Daily Reflections

Job 13:20, 21: see Jeremiah 10:24

O LORD, do not hide Your face from me;
lift away from me the weight of Your hand,
– and let not the fear of You terrify me. 

O God, rebuke me with gentleness and not in anger,
for Your anger will reduce me to nothing.
– And let not the fear of You terrify me.

Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Ember Saturday in the Octave of Pentecost 

First Saturday of the Month

Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

Saint Angela Merici, Virgin (June 1, Traditional

Saint Kevin,  (Ireland)

EMBER SATURDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF PENTECOST

In the seventh century, due to the postponement of the Ember fast, the station was at Saint Stephen on the Collian Hill; in the 11th century a return was made to the primitive place, Saint Peter.

Of the five scriptural Lessons which precede the Gloria in excelsisof the Holy Mass, some refer to the feast of Pentecost and some to the “fast of the fourth month, as Saint Leo the Great calls it. And so doing, they represent it kind of compromise or fusion of the two riets, Formerly the vigil lasted throughout the night, and 12 lessons were read, both in Greek and in Latin; but in the time of Saint Gregory the Great the vigil was shortened and brought within more reasonable limits, as we now find it in our present Missal.

Ordinations are held on this day, the various Orders being given as on the Ember Saturday in September.

The Pascal Season closes with the Mass. The Sacrifice of the Mass fittingly brings the holy season of Easter to an end. Our redemption is now accomplished, and the Holy Ghost has come also to ensure it’s lasting efficacy by means of the sacramental character which he impresses on our souls. This is the special prerogative of the Divine Paraclete; His work is always definite, complete, and final, like a conclusion which follows inevitably and irrevocably on its premises. This is the reason why sins against the Holy Ghost can never find pardon; for they are the outcome of the final hardening of the soul in utter hatred of Supreme Love.

Making Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
In the Five First Saturdays Devotion

“Look, My daughter, at My Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce Me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you, at least, try to console Me and announce in My name that I promise to assist at the moment of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep Me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to Me.”

(Revelation of Our Lady of Fatima to Sr. Lucia)

We cannot imagine the power of the First Saturdays Devotion to console Our Lady for the terrible blasphemies and ingratitude which She endures at every moment, piercing Her Immaculate Heart like cruel thorns. Your fervent Communion of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the First Saturday of each month will bring tremendous graces and mercies to our desperate world, not only for the conversion of sinners, but even to bring an end to the punishments that are falling so heavily upon us for the unprecedented crimes of the world today!

SAINT CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS

• CHARLES was one of 22 Ugandan martyrs who converted from paganism and catechist. Though he was baptized the night before being put to death, he became a moral leader. He was the chief of the royal pages and was considered the strongest athlete of the court. He was also known as “the most handsome man of the Kingdom of the Uganda.” Despite having seen his predecessor, Joseph Mukasa, die a victim to Mwanga’s rage against Christians, Charles continued to instruct his catechumens. He instructed his friends in the Catholic Faith and he personally baptized boy pages. He inspired and encouraged his companions to remain chaste and faithful. He protected his companions, ages 13-30, from the immoral acts and demands of the Babandan ruler, Mwanga.
  
  Mwanga was a superstitious pagan king who originally was tolerant of Catholicism. However, his chief assistant, Katikiro, slowly convinced him that Christians were a threat to his rule. The premise was if these Christians would not bow to him, nor make sacrifices to their pagan god, nor pillage, massacre, nor make war, what would happen if his whole kingdom converted to Catholicism? In May of 1886, Mwanga retaliated by ordering the execution of all the Christians at his court. Charles secretly baptised four of his charges that night, and the next day they were marched to the place of execution.
  
  When Charles was sentenced to death, he seemed very peaceful, one might even say, cheerful. He was to be executed by being burnt to death. While the pyre was being prepared, he asked to be untied so that he could arrange the sticks. He then lay down upon them. When the executioner said that Charles would be burned slowly so death, Charles replied by saying that he was very glad to be dying for the True Faith. He made no cry of pain but just twisted and moaned, “Kotanda! (O my God!).” He was burned to death by Mwanga’s order on June 3, 1886, the feast of the Ascension. Pope Paul VI canonized Charles Lwanga and his companions on June 22, 1964. Charles is the Patron of the African Youth of Catholic Action.

From a sermon by Saint Zeno of Verona, Bishop
(Tract 15, 2: PL 11, 441-443)

Job was a Type of Christ

• Is Job a Type of Christ? If I am right, he is, and the comparison will reveal the truth of my claim. But while Job was called a just man by God, God Himself is the Fountain of Justice from Whom all the saints drink. See what Scripture says: The sun of justice will arise for you. Job was called truthful, but the LORD is, as He says in the Gospel, the Way, the Truth and the Life. And while Job was rich, the LORD is far richer, for the earth is the LORD’s and everything in it; the world and all who dwell in it. All rich men are His servants, and the whole world and all of nature as well.
  
  But we may compare Job and Christ in many ways. As Job was tempted by the devil three times, so too Christ was tempted three times. The LORD set aside His riches out of love for us and chose poverty so that we might become rich, while Job lost all that he possessed. A violent wind killed Job’s sons, while the sons of God, the prophets, were killed by the fury of the Pharisees. Job became ulcerated and disfigured, while the LORD, by becoming man, took on the defilement of the sins committed by all mankind. The wife of Job tempted him to sin, much as the synagogue tried to force the LORD to yield to corrupt leadership. Thus He was insulted by the priests, the servants of His altar, as Job was insulted by his friends. And as Job sat on a dunghill of worms, so all the evil of the world is really a dunghill which became the LORD’s dwelling place, while men that abound in every sort of crime and base desire are really worms.
  
  The restoration of health and riches to Job prefigures the Resurrection, which gives health and Eternal Life to those who believe in Christ. Regaining lordship over all the world, Christ says: All things have been given to Me by My Father. And just as Job fathered other sons, so too did Christ, for the Apostles, the sons of the LORD, succeeded the prophets.
  
  Job died happily and in peace, but there is no death for the LORD. He is praised for ever, just as He was before time began, and as He always will be as time continues and moves into Eternity.

The Authentic Christianity of Charles and His Companions

At the very least, a Christian is a person who is baptised and who may have received a ministry in the Church. There is also what might be called the “half Christian”.

I am half Christian when I am indifferent and without passion for the work of the Church. I am half Christian when my choices are irrational and indecisive, when I am a fair-weather Christian, when I am cowardly and hesitate to commit myself for fear of complications and failure. I am half Christian when I am cunning and ready to compromise with sin, and when I do not dare to tell the truth. 

I am an authentic Christian when I direct my choices towards the LORD, when I fear Him and His judgement alone. I am an authentic Christian when I accept slander, unjust accusations, hatred, and rejection, but refuse to accept compromising myself by conducting my life according to godless demands. I am an authentic Christian when I maintain a courageous Hope, an ardent Faith, and a heroic Charity.

Venerable Francis Xavier Nguyên Văn Thuân

Cardinal Nguyên Văn Thuân († 2002) was imprisoned by the Vietnamese government for thirteen years, during which time he secretly sent prayers and spiritual writings to his flock. [From Prayers of Hope: Words of Courage, English edition. Copyright 

Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Let us throw off every encumbrance
and steadily run the race we have started,
– keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the Source of our Faith and its goal.

Let us prove ourselves
by patient endurance of trials,
in times of difficulty and in distress,
and when we are flogged or imprisoned.
– Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the Source of our Faith and its goal.