| A Grateful Heart Heavenly Father, give me a grateful heart for the sacrifice your son has made on my behalf and on behalf of the whole world. Let me  | | | A Grateful Heart Heavenly Father, give me a grateful heart for the sacrifice your son has made on my behalf and on behalf of the whole world. Let me live with a freedom that acknowledges what Jesus has done for us by his death on the cross. I ask this in his name, Amen. -from Faith, Hope & Clarity |
†"If I am distracted, Holy Communion helps me to become recollected. If opportunities are offered by each day to offend my God, I arm myself anew each day for the combat by the reception of the Eucharist. If I am in special need of light and prudence in order to discharge my burdensome duties, I draw nigh to my Savior and seek counsel and light from him."
— St. Thomas More ✞MEDITATION OF THE DAY✞
"Let them fly with utter confidence to this most sweet Mother of mercy and grace in all dangers, difficulties, needs, doubts, and fears. Under her guidance, under her patronage, under her kindness and protection, nothing is to be feared; nothing is hopeless. Because, while bearing toward us a truly mother affection and having in her care the work of our salvation, she is solicitous about the whole human race. And since she has been appointed by God to be the Queen of heaven and earth, and is exalted above all the choirs of angels and saints, and even stands at the right hand of her only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she presents our petitions in a most efficacious manner. When she asks, she obtains. Her pleas can never be unheard."
— Blessed Pope Pius IX, p.84
AN EXCERPT FROM
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Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious Today we remember , Elizabeth Ann Seton,the first person born in America to be canonized as a saint. She married, raised five children, was widowed, converted to Catholicism and started a religious order, the Sisters of Charity. Learn more about Elizabeth Ann Seton here. Gather the family and pray one of these prayers to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. In honor of Mother Seton, learn how parents and families can help promote vocations to religious life and the priesthood. |
Sacred Space
Daily Prayer - 2017-01-04 Presence To be present is to arrive as one is and open up to the other.
At this instant, as I arrive here, God is present waiting for me.
God always arrives before me, desiring to connect with me
even more than my most intimate friend.
I take a moment and greet my loving God. Freedom Lord, I pray for your gift of freedom.
May your Holy Spirit
guide those in power to work for
equality for all your people. Consciousness How wonderful it is to be able
to enter into your presence Lord.
No matter what time it is.
No matter which land I am in.
I need only to speak your name. The Word of God Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
audio readings Reading 1 1 Jn 3:7-10 Children, let no one deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother. Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 7-8, 9
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm. R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD. R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity. R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Alleluia Heb 1:1-2
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 1:35-42 John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.
Some thoughts on today's scripture ▪ Matthew, Mark and Luke see the Christian vocation to be expressed in the words, "Repent and believe the Good News" (Mark 1:14-15). John, however, sees our vocation to be an answer to Jesus' words, "Come and see." This is an invitation to come to know Jesus as God's love made visible that the Holy Spirit wants to lead you into (John 16:13-15).
▪ If you have time to pray with today's Gospel, you might quieten yourself for a short while by listening to the sounds around you. Then let Jesus say the words, "Come and see" to you a number of times, pausing between each time he says it so that you hear the tone of his voice and the expression on his face.
Conversation Lord, I know that when I turn to you there is no need for words.
You can see into my heart.
You know my desires and you know my needs.
I place myself into your hands. 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: 1 John 3:7-10 Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious (Memorial) No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him. (1 John 3:9) This has to be one of the most confusing passages in all of Scripture! What can John mean when he says "no one who is begotten by God commits sin"? We know that we've been "begotten by God" in Baptism, but at the same time, we know that we commit sins. So does that mean we aren't really children of God? Or is nothing we do sinful once we are begotten by God? How could either of these statements be true? Let's be clear. John is not saying that true Christians never sin. Certainly he understands that nobody's perfect. But he also knows what our lives can become because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Not only that, but he recognizes that in some ways, we already look like Jesus. We can live virtuous, holy lives right now—because we have been begotten by God. By Jesus' death and resurrection, he has adopted us into his family, and with that adoption comes the grace to live the life we profess—the grace to say no to temptation and remain pure in heart. But that life is like a seed planted within us, and that seed is filled with great potential to change us and make us holy. As John explains, God wants to empower us to become his children (1 John 3:1). He is not an exasperated father, shouting, "You are my children. Now act like it!" He is a patient and loving parent, dedicated to teaching us and forming us. The beauty of our life with God is that sin doesn't tarnish all the things he has done in us. It may cast a shadow over our soul; it may obscure our vision of God a little more. But God's life remains in us, and it is far stronger than sin. So don't focus on the times you've slipped up. Pay attention to all the ways Jesus has already changed you. Thank him for his grace that has lifted you up and made you more patient, more peaceful, more loving. You have been begotten by God, so rejoice! "Lord, thank you for what you have already done in my life. May I never lose sight of you and your grace!" Psalm 98:1, 7-9
John 1:35-42 |
audio of 2cents
my2cents: "...the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother." If you keep reading this chapter in the Bible, you'll read "If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth" The Word of God is asking for sincerity, asking for authenticity in our love, not mere nice words and thoughts, but deeds, action of truth! Motivate and activate your faith. Bishop Barren says in his daily reflection today in the end "True enough, but you can, for instance, go on a retreat every year. Spend a week once a year at a monastery or a retreat center, living the spiritual life intensely; live Lent more severely and more radically next year, perhaps undertaking a difficult fast or giving alms until it hurts." Do all this THIS year and this year is already now. Do not wait, do not dream, do not make plans, but make it happen, make LIFE happen...faith. We prayed today 'All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God." and "The LORD comes; he comes to rule the earth" Listen to these words carefully. The ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Have you? Be spiritually aware, and you too will see. And listen, "He comes". It doesn't say "He came" or simply "He will come", God is a continuous action of giving, like the son continuously burning giving light, so is God's love and mercy and desire for us to reach Him by a simple means of giving too, as a receptor opens as an action, so too we must open to God through actions. When we raise our arms for God it is an outside sign of what is desired in our hearts, to be lifted up b our Father, to be taken by our Father, to be carried by our Father, to be held, loved, and protected by our Father, to be united with our Father, to have our little hearts be placed next to His in His warmth, in a true sense of love that burns. We heard in the Gospel our Lord asks ""What are you looking for?". The Lord is asking you right now, as a Father asks his child ""What are you looking for?" What are you looking for in this world? What are you looking for that isn't Me already? What are you seeking? I AM right here!" The disciples reply with a question "where are you staying?" They want to know where He is going, this Christ, this Savior, this Messiah of the world. We all want to know where God is going with all this...don't we? The Lord simply says to have faith, and says ""Come, and you will see." Notice, the command and invitation "Come". Follow Me. And I will make you fishers of men, and you will see where I am going. And He is in a humble abode, a humble dwelling, his Castle in His Kingdom is unlike kingdoms made up of dirt in the world, made of rocks, made of walls, made of moats to separate and defend. He has no walls, no boundaries, the sun knows no boundaries, it's radiation is a formidable force that must be reckoned with. His place is available, He invites them, and the invite is on you and me "Come and see". And the travel, the journey becomes the life. He has no place to stay! LOL. Birds have nests, foxes have dens, but the Son has no place! Not even when He was born did He have a place, only an accommodation, temporary at best. The Son is on the move. The Son is setting the world ablaze, with HIS desire...salvation. Right now, feel the burn! The Son is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. What this means is an endless feat. Endless shall you be with your mercy and love and seeking. It is the greatest of motivators. Let your faith activate. Take every day seriously for God, and this means seriously joyful. Children of the light are in great need these days for the children of the dark are there, and how? They let their lights be turned out in despair, doubt, anxiety, pressure, worldly pleasures, all things that pull away from the light, the warmth of God. Be what the world needs to see.
JESUS |
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