Prayer for My Travels God, be a companion for me along the path, a guide at crossroads, strength in my weariness, defense before dangers, shelter on the way, shade against heat, light in the darkness, a comforter in my discouragements and firmness in my intentions, in order that, through your guidance, I might arrive unscathed at the end of my journey, and enriched with graces and virtues, I might return safely to my home, filled with salutary and lasting joy. −from Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus | ✞Quote
"For all, regenerated in Christ, are made kings by the sign of the cross; they are consecrated priests by the oil of the Holy Spirit, so that beyond the special service of our ministry as priests, all spiritual and mature Christians know that they are a royal race and are sharers in the office of the priesthood. For what is more king-like than to find yourself ruler over your body after having surrendered your soul to God? And what is more priestly than to promise the Lord a pure conscience and to offer him in love unblemished victims on the altar of one's heart?" — St. Leo the Great ✞Meditation of the Day "God never caused the virtues and singular merit of Joseph to shine with greater splendor than when He said to him by the mouth of the angel, "Take the Child and His mother"; for in them He committed to him His most precious treasures, giving him thus the preference over all the blessed spirits of Heaven; and Joseph received these two sacred persons into his care, to be their protector, their guardian, and defender. If, then, Heaven made Joseph the protector of Jesus and Mary, we may rest assured that he was at the same time made protector and patron of all men." — Edward Healy Thompson, p. 401 An Excerpt From Life & Glories of St. Joseph
✞Verse of the Day "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17 |  click to read more | | Blessed Franz Jägerstätter
Saint of the Day for June 7
(May 20, 1907 – August 9, 1943) Called to serve his country as a Nazi solider, Franz eventually refused, and this husband and father of three daughters—Rosalie, Marie and Aloisia—was executed because of it. Born in St. Radegund in Upper Austria, Franz lost his father during World War I and was adopted after Heinrich Jaegerstaetter married Rosalia Huber. As a young man, he loved to ride his motorcycle and was the natural leader of a gang whose members were arrested in 1934 for brawling. For three years he worked in the mines in another city and then returned to St. Radegund, where he became a farmer, married Franziska and lived his faith with quiet but intense conviction. In 1938, he publicly opposed the German Anschluss, annexation, of Austria. The next year, he was drafted into the Austrian army, trained for seven months and then received a deferment. In 1940, Franz was called up again but allowed to return home at the request of the town's mayor. He was in active service between October 1940 and April 1941, but was again deferred. His pastor, other priests, and the bishop of Linz urged him not to refuse to serve if drafted. In February 1943, Franz was called up again and reported to army officials in Enns, Austria. When he refused to take the oath of loyalty to Hitler, he was imprisoned in Linz. Later he volunteered to serve in the medical corps but was not assigned there. | Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 356 Reading 1 2 TM 2:8-15 Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself. Remind people of these things
and charge them before God to stop disputing about words.
This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God,
a workman who causes no disgrace,
imparting the word of truth without deviation. Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5AB, 8-9, 10 AND 14
R. (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Alleluia SEE 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 12:28-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions. | Meditation: Mark 12:28-34 9th Week in Ordinary Time Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:29-30) Every morning, the first thing that Jews in ancient Israel did was recite the prayer above, a prayer called the Shema. It's also the prayer that is written on a small piece of parchment and fixed to their doorposts for them to touch every time they passed through the door (Deuteronomy 6:9). So it's no surprise that Jesus used this prayer to answer the scribe's question about the greatest commandment. This beautiful prayer proclaimed that Israel only had one God, and that he was God over all of creation. He wasn't just another god like the idols of neighboring nations; he was and is omnipotent and loving, powerful and faithful. This is the God who created the universe and everything in it. This is the same God who made a covenant with the people of Israel out of his love for them. History had shown him to be faithful, even when Israel wasn't. For all of these reasons, God was worthy of their obedience and love. We might not be as familiar with the Shema as this scribe was, but Jesus makes it clear that it is just as important to us today. It reminds us what's central to our faith: who God is and how we should relate to him. He is the Lord of all, and it is only fitting that we try to love him with all that we are. Do something different today. Before you leave home, and again as you get ready for bed tonight, pray the Shema. As you make this prayer, remind yourself that you only have one God. Consider his greatness and the mercy he has shown you, and acknowledge him as Lord. Then, in your own words, tell him that you want to love and serve him with all of your heart and soul, mind and strength. Do it again when you start the day tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Let this consecration develop into a daily habit. Over time, you'll find yourself feeling closer to the Lord throughout your day. "Lord, you alone are my God. I want to love and serve you with everything I am." 2 Timothy 2:8-15
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14 | my2cents: St. Paul says "But if we deny him he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful he remains faithful".
Think daily what this denial means.
Think daily what being faithful means.
Think of how God is faithful even when I am not, when we are not because we are in this together. We pray: "Teach me your ways, O Lord. Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way."
Think daily then, mercy. Be merciful, as you see Him who is mercy.
And sometimes mercy means tough love. I remember a few things before I was in an accident and broke my hip. I remember hitting somewhat of a plateau in my faith. No music I would listen to would help my faith grow. No matter what I was doing would not help me grow. I do remember praying one time to our Lord in such great love though. I prayed that I would not have to suffer long or any at all in purgatory. and then the accident happened even though we had prayed that we would be safe. And since then my love has grown more than ever before. His is a true and sincere love. I depend entirely on his Mercy and love. In comes our holy Lord. "The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
These words sound very nice and easy to do. But how soon we forget and we are disputing how about words about nonsense and soon factions and divisions arise. All because we lose sight of the love of God. The greatest commandment is the greatest of loves. Think daily. Think love. And when you think these things all the time you may possibly grow in true love. there are hundreds of thousands of laws in the world. People to this day are trying to come up with new laws every single day. but only one remains true and as Supreme importance, Love God. Love God the way Jesus loves God. Love God the way our Blessed Mother loves Jesus. It is not impossible we are designed to be able to do this. We are created in His image. We are destined and designed to love. I see a great deal of minor infractions against love. Many of which are caused bye a reckless abandonment. When people do not take care what they say about others. Gossip. Simply calling somebody dumb is a curse. And so we must watch what we do to ourselves. If we are to ask our Lord how to follow the way it is going to be a holy way and it's going to be a righteous way and it is going to be a way against the world and it is going to stand out and it is going to be a light for the darkness and that is going to mean salvation for those who see.
Take care of the way. Take care of the truth.
Take care of the life of God. | |
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