 from Franciscanmedia.org | | The Mercy of God Is Our Greatest Blessing And now here they were together again at La Verna, their sacred mountain, preparing for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, and Leo was praying the Mass of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, his feet planted firmly on the rocky ground. He raised his heart to Leo's voice in the Introit's perfect articulation: "Nos autem gloriari opportet in cruce Domini Nostri Jesu Christi: in quo est salus, vita et resurrectio nostra: per quem salvati et liberati sumus. We however should glory in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection through which we are saved and made free." The wind began to whistle and whine through the pine trees as Brother Leo intoned, "Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison." The wind began to whistle and whine through the pine trees as Brother Leo intoned, "Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison." That cry, like that of the pines, for mercy. Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. And sinner he had been and was, but lately he seemed to remember more the blessings of Jesus. —from Murray Bodo, OFM, author of the book Francis and Jesus | ✞ "Keep to the ancient way and custom of the Church, established and confirmed by so many Saints under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And live a new life. Pray, and get others to pray, that God not abandon His Church, but reform it as He pleases, and as He sees best for us, and more to His honour and glory."
— St. Angela Merici ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Once, while I was wondering why Our Lord so dearly loves the virtue of humility, the thought suddenly struck me, without previous reflection, that it is because God is the supreme Truth and humility is the truth, for it is the most true that we have nothing good of ourselves but only misery and nothingness: whoever ignores this, lives a life of falsehood. they that realize this fact most deeply are the most pleasing to God, the supreme Truth, for they walk in the truth."
— St. Teresa of Avila, p. 175-6
AN EXCERPT FROM
Interior Castle ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:14-16 |  click to read more | | Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named. Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century. Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah. Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness, and the restoration of the family fortune. The memorials of Gabriel and Raphael were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their individual feasts to Michael's. Reflection Each of the archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication, and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly. Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are the Patron Saints of: Death
Germany
Grocers
Police Officers
Radiologists Saint Gabriel is the Patron Saint of: Broadcasters Saint Raphael is the Patron Saint of: The Blind | Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels Reading 1 Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 As I watched: Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed. or Rv 12:7-12ab
War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them." Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5
R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD
"Great is the glory of the LORD
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. Alleluia Ps 103:21
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 1:47-51 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
| Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael's Story Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named. Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century. Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah. Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness, and the restoration of the family fortune. The memorials of Gabriel and Raphael were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their individual feasts to Michael's. Reflection Each of the archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication, and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly. Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are the Patron Saints of: Death
Germany
Grocers
Police Officers
Radiologists Saint Gabriel is the Patron Saint of: Broadcasters Saint Raphael is the Patron Saint of: The Blind | my2cents: "War broke out in heaven;...the dragon...but they did not prevail" and then at the end of the first Holy Scripture it said "Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them." "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name." At Holy Mass we give thanks...with our lives. In the Holy Gospel we heard ""Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him." This ain't no two sided fellow. What you see is what you get. There is no deception, there is no false faith. Jesus says this for us to realize what He sees. He tells "Nathan", ""Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." From there on out Nathan is astonished with our Lord. He can't believe He saw him under that tree...perhaps where he had been praying, and praying to be called to serve God in a special way, just like the Blessed Virgin Mary had been caught praying.
Let me tell you some things I've picked up on faith... they say that your angel looks on the face of God always. And they say that your angel looks away from you when you get into sin. A departure, disconnect happens. I say this because today we celebrate Archangels, messengers of God always, to deliver a frightful message, terrible in awesomeness. Michael delvers the final blow to evil. Rafael the delivering message that goes through a journey and helps see the way. Gabriel delivers the baby (News) to our Mother Mary which changes the course of the entire world we live in. You see? How important is it to be facing God and away from sin?
Very.
Because of no duplicity, Jesus says to "Nathan", "...you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." They are going to God and they are coming from God. They are in the service of our God. They are the living being...of God. I pray very often with Archangels Rafael and Michael, and saints, and Mary. I pray for service. And I hope I do service for God. This is a communal affair. And we are connected in the Holy Eucharist. If I receive God in the temple into my temple, I am expected to be intimately united in this communal affair. A community. Ok, Ok, let me tell you why I am saying this and perhaps it will help clarify. Just like the other day I wrote about the good samaritan and how I was called to live it out, I didn't want to tell the world my good deeds, but our Father asked me to, because I invoke His Holy Spirit before writing to you. And here comes another I didn't want to but feel pulled into it:
Years ago, before getting up in the morning, I was having a vision, it was of our Lord, His face, His countenance, as if out in the Universe, and I could see that every thread and fiber of His countenance was alive, as if every cell was flowing as lights coursing up and down through his face and hair and skin. He was made up of millions and billions of lights. Now that I am typing to you, I am recalling another vision during Divine Mercy prayers in front of the Blessed Sacrament, whereupon I saw people around me as lights, some where lights, some where not. Some where brighter than others. Putting the two together I can see that the billions of lights could possibly angels and or souls.
What does this say to you? To me, it was the most beautiful sight in the entire world, and out of this world. It was as if a city of gold, lights, of Life. When you mess with someone, you are messing with Christ in this communal affair.
Don't mess around with Him.
We don't want to mess up and be cast from Heaven..... | |
