Deacon Ward's Message of the Day 5/15/2020
~Mater Dei Parish~
St. Mary Star of the Sea / St. Edward the Confessor
St. James the Greater
St. James the Greater
St. Benedict Labre
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
I give you my heart, I give you my life.
<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>
Deacon Ward's Almost Daily Message
Good Morning and Happy Easter,
my brothers and sisters in Christ!
my brothers and sisters in Christ!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
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There are no new announcements today.
Remember, you can join all of our online streaming of daily and Sunday Holy Masses.
Join me tonight for Holy Adoration and Holy Rosary at 7:00 PM.
Stay connected to all our offerings by simply going to our website...materdeivermont.com.
Join me tonight for Holy Adoration and Holy Rosary at 7:00 PM.
Stay connected to all our offerings by simply going to our website...materdeivermont.com.
Come and Pray!
(The spigot is slowly turning)
You are more than welcome to come and pray at the Churches. Please, call the Rectory office (334-5066) prior to a visit so that we can verify the Church and time slot you wish to come. Space is limited and all requirements for safe distancing and cleaning will be closely monitored.
Monday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
St. Mary Star of the Sea, Newport -
Tuesday & Thursday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
St. Benedict Labre, West Charleston-
Friday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
St. James the Greater, Island Pond-
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
God Bless you!
As we continue to be mindful of protecting our health, and that of all others...
"Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good." Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC:) 2288
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~Thoughts for the day~
Who are we as Christians? Do we really know or understand our faith...who are we as Christians in this world?
From a letter to Diognetus
(Nn. 5-6; Funk, 397-401)
The Christian in the world
Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.
And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.
Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.
To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.
Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred.
(Nn. 5-6; Funk, 397-401)
The Christian in the world
Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.
And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.
Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.
To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.
Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred.
It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together.
The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution.
Such is the Christian's lofty and divinely
appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.
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Until next time...
In His peace.
Deacon Ward
Thank you Deacon Ward for this inspiring post.
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