Calendar

Leader's School
Thur June 6, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA
RE classroom #8

Ultreya-Tulsa
Fri June 7, 7:00pm
St. Mary's, Tulsa

Ultreya-BA
Fri June 21, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA

Leader's School
Thur July 11, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA
RE classroom #8

Ultreya-Tulsa
Fri July 5, 7:00pm
St. Mary's, Tulsa

Ultreya-BA
Fri July 19, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA

Men's Weekend #31
Sept 26-29, 2002
St. John's, McAlester

Women's Weekend #31
Oct 10-13, 2002
St. John's, McAlester

SPIRITUALITY 101
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 119
Deacon Jim Breazile o.c.d.s.

At the Palace of Versailles Charles IX of France was talking to the Italian poet Torquato Tasso. "Tell me, Torquato, who is the happiest person?" "God is the most happy your majesty. " "Naturally, but I mean among men," said Charles. Torquato responded, "The man who most resembles God is the happiest." "Perhaps among us mortals, because of my power, riches fame and love of my people, I am the one who most resembles God, yet I am not happy." "Your majesty" responded Torquato, you fail to resemble Him because God owns everything but possesses nothing. He did not even possess His only son, but gave Him to the world, to die for the sins of mankind. You can resemble God most only when you can do the same. "

We own many things, do we possess anything other than God. If we do, there is no room for God in our lives, and He cannot possess us.

DEVOTION - Growth in love- 3rd stage
DEVOTIONALS- MEDITATION-SACRAMENTALS-THE ROSARY-46
The Mysteries of the Rosary-4
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES:
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple: Luke 2:22-38

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation in the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel."
The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

Jesus, is through and through a sign of contradiction. He is divine and He is human. He comes to raise humanity to divinity, but for many He will bring condemnation. He will be lauded as savior by the same people who will bring Him death. He is truth and purity, and His mission is to accept guilt for all the sins of mankind. His wealth is all of creation and He is presented among the poorest of the poor. He owns the universe and the appropriate gift of his firstborn redemption to the Father is a pair of doves. He enters the world as Lord and King and is to die the death of the lowest of criminals. He is too holy for the church and too human for the world. He will be contradicted by a sensate, social world of materialism and will die on the sign of contradiction, a cross that reaches simultaneously to God and to the world.

When Simeon took Him in his arms, he recognized this contradiction. His joy was inexplicable but he recognized the difficulties inherent in the Infant's mission. He sees in the Spirit that the life of Christ will fulfill the deepest yearnings of the human heart, but for those who reject Him He will bring darkness, gnashing of teeth, a worm that will not die and a flame that is never extinguished. Seeing this, Simeon gave His parents a blessing and a prophecy to the Blessed Virgin. She was to share in his suffering of redemption, as though a sword were to pierce her immaculate heart. She represents the Church before a prophet who sees the necessity of the sacrifice demanded of redemption. The sword of truth that comes from the very mouth of God will bring death to the Infant and pierce the soul of the mother. When his mission is completed on the crucifix, his death will bring the joy of salvation to the world.

Our task in the world is that of the Simeon and of the prophetess Anna. Fasting and praying, night and day is our mission. We too, are to share in the contradiction of Jesus. We are to live in the world, but not to be part of the world. To live His divinity in every day, hour and moment of our life, while bringing his love to the unlovable, His touch to the untouchable and His words to the ears that do not hear. We who persevere in our mission as did Simeon and Anna, will be God's instruments of evangelization of His Holy word. We are to lose our lives in order to gain them. We are to give our lives away in order to obtain them. We rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for His trust in us, and in His gift of grace.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM
ARTICLE NO. 1105
The Epiclesis ("invocation upon") is the intercession in which the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, so that the offerings may become the body and blood of Christ and that the faithful, by receiving them, may themselves become a living offering to God. (Cf. Rom 12:1)

ARTICLE NO. 1106
Together with the anamnesis, the epiclesis is at the heart of each sacramental celebration, most especially of the Eucharist:

You ask how the bread becomes the Body of Christ, and the wine...the Blood of Christ. I shall tell you: the Holy Spirit comes upon them and accomplishes what surpasses every word and thought...Let it be enough for you to understand that it is by the Holy spirit, just as it was of the Holy virgin and by the Holy Spirit that the Lord, through and in himself, took flesh. (St. John Damascene, De fide orth. 4,13: PG 94, 1145A)

ARTICLE NO. 1107
The Holy Spirit's transforming power in the liturgy hastens the coming of the kingdom and the consummation of the mystery of salvation. While we wait in hope he causes us really to anticipate the fullness of communion with the Holy Trinity. Sent by the Father who hears the epiclesis of the Church, the Spirit gives life to those who accept him and is, even now, the "guarantee" of their inheritance. (Eph 1:14; 2 Cor 1:22)

EPICLESIS
Deacon Jim Breazile o.c.d.s.

Sacramental epiclesis
Enables inspired anamnesis
Surpassing every thought and word
And sacramental hearts are spurred
As transformed bread becomes flesh
And blood from wine our souls refresh

The Incarnational epiclesis
That engendered a divine phoresis
Provided God with human flesh
And Blessed virgin became His creche
The Holy Spirit's transforming power
Brings our lives to fullest flower

The Holy Spirit empowers our soul
So that each His majesty can extol
And Hastens the Kingdoms culmination
To bring salvation's consummation
Of life within Holy Trinity
Inheritance of heavens guarantee

Ó2002 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS