Advent Series - December 20

JMJ

December 20

In our study of Old Testament history, we’ve seen how after the reign of Solomon, the Hebrew people divided into 2 kingdoms. 10 tribes broke away and formed the Kingdom of Israel in the north. Their king, Jeroboam, did not want his people to go to Jerusalem to worship God, so he set up the golden calf idols at Bethel and Dan.

The kingdom of Israel was eventually taken over by the Assyrians and the people were forced to leave their homes. They were dispersed all over the world, becoming the “Lost Tribes of Israel”.

The other kingdom was the Kingdom of Judah. The Kingdom of Judah was made up of 2 tribes; Judah and Benjamin.

The Assyrians tried to take over Judah as well, but as we read yesterday, Judith killed the Assyrian general, Holophernes and for some time they were left in peace.

The Assyrians were busy elsewhere, however. They fought many battles and lost many men. They needed new soldiers to fight their wars, so they forced the people they conquered to fight for them. Naturally, these people were not very eager to fight. Assyria’s power was fading.

In 612 B.C., the Chaldeans took over Assyria, as well as the lands the Assyrians had conquered. The Chaldeans rebuilt the city of Babylon and brought back the Babylonian way of life. For this reason they are sometimes called Babylonians.

In the year 597 B.C. the Chaldeans did succeed in taking over Judah.
They forced many Jews to go to Babylon.
In 586 B.C. the Chaldeans destroyed Jerusalem. Only the poorest Jews were left behind to plant crops.

This was the time of the “Babylonian Captivity.”

Among those who were taken captive was a man named Daniel. Daniel was a prince of the Tribe of Judah; from the kingly line of David.

The Chaldean king, Nebuchadnezzar wanted a few of the best Jews to come and live at his palace so that those Jews might learn the ways of the Chaldeans. He chose Ananias, Misael, Azarias and Daniel.

One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, but he could not remember it very well. Of all the wise men at the king’s court, only Daniel, with God’s grace was able to tell the king what his dream was and what it meant. The dream foretold the rise and fall of the kingdoms of Persia, of Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire, as well as the coming of the eternal kingdom of God; the kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ:

“… in the days of those kingdoms, the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed…it shall consume all these kingdoms, and itself shall stand forever.” (Dan 2:44)

Because of Daniel’s wisdom, King Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel authority and power in Babylon. The other 3 Jewish men; Ananias, Misael and Azarias became governors of the provinces in Babylon. (The Chaldeans changed their names in the process, which makes this part a little confusing.).

Then one day King Nebuchadnezzar made a big idol and told everyone they had to worship it or else. Of course Ananias, Misael and Azarias would not do such a thing, so the king ordered them to be put into a furnace of burning fire.

“But the angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his companions into the furnace: and he drove the flame of the fire out of the furnace, and he made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind bringing dew…” (Dan3:49-50) And the 3 men sang a canticle to God praising Him for His mercies.

Incidentally, this part of history can be found in the missal for the Mass of Ember Saturday during Advent!

After some time, a new king, King Baltassar reigned in Babylon. This king had a big feast. While he and his guests were eating and drinking from the sacred vessels which had been stolen from the Temple of Jerusalem, a hand appeared and wrote 3 words on the wall; MANE THECEL PHARES

Daniel told the king that:

MANE meant that God would put an end to the king’s kingdom.
THECEL meant “Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting”
PHARES meant that his kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

That same night, King Baltassar died.

Darius, the Mede, became the next king. (Dan 5) King Darius liked Daniel very much and wanted to put him in charge of his kingdom. This made the other men in power jealous and they looked for a way to get rid of Daniel. Tomorrow we will see what happened next!

Today’s O Antiphon is “O Clavis David”

“O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel, Who openest and no man shutteth; Who shuttest and no man openeth; come and lead the captive from the prisonhouse, him that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death.”

It was prophesied that the Saviour would be of the line of King David (hence the “O key of David”). By dying on the cross, Our Lord would reopen the gates of heaven.

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...

Communique about Avrille Dominicans - SSPX.org

+ JMJ Having completed the review of the 'Avrille' perspective, this communique from the French District Superior is perfectly timed. I believe that the 'resistance' has lost rationality and further argumentation simply results in their holding on to their false ideal all the more firmly. Pray much ... First, for them to acquiesce to the grace of humility in order to obtain a clear perspective on the principles involved. Second, that we may remain faithful to the Church, and Her Dogmas, Doctrines and Principles. Lest we become that which against we strove ... P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Magisterium and Levels of Assent

+ JMJ Understanding the levels of assent to be given to the teachings of the Church is a critical success factor in walking the knife's edge during this crisis of the Church. The levels of assent are generally associated with the theological grades of certainty, which are not surprisingly mirrored by the censures for contravening the teachings of the various levels.

Tradicat

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