiritual maladies, like those of the body, are wont to come on horseback and express, while they depart slowly and on foot. So that we must needs be brave and patient, my daughter, in this undertaking.”

From The Imitation Of Christ By Thomas A Kempis

Book Three The Twenty-Second Chapter: “OPEN my heart, O Lord, to Your law and teach me to walk in the way of Your commandments. Let me understand Your will. Let me remember Your blessings -- all of them and each single one of them -- with great reverence and care so that henceforth I may return worthy thanks for them. I know that I am unable to give due thanks for even the least of Your gifts. I am unworthy of the benefits You have given me, and when I consider Your generosity my spirit faints away before its greatness. All that we have of soul and body, whatever we possess interiorly or exteriorly, by nature or by grace, are Your gifts and they proclaim Your goodness and mercy from which we have received all good things.”
From The Teachings Of The Second Vatican Council Dei Verbum

(On the Word of God): #3 “God, who through the Word creates all things (see John 1:3) and keeps them in existence, gives men an enduring witness to Himself in created realities (see Rom. 1:19-20). Planning to make known the way of heavenly salvation, He went further and from the start manifested Himself to our first parents. Then after their fall His promise of redemption aroused in them the hope of being saved (see Gen. 3:15) and from that time on He ceaselessly kept the human race in His care, to give eternal life to those who perseveringly do good in search of salvation (see Rom. 2:6-7). Then, at the time He had appointed He called Abraham in order to make of him a great nation (see Gen. 12:2). Through the patriarchs, and after them through Moses and the prophets, He taught this people to acknowledge Himself the one living and true God, provident father and just judge, and to wait for the Savior promised by Him, and in this manner prepared the way for the Gospel down through the centuries.”

From The Code Of Canon Law

Canon 227 The lay Christian faithful have the right to have recognized that freedom which all citizens have in the affairs of the earthly city. When using that same freedom, however, they are to take care that their actions are imbued with the spirit of the gospel and are to heed the doctrine set forth by the magisterium of the Church. In matters of opinion, moreover, they are to avoid setting forth their own opinion as the doctrine of the Church.

Catechism Of The Catholic Church

#2322 “From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 # 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.”

SPECIAL NOTICE

Please be advised that donations to Saint Gianna’s can be made through our website: www.saintgianna.net. By so doing, one can contribute using their credit card. We appreciate your financial support and also ask your prayers for our continued success. Also, please note that we are now set up with PaPal so that our parishioners and friends can automatically contribute a designated amount each month toward your support of Saint Gianna’s. Check our website for details: www.saintgianna.net.

FORTY HOURS DEVOTIONS

Father Karl Lenhardt of the Institute of Christ the Sovereign King will preach our Forty Hours Devotions. We will begin with 12:15 Mass on Wednesday, February 7th followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until evening devotions beginning at 7:00 PM. Sign up for at least a half hour to an hour Eucharistic adoration each day. Come to the evening devotions. Tremendous graces will flow from the Heart of our Eucharistic Lord.

Private Daniel Shearer

Currently serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army is our own Daniel Shearer. We ask your prayers for Daniel and all of our military personal that serve our country so courageously! We will make it our special intention during Forty Hours Devotions to pray fro peace and for the safety of our troops in Iraq.

MASS INTENTIONS Saint Gianna’s has openings for Mass intentions beginning in February 2007.

Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Intention For January

General - - - - That in our times, sadly marked by quite a few episodes of violence, the Pastors of the Church continue to show the way of peace and understanding to every person’s heart.

Mission - - - - That the Church in Africa become ever more the true witness of the Good Word of Christ and promote reconciliation and peace in every nation.

"YOU HAVE KEPT THE CHOICE WINE UNTIL NOW!"

    The Wedding Feast of Cana! What a charming story! Each time we read it, we discover a new endearing facet that previously had escaped us. Saint John tells us that the mother of Jesus and His disciples were there and, "Jesus performed this first of His signs."

    In reflecting on the Liturgy of the Word, it is important to remember a fundamental rule - - - when relating a past event, the Church communicates a present reality. In this instance, what occurred 1900 years ago is happening now in a mystical, sacramental manner at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. At the wedding banquet of Cana, Our Blessed Lord changed water into wine. In the sacramental order, this historical event now becomes a present day reality. Our Lord repeats the miracle in the most sublime manner possible at the Eucharistic Banquet.     Then, by an act of His Will, Our Lord changed water into wine. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus Christ the Great High Priest, changes wine into His Precious Blood. Through the Priest, who acts "in the very Person of Jesus Christ," wine becomes the Blood of Christ. Now as then, Our Lord keeps the choice Wine until last. It is the best of Wines! It cheers our souls with the divine warmth of Jesus Christ, Who has become our "Spiritual Drink."

    Another present day reality took place at Cana, one that the Holy Spirit keeps before us always. Nothing escapes Our Blessed Mother constant concern for her children. She simply brought the problem to her Son: “They have no more wine."

    The young, wedding couple did not plan well. To the Eastern mind, a lapse of hospitality is a host’s worst scenario possible. Our Lady's motherly warmth radiated to all, even then. When faced with this dreadful situation, the embarrassed newly weds went to Mary. Unwittingly, they prefigured that which Christians have been doing for two thousand years. Since that day, we know that, "Never was it known that anyone who fled to her protection was left unaided!"

    It is important to note how the events unfolded. There was a problem because the time for Our Lord to manifest Himself was not at hand. A miracle now was not within the timeframe set by the Father. When Our Lord responded to His mother: "Woman, how does this concern of yours involve me? My hour has not yet come." Clearly, His answer was no because it was not the time for Him to manifest His Messianic Mission!

    Our Lady then did that which only she and she alone could do; she used her mother's prerogative. She turned to the waiter and said: "Do whatever he tells you!" Like each one of us, Jesus could not refuse the request of His mother! And, lest we forget, the Heavenly Father could not refuse her for Mary is the "apple of the Father's eye." The timetable for the Redemption would have to be altered. Through the intercession of our Blessed Lady, water became the choice wine. As she has done from the beginning, Our Lady saved the day!

    The Holy Spirit wants the Church to remember this Gospel story always. Peter, John and the other Apostles saw it and they never forgot the important lesson. Neither has the Church. In all of our needs, in all our trials, in all the tears of life, we fly to Our Blessed Mother. With her mother's heart, she hears us.   Whenever her children on earth are in difficulty, Our Blessed Mother always says to Jesus: My Son, they have no more wine!"


                    Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.