August 22nd is the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This title of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven (Regina Caeli), is rooted in biblical history where the mother of Israel's king had the royal title of Queen Mother. Church Tradition holds that once Mary, the Mother of God, was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthy life, she was crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth to reign alongside her Son, Jesus the King of Kings. † Quote of the Day "When we appeal to the throne of grace we do so through Mary, honoring God by honoring His Mother, imitating Him by exalting her, touching the most responsive chord in the Sacred Heart of Christ with the sweet name of Mary." — St. Robert Bellarmine Today's Meditation "When will the happy time come when the divine Mary will be established Mistress and Queen of all hearts, in order that she may subject them fully to the empire of her great and holy Jesus? When will souls breathe Mary as the body breathes air? When that time comes, wonderful things will happen in those lowly places where the Holy Ghost, finding His dear spouse, as it were, reproduced, in all souls, shall come in with abundance, and fill them to overflowing with His gifts, and particularly with the gift of wisdom, to work miracles of grace." —St. Louis de Montfort, p.118-119
An excerpt from True Devotion to Mary Daily Verse "And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." — Revelation 12:1 | St. John Kemble St. John Kemble (1599-1679) was born in England to a prominent Catholic family when Catholicism was outlawed in the country. He was ordained a priest in 1625 and ministered in England as an itinerant priest for fifty-three years. Although persecution of Catholics was rampant, in his particular region Catholics were generally not harassed. In the infamous "Popish Plot" of 1678, Protestant politicians began a violent crackdown on Catholics, particularly on priests. Although 80 years old at the time, Father John Kemble was arrested. He was warned in advance but declined to leave his flock, saying, "According to the course of nature, I have but a few years to live. It will be an advantage to suffer for my religion and, therefore, I will not abscond." Although he was found innocent of any involvement in the "Popish Plot," he was condemned for being a Catholic priest and sentenced to death by being hanged, drawn, and quartered on August 22, 1679. His last words, addressed to the crowd were: "The failure of the authorities in London to connect me to the plot makes it evident that I die only for profession of the Catholic religion, which was the religion that first made this Kingdom Christian." He was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970. St. John Kemble is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. His feast day is August 22. | Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Readings for the Memorial of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Reading 1 Ez 36:23-28 Thus says the LORD:
I will prove the holiness of my great name,
profaned among the nations,
in whose midst you have profaned it.
Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,
when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.
For I will take you away from among the nations,
gather you from all the foreign lands,
and bring you back to your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you
to cleanse you from all your impurities,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you,
taking from your bodies your stony hearts
and giving you natural hearts.
I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes,
careful to observe my decrees.
You shall live in the land I gave your ancestors;
you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Responsorial Psalm PS 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 R. (Ezekiel 36:25) I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins. Alleluia Ps 95:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 22:1-14 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables
saying, "The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."'
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then the king said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.'
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
He said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
Many are invited, but few are chosen."
| Daily Meditation: Matthew 22:1-14 How is it that you came in here without a wedding garment? (Matthew 22:12) Imagine parents busily planning a special dinner for important houseguests. They set their son's best clothes on his bed so that he can be properly dressed. But he shows up at the dinner table wearing ripped jeans and a wrinkled tee shirt. That's like what Jesus describes in today's parable about the kingdom of heaven. A king gives a lavish wedding banquet for his son, but one of the guests shows up improperly dressed. As a result, he is thrown out of the feast. We might be puzzled. What exactly is the "wedding garment" he was expected to wear, and how can we make sure we're wearing it (Matthew 22:11)? Biblical scholars and many Church Fathers tell us that this garment represents the gift that God gave us at our Baptism—the grace, purity, and dignity of our new life in Christ. As the baptismal rite tells us, we are called to "bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven." But how do we live every day in this grace and dignity? You do it every time you extend mercy to someone who has offended you or wronged you. You do it when you're inspired to show compassion to someone in need—and you actually reach out. You do it with each decision you make to hold your tongue when you're tempted to gossip or insult someone. Essentially, you're living the dignity of your new life in Christ every time you show his love to the people around you. To be properly dressed in God's eyes is to be clothed in love. So each morning as you are getting dressed, ask yourself how you can reflect God's love in the day ahead. Who will you see today, and what might they need from you? As you put on your shoes, consider where your feet will take you and what opportunities might arise to show mercy or compassion or kindness. If you're expecting a "stormy" day, be sure to bring the "umbrella" of patience and understanding. Don't go out unprepared! "Lord, help me to be properly dressed today!" Ezekiel 36:23-28
Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
He said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
Many are invited, but few are chosen......."_ end quote. | From Bishop Barron today:
"...We have heard the invitation of God to enter into intimacy with him, to make him the center of our lives, to be married to him in Christ—and often we find the most pathetic excuses not to respond. ." end quote.
Luis Maldonado Fernández de Tejada, OP said: "Having all the information, it is now up to us to choose between living in the Light or falling into darkness."
Being in a cursillo movement, we are tasked with "making a friend, being a friend, and bringing a friend to Christ". And here we are about to embark on a 3 day journey to meet the Lord. I invited a handful, and the handful bowed out. Many were invited, and they said no.
It would be easier for me to convert non Catholics to Catholics than to convert Catholics into firm believers in the invitation from Christ to a greater intimacy in Heavenly union with Him.
I shouldn't be so hard, for it took me a good one or two years to say yes as well, but I've waited for more than 10 years on some invited to come and they still will not come. What are we to do?
Like the King said "Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.' Because all the trusted ones he thought would come, did not come, they ignored the invitation, and some beat up the messengers and even killed some of them. The prophets of today are still ignored and beaten and some are killed. Just because we do not see it in our country does not mean it isn't happening daily all over the world. Some places like France, the people simply refuse to go to Mass, the greatest of Feasts, but attendance is the most lacking, and we wonder how they could allow atrocities into their country today? It is when we ignore the call from the Lord that we allow anything or anyone else to rule our lives. You make yourself greater, more important than the King.
And this is why we heard about the one not dressed right at the wedding and how he was kicked out to a world of suffering.
Why? Because, they were not there for the groom, they disgraced the groom by not dressing right. Yet, even today, men and women dress badly to go to Mass. Too much skin or not enough effort. What are you supposed to wear? The best you got! To show God He is important. Women should dress only to impress God and not men. Who's attention do you want more? And who's attention are you taking away from God?
The way we dress says something, it is a statement to the world and to God Himself.
And in Heaven, how do they dress? With grace and purity. How does Mary dress? She is draped in humility for honor of God.
The more I come to God in my studies and ministries, the more I find myself like that man not properly dressed. I am lacking grace. I am getting better in purity, but, any bit I find disgraceful and disgusting in me. I want to be like St. Joseph, holy and righteous, and it is difficult to surrender to God isn't it?
"Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants,mistreated them..."
Who do I see mistreated? Who is ignoring God's message? Who rather tends to business than to the King's wishes?
I see priests disrespected, I've seen it for the many that have come through our church, all of them in one way or the other. Mostly, ignored, their pleadings. Only a handful will stoop to follow. And confession lines are nearly invisible. Everyone would rather seek pleasure than His treasure. Everyone would rather kill someone that keeps bothering them, than to let God in the situation, and perhaps even let God into their lives.
My child of God. You matter. How you dress matters. What you say matters. How you talk matters. Everything matters in this Kingdom.
Let's say yes to everything He invites us to, and be ready, to serve, to join in sacrifice and then the banquet.
Mary, these readings were chosen on your Queenship. That we may learn to be good children of God. That we may be filled with grace. That we may be pure and holy and obedient.
Mother in Heaven, please, pray for us, for we lack in all aspects to be truly found worthy of even being called to serve Him and join Him.
Let us honor God with all our hearts, minds, and sous! |  audio | John 4:13–14 13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.1 The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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