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Monday, November 25, 2013

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St. Catherine of Alexandria


Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20
Daniel 3:52-56
Luke 21:1-4

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fit for a king

"And so they entered the King's service." —Daniel 1:19

Presentation Ministries, which publishes One Bread, One Body, offers these teachings to help you grow as disciples of Christ the King, Whose feast we celebrated yesterday. As Daniel and his companions prepared diligently to serve the king of Babylon, so we disciples can enter our King's service by:

  • resolving "not to defile" ourselves and committing to a life of holiness (Dn 1:8),
  • simplifying our lifestyles (Dn 1:12),
  • eating "from the royal table" (Dn 1:13), that is, frequently going to Mass, the banquet of the King,
  • fearing the Lord, the King (see Dn 1:10),
  • studying and knowing (see Dn 1:4, 17) our faith, so we may always be ready to explain it (1 Pt 3:15),
  • repenting quickly (Dn 3:39),
  • seeking and receiving what God will give (Dn 1:17), that is, the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Rm 12:6-8),
  • praising God in all circumstances (Dn 3:52ff; Phil 4:4),
  • giving our "all" to Jesus (Lk 21:4; Mt 13:46), and
  • living in committed Christian community. Daniel and his three companions strengthened one another.

Present yourselves to God and "enter the King's service" (Dn 1:5).

Prayer:  King Jesus, "the greatest thing in all my life is serving You."

Promise:  "He found them ten times better." —Dn 1:20

Praise:  Wise beyond her young years, St. Catherine, patroness of Christian philosophers, was blessed with a martyr's death.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 22, 2013

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