| Total Surrender Loving trust and total surrender made Our Lady say yes to the message of the angel. And cheerfulness made her run in haste to serve h | | Total Surrender Loving trust and total surrender made Our Lady say yes to the message of the angel. And cheerfulness made her run in haste to serve her cousin Elizabeth. That is so much our life: saying yes to Jesus and running in haste to serve him in the poorest of the poor. Let us keep very close to Our Lady and she will make that same spirit grow in each one of us. —St. Theresa of Calcutta -from Thirsting for God: Daily Meditations |
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"God loves those who thank Him even in suffering."
— St. Arnold Janssen ✞MEDITATION OF THE DAY✞
"The soul that does not attach itself solely to the will of God will find neither satisfaction nor sanctification in any other means however excellent by which it may attempt to gain them. If that which God Himself chooses for you does not content you, from whom do you expect to obtain what you desire? . . . No soul can be really nourished, fortified, purified, enriched, and sanctified except in fulfilling the duties of the present moment."
— Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, p. 14
AN EXCERPT FROM
Abandonment to Divine Providence |
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Saint Jerome (345 – 420) Saint Jerome's Story Most of the saints are remembered for some outstanding virtue or devotion which they practiced, but Jerome is frequently remembered for his bad temper! It is true that he had a very bad temper and could use a vitriolic pen, but his love for God and his son Jesus Christ was extraordinarily intense; anyone who taught error was an enemy of God and truth, and Saint Jerome went after him or her with his mighty and sometimes sarcastic pen. He was above all a Scripture scholar, translating most of the Old Testament from the Hebrew. He also wrote commentaries which are a great source of scriptural inspiration for us today. He was an avid student, a thorough scholar, a prodigious letter-writer and a consultant to monk, bishop, and pope. Saint Augustine said of him, "What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known." Saint Jerome is particularly important for having made a translation of the Bible which came to be called the Vulgate. It is not the most critical edition of the Bible, but its acceptance by the Church was fortunate. As a modern scholar says, "No man before Jerome or among his contemporaries and very few men for many centuries afterwards were so well qualified to do the work." The Council of Trent called for a new and corrected edition of the Vulgate, and declared it the authentic text to be used in the Church. In order to be able to do such work, Jerome prepared himself well. He was a master of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldaic. He began his studies at his birthplace, Stridon in Dalmatia. After his preliminary education, he went to Rome, the center of learning at that time, and thence to Trier, Germany, where the scholar was very much in evidence. He spent several years in each place, always trying to find the very best teachers. He once served as private secretary of Pope Damasus. After these preparatory studies, he traveled extensively in Palestine, marking each spot of Christ's life with an outpouring of devotion. Mystic that he was, he spent five years in the desert of Chalcis so that he might give himself up to prayer, penance, and study. Finally, he settled in Bethlehem, where he lived in the cave believed to have been the birthplace of Christ. Jerome died in Bethlehem, and the remains of his body now lie buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. Reflection Jerome was a strong, outspoken man. He had the virtues and the unpleasant fruits of being a fearless critic and all the usual moral problems of a man. He was, as someone has said, no admirer of moderation whether in virtue or against evil. He was swift to anger, but also swift to feel remorse, even more severe on his own shortcomings than on those of others. A pope is said to have remarked, on seeing a picture of Jerome striking his breast with a stone, "You do well to carry that stone, for without it the Church would never have canonized you" (Butler's Lives of the Saints).
Saint Jerome is the patron Saint of: Librarians
Translators |
Sacred Space
Daily Prayer - 2016-09-30
Presence Lord, God, my Creator,
Be close to me now.
My soul yearns for your presence. Freedom I try to let go of concerns and worries
that may be dragging me down at this present moment.
I place any concerns I have in Gods hands
- at least for these few minutes of prayer. Consciousness Where do I sense hope, encouragement, and growth areas in my life? By looking back over the last few months, I may be able to see which activities and occasions have produced rich fruit. If I do notice such areas, I will determine to give those areas both time and space in the future. The Word of God Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 459
Reading 1 Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered. Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great! Then Job answered the LORD and said: Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more. Responsorial Psalm
Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab
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.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast. 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. Alleluia
Ps 95:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 10:13-16 Jesus said to them,
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.'
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
(from Sacred Space) Some thoughts on today's scripture ▪ These are part of the 'hard sayings' of Jesus, poising retribution to those who do no listen to those sent by Jesus. He singles out especially those who were privileged to observe his deeds. We have been especially privileged in having the benefit of the examples of martyrs and saints and the solid social structure of the Church to support our faith.
▪ Ask the Lord to deepen your appreciation of the faith and the supports that the community of the Church affords us.
Conversation Jesus you speak to me through the words of the gospels.
May I respond to your call today.
Teach me to recognise your hand at work in my daily living. 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. |
wau.org
Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Luke 10:13-16 Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Memorial) Woe to you! (Luke 10:13) A group of British actors recently produced a television skit based on Shakespeare's famous line from Hamlet: "To be, or not to be: that is the question." In the skit, the actors argued over how to say the line. One read it as "To be or not to be." Another said, "To be or not to be." Another stressed the word "that," and yet another stressed "question." The skit was funny, but it makes an interesting point: the meaning of words can change depending on how we hear them. When Jesus says, "Woe to you" to the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, how do you hear him (Luke 10:13)? It's easy to imagine angry condemnation. But look at the context. Rather than expressing anger, Jesus is more likely speaking out of unrequited love. He has performed numerous miracles, preached about his kingdom, and demonstrated God's mercy and love—all to little avail. So now he is admonishing them, not wishing them woe, but warning them of woe to come if they don't accept his message. Sometimes we prejudge people in the same way that we prejudge their words or actions. We have heard that someone doesn't go to church, that the person holds certain views—or maybe that he or she has an offensive bumper sticker on his or her car. But we can't really know what people are like unless we've talked to them. And if somehow we do learn that they are far from the Lord, that should make us more compassionate toward them, not more condemning. We should never make our faith an "us versus them" affair. We know that in our own strength, we can't love anyone as Jesus loves them. But that's okay because we have received the Holy Spirit—the same Spirit who lives in the heart of God, the same Spirit who enabled the apostles to preach, teach, and heal. So ask the Spirit to give you a more compassionate heart. If you try to see people through his eyes, you'll begin to look for ways to reach out to them. You don't need an elaborate plan. Just try your best to show them the same love, compassion, and patience that God has shown you. "Lord, touch my heart with your compassion for those who don't know you. Holy Spirit, teach me how to be a messenger of your love." Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5
Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14 |
audio-2cents
my2cents: We heard Job say in the Holy Scripture today "Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?". Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to thy will". These two let their lives happen with God, and for God. This is a way of humility, as we heard the Lord say today " from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered." The eye opening line is the previous verse "The earth is changed as is clay by the seal, and dyed as though it were a garment" We are to be formed by Him as we were in the womb, but be formed day by day, conformed and formed into His divine image, His seal, and to be stained by His blood, that what distinguishes us as His chosen flock. I am marked by this seal, of the blood of the lamb.
We prayed today "Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. and "
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" Fearfully meaning awesome, and wonderful meaning in His image of greatness. Therefore, every life is a precious soul. That is why this November, you must vote Pro Life. One candidate right now, she once said "religions must change" (to allow for abortions and homosexual marriages). This is a reflection, she voices the spirit of darkness, and why do I say that? Because, she is saying what we live nowadays, wanting the world to serve us, conform to us, instead of us serving the world, serving the Lord (conforming)...thus, every soul is precious, and protecting every soul is most important, especially in the womb.
The Lord said today in the Holy Gospel ""Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." Woe is right. Woe, where there will be weeping and wailing for an eternity. Woe, because sorrows awaits. Because there is a payment for sin and it is death, and we are speaking of an eternal death. I look to countries in the world leading in abortions, and I can say "woe to you", woe! Not condemnation, but a lamentation, even a palpitation of prayer from the heart, "woe to you", stop what you are doing, because death is looming, that what you are treating as a convenience. So ultimately, the Lord is calling upon our repentance. Repent. I see the most liberal states, and I see how they are suffering. Suffering souls. Sad, and already in a state of "woe". For these people, the Lord dies. These are the people He reaches out to and addresses today. And to make it loud and clear, He stretches out His arms to them, in a total act of love and surrender...
and His Sacred Heart is stabbed |
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