Do You Not Care

Minute Meditations The Franciscan Way The Gospel is not a fire insurance policy for the next world, but a life assurance policy for this world. — from Eager to Love Our Lady of the Rosary   St. Pius V established this feast in 1573. The purpose was to thank God for the victory of Christians over the Turks at Lepanto—a victory attributed to the praying of the rosary. Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church in 1716. The development of the rosary has a long history. First, a practice developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms. Then there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys. Soon a mystery of Jesus' life was attached to each Hail Mary. Though Mary's giving the rosary to St. Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of St. Dominic. One of them, Alan de la Roche, was known as "the apostle of the rosary." He founded the first Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century. In the 16th century the rosary was developed to its present form—with the 15 mysteries (joyful, sorrowful and glorious). In 2002, Pope John Paul II added five Mysteries of Light to this devotion. Comment: The purpose of the rosary is to help us meditate on the great mysteries of our salvation. Pius XII called it a compendium of the gospel. The main focus is on Jesus—his birth, life, death and resurrection. The Our Fathers remind us that Jesus' Father is the initiator of salvation. The Hail Marys remind us to join with Mary in contemplating these mysteries. They also make us aware that Mary was and is intimately joined with her Son in all the mysteries of his earthly and heavenly existence. The Glory Bes remind us that the purpose of all life is the glory of the Trinity. The rosary appeals to many. It is simple. The constant repetition of words helps create an atmosphere in which to contemplate the mysteries of God. We sense that Jesus and Mary are with us in the joys and sorrows of life. We grow in hope that God will bring us to share in the glory of Jesus and Mary forever. Quote: "The rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christ-centered prayer. It has all the depth of the gospel messge in its entirety. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb.... It can be said that the rosary is, in some sense, a prayer-commentary on the final chapter of the Vatican II Constitution Lumen Gentium, a chapter that discusses the wondrous presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and the Church" (Pope John Paul II, apostolic letter The Rosary of the Virgin Mary).    Saint of the Day Lives, Lessons and Feast By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.     (Breathe for a moment, we are leading to the Word of God)   Presence Dear Lord as I come to you today Fill my heart and my whole being with the wonder of Your presence Freedom I will ask God's help, to be free from my own preoccupations, to be open to God in this time of prayer, to come to know, love and serve God more. Consciousness Knowing that God loves me unconditionally, I look honestly over the last day, its events and my feelings. Do I have something to be grateful for? Then I give thanks. Is there something I am sorry for? Then I ask forgiveness. The Word of God   Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Reading 1 gal 1:13-24 Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when he, who from my mother's womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that "the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." So they glorified God because of me. Responsorial Psalm ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15 R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Gospel lk 10:38-42 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."     Listen to audio of this reading     Watch a video reflection   Conversation Sometimes I wonder what I might say if I were to meet you in person Lord. I think I might say "Thank You Lord" for always being there for me. I know with certainty there were times when you carried me, Lord, when it was through your strength I got through the dark times in my life. Conclusion Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.   Meditation: Luke 10:38-4 View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Subscriber? Login to view archives. Our Lady of the Rosary Mary has chosen the better part. (Luke 10:42)  Reading this passage, we may think Mary chose not only the better part but the easier part. There she is, sitting at the feet of Jesus, while Martha does all the work. This image could lead us to see Mary as a dreamy-eyed mystic. But was her choice of "the better part" really easier? Maybe not. First of all, Mary probably knew that her sister wouldn't appreciate her absence in the kitchen. Second, she likely knew from experience that getting close to Jesus had its encouraging side and its not-so-encouraging side—especially if Jesus was pointing out areas in her life that needed to be changed. Even if it can be challenging at times, prayer is still a great privilege because it draws us closer to Jesus. We all know how wonderful it is when Jesus speaks words of encouragement. But sometimes we learn more about ourselves when God puts his finger on something in us that we're not too proud of. Surely this happened with Peter when he told the Lord he didn't have to die (Matthew 16:21-23), with James and John when they wanted to see some Samaritans suffer (Luke 9:51-55), and with all the disciples when they were caught on a stormy sea (Matthew 14:23-32). Each time, Jesus' words helped them to grow in holiness. By staying close to Jesus and working through the conflicts that arise within us, we, like the disciples, can become more open to God's love and grace. When we embrace Jesus' invitation to sit with him, even when listening leads us outside of our comfort zones, we make progress in living as his brothers and sisters and embracing our identity as his children. So be as open as you can with Jesus when you come to him in prayer. Always know that whether a word of encouragement or a word of rebuke comes to you during your prayer, it is spoken in love. Try to make time to be with Jesus every day. Sit at his feet as often as you can. Try to sense what he says to you. As Mary would surely tell you, it's well worth it! "Jesus, help me to sit at your feet today. As I open my heart to you, help me say yes to all that you ask. Lord, I want to receive the joy that comes from following you alone!"   Galatians 1:13-24; Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15 my2cents: Allow me to translate a part of the 5minutos: "...Sometimes, Jesus recommends charity clearly, serving others, like yesterday, with the parable of the good samaritan.  Others, like today, He highlights the attitude of faith and listening.  Which means the attitudes can not be opposed: the one of detailed charity and of the prayer and listening.  We are to be hospitable, but also disciples.  With time for the others, but for ourselves too with God.  And vice versa; with prayer, but also with action and concrete surrender.  Every Christian, not just the monks and priests- are to conjugate the two dimensions; prayer and servicing work.  Which aspect have I neglected?  Do I refuge myself in meditation and never hit?  Or do I dedicate myself to activism anxious and neglect my moments of prayer?  Am I just Martha, or just Mary?  Should I not unite both?"     This was the subject of discussion after our Holy Rosary in friendship group last night.  Sister Nellie said "..they called me Martha at my cursillo a couple weeks ago".  Brother Al recovering from broken bones on a wheelchair said "...the Lord needs both Martha and Mary".  I said "...but Martha complained about Mary, we should be with our Lord first".  I guess my point is, we should not complain in serving, I don't know if I got my point across.  I've heard some say that monks don't do nothing for God's Kingdom by secluding themselves just with God.  I've heard monks say people don't care anymore.  So who's right?  Both.  God wants both parts in us united.  That's why He came to earth, to unite what the devil has divided.  And this is still the battle only we continue the Lord's work with our own hearts and hands.  There's been much debate lately in our neck of the woods, this Cursillo versus ACTS, even though ACTS came from Cursillo.  Cursillo, some say, converts the person helps one personally grow, and ACTS brings it to the community.  As if we are to be opposed in any way?  It is childish.  I told a brother at the Cursillo this weekend "...look, if God touched you in ACTS, then simply let the Cursillo make you grow in God's Kingdom".  Because I've known men that had an encounter with God without Cursillo, and the Cursillo has only existed for a few decades.  The Encounter will happen whenever, and however in the world God wants it to be!  St. Paul was a zealot named Saul.  He had an encounter like no other.  He got knocked off his horse and saw the light.  That's the intention of an encounter.  As if Jesus asked "What in the world are you doing against ME!?"  Quit persecuting!  Quit your blabbering, you're doing more harm than good! Now Go and become my DISCIPLE.  Spread the news that there is only one God and we are to choose the better part in our heart at every moment of our lives.  Often I feel like a Martha, like this Church Festival we are having and I'm directing in 2 weeks.  I need physical, manual labor, I need people really bad to come out and help.  So I know what this Martha thing is all about.  But, Mary is in me too.  I pray alot, and I trust alot.  The Mary in me will go to the feet of Jesus and lay my life.  Sounds like all the Marys that were found at the cross when Jesus our King was crucified.  The main Mary was the mother of our Lord.  She chose the better part always, God first, everything else second, and loving everyone like she loved her own self and even Jesus her only Son.  St. Paul met St. James the "brother of Jesus".  Many testimonies at the cursillo this weekend were words like "...I now have twenty more brothers".  What's funny is that one of the brothers has a testimony that he was pulled up out of bed by St. James and went on a pilgrimage to his tomb in Spain.  Before he arrived, without knowing, I texted him and in conversation, realizing where he was, I asked him to pray for our cursillo at the tomb of St. James.  He said Ok.  He still says he don't know why he did everything he did.  At the cursillo, I mentioned that someone had left our prayer petition for that particular cursillo at the tomb of St. James, whereupon the first cursillistas would yell ULTREYA, or ONWARD.  I know why things happen, because God makes them happen!  It is an exciting world we live in when we see God working it.  It is a sad world we live in when all we see is the devil working it.  Choose the better part.  Nothing compares when living a life of Grace.  And we pray and are graced in the rosary.  The more we serve with a balance of piety and study,(Being at the feet of Jesus), the more our Action will be balanced (serving Jesus).  Suddenly, with this balance you will be serving Jesus what He wants...Love in its fullest sense, much like He would do on the cross, serving His body, blood, soul, and divinity CHOOSE TO BE SERVED AND SERVE CHRIST Below is a picture of the serving at my parish... help yourself and encounter the Way, the TRUTH and the LIFE in yours   adrian Subscribe to this email.

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