 |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"Do not seek to be regarded as somebody, don't compare yourself to others in anything. Leave the world, mount the cross, discard all earthly things, shake the dust from off your feet."
— St. Barsanuphius †MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"The vow of chastity includes purity of body and soul; this is easily lost ... This great treasure is deposited in a castle, which has many portals and openings, and if these are not well guarded and defended, the treasure is without security. My daughter, in order to preserve perfectly this vow, it is necessary to make an inviolable pact with thy senses, not to use them, except for what is according to the dictates of reason and for the glory of the Creator. After once the senses are mortified, it will be easy to overcome thy enemies, for only through them can they conquer thee; for no thoughts can recur, or be awakened to activity, unless fomented and excited by the images and impressions admitted through the exterior senses."
— Ven. Mary of Agreda, p. 86
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Mystical City of God †VERSE OF THE DAY
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved."
Ephesians 1:3-6 |  click to read more | | ST. EUGENE DE MAZENOD St. Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861) was born in southern France to a noble family. When he was eight years of age his family was forced to flee the turmoil of the French Revolution and seek political asylum in Italy. Leaving their possessions behind, the family struggled financially as they relocated from city to city. A sympathetic priest took it upon himself to educate Eugene and stir in him a love for God. The family returned to France when Eugene was twenty. They were distressed to find a dramatically altered society, and their social status no greater than ordinary citizens. The family was also plagued with in-fighting which culminated in divorce, a rarity at the time. While Eugene's father remained in Italy, Eugene's mother fought to regain the family's former possessions. She also attempted to force Eugene to marry a wealthy heiress. St. Eugene, deeply affected by how the Revolution had decimated the Church in France, decided to enter the seminary instead. After his ordination he sought out other zealous priests and together they went as missionaries into the countryside villages, calling themselves the "Missionaries of Provence," which was later approved by the pope as the "Oblates of Mary Immaculate." St. Eugene went on to become the Bishop of Marseilles. He did much work in restoring his diocese by building and repairing churches, doubling the number of priests, and bringing in religious communities. He also worked to weaken the government's monopoly on education, and supported the rights of the Holy See. Eugene de Mazenod is the patron saint of dysfunctional families. His feast day is May 21st. | Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 301 Reading I Acts 25:13b-21 King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying,
"There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor's decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." Responsorial Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels, you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:26 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 21:15-19 After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
"Do you love me?" and he said to him,
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." | DAILY MEDITATION: JOHN 21:15-19
Simon, son of John, do you love me? (John 21:16) You've probably had the experience during this Easter season of renewing your baptismal vows. This often takes place at the Easter Vigil, when the priest asks the congregation a series of questions, such as "Do you renounce sin?" and "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" The questions are meant to get us to look inside ourselves and resolve to remain in God's grace and keep following the Lord. When Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" (John 21:15, 16, 17), you could say he's doing something similar. He's not reprimanding Peter as much as giving him the chance to affirm his faith and commitment. Jesus doesn't ask, "What about when you betrayed me? Have you really repented?" or "Are you sure you can do this?" Jesus already knows that Peter loves him. But he wants Peter to look inside himself and acknowledge that love. Jesus' purpose becomes clear when he tells Peter, "Follow me" (21:19). He wants Peter, having reaffirmed his love for Jesus, to step out in faith and move forward with him. Every day, Jesus invites you to proclaim your love for him. Perhaps not in question form, as he did with Peter, but maybe more as an inner prompting or to renew your commitment to him. It's not because he doubts your love. It's because he wants to strengthen you. He knows that it can be easy to feel burned out in the midst of a long day, and he wants to help you keep his grace in the forefront of your mind. So be encouraged! Every day, make reaffirming your faith in Christ part of your morning routine. Take a few moments in your daily prayer to make a "morning offering." Respond to Jesus with whatever comes to your heart: "Jesus, I love you! I trust in your promises. Today I want to recommit myself to you." As you start the day proclaiming your desire to follow the Lord, it will make a difference in how you live as his follower in the world. "Lord, you already know that I love you. Help me to recommit myself to you each day with my whole heart." Acts 25:13-21
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 |  clickable | When we go to confession, we pass through a kind of death and, by acknowledging our sin, reach the end of it… Sin is shown its end in accordance with God's punitive judgment, but a new life is also shown its beginning.
— Adrienne von Speyr
from her book The Boundless God |  Bro. Adrian Reads reflection Outloud. Click here | my2cents:
"And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
Paul was in in prison, and being held for a case that regular authorities could not understand. It was a case...for Christ. Who will have the greater blood on their hand? It is the accuser...the proud, the ones without mercy. There was no reason for Paul to be slaughtered like another lamb, but in the eyes of the proud...there is all the reason to crucify an innocent man. And so they crucify, that is to order the death of an innocent...in the name of...their so called God! Why do I say this? Some still are killing, like the other day a priest was shot in the head by Muslims, and they supposedly do it in the name of Allah, but I want to take steps further...I mean...really? As if taking one life has ever solved anything...think abortion, think of the millions dead because of it, and think of the millions of lives the Nazis took, did it solve or change anything? No. But in the case of Christ, taking his life didn't matter either...except one major difference...nobody took His life...He gave us His life...completely, heart, pierced, mind-crowned with thorns, body, mutiliated, and soul, given to God and to the world in the Holy Spirit. The thought my dear child, is quite simply...amazing. | We pray in the Psalms:
"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. The Lord has established his throne in heaven."
What if I could bless God? What if I had the ability to bless our Creator? What if you could bless Him really? And so the question is, how can we bless our Lord? How can a child bless their parents? In loving servitude right? There is no better aroma in the room, than a child blessing their parents, serving out of sheer and pure love "I want to do this for you, for your sake, for nothing in return". And in this manner, we can serve one another. I serve God for no other reason, than to lay down my life for Him. Oracle of the Lord. | Our Lord speaks to us and to our first Pope Peter:
"After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Was this question to Simon Peter an inquisition or ushering of a new calling? Was this a private call or was it proclaimed in front of all? How could God ask you in front of everyone else if you love Him more than them?
Simone Peter, St. Peter, says "of course I do! You know this!". Three times our Lord asks, for the three times Peter denied ever knowing Jesus as He was being led to the slaughter of the cross. What mercy our Lord has for us sinners. Can you imagine our Lord, asking us if we love Him for every time we denied Him in our lives? How many times would He have to ask YOU!? " my child, do you love me?"
I don't even want to think about that! We'd be here for days and weeks, wouldn't we? How quickly we deny our Lord when we want to be silent and neutral. But Peter was asked 3 times, and our Lord said "Feed my Sheep" once. "Tend my sheep" on the second, and "feed MY sheep" on the third question. For every reconciliation, there is a penance...and what a penance...to tend to God's flock, HIS people! | Our Lord says to Saint Peter our Pope:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go."
Have you ever had an elderly person in your home, that you had to change their diapers, dress them every day, bathe them, and feed them? Was this what God was talking about? If you have served an elderly like that, it is a cross (to cherish). But for an elderly who has their mind still, it becomes an act of humility, of obedience, of surrendering, after-all, what else can you do? Fight back against the hand that feeds you? It is our Lord leading us as we mature in Christianity. The more you grow, the less you become. And this is the message for you today, that we may let our Father lead us. He ends today with the shortest and most powerful command:
"Follow Me". Let us pray:
Lord, what a severe wound you carry in Heaven. The angels let me see a glimpse of a wound that was protected, that only You can suffer for our wretched evil. I want to be healed so that You may be healed. I want to heal spiritually and help others heal. I want to feed You, I want to tend to You, I want to feed You the Love You desire, in the sinner, in the lonely, in the forgotten, in the abused, and the undesirables in the world from the womb to the tomb. Help us see You and cherish you....and bless You Father God! | from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse from online generator: WOW Proverbs 12:11
11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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