WE HONOR THE SEVEN SERVITES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TODAY.
FEAST OF THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS, THE SERVITES.
THE WORD OF GOD :
"The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.”
Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.
In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.
The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not.
Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen. So the Lord said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen? If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”
Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.”
When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The Lord then said: “What have you done! Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil! Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce. You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Cain said to the Lord: “My punishment is too great to bear. Since you have now banished me from the soil, and I must avoid your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, anyone may kill me at sight.”
“Not so!” the Lord said to him. “If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold.” So the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.
Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth. “God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said, “because Cain slew him.” (Genesis 4: 1 - 15, 25).
Monday 17th February 2025 in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites.
The Servites are a Confraternity of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (13th century). They were Religious and led a life of prayer and penance.
Ecclesiastical recognition for the order as a religious order was given in 1304.
The story of Cain and Abel is one of the Bible stories we mastered as kids. I believe this interesting story is in every year of the 3 Year lectionary cycle.
What is the teaching and application?
There is a sowing time and a harvest time.
By faith, Abel offers God the choicest of his lambs.
Bring the best of your time, talent and treasure to the Lord.
The Lord God owns everything.
You can never outdo God in generosity.
A sacrifice of Thanksgiving honors God.
The Eucharist is the first and foremost of the sacrifice that honors God.
Now that you know this, you will be blessed if you do it.
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH CONSECRATED TO THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH.
"It is in the holy family, the original church in miniature that every christian family must be reflected". (Pope St John XXIII).
For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:
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