| Venture Out Heroes are the ones who are willing to venture out of the safe harbor of what is comfortable and venture into the wild, untamable sea of | | Venture Out Heroes are the ones who are willing to venture out of the safe harbor of what is comfortable and venture into the wild, untamable sea of God's calling. In other words, the hero's journey is one of deep virtue. -from Deep Adventure |
†"One should not say that it is impossible to reach a virtuous life; but one should say that it is not easy. Nor do those who have reached it find it easy to maintain."
— St. Anthony of the Desert ✞MEDITATION OF THE DAY✞ "Whoever expresses profound gratitude to God, even for the least benefits received, praises God wondrously, for He, who has granted these benefits, is supremely great. Hence, you ought not to look upon what the Most High has freely and lovingly granted you as something trifling or of little worth. God neither seeks nor asks anything more of us than that we willingly love Him, avoid all that offends Him, and always and everywhere to give Him thanks. God highly values the man who out of true humility belittles and forgets himself, judges himself unworthy of all gifts and benefits, does not flaunt them when received, and does not seek the praise of others. ... Blessed is he who humbly accepts afflictions from the hand of God as did Job and offers and abandons himself totally to the divine will. Blessed is he who always seeks to follow that will and chooses whatever is more pleasing to God; he who accepts the worst as the best rejoices when he meets with insult and endures temporal afflictions, knowing they are for his soul's benefit."
— Thomas à Kempis, p. 98-9
AN EXCERPT FROM
Bountiful Goodness |
 Franciscan Media |
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Saint Marianne Cope Saint of the Day for January 23
(January 23, 1838 – August 9, 1918) Saint Marianne Cope's Story Though leprosy scared off most people in 19th-century Hawaii, that disease sparked great generosity in the woman who came to be known as Mother Marianne of Molokai. Her courage helped tremendously to improve the lives of its victims in Hawaii, a territory annexed to the United States during her lifetime (1898). Mother Marianne's generosity and courage were celebrated at her May 14, 2005, beatification in Rome. She was a woman who spoke "the language of truth and love" to the world, said Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes. Cardinal Martins, who presided at the beatification Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, called her life "a wonderful work of divine grace." Speaking of her special love for persons suffering from leprosy, he said, "She saw in them the suffering face of Jesus. Like the Good Samaritan, she became their mother." On January 23, 1838, a daughter was born to Peter and Barbara Cope of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. The girl was named after her mother. Two years later the Cope family emigrated to the United States and settled in Utica, New York. Young Barbara worked in a factory until August 1862, when she went to the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Syracuse, New York. After profession in November of the next year, she began teaching at Assumption parish school. Marianne held the post of superior in several places and was twice the novice mistress of her congregation. A natural leader, three different times she was superior of St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, where she learned much that would be useful during her years in Hawaii. Elected provincial in 1877, Mother Marianne was unanimously re-elected in 1881. Two years later the Hawaiian government was searching for someone to run the Kakaako Receiving Station for people suspected of having leprosy. More than 50 religious communities in the United States and Canada were asked. When the request was put to the Syracuse sisters, 35 of them volunteered immediately. On October 22, 1883, Mother Marianne and six other sisters left for Hawaii where they took charge of the Kakaako Receiving Station outside Honolulu; on the island of Maui they also opened a hospital and a school for girls. In 1888, Mother Marianne and two sisters went to Molokai to open a home for "unprotected women and girls" there. The Hawaiian government was quite hesitant to send women for this difficult assignment; they need not have worried about Mother Marianne! On Molokai she took charge of the home that Saint Damien de Veuster had established for men and boys. Mother Marianne changed life on Molokai by introducing cleanliness, pride, and fun to the colony. Bright scarves and pretty dresses for the women were part of her approach. Awarded the Royal Order of Kapiolani by the Hawaiian government and celebrated in a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, Mother Marianne continued her work faithfully. Her sisters have attracted vocations among the Hawaiian people and still work on Molokai. Mother Marianne died on August 9, 1918 and was beatified in 2005 and canonized seven years later. Reflection The government authorities were reluctant to allow Mother Marianne to be a mother on Molokai. Thirty years of dedication proved their fears unfounded. God grants gifts regardless of human short-sightedness and allows those gifts to flower for the sake of the kingdom. |
Sacred Space Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Reading 1 Heb 9:15, 24-28 Christ is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place
for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6 R. (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Alleluia 2 Tm 1:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 3:22-30 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,
"He is possessed by Beelzebul," and
"By the prince of demons he drives out demons." Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,
"How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house.
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies
that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin."
For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
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Catholic Meditations Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr (Optional Memorial) Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands. (Hebrews 9:24) What is your image of heaven? Through the ages, people have had many visions of what heaven is like, from the reverent to the comedic. But the truth is, none of us really know for sure. Will we be with our family and friends? Or will we be so caught up in worshipping Jesus that we won't be concerned about anything else? Will we be surprised at who is there—and who is not? We know that we will have a glorified body, but what will that body look like? How will it feel? Each of these questions reflects some kind of fear or concern, both about our lives here on earth and about the afterlife. But for all of our lack of understanding, we can say with confidence that heaven is the fulfillment of our greatest desire: to behold the Lord face-to-face and to live with him forever. If Jesus is perfect love, there could be nothing better than to be in his presence. No matter what happens here and now, that is what we are guaranteed if we follow him. If we already experience a foretaste of Jesus' promises every time we receive Communion or turn to him in prayer, how could we ever doubt that the fulfillment of this experience is nothing other than sheer perfection? St. Paul stretches our imagination when he writes, "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). What awaits us is so amazing that words will never be able to describe it! But just knowing that God will wipe every tear from our eyes and that there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain can go a long way in encouraging and strengthening us. So keep your eyes on the prize of your heavenly calling. Then, even the greatest challenges you endure here will seem light. Every day, lift up your head, and rejoice, for your redemption is at hand! "Lord, you have loved me with a love beyond understanding. I worship and adore you, Jesus, for your incomparable gift of salvation!" Psalm 98:1-6
Mark 3:22-30 |
my2cents: The 1st Holy Scripture ends today with "Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him". Thank you God. That's all I can say. As I sit here and write from my hospital bed, I am suffering in pain. I broke my hip,3 fractures last friday. I was racing in a coliseum, lost control, flipped forward, and my ATV landed on me. I have been trying to write but I had been in ICU for two nights and the third day they put me upstairs in a brighter room with less chaos. I ask you for healing prayers, the pain I get is not helped by any pain killers, not even morphine. I am not sure I can write every morning as usual, but I got our family laptop ready for when I can. "Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm." I am praying I will sing a new song, because this has to grow me closer to Christ. Such is the wonder of God. He was won victory, by giving His body. I ask you to be on the side of Victory, for life. God is good, right? and we hear today the word of the Lord "But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness" To say God is not good is proclaiming an evil death sentence, on themselves. Blaspemy is to put down the Lord, and the fact that it kills the blasphemer spiritually....that is what is evil. In this world, too many evils lurk, big ears, big eyes, flesh morsels, and flirting with death, these are atrocious forces we live among. Today, stand for life...Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life". The truth also says it has defeated sin and death...all we need to do is die. Die to giving life to temptations. Die to the world, fade away. At home,no longer will they have a singer, guitarist to help while I'm out, no longer will my kids have their daddy kiss and bless them goodnight. No longer will anyone be able to come see me. I am not there. I am where God wants me. I never cried with all the agonizing pain, never. The ambulance people yelled at me "stop trying to get up by yourself, you got alot of pride" as I looked at my little boy and wife crying on their knees before me. It's ok! I'm going to be ok. I will be back proclaiming victory for Christ, I am undergoing what has to be done....God's will. I pray everytime I hurt, and I pray when I don't hurt. I'm on a spiritual retreat. My wife gets to see me and grown ups, offering gifts and consolation. Only once did I cry.
In that dark room Sunday morning, a tall man walks in, asks for my name, and asks to set up....He was bringing me Holy Communion. As I lay there in the ICU,I already had not eaten for 48 hours. And Christ came in that dark place to feed Himself to me. I was in tears, as they automatically rolled down the sides of my face,uncontrollable.
The next day in the sun light room, they give me a steel cup that says "Be still and know that I am God".
A virgin Mary statue flower holder, and a Padre Pio coin that says to pray and not worry. My friends, I am with Christ |
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