The Fire of Love Will Set the Earth Ablaze Franciscan prayer, lived to its full, is to set the human heart on fire. It is to transform one's body into a body of love and one's actions into actions of love. In this transformation is the fire that can set the earth ablaze––the fire of light, peace, justice, unity and dignity. It is to see the wounds of suffering humanity and bind them with mercy and compassion. It is to see and feel for all creation––to love by way of self-gift. It is to live in the mystery of Christ, the mystery of God enfleshed. —from the book Franciscan Prayer | † QUOTE
"The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart."
— St. Philip Neri † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"As we have seen, there is sometimes a big difference between what God is actually asking of us, and what we imagine he is asking. We won't have the grace to do what God is not asking of us. But for what he is asking, he has promised us his grace: God grants what he commands. When God inspires us to do something (if it really is God who is the source of the inspiration), at the same time he supplies the ability to do it, even if it is beyond our capacity or scares us at the start. Every motion that comes from God brings both the light to understand what God intends, and the strength to accomplish it: light that illuminates the mind, and strength that gives power to the will."
— Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 21
AN EXCERPT FROM
In the School of the Holy Spirit † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."
Isaiah 52:8-10 |  click to read more | | Saint Joseph of Cupertino (June 17, 1603 – September 18, 1663) Joseph of Cupertino is most famous for levitating at prayer. Already as a child, Joseph showed a fondness for prayer. After a short career with the Capuchins, he joined the Conventual Franciscans. Following a brief assignment caring for the friary mule, Joseph began his studies for the priesthood. Though studies were very difficult for him, Joseph gained a great deal of knowledge from prayer. He was ordained in 1628. Joseph's tendency to levitate during prayer was sometimes a cross; some people came to see this much as they might have gone to a circus sideshow. Joseph's gift led him to be humble, patient, and obedient, even though at times he was greatly tempted and felt forsaken by God. He fasted and wore iron chains for much of his life. The friars transferred Joseph several times for his own good and for the good of the rest of the community. He was reported to and investigated by the Inquisition; the examiners exonerated him. Joseph was canonized in 1767. In the investigation preceding the canonization, 70 incidents of levitation are recorded. Reflection
While levitation is an extraordinary sign of holiness, Joseph is also remembered for the ordinary signs he showed. He prayed even in times of inner darkness, and he lived out the Sermon on the Mount. He used his "unique possession"–his free will–to praise God and to serve God's creation. Saint Joseph of Cupertino is the Patron Saint of:
Air Travelers
Astronauts
Pilots | Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 444 Reading 1 1 COR 12:12-14, 27-31A Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many. Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the Church
to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. Responsorial Psalm PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4, 5
R. (3) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
For he is good, the LORD,
whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock. Alleluia LK 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 7:11-17 Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
"Do not weep."
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
"A great prophet has arisen in our midst,"
and "God has visited his people."
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region. | Meditation: Psalm 100:1-5 24th Week in Ordinary Time Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (Psalm 100:1-2) Every weekend, hundreds of millions of Catholics around the world gather to celebrate Mass. They come from different backgrounds and ages, and they bring countless gifts, burdens, hopes, and needs with them. Together they form the body of Christ that Paul describes in the first reading. And together they embrace the call to worship contained in today's psalm. Sing joyfully to the Lord. The psalm starts out as the people gather in joy and gladness. Everyone is invited to sing and celebrate. When you're at Mass, and you see the cross coming down the aisle, be sure to sing that opening hymn! Imagine yourself joining brothers and sisters of every race in praising and glorifying the Lord. Know that the Lord is God. What better way to know the Lord is God than through the Liturgy of the Word? Listen as God reveals himself through the Old and New Testaments. Imagine that Jesus is saying these words to you, and let the message of his goodness and faithfulness lift your heart up to heaven. Give thanks to him; bless his name. You aren't entering the Temple in Jerusalem, but you are entering the courts of heaven itself. From the offertory procession through the Eucharistic prayer, imagine that the angels are coming down to accept your gifts and prayers and to give you God's choicest blessings in return. For he is good. The psalm ends by proclaiming how good, faithful, and kind God is. It's this goodness that you are receiving in Communion, and it's this goodness that you can now take with you as you leave church. Hold onto that goodness. Savor it, and let it change your heart. Mass is never meant to be routine. How can it be when the body of Christ gathers and the angels and saints join in worship? With a little bit of imagination and a lively faith, you can be caught up in this beautiful prayer. You can be caught up to heaven, where Jesus, your great high priest, is offering himself to you. "Thank you, Lord, for drawing us together as one body to worship you!" 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31
Luke 7:11-17 | my2cents:
"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body...", so why are there so many divisions in Christianity? One spins off into another. One denomination forms another. If we are one body, should we not be of one mind and one accord? Funny question, because at the bottom, evil lurks twisting the doubts as if to say "shouldn't all you Christians be....Perfect?" There is a difference between perfection and holiness. Holiness in final perseverance acquires perfection by molding. A holy person, like today's saint, was not perfect. He had moments of despair and tribulation. But he kept on praying and floating in the air in prayer. He never asked for this. St. Pio never asked for the Stigmata. He didn't ask for this spectacle of a cross for him to be hounded for life by circus seekers and evil forces. No, all he asked for was like "show me Lord what it is like to be you". Then suffering and glory began. What do you want to see in God? Perfection? You must die first. Imperfection can not see perfection. A ruler can not measure the spirit. Let us pray: "We are his people: the sheep of his flock. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song." Boy, there is a huge difference in serving the Lord..with gladness. I've seen altar boys forced to serve by their parents. They serve, sleepy, no smiles, there is no heart. They grow up and leave the faith. Some might even despise it. I've seen teachers teach CCD, and today, they don't go to church. What happened? Life happens my friend. Life strikes. In this free world, too much freedom leads souls astray. God's commandments are pure. Aimed to keep us on the holy path, the holy Way...Jesus. In comes our Lord, runs into a sad scene, a widow , and her only son, dead. He must've known this would be Him and His mom. He must show the world what God can and will do. Raise the son. Comfort the mother. Show the world that death is not the end. Show the world there is hope. This is why people said: "God has visited his people." God did visit us. In flesh and blood. And He still comes by. You want to see Him? All I can say is one thing: He is here in the Eucharist. This is how He is with us now. This is why the Catholic Church is the most attacked, spiritually. And how does the devil attack? Through weakness. It gets you through your weakness. It is good to see what your weakness is.
Weak faith? Work on that. Learn what it is to step on water.
I see many trapped in faith, trapped in quicksand, trapped in muddy water, trapped in snares the evil one lays out. Hooked on this and hooked on that. I read a sign somewhere on the internet that said "It's not that I'm too busy, its just I don't want to be busy". Well there's some truth. To be busy for our Lord is a burden. A cross. And to be busy for our Lord with gladness? That's more of a cross. You have to love it. Because on that cross is our Lord. Protestants (some) hate our faith because of the crucifix and the "celebration of death". That's a lie from the pit of hell. We carry the promise. The covenant. We carry the true hope. For on that wood is our Lord. Not dead, but the body of Christ, precious in all its ways. No body, no Christ. No Christ, no body. We are the suffering church in the world. This is why it is called the "Church militant". Why is this Good? Because that's where Jesus is. Only the slayed can help the slayed. Jesus was slayed for us to stay with us. We made Him one of us by killing Him. Baptism. But first He had made us one of Him in the waters of baptism. The first is more powerful than the second.
So we live with hope. We live with an engraved triumph in our soul. It is weird to say, but if you are being tested, then you are being tested by Love and for Love's sake. And God is Love. Pass the test. I'm here to help you pass the test. When you see divisions and factions in the church, think this with me: "our only enemy is the evil spirit that wants to divide us". Evil divides families and churches and nations. Evil divides yourself into a split person. It is hard to deal with split personalities, untrue, where duplicity is apparent, people would say "hypocrite". Jesus can heal that too.
So come. Come for the healing. Wouldn't you agree that most miracles Jesus our Lord did was about healing? Healing a broken world..yours.
And now we are called to be Jesus, healing a broken world...ours. | |
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