The First Commandment: You shall not make for yourself an idol

Vasyl Symyon | August 3, 2020

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

The Ten Commandments are the basis of our Christian morality and our moral behavior. The commandments are God’s divine laws, unchangeable, given for humanity’s sake once and forever. Therefore, the importance of explaining them, studying them and remembering them should be obvious to every Christian.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in my last article I explained the First Commandment in general as well as in its theological context (Who is my God?). In this article I will reflect on the second part of the First Commandment: You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth (Exodus 20, 2-5). We refer to this part of the First Commandment as Pastoral (How do I believe in my Lord?).

This part of the First Commandment strictly prohibits us from creating an idol of any kind. An idol is biblically defined as a created image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. An idol is something that distracts a person from our living God. Something that invites affection and passion. Something a person can serve, given the time or the money.

When a person makes an idol for himself, he overlooks — perhaps abandons — Almighty God. When a person creates, worships and serves an idol, he commits one of the greatest mortal sins — Idolatry, which can vary in kind. Continue reading →

The First Commandment: How do I worship my God?

Vasyl Symyon | September 28, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! We continue our short meditations on the Ten Commandments of our Lord. But first, let me remind you of what I wrote in my previous articles. I started with the First Commandment: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before
them or serve them” (Exodus 20, 2-5).
The First Commandment consists of three parts: Theological (Who is my God?), Pastoral (How do I believe in my God?), and Liturgical (How do I worship my God?).
I already have explained the first two parts. Therefore, I will concentrate — and meditate — on the commandment’s third and final part: Liturgical (How do I worship my God?).
The third part reads: You shall not bow down before them or serve them. Here we note some significant nonactions: “not bow down” and “not serve” other gods. To better understand these terms, let us examine their definitions.
The first is a phrasal verb “bow down,” which means to show respect to someone, to show that someone is very important, to become prostrate before someone or something. The second verb “serve” means to perform duties or services for someone.
Our Lord strictly prohibits us to bow down before or to serve other gods. We cannot serve an “idol or god” and our Creator at any time, in any way. Continue reading →

A gift greater than one could imagine

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick | August 3, 2020

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Have you ever received a gift from someone that was way more than you could have expected from that person? What did it make you feel?

Continue reading →

Virtual Young Adult Retreat

David Donohoe St. Mary, Cleveland, Ohio | August 3, 2020

Even a global pandemic couldn’t stop a group of young adults from participating in a retreat.

The annual Young Adult Retreat was scheduled to be held from June 26 to 28 at the House of Prayer at the beautiful grounds of Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
Continue reading →

Thoughts For Our Day

Archpriest David M. Petras | August 3, 2020

The Anaphora of St. Basil is a complete proclamation of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are three components to this profession. The first is the mystery of the incarnation, that the Son and Word of God chose to take on the human nature for our salvation. The meaning of this mystery was expressed by quotations from Hebrews 1:3, the Letter to the Philippians 2:6 and the Old Testament prophecy of Baruch 3:38. Continue reading →

After lockdown, Italy’s bishops to seek new ways to engage parishioners

Carol Glatz Catholic News Service | August 3, 2020

VATICAN CITY — Italy’s bishops will need to help their communities participate more in parish life and return to taking part in the sacraments in ways that continue to respect evolving measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to their conference leadership.
Continue reading →

“Pilgrimage of the heart”

David Mayernik Jr. | September 28, 2020

Making a list of all the events and experiences n e g a t i v e l y a f f e c t e d by the coronavirus
pandemic is an exhausting experience.
Everyone’s personal worlds have been thrown for a loop. Continue reading →

Basilian Sisters joyfully celebrate Jubilees

Editor | September 28, 2020

Beginning with a Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving on July 20, three Sisters of St. Basil celebrated their anniversaries of religious life: Diamond Jubilarian, Sister Leocadia Sevachko; and 70th Anniversary Jubilarians, Sister Salome Yanochko and Sister Fabian Krassa. Continue reading →

Come and be renewed in the Lord

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick | September 28, 2020

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Recently, our chaplain made some comments about words. Any words and the Word of God. And I said to myself:
“Sister, you use a lot of words.” Of course, I must in a setting like this and especially in the retreats that I do. And I began to say, “What am I always talking about?” Continue reading →

“Humankind”: Be both

Sister Ruth Plante | September 28, 2020

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
Dear Friends,
A short time ago while driving I stopped at a red light. The car that was
in front of me had a bumper sticker which caught my interest. The first
line read HUMANKIND. I thought to myself: “What is the point?” Then
I focused a bit more on the small words on the second line. They read: Be
Both. Continue reading →

WORLD NEWS (Catholic News Service)

Read the latest world news as reported by Catholic News Service. With headquarters in Washington, offices in New York and Rome, and correspondents around the world, CNS provides the most comprehensive coverage of the church today.

Vatican-China agreement: Secretary Pompeo enters the debate
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-28
Catholic officials urge Congress, Trump to adopt new COVID-19 aid bill
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-28
Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination gives spotlight to Notre Dame Law School
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-28
Priests say Turkish attacks in northern Iraq displace Christians
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-28
Conversion is a daily battle fueled by grace, pope says
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-28
Pope appoints U.S. Archbishop Charles Brown nuncio to the Philippines
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-28
Trump announces Judge Amy Coney Barrett as U.S. Supreme Court nominee
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-26
Catholics urged to help ‘unite world’ on behalf of internally displaced people
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-25
Knights’ Respect Life Month novena urges prayer, reflection on cause of life
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-25
Supreme Court denies appeals for two recent federal executions
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-25
Conference takes stock of progress in AIDS fight during COVID-19 pandemic
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-25
Cardinal Pell applauds pope’s actions against Cardinal Becciu
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-25
COVID-19 scare emphasized importance of connections, cardinal says
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-25
The Devil All the Time
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-24
COVID-19 robbed refugees ‘of the little that they had,’ says Salesian
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-24
Cardinal Becciu resigns as prefect, renounces rights as cardinal
Source: CNS Published on 2020-09-24

An Explantation of the Byzantine Rite Liturgical Practice of Observing All Souls Saturdays

ETERNAL MEMORY! VIČNAJA PAMJAT’! ALL SOULS SATURDAY “The Holy Fathers were convinced that the commemoration of the departed by alms and sacrifices (Divine Liturgies) brings great comfort and benefit to them.” (SYNAXARION FOR MEAT-FARE SATURDAY) O Church, equally observed in … Continue reading →

	September 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1 St. Simeon Venerable St. Simeon Venerable September 1, 2020 The Beginning of the "Indication," i.e., of the Church and his mother, Martha. Simeon, a Monk, adopted a characteristic mode of penance by prayer and fasting on the top of a lofty stone column where he spent thirty-seven years until his death A.D. 459. -- Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God in Missina. -- SS. Aithelas, 40 Women of Macedonia and Ammon, Martyrs. Ammon, Deacon, was put to death under Emperor Licinius A.D. 313 at Heraclea in Thrace, together with 40 young women whom he converted to Christianity. -- SS. Callistus, Evodius, and Hermogenes, Martyrs, were brothers by birth. -- venerable Josua, son of Nun who was succesor of Moses in the Century B.C. See more details •	2 St. Mammas St. Mammas September 2, 2020 Description: St. Mammas, Martyr, a Roman of noble birth, mute for five years from birth, uttered his first word "Mama" whence he got his name. He suffered martyrdom at Caesarea in Cappadocia under Aurelian Emperor, A.D. 274. See more details •	3 St. Anthimus St. Anthimus September 3, 2020 St. Anthimus, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Nicomedia where he was martyred A.D. 303 under the Emperor Diocletian. See more details •	4 Babylas - Bishop Martyr Babylas - Bishop Martyr September 4, 2020 St. Babylas, Priest-Martyr, Archbishop of Greater Antioch for thirteen years. He died in chains awaiting execution during the Decian persecution A.D. 250. With him are commemorated Three Youths, his pupils, privileged with him to lay down their lives for Christ See more details •	5 SS Zachary & Elizabeth SS Zachary & Elizabeth September 5, 2020 St. Zachary, Prophet, father of Venerable John, the Precursor and Baptist. See more details Saturday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sozon-Martyr Saturday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sozon-Martyr September 5, 2020 St. Sozon, Martyr, a Christian in Silicia, who broke up a silver idol and gave the proceeds to the poor. He was burned to death at the stake about A.D. 304. See more details • •
6 12th Sunday After Pentecost 12th Sunday After Pentecost September 6, 2020 1 Cor 15:1-11 Mt 19:16-26 See more details Commemoration of the Miracle of Archangel Michael Commemoration of the Miracle of Archangel Michael September 6, 2020 Commemoration of the miracle by St. Michael the Archangel at Colossa in Chonia See more details • •	7 St. Sozon St. Sozon September 7, 2020 St. Sozon, Martyr, a Christian in Silicia, who broke up a silver idol and gave the proceeds to the poor. He was burned to death at the stake about A.D. 304. See more details •	8 Birth of the Theotokos Birth of the Theotokos September 8, 2020 She was of royal lineage, of the House of David. Except the feast of the Dormition, this is one of the most ancient and famous Feasts of Our Lady. See more details •	9 Synaxis of SS. Joachim & Anna Synaxis of SS. Joachim & Anna September 9, 2020 Tradition holds that these Saints were the parents of the Theotokos although nothing is known of them, except that they lived in Galilee, and later in Jerusalem, where their traditional tomb was rediscovered in A.D. 1889. See more details •	10 Menodora and others Martyrs Menodora and others Martyrs September 10, 2020 2 Cor 12:20-13:2 Mk 4:24-34 See more details •	11 St. Theodora St. Theodora September 11, 2020 Our venerable mother, Theodora, of Alexandria, Penitent. She was an Egyptian woman who lived a long life of austere penance because of a sin committed in her youth. She is said to have donned male attire, entered a monastery, where she endured much from Satan and passed to her reward A.D. 472 in the reign of the Emperor Zenon. See more details •	12 St. Autonomous St. Autonomous September 12, 2020 St. Autonomous, Priest-Martyr, is alleged by the Greeks to have been an Italian Bishop, who fled into Bithynia, in Asia Minor, to escape the fury of the Diocletian persecution. He made many converts and died for the Faith about A.D. 300. See more details •
13 Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection September 13, 2020 Commemorating the Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Cornelius, Priest-Martyr, was the Centurion of the Italic cohort, baptised at Casesarea in Palestine by the Apostle St. Peter about A.D. 41 (Acts 10.) Tradition makes him first Bishop of Caesarea. See more details Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross Birth of the Theotokos Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross Birth of the Theotokos September 13, 2020 Gal 6:11-18; Phil 2:5-11; Jn 3:13-17; Lk 10:38-42 & 11:27-28 She was of royal lineage, of the House of David. Except the feast of the Dormition, this is one of the most ancient and famous Feasts of Our Lady. See more details • •	14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14, 2020 Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross. Discovery of the Holy Cross on which Our Lord suffered together with the nails, is credited to Empress Helen, mother of Constantine the Great. The finding was made in Jerusalem A.D. 326. In the Church of Jerusalem, erected by St. Helen over the Sepulchre of Our Lord, the Patriarch St. Macarius, elevated the Cross and all the people beholding it cried out, "Lord have mercy!" See more details •	15 St. Nicetas Venerable-Confessor St. Nicetas Venerable-Confessor September 15, 2020 St. Nicetas, the Great-Martyr, was a Goth and a victim of the fury of King Athanaric, ruler of the nations settled about the Danube. He was a disciple of the celebrated Ulphilas (Theophilus). He was burned to death about A.D. 78. See more details •	16 St. Euphemia St. Euphemia September 16, 2020 St. Euphemia, Martyr, the most commendable, her knowledge was like that of the holy Fathers, suffered death A.D. 288. The death of Blessed Olga, Grand Duchess of Kiev. In baptism (about A.D. 955) she chose the name "Helen." See more details •	17 Sophia & Others Martyrs Sophia & Others Martyrs September 17, 2020 These three Virgins suffered death for Christ while still children, under the Emperor Hadrian. Three days later, their mother, praying at their tomb, passed away. See more details •	18 St. Eumenius St. Eumenius September 18, 2020 Our venerable father, Eumenius, Wonderworker, Bishop of Gortyna on the Island of Crete, was conspicuous for his charity. He died in exile in the latter half of the 3rd century. See more details •	19 Saturday after the Exaltation of the Cross Codratus Apostle Saturday after the Exaltation of the Cross Codratus Apostle September 19, 2020 1 Cor 1:26-29; Jn 8:21-30 SS, Codratus and Companions; Cyprian, Anectus and Crisent, died A.D. 257 after years in prison under Valerian, Emperor. See more details Trophimus and Others Martyrs Trophimus and Others Martyrs September 19, 2020 SS. Trophimus, Sabbatius, Dorymedont, Martyrs. They were tortured and beheaded as Christians, most probably at about Antioch A.D 277. See more details • •
20 Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross September 20, 2020 Gal 2:16-20 Mk 8:34-9:1 See more details •	21 Codratus Apostle Codratus Apostle September 21, 2020 SS, Codratus and Companions; Cyprian, Anectus and Crisent, died A.D. 257 after years in prison under Valerian, Emperor. See more details •	22 Phocas Bishop Martyr Phocas Bishop Martyr September 22, 2020 St. Phocas, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Sinope on the Black Sea. He was put to death under the Emperor Trajan A.D. 102 (Confer July 22). See more details •	23 Commemoration of the Conception of St. John the Baptist Commemoration of the Conception of St. John the Baptist September 23, 2020 Conception of St. John the Baptist, the glorious Prophet and Precursor of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. See more details •	24 Thecia Proto - Martyr Thecia Proto - Martyr September 24, 2020 St. Thecia, First Virgin-Martyr. One of the most celebrated of the Saints of the Early Church. St. Epiphanius and others relate that she was converted at Iconium in Lycaonia by St. Paul (Acts 14) A.D. 51. She died before the close of the 1st century. See more details •	25 Euphrosyna Venerable Euphrosyna Venerable September 25, 2020 Our venerable mother, Euphrosyna, was an Egyptian maiden of pious Christian parents at Alexandria. To avoid marriage and preserve her virginity, she assumed male attire and entered a monastery of Monks to frustrate a search for her. She retired into a cell and for 38 years was looked upon as a holy man. Even her own father sought spiritual advice from her and appreciated her counsels. He assisted at her last moments. Only then did she disclose her identity. After her death about A.D. 470 her father took possession of her cell where he passed the rest of his days in penance and prayer. See more details •	26 The Passing of St. John Apostle - Evangelist The Passing of St. John Apostle - Evangelist September 26, 2020 The passing of St. John the Theologian, Apostle, and Evangelist. (Confer May 8th.) See more details •
27 16th Sunday After Pentecost 16th Sunday After Pentecost September 27, 2020 2 Cor 6:1-10 Lk 6:31-36 See more details St. Callistratus & Others Martyrs St. Callistratus & Others Martyrs September 27, 2020 St. Callistratus, Soldier-Martyr and a fifty African soldiers were put to death at Constantinople under the Emperor Diocletian A.D. 295 for the Christian Faith. It is related that they were sewn up in sacks and cast into the sea. See more details • •	28 Chariton Venerable - Confessor Chariton Venerable - Confessor September 28, 2020 Our Venerable Father Chariton - Confessor Martyr, appears to have been burned to death A.D 362. See more details •	29 Cyriacus Venerable Cyriacus Venerable September 29, 2020 Our Venerable Father Cyriacus, Hermit, a Greek by birth embraced monastic life in Palestine. He lived for 198 years, and died A.D 550. See more details •	30 St. Gregory Illuminator St. Gregory Illuminator September 30, 2020 St. Gregory, Bishop-Martyr, the Illuminator of Greater Armenia. He is considered an Apostle of his country. It seems certain that he was consecrated first Patriarch of the Armenians, that he converted Tiridates, King of the country and suffered much from the heathens. He died about A.D. 332. See more details •