Monday, March 30, 2009

Heb 10, 23-25 He who made the promise is trustworthy

(Heb 10, 23-25) He who made the promise is trustworthy
[23] Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. [24] We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. [25] We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
(CCC 1817) Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (Heb 10:23). "The Holy Spirit… he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:6-7). (CCC 1835) Prudence disposes the practical reason to discern, in every circumstance, our true good and to choose the right means for achieving it. (CCC 1837) Fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. (CCC 1638) "From a valid marriage arises a bond between the spouses which by its very nature is perpetual and exclusive; furthermore, in a Christian marriage the spouses are strengthened and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and the dignity of their state by a special sacrament" (Cf. CIC, can. 1134). (CCC 2191) The Church celebrates the day of Christ's Resurrection on the "eighth day," Sunday, which is rightly called the Lord's Day (cf. SC 106). (CCC 2178) This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age (Cf. Acts 2:42-46; 1 Cor 11:17). The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful "not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another" (Heb 10:25). Tradition preserves the memory of an ever-timely exhortation: Come to Church early, approach the Lord, and confess your sins, repent in prayer.... Be present at the sacred and divine liturgy, conclude its prayer and do not leave before the dismissal.... We have often said: "This day is given to you for prayer and rest. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Sermo de die dominica 2 et 6: PG 86/1, 416C and 421C).

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