SecondHandSaintsblog

Gospel

Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus 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 Christ 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 the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to 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.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

            “You will accomplish more by kind words and a courteous manner than by anger or sharp rebuke, which should never be used except in necessity.”

“Do not lose courage if you feel yourselves incapable of knowing and doing all that such a special charge demands. Have confidence and strong faith that God will assist you in everything.”

“O God, who through Blessed Angela didst cause a new company of holy virgins to grow up within Thy Church, grant us through her intercession to lead angelic lives, so that, renouncing all earthly joys, we may deserve to enjoy those that are eternal. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. “

Saint Joseph Vaz was born into a Christian family and was able to attend primary and secondary school, going on to the University to finish his studies. He was a very brillant man and had a gift for preaching and learning several different languages. 

As a priest, his heart belonged to Our Lady, and he devoted himself entirely to Her service. In 1677, he consecrated himself as a “slave of Mary,” sealing the consecration with a document now referred to as his “Letter of Enslavement.”

He was a very compassionate man and was concerned about the condition of Catholics living in Ceylon, who were being persecuted by the Dutch, and had been without a priest for 50 years. Altough he sought permission he was asked to go to the mission in Kanara. There he preached, celebrated Mass and heard confessions. Not only did he carry out his daily duties, he also visited the sick, and was able to ransom Christian slaves as well, often dressing as a beggar to travel around. 

Becoming quite ill with dysentry, he was able to recover and began once again on his mission, by secretely reaching out to Catholics and hiding from the Dutch. He ministered to the Catholics under the cover of night and with the help of his flock, was able to keep one step ahead of the authorities. He was a couragous priest who continued his misionary work and upon hearing of another  large village of Catholics who were without the Sacraments or a priest, he headed that way. But instead of being able to work freely he was captured and imprisioned. While in prison he learned the local language and under the somewhat lax guards, he was able to administer to the other prisoners. Slowly, but with continued effort he was able to convert many more of the people. And due to miracles that occurred, he was released and able to continue his missionary works.

He died of natural causes 1711, in Sri Lanka. There were so many mourners at his funeral, his body had to be exposed for three days to accomadate the crowds. He is buried in the central providence of Sri Lanka, known as Kandy.

When one looks at the life of this hard working priest, who overcame so many obstacles and was able to convert many pagans to Christianity, it is without a doubt due to the fact that he loved the Blessed Mother and consecrated himself as a “slave of Mary,” sealing it with the document known as his “ Letter of Enslavement.” As you read his words, dear reader, ask yourself, can you consider yourself a ‘slave of Mary’? God bless.

“Let it be known to all who see this “Letter of Bondage”, angles, human beings, and all creatures, that I Fr. Joseph Vaz, sell and offer myself as a perpetual slave of the Virgin Mother of God. This I do through a free, spontaneous and perfect act of devotion which in law is known as an irrevocable act among the living. I give myself and all that I possess so that She, as my true Mistress and Mother, may dispose of me and my possessions as She wills. And because I consider myself unworthy of such an honour, I beseech my Guardian Angel and the glorious patriarch St. Joseph, the most blessed Spouse of the Sovereign Lady and the Saint whose name I bear, as well as all the citizens of heaven that they may obtain from Her this favour to be included among the number of Her slaves. I confirm this and seal it with my name. I would have liked to sign it with my heart’s blood. Written in the Church of Sancoale, at the foot of the altar of the same Virgin Mary Mother of God, Our Lady of Health, on this day the 5th of August, the Feast of Our Lady of Snows, in the year 1677.”

I was just looking over some catholic sites on social media and stumbled across a site called

Renewing The Real Presence. On their site, they had an article about the Angelus, a very short bit of info, and then the prayer. Please read it and prayerfully consider adding it to your daily prayer routine. We are still at the beginning of the year, and it is the perfect time to implement these changes to your prayer life that you have been wanting to do for some time. God bless.

The Angelus brings an indulgence of 10 years for each recitation, and a plenary indulgence once a month for those who say it three times every day. It may be said standing or kneeling. The whole Angelus, as commonly printed, has to be recited. Those who do not know the prayers by heart, or who are unable to read them, may say five Hail Marys in their place. – Arthur Tonne, Talks On The Sacramentals, Didde Printing Co., (1950), Nihil Obstat, Imprimi Potest

THE ANGELUS

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,

R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, etc…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Be it done unto me according to Your Word. Hail Mary, etc…

V. And the Word was made flesh,

R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary, etc…

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, Thy Grace into our hearts; that we to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Latin

V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.

R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto. Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

V. Ecce ancilla Domini,

R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Ave Maria. . .

V. Et Verbum caro factum est,

R. Et habitavit in nobis. Ave Maria. . .

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix,

R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.