†Quote of the Day
"He who wishes for anything but Christ, does not know what he wishes; he who asks for anything but Christ, does not know what he is asking; he who works, and not for Christ, does not know what he is doing."
–St. Philip Neri †Today's Meditation
"Do not suppose that after advancing the soul to such a state God abandons it so easily that it is light work for the devil to regain it. When His Majesty sees it leaving Him, He feels the loss so keenly that He gives it in many a way a thousand secret warnings which reveal to it the hidden danger. In conclusion, let us strive to make constant progress: we ought to feel great alarm if we do not find ourselves advancing, for without doubt the evil one must be planning to injure us in some way; it is impossible for a soul that has come to this state not to go still farther, for love is never idle. Therefore it is a very bad sign when one comes to a standstill in virtue."
—St. Teresa of Avila, p.99 An Excerpt From
Interior Castle †Daily Verse
"In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another."
–Galatians 5:22-26 |  click to read more | | St. Philip Neri St. Philip Neri (1515–1595) was born in Florence, Italy, to the noble class. He was a dutiful child with a cheerful disposition, making him popular with all who knew him. At the age of 18 he was to begin an apprenticeship for a career in business. However, after having a mystical experience, his life was radically changed. He traveled to Rome and entrusted himself completely to God's providence. He found living accommodations with a fellow Florentine in exchange for tutoring his sons, which Philip did with great skill. He then enrolled in philosophy and theology classes at a local monastery in order to become a priest. Although he excelled in his studies, he suddenly quit in order to spiritually serve the people of Rome. At that time, indifference, luxury, and corruption were widespread characteristics of the Roman clergy. Churches were neglected, flocks were abandoned, and the loss of faith was widespread. St. Philip Neri, with his commitment to a life of asceticism, was a contradiction to all of this malaise. With his characteristic good-naturedness, he lead many to a life of virtue and love for God as he traveled through the streets of Rome. He began an oratory for laymen to gather together and practice greater spiritual discipline, which grew and became famous. In obedience to his spiritual director he finally became a priest at the age of 34. He also started a religious order known simply as "The Oratory." St. Philip Neri is known as the "Apostle of Rome." He is the patron of Rome and the U.S. Army Special Forces. His feast day is May 26. | Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, priest Reading 1 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 Ps 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 Do you love me? (John 21:16) In August 1978, John Paul I became the first pope in eight hundred years not to be crowned with a tiara. His successor, Pope St. John Paul II, also declined the tiara: "This is not the time to return to a ceremony and an object considered, wrongly, to be a symbol of . . . temporal power." The Holy Father knew that the mission of the papacy is to be a shepherd of souls, not to exercise worldly power and authority. The mission is to respond to God's call to love and care for his people. Today's Gospel describes the "installation" of Peter, our first pope, at the Sea of Galilee. Three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Perhaps it was a subtle reminder of the three times Peter had denied Jesus, but it was also an invitation. Each time Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to "feed my lambs" or "tend my sheep" (21:15, 16, 17). Jesus of course knew that Peter loved him, but he was inviting him to demonstrate that love in action. And so began the pope's primary mission: to lead the Church through loving service of God's people. This mission is not limited to the pope, however. Jesus invites you, in your own way, to demonstrate your love in action as well. He has already chosen you for a mission, as he chose Peter, and he knows that you can do it. He knows that you can accomplish his purposes as you stay close to his love and keep trying to love him in return. Do you love me? That question and invitation will come to you every day, perhaps multiple times and in various ways. Often your response will involve making some kind of sacrifice, whether time or resources. So whenever it comes, know that it's Jesus giving you another chance to answer him. Don't pass up the opportunity! Show him your love by the way you care for his people. Tend his sheep and feed his lambs wherever you find them. Believe that as you do, you are sharing the love of Christ himself with the people around you. You may not wield worldly power or authority, but you are changing lives in the most important way possible. "Lord, you know that I love you! Help me show that love in my actions today." Acts 25:13-21
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"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." end of verse. Paul, that is Saint Paul was taken to court, he was risking his very life for saying something he wasn't supposed to...that this dead man was actually alive! That this man that died and rose was God Himself! That this man had changed his whole life! For the last couple of years, I too was wondering in Church, "how can I love someone I've never met? What of this crucified man on the cross I see at church? How is this even possible?" and that man speaks of love. | We pray today:
"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." Fast forward a couple years after those thoughts about our Lord in church, how to love this "stranger", and here I am, speaking about loving Him. Why? He has become more alive, the more I visit Him, the more I seek Him in the poor and forgotten, and the more I speak and commune with Him in the Holy Eucharist. I already believed mind you, but my conundrum was of really loving. | In the Gospel today we heard: "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." said our Lord. Twice already our Lord had asked St. Peter if he loved him and to tend His sheep.
But a third ask? And now our Lord said to feed the sheep! What's that all about? Yet, He obeyed.
He fed the sheep, the bread, the Eucharist, and then, he actually fed his whole body, in martyrdom when he too would be nailed to the wood of a cross. But what a strange way to approach someone after you die and come back to life, and to ask a disciple: "Do You love Me?".
Wow! Love?
That's God Himself, in the living flesh asking right there!
"Do YOU love Me my child?"
Do you really love Me?
How hard is it for a man to utter those words to another man?
Today I'll be going to a 3rd funeral this week.
On Monday it was a 93 year old and on Tuesday someone perhaps in 50s and today it will be a young man in perhaps his late 20s or early 30s.
The young man's best friend spoke last night. He said "I never had a birthday growing up, and my friend Mani one day had someone make me a birthday cake, and I'll never forget that." Later he said "Not long ago, I told Mani that I loved him".
Now, there's a couple times a man will tell another he loves them.
One, perhaps someone he esteems, like a father that is appreciated, and another, is friend that you know is sincere and has influenced and changed your life for the better.
Our Lord Jesus aims to do both, because in Him we have the visible image of God our Father, and not only that, but He aims to be THAT friend, that one that lays his life for you. Wouldn't it be minimal to say we love Him? But how could you say you love Him without being sincere?
For those that know me personally, you know that I am not a hugger, not an approachable guy, I look mean, or mad, and it throws a lot of people off.
Truth is though, I am, at the core, burning for love of the Father, it is fueling me to write to you, to tell you of the good things He is doing all the time. Our Father is at work. It is Jesus, the heart of God, the love of God! Come spend a holy hour with me and my wife and a few faithful, and I guarantee you will feel the love of God in the Blessed Sacrament, in the Holy Eucharist, and I will make sure you are properly introduced to the love of my life, this bread that I am fed.
It is what our Lord desires, that we are fed, that we are tended to, that we are tending His flock and feeding them.
It is possible that His followers believe, without going to church, but it is a very poor flock not being properly fed. They could live for centuries, but it is God's desire that they are properly fed and tended to.
This is why the Holy Church exists. A unified body where God Himself lives and moves and works, through a surrendered soul, like you and me. | Let us pray:
Lord, I am Yours and Yours I wish to be. | Random Bible Verse 1
1 Corinthians 13:4–6 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;1 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
