This page was added
March 5, 2005
Homily 1 January 2005
By Fr. Hathaway FSSP
Mater Dei Latin Mass Community

THe Feast of the Circumcision
On a New Years Resolution: the Daily Morning Offering

Today, in one feast we celebrate three feasts: The Feast of the Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord which completes the week-long Christmas Day festivities; The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God which honors Mary who, after almighty God, is owed thanks for having brought our Redeemer into the world; and The Feast of the Circumcision which commemorates the event of our Blessed Lord’s obedience to the Mosaic law wherein it was decreed that all Israelites were to be circumcised on the eighth day after their birth. <> 

The Israelites circumcised their flesh to manifest their covenant with God.   The circumcision of flesh was a preparation for circumcision of the spirit, or the cutting off of sin from our life.  The Church circumcises her members via her Sacraments which root out sin and implant and/or sustain divine life in us. <> 

All Catholics, however, should also manifest their covenant with God by daily prayer.  If we have not the habit of making a morning offering to God upon waking from our sleep; we should. <> 

To this purpose, here is an excellent New Year’s resolution (it might not shed pounds off your body, but it will shed attachments to sin… and is this not the more important diet plan?): 

Every morning, immediately after waking up, I will get on my knees, face the crucifix above my bed, and pray a morning offering.

Now, there are varieties of morning offerings. Your missal will contain one. The idea, however, is what we should grasp. 

<>Every morning offering should thank God for the offering of His Son who bore our sin; should include the uniting of our thoughts, words, and deeds, to the Divine Son’s merits; should ask to gain all possible merits and indulgences that day; should address our Blessed Lady. <> 

“God the Father in heaven, I offer to Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, of Thy dearly beloved Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for my sins and those of the whole world.  With this offering, I like to make the offering of all my day’s thoughts, words, and deeds, and I pray that these be acceptable to Thee and worthy of Thy love. 

My Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that I may gain all the indulgences and merits that I can this day and I offer these up to the Blessed Virgin Mary so that she may distribute these to the needs Thy most Sacred Heart.

God the Holy Ghost, I pray that I not offend Thee today but persevere in doing good and in overcoming the attachment to sin most troublesome to me.

Mother Mary, help of Christians, pray for me.”  Then say three Hail Marys for purity.

So ends a simple morning offering, said on my knees before the crucifix… not in the shower, not driving to work, not while eating breakfast.  God asks for first fruits; should we not give Him our first waking moments? 

<>If we spend the first three minutes of our day attentive to present God with a morning offering, He shall surely advance us in perfection.  And this is the New Year’s resolution to renew all years unto a Happy Eternity…Happy New Year but Happy Eternity more.

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