Reminder - First Friday, Jan. 6

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
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Today is the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, and a good day for a reminder of the First Friday devotions this week. Since we are still within the Christmas season, perhaps some of us find it difficult to ponder the passion and suffering of Jesus, rather than the sweet image of a Tiny Savior in His Manger.

At some point in the Christmas weekend, I remember thinking to myself, I wonder if the Holy Family were cold searching for shelter on the night of Jesus' Birth. Physically cold, I mean; and not only the "coldness" of being turned away and told there was "no room in the inn". Of course, we can only speculate, but the actual passion Jesus suffered and His death on Calvary are all recorded for us. He suffered for our sins.

When Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary, He spoke specifically of the "coldness" He receives in return for His Own Burning Love for us. He asked her to spread devotion and reparation to His Sacred Heart which has loved us so much and received so little in return. This Friday, is the First Friday of the month, and many Catholics join together in the devotion of Reparation to the Sacred Heart. For more on this devotion see [HERE](http://www.prayerbook.com/Devotions/Sacred%20Heart/ninefri.htm)

If you are unable to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Holy Communion, I hope you will at least offer Jesus some acts of love and reparation during the day. Perhaps you can invite Him into your heart in a "Spiritual Communion" and by sincere love console Him for the coldness of much of this world towards Him. Thanks.
 
Just a thank you for the reminder and your thoughts. It’s appreciated.
 
I will be going to mass to say the novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with church group, on friday

Praise be the Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Forever, Amen
 
Just a question from an Eastern Rite brother - would you normally take such devotions if, as this year, the First Friday also happens to be a great feast of Our Lord (Theophany / Epiphany)?

No disrespect intended at all - just curious!

In Eastern tradition, we would even observe the Friday fast on Thursday in such an instance.
 
Praise to the Holy Name of JESUS
O Glorious Name of Jesus,
gracious Name,
Name of love and of power!
Through You sins are forgiven,
enemies are vanquished,
the sick are freed from illness,
the suffering are made strong and cheerful.

You bring honor to believers, instruction to preachers,
strength to those who toil,
and sustenance to the weary.

Our love for You is ardent and glowing,
through You our prayers are heard.
The souls of those who contemplate You
are filled to overflowing;
and all the blessed in heaven
are filled with Your glory.
Grant that we too may reign with them
through this Your most Holy Name. Amen



“If you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it you.” (John 16:23)
 
ByzCathCantor said:
Just a question from an Eastern Rite brother - would you normally take such devotions if, as this year, the First Friday also happens to be a great feast of Our Lord (Theophany / Epiphany)?

No disrespect intended at all - just curious!

In Eastern tradition, we would even observe the Friday fast on Thursday in such an instance.
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My dear brother in Christ,

No disrespect intended and none taken; 🙂 thanks for your question. In the Western Rite, the Feast of the Epiphany is now celebrated in most places on Sunday. Fasting in the Western Rite is observed differently, in many places, but the spirit of the fast remains. That is, while our Lenten fast continues to require abstaining from meat and from eating between the two other light meals of the day, on Ask Wednesday and Good Friday, other days during the year are not as specific, but persons are required to offer some form of penance on Fridays. The emphasis has shifted more towards acts of charity which require some sacrifice on our part, or some form of penance but not necessarily abstention from meat and food between the two other light meals. Of course we are still free to abstain from meat on Fridays. My husband and I do.

So if a Feast Day should occur on a Friday outside of Lent, as for instance the Feast of the Holy Family occurred last Friday, it would be left to the individual Catholic as to how he might observe some form of penance on that day. Personally I have two acts of penance that I observe on all Fridays and Saturdays of the year in Reparation to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in addition to the abstaining from meat which my husband and I do together. I prefer to keep my little Friday and Saturday penances “hidden”

Hope that answers your question.
 
MariaChristi said:
My dear brother in Christ,

No disrespect intended and none taken; 🙂 thanks for your question. In the Western Rite, the Feast of the Epiphany is now celebrated in most places on Sunday…

Hope that answers your question.
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It does indeed - thanks! I had forgotten the Feast would likely be transferred to Sunday.

May the Lord bless you and your family abundantly in the New Year, and for many more to come!
 
BeMyLove said:
Just a thank you for the reminder and your thoughts. It’s appreciated.
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Dear BeMyLove,

Thanks for your reply. It is good to know that others are happy to be reminded of our need to offer reparation to the Sacred Heart. May the Heart of Jesus in the Most blessed Sacrament be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time.
 
77stanthony77 said:
I will be going to mass to say the novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with church group, on friday

Praise be the Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Forever, Amen
Click to expand...
Dear stanthony,

Thanks for your reply and for your devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. God willing, my husband and I will be participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receive Holy Communions of Reparation also. May the Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, and loved everywhere!
 
Lilsheep88 said:
Thank You.
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Dear Lilsheep,

Thanks for your reply. It is good to know that persons receive a “reminder” about First Friday devotion and reparation with open hearts. The Lord is seeking to be loved, as He has loved us. He receives so little from us, and from some only “coldness”.

May He be praised, adored and loved at every moment in all the tabernacles of the world – not only the tabernacles of our Churches, but in the humble “tabernacles of our hearts”.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
It does indeed - thanks! I had forgotten the Feast would likely be transferred to Sunday.

May the Lord bless you and your family abundantly in the New Year, and for many more to come!
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Dear ByzCathCantor,

Glad it helped. Thanks for letting me know. May 2012 be a blessed year for you, your family, and all whom the Lord entrusts into your care. 🙂
 
A_G said:
Praise to the Holy Name of JESUS
O Glorious Name of Jesus,
gracious Name,
Name of love and of power!
Through You sins are forgiven,
enemies are vanquished,
the sick are freed from illness,
the suffering are made strong and cheerful.

You bring honor to believers, instruction to preachers,
strength to those who toil,
and sustenance to the weary.

Our love for You is ardent and glowing,
through You our prayers are heard.
The souls of those who contemplate You
are filled to overflowing;
and all the blessed in heaven
are filled with Your glory.
Grant that we too may reign with them
through this Your most Holy Name. Amen

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_INeOZkUzS...MZw/YjZVp6DOElY/s1600/Holy+Name+of+Jesus3.jpg

“If you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it you.” (John 16:23)
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Dear A G,

Thanks for your reply, and the beautiful image of Jesus.
 
Maria, what devotions would you recommend? I was thiniing of doing the First 9 Friday Sacred Heart devotion… any other good ones?
 
I will be on my annual silent retreat weekend from Thurs. Jan 5th - Sun. Jan 8th!!
 
Lilsheep88 said:
Maria, what devotions would you recommend? I was thiniing of doing the First 9 Friday Sacred Heart devotion… any other good ones?
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We have done the Nine First Fridays and it is a wonderful devotion (and a good discipline!). Especially if your church has benediction and confession as well as Mass. We found a parish like this very close to us (not our usual one) and so were able to have very “full” devotions.
 
Lilsheep88 said:
Maria, what devotions would you recommend? I was thiniing of doing the First 9 Friday Sacred Heart devotion… any other good ones?
Click to expand...
Dear Lilsheep,

Thanks for your reply and also for your desire to love the Lord more . I would recommend the Five First Saturdays, along with the First Friday devotions. For more information on First Saturday devotion see HERE.

As a daily devotion, there is none greater than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the fervent reception of Holy Communion. However, not all are able to participate at Daily Mass. A good way to unite yourself with the Masses being offered all over the world is to pray the daily Morning Offering:
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in reparation for my sins and for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart.
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I also like to read and ponder the daily Mass Readings. You can find them HERE

I would recommend the daily Rosary, prayed with attention and devotion each day. If you can pray the Rosary with a spouse or a friend or with a family, that can help, but praying in solitude is good as well.

I try to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet daily also. See HERE for more information if you are unfamiliar with this devotion.

It is not the number of devotions we may practice, but the love with which we pray and offer ourselves. If we get too concerned about “fitting in” all the devotions we can, we will find ourselves defeating the purpose. We want to love the Lord and not become all wrapped up in ourselves. Our Lady is our Mother and Model; it is good for us to go to her and ask her to intercede and she will. Let us pray as she did with great humility and focus on the Lord’s Will. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily devotions, that they may lead us always closer to God and to one another in love.

Hope that helps a bit. 🙂
 
KCT said:
I will be on my annual silent retreat weekend from Thurs. Jan 5th - Sun. Jan 8th!!
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Dear KCT,

Blessings on your retreat. My husband and I spent the Christmas weekend (Fri. Dec 23 - Mon. Dec. 26) on retreat at Mepkin Abbey. Where do you usually spend your annual silent retreat? For us, a Trappist Monastery is about the quietest place we have found. 🙂

May the Lord grant all of us the Grace to seek Him in the silence of our hearts, daily and moment by moment; but if we can, let us also seek times and places where we can meet Him in very special ways such as a retreat.

Thanks, KCT for letting us know of your retreat. Please let us pray for one another, and together offer reparation to the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary especially on this First Friday and First Saturday of January in this new year.
 
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