The Wedding Feast of Cana

Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese, 16th century

Each year in the Traditional Liturgy of the Church (1962 Roman Catholic Missal) on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, the Church recalls the Wedding at Cana and  Jesus' first public miracle, namely the changing of water into wine at the Wedding Feast of Cana.

And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come. His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.


Jn 2:1-11 (Douay Rheims)

On January 6th of each year the Church celebrates the Epiphany of the Lord, the arrival of the Magi to the Infant Jesus. But that is the merely the first of three epiphany moments, which are all equally remembered in the Traditional Liturgy on the Feast of the Epiphany. Today in the Gospel we focus once more on one of the three primary manifestations of Christ, namely the Miracle in Cana.  The other manifestation is recalled yearly as well on January 13rd (Traditional 1962 Liturgy), and this manifestation is the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, at which God the Father calls out from Heaven: "This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

We notice that it is Mary who intervenes for the people and says to Jesus, “They have no wine.” In the same regards, Mary intervenes for anyone who asks for her prayers. While there certainly is only one mediator between God and man, Mary is the Mother of God and an intercessor for mankind.St. Albert the Great wrote in Mary, Canice, p. 36: "Immediately next to being God is being the Mother of God." She held a unique role in salvation's history. Jesus Christ redeemed us, but Mary remains the Mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother. She is not equal to God but rather the most glorious person created by God because of her humility, trust in God, and above all, her Immaculate Conception.

Cannon Francis Ripley write in This is the Faith pg. 367: "Because of the inexpressible dignity that is hers, the Catholic Church has from the beginning given Mary the highest form of honor below that reserved for God alone. The Church's practice has always reflected her belief that, provided Mary is not "adored" (which is the unique honor given to God alone), she cannot be honored to excess."

Looking at John 19:27, Jesus says to St. John: "Behold thy mother." Is she literally the mother of John? No, of course not, but she is his spiritual mother - a symbol of Mary becoming the mother of the Faithful. And there should be no objection to her being our spiritual mother.

The Gospel account continues with Jesus responding to Mary: “Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come" Now here is where the objections come. Most protestants will claim that the usage of woman illustrates the unimportance of Mary. This is completely false! Look to Genesis 3:15 which states, “I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel”. This “enmity” in Genesis 3:15 is not between the man and the serpent but the woman and the serpent. Church teachings are that this is in reference to Mary, the one to come and destroy the serpent because of allowing Our Lord to take flesh within her.

Not sure, yet? Look to Revelations 12:1, which states, "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." But, who is this woman in the Book of Revelations? It is Mary, as the Book of Revelations states, the woman gives "...birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod" (Revelations 12:5). This child was Jesus Christ, and the woman is Mary! So, when we look back at the Wedding Feast of Cana, Jesus is alluding to Mary as the woman promised in Genesis and spoken in Revelations. This is honoring her! Satan is not in a war against Jesus Christ - he is fighting against Mary and us! Satan is nothing compared to the God. He hates us because we have the chance to enter Heaven, but Satan fell from Heaven forever by his rebellion. Satan wants to destroy our salvation, so he hates us all. As Genesis states, the entity is between the serpent and the Woman. All of this theological mystery is part of Jesus' words in the Wedding Feast of Cana.

One can not assume that calling Mary woman is inappropriate or showing of disrespect by applying present-day practices (namely, not calling our own mothers woman) to a different culture from 2,000 years ago.

And, then Jesus Christ says, "My hour is not yet come." What is his hour? His hour is the Cross - the literal three hours that He would spend on the Cross for the world's redemption. As John 12:23 states, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified." So, when Jesus says to His Mother that the Hour has not yet come, He is saying that if He performs a miracle then the road to the Cross has begun! But, Jesus performs the miracle and embarks on a journey to the Cross for love of us. Let us walk with Him in peace and joy this Epiphany Season and all year long.


For more information please see the reflections from "The Church's Year" by Fr. Leonard Goffine on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

 

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St. John Vianney on Holy Communion

"The man who receives Holy Communion loses himself in God like a drop of water in the ocean: It's impossible to separate them anymore . . . . In these vast depths of love, there's enough to lose yourself for eternity"

(St. John Vianney)

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The Care of the Tongue

Chapter XI

CARE OF THE TONGUE

[Extracted from The Hand that Leads to Heaven by Cardinal Giovanni Bona, 1881. republished by TAN Books under the title Guidance to Heaven.]

On the Care of the Tongue: Its importance and difficulty. What is to be observed and avoided in conversation. How we are to bear the evil tongues of others.

IT IS A matter of as great importance to guard the tongue as it is the pupil of the eye, because "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." (Prov. 18:21). He who cannot govern his tongue is like a city without walls, which is exposed on all sides. Without the grace of God, however, it is next to an impossibility to tame it. Man tames the lion, the bull and the bear, but his tongue he cannot tame. Human nature loves to talk much, as it rejoices to give immediate expression to its desires and conceptions. Moreover, the tongue is fixed near the brain, as the mouth is near the faculty of thought, in order that whatsoever the mind thinks may be quickly conveyed to the organ of speech and published in words. Nature itself has taught you how necessary it is to guard the tongue, since it has placed a double barrier (in the teeth and the lips) before this member. But as the fragrance of the sweet ointment evaporates if the box in which it is kept be left open, so all the vigor of the mind is dissipated when the mouth is not closed. That man forgets himself who is not always mindful of guarding his tongue.

Be prudent in every conversation, suppressing that immoderate inclination which rashly hurries most people on to pass sentence upon their neighbor without due examination and deference to the case in question. Flee far from duplicity and deception, and without any ambiguity or equivocation deliver the pure sentiments of your mind. God has given you the faculty of speech that you may truly and candidly announce things as they really are. Before you speak, consult your conscience—as to whether you be influenced by any evil passion—nor should you permit your tongue to say a word until that influence cease; otherwise, you shall say many things of which you shall afterwards have to repent. You may easily keep silence if you allow no passion to disturb your heart and if you preserve your soul tranquil and serene. Your discourse and your mind ought to be stamped with the same character. If your mind be sound, temperate and composed, your discourse also will be prudent and temperate. If the former be corrupted, the latter will breathe corruption. It is language that reveals to us the character of him who speaks.

Your conversation ought not to be of an idle nature. You ought to be as particular in the choice of your words as you are in that of your food. You examine the bread that you eat; why not do the same with the words you speak, which have often raised greater disturbances in your house than your food has caused in your stomach. Accustom yourself to speak much with yourself and little with others. Wise men have often regretted having spoken, but never having kept silence. Those animals are esteemed more sagacious whose voice is least heard. Talkativeness is the vice of children, and of women in whom reason is not strong. Any man who speaks nothing but vain and useless words has no virtue. If you love God and your salvation, your discourse will be on God, virtue and perfection. Charity is a stranger to falsehood, nor can it disguise itself. Everyone is immersed in the things which he loves, and these form the subject of his conversation. Hence you speak less willingly of divine things because you have not as yet arisen from the dross of your vices. I must add, you ought to read and meditate a little, at least on subjects regarding your salvation. How could matter on this fail you if you wish to speak to yourself? "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matt. 12:34).

Almost every discourse among men turns on the life, morals and pursuits of others; and there are almost as many judges passing sentence upon each one as there are inhabitants in his city. Scarcely does anyone look at home. We are for the most part near-sighted with regard to our own faults, but in discerning those of others, our vision is very good. We throw wide open our doors to receive reproaches against our neighbor, but hardly do we leave a chink open to hear anything in his praise. It behooves us, in places where this vice is more common, to be more careful in avoiding it. You have plenty to do with your own vices—find fault with these and correct them. Do not divulge your own secrets, or those of others which you are obliged to conceal.

Many have fallen into great disputes because they revealed their secrets to imprudent persons to whom they ought not to have confided them. Usually, to tell a thing to one person is the same as telling it to many. A word easily flies from one to another, and from these to all. This arises from the extent of discourse, to which many people fix no just bounds. The pleasure which one feels in conversation insensibly draws him on, and like drunkenness, so occupies the mind that there is no secret so hidden and sacred which may not travel abroad and become public. A man reveals to you his secrets; you in return, having received a pledge of confidence, communicate yours to him. But you perhaps may keep these secrets, while he tells everyone he meets the secret things he has heard, so that everyone knows, under cover of a secret, that of which all were ignorant in public.

You may well say that tongues take wings to fly privately to the ears of all, until the secret extends far on all sides and becomes a report. Whatsoever evil is under Heaven generally owes its origin or advancement to the tongue; therefore, make a balance for your words and a bridle for your mouth. You ought to say nothing of which it would be better to keep a profound silence. Stinginess in words is more praiseworthy than that in money. The man who scatters his money benefits others, while he injures himself; he who lavishes his words injures both himself and others. The person who knows how to hear much and say little approaches near to the Divinity.

Nothing can be secure from the darts of the tongue: It is not arrested by the power of kings nor by the virtue of saints; the one needs not dread the sword, and the other cannot fear censure, yet neither can hide from calumny. Christ Himself, when living among men, did not escape the scourge of the tongue. Imitate Jesus and the Saints in their example of patience. Detraction is both a spur to urge men to the practice of virtue, and a bridle to hold them in the right way.

There is no enemy among the vices more powerful than censure. When anyone speaks ill of you, he teaches you what you ought to avoid. Do you wish to escape the darts of the envenomed tongue? Disdain them. If you observe silence, you shall receive no wound. Esteeming much the judgment of the good, you need not fear the insolence of the calumniator. It concerns you but little what others may think of you; in your own conscience you have a more certain and incorruptible witness. Interrogate your conscience and believe it.

What can be more unworthy of you than to rest your character on the saying of the unwise and to submit it to the judgment of another? It is necessary that you should be good, let others say what they will of you, as if gold or emerald should say, "Whatsoever they may think, it behooves me to be what I am by nature and to preserve my color." If anyone should say injurious words to the limpid fountain, shall it therefore cease to pour out pure water? And if a person should throw dirt into it, does it not presently clear itself, dissipating the filthy matter?

Thus, neither ought you to disturb the calmness of your mind, although the wicked should calumniate and tear you to pieces. To be disturbed at every rumor is to have but little regard for oneself. Children strike with their little hands the mouth of their father; the infant pulls the hair of its mother, gnawing her bosom, tearing her cheeks and spitting on them, and we call none of these things an injury, because he who does them is incapable of conceiving such an act. Do you also entertain the same sentiments for those who calumniate you as parents cherish for their children? If once you let yourself be moved by anger on account of an injury, becoming weak-minded thereby, you honor him who is the cause of it. It is necessary, then, that you should have the glory of being admired by him from whom you could bear to suffer disdain. But this is the vice of a base soul and a little mind. You shall always be unhappy if you imagine yourself despised.

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National De-Lurker Week

Created by Paper Napkin to encourage readers who are too shy to leave a comment to speak up, De-Lurker Day has been extended to an entire week. That way everyone has a chance to work up the courage to speak up. And this is National De-Lurker Week!

So please just leave me a line or so in the comment box below. How long have you been reading my blog? Or what is your favorite book, movie, or TV show? Or what is the weather like today where you are? I'm not picky.

God Bless all of you

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Prayers for friends of mine

Someone that I know is having a very quick surgical procedure done tomorrow. I would appreciate your prayers for this person - that everything will go well. Also, the man that used to serve as a deacon for a parish I went to has died. Please say a prayer for his soul. His name was Deacon John S.

Thank you for your prayers.

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Pope Pius XI opens Holy Door in 1925

Above is an image of Pope Pius XI opening the Holy Door in St. Peter's in 1925.

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Mother Teresa on Communion in the Hand

Ever since reading this comment by Mother Teresa around the time that I was confirmed, I have decided to only receive Holy Communion on the tongue. The priests hands are the only ones that should touch the Eucharist and sacred vessels like the chalice.

From St. Thomas Aquinas:

"Out of reverence towards this sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest's hands, for touching this sacrament. Hence it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency" (Summa Theologica, III, Q. 82, Art. 3).

Mother Teresa's words:

When Mother Teresa was asked by Fr. George Rutler, "What do you think is the worst problem in the world today?" she replied without a moment’s hesitation: "Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion-in-the-hand."

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Words of Inspiration: January 11

"Don’t let the many snares of this infernal beast frighten you. Jesus, who is always with you, and who will fight with and for you, will never permit you to be tricked and overcome" (St. Padre Pio).

"Many souls go to Hell because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them" (Our Lady of Fatima).

Reminder: Did you pray your Morning Offering today?

Image Source: Blessed Giles of Assisi levitating.

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Prayer for Final Exams

I imagine most of my readers have noticed that I have posted much less this week than typically. It is simply because I have finals this week. Next week I hope to again continue my frequent postings!

Also, I have been having some trouble lately with an online Catholic forum because of my love for the Tridentine Mass and the Traditions of the Church. I would appreciate your prayers for the improvement of this situation.

This powerful prayer is very effective in examinations. It has to be said before appearing in the examination. There are two variants to this prayer. Both the prayers are equally effective. You can choose any one of these:

First Prayer

O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

Through Christ our Lord.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.

Amen.

Second Prayer

O St. Joseph of Cupertino who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may like you succeed in the (here mention the name of Examination eg. History paper I ) examination.

In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

O St. Joseph of Cupertino pray for me

O Holy Ghost enlighten me

Our Lady of Good Studies pray for me

Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me.

Remember, when you succeed in the exams then you should thank St. Joseph of Cupertino.

Image Source: Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium

Remember, when you succeed in the exams then you should thank St. Joseph of Cupertino. And if you would like a prayer card you can use and include in your books, find a great option here.

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The Tridentine Mass in the Diocese of San Jose

There is great news for Catholics that feel particularly attached to the 1962 Tridentine Liturgy. As a proud Catholic, who loves the Tridentine Liturgy, I am very happy for those Catholics in the Diocese of San Jose. The following is via PerpetualHelp.org:

CANONICAL ESTABLISHMENT:

Bishop Patrick J. McGrath has decreed the canonical establishment of the Oratory of the Chapel of Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 1298 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, California for the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of San Jose who are attached to the rituals in use in 1962 effective January 1, 2007. The Oratory is entrusted to the pastoral care of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

Bishop McGrath formally welcomes the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest into the Diocese of San Jose.

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