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What’s the weekly mettle maker?
Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”
Mettle maker #426: SBX Flashback
Back in the day (the late 90s) I used to teach a martial fitness course for City of Richmond Recs and Parks. The city supplied no equipment whatsoever, and there was nowhere to lock any up. So the only equipment we ever had was what we could store in my old station wagon oand haul in and out for each class.
I like to write what we're doing on the cement in chalk, you know, so everybody can see it.
Now that we’re at the park, we’ve hit the big time: we have a whopping 16 cubic feet of storage — that’s a 2’ x 2’ x 4’ deck box. Twenty-five plus years later, we still have to make do with minimal equipment. But I don’t think we’re suffering that much. Here is the adorable little martial fitness training session I came up with the other night.
Shadowbox for 5 rounds of 3:00/1:00 (with plenty of kicks).† Then complete the following constitutional in a 9-set pyramid scheme (to lower the reps on the Shoulder Carries and the two Squeezes, do straight sets instead of pyramid sets):
Scarf Hold Switches (1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,1)
Back Bridges (1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,1)
Sprawls (1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,1)
25-yard Shoulder Carries (1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1)
Clocks (1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,1)
Squeezes to failure (1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1)
Bottom Scissors squeezes to failure (1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1)
(See this video if you don’t know the exercises).
Let me know how it goes.
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† I’m not a big proponent of shadowboxing, especially for the very experienced, but it’s great for beginners, and a few rounds every now and then won’t hurt experienced folks.
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Homily for the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, 10/6/24 – Father Mitch
Readings: Exodus 23:20-26, Psalm 91:1-2,9-10,11-12, Acts 5:17-21a,25-32, Matthew 18:1-5,10
Mattew 18:1-5, 10 World English Bible
1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them 3 and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me.
10 See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.‡
Brothers and sisters, the subject of angels, guardian angels, and archangels is a subject of interest to us here at St. Barachiel Chapel because we take our name from Archangel Barachiel, the chief of the guardian angels.
In addition to attending God’s throne (Daniel 7:9-10) and acting as divine messengers, angels act as our guides and guardians. As we read in Psalm 91, God “hath given his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Interpreting the many scriptural references to angels, St. Jerome said, “The dignity of a soul is so great, that each has a guardian angel from its birth” (Comm. in Matt., xviii, lib. II) and St. Ambrose said, "We should pray to the angels who are given to us as guardians" (De Viduis, ix).
An archangel is a chief angel, the leader of a group or subgroup of angels. Pronounced with a hard k rather than with a ch sound. “Arch” comes from the Greek arkhos meaning “chief” or “leader” and “angel” comes from the Greek ángelos which means “messenger.”
Exactly how many archangels there are, and their exact names, is a matter of some debate. Differences in opinion stem from differences in biblical canon. If a denomination doesn’t acknowledge the validity of a book where an angel or archangel appears, the angel or archangel disappears along with it.
Therefore, prior to the Council of Rome in 745, the Roman Catholic church recognized seven archangels based on the list in 1 Enoch.¹ Since the 4th century, Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics have numbered eight archangels, and each year they honor them on November 8th when they celebrate a holiday known as The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts.²
Most protestant denominations name only one archangel, St. Michael (because he is labeled as such in Jude 1:9). But modern Anglicans, Lutherans, and many Methodists officially recognize four – St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and St. Uriel. That said, St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Brighton, UK contains a series of stained-glass windows depicting a list of seven archangels that differs from both the Orthodox and the oldest Roman Catholic ones.³
Here at St. Barachiel Chapel, we reverence a composite list of thirteen archangels, made up of all the lists combined. Those archangels are:
1. St. Michael (“who is like God”). Since he is the commander of God’s host who makes war with the dragon (Rev 12:7) and who cast Lucifer from heaven, he is pictured crushing the devil beneath his foot. In his left hand he holds a green date-tree branch, and in his right either a sword or a spear. He appeared to Joshua at the taking of Jericho (Josh 5:13-16), protected Ananias, Azarias and Misail when they were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship idols (Dan 3:22-25), transported the Prophet Habbakuk from Judea to Babylon to give food to Daniel in the lions’ den (Dan. 14:33-37), and disputed with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9).
2. St. Gabriel (“the strength of God”). He is God’s herald who announces the mysteries. He is pictured holding a branch from Paradise, presented by him to the Most Holy Virgin, or with a shining lantern in his right hand and with a mirror made of jasper in his left (Dan 8:16, Luke 1:26).
3. St. Raphael (“the healing of God”). Carrying a jar of healing salve in his left hand, he leads Tobias with his right (Tobit 3:16, 5-8, and 12:15).
4. St. Uriel (“the fire or light of God”). He is the enlightener of darkened minds who holds a sword in his right hand and in his left a fiery flame (3 Esdras 5:20)
5. St. Selaphiel (“the prayer of God”). He leads the human race toward prayer, prays for mankind, and is pictured gazing downwards with hands folded in prayerful pose (3 Esdras 5:16).
6. St. Jehudiel (“the glorifying of God”). He holds a crown in his right hand and a whip of three thongs in his left, urging the human race to glorify God by exerting themselves in good works, and promising them rewards and punishments as in accordance with their efforts. (Tobit 12:15).
7. St. Barachiel (“the blessing of God”). Leader of the guardian angels, often pictured holding a white rose or a basket of flowers. He stands watch over the human race, pleading mercy for them before God, assigning a guardian angel to every individual, and according to God’s will, distributing God’s blessings for good deeds. (3 Enoch 14:4, 17:1)
8. St. Remiel (or Jeremiel, “the praise of God” or “the mercy of God”). In his hands he holds the scales of justice. (3 Esdras 4:36)
9. and 10. St. Raguel ("Friend of God” or “God shall pasture") and St. Saraqael (“God is my ruler”). In 2 Enoch, these are the two archangels who transport Enoch back and forth to heaven.
11. St. Camael (“He who sees God”) Usually represented carrying a staff and a chalice. Some believe this is the angel who wrestled with Jacob.
12. St. Jophiel (“Beauty of God”) The angel thought to have driven Adam and Eve out of Eden, depicted holding a flaming sword.
13. St. Zadkiel (“Righteousness of God”) Believed to be the angel who held back Abraham’s arm from sacrificing his son Isaac.
The church fathers warn us against worshipping angels. But when times are dark and difficult, we should be comforted by the knowledge that by God’s command, Holy Guardian Angels stand by us, protect us, inspire and direct us in the ways of God. And we should be comfortable in asking them for help and aid.
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‡ 18:11 NU omits verse 11.
¹ The Roman Catholic Archangels, prior to the reforms of 745 AD, were St. Uriel, St. Raphael, St. Raguel, St. Michael, St. Saraqael, St. Gabriel, and St. Remiel
² The Orthodox archangels are St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, St. Uriel, St. Selaphiel, St. Jehudiel, St. Barachiel, and St. Jeremiel (also spelled Remiel)
³ The protestant archangels depicted in stained glass in St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Brighton, UK are St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, St. Uriel, St. Chamuel (also spelled Camael), St. Jophiel, and St. Zadkiel.