It's Not about Perfection Perfection is not what being human is about. Perfection is simply not attainable in the human condition. The function of being human is to become the best human beings we can be, one insight, one mistake, at a time. Then, knowing the struggle that comes with trying and failing over and over again, we become tender with others who are also struggling in the process. –from the book In God's Holy Light: Wisdom from the Desert Monastics | †Quote
"If you become Christ's you will stumble upon wonder upon wonder, and every one of them true."
— St. Brendan of Birr † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Prayer and fasting, worship and adoration, Scripture and sacraments and sacramentals all provide the weapons of our spiritual warfare. With them we go on the offensive against the Evil One. But the virtues provide our defense armor. As Blessed Pope Paul VI once observed, St. Paul 'used the armor of a soldier as a symbol for the virtues that can make a Christian invulnerable.' They are our best defense against his attacks, for they guard our minds and hearts from his deceptions and temptations. A lapse in virtue is in fact a chink in our armor that makes us vulnerable."
— Paul Thigpen, p. 57-8
AN EXCERPT FROM
Manual for Spiritual Warfare † VERSE OF THE DAY
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult."
Psalm 46: 1-3 |  click to read more | | Saint John Bosco (August 16, 1815 – January 31, 1888) John Bosco's theory of education could well be used in today's schools. It was a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one's work, study and play. Encouraged during his youth in Sardinia to become a priest so he could work with young boys, John was ordained in 1841. His service to young people started when he met a poor orphan in Turin, and instructed him in preparation for receiving Holy Communion. He then gathered young apprentices and taught them catechism. After serving as chaplain in a hospice for working girls, Don Bosco opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for boys. Several wealthy and powerful patrons contributed money, enabling him to provide two workshops for the boys, shoemaking and tailoring. By 1856, the institution had grown to 150 boys and had added a printing press for publication of religious and catechetical pamphlets. John's interest in vocational education and publishing justify him as patron of young apprentices and Catholic publishers. John's preaching fame spread and by 1850 he had trained his own helpers because of difficulties in retaining young priests. In 1854, he and his followers informally banded together, inspired by Saint Francis de Sales. With Pope Pius IX's encouragement, John gathered 17 men and founded the Salesians in 1859. Their activity concentrated on education and mission work. Later, he organized a group of Salesian Sisters to assist girls.
Reflection John Bosco educated the whole person—body and soul united. He believed that Christ's love and our faith in that love should pervade everything we do—work, study, play. For John Bosco, being a Christian was a full-time effort, not a once-a-week, Mass-on-Sunday experience. It is searching and finding God and Jesus in everything we do, letting their love lead us. Yet, because John realized the importance of job-training and the self-worth and pride that come with talent and ability, he trained his students in the trade crafts, too.
Saint John Bosco is the Patron Saint of: Boys
Editors
Youth | Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest Reading 1 Heb 10:19-25 Brothers and sisters:
Since through the Blood of Jesus
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh,
and since we have "a great priest over the house of God,"
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope,
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly,
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another,
and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. Alleluia Ps 119:105
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 4:21-25 Jesus said to his disciples,
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."
He also told them, "Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
| Meditation: Hebrews 10:19-25 Saint John Bosco, Priest (Memorial) We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24) When Sheila started volunteering at a homeless shelter once a week, she couldn't stop talking about it. She loved sitting down with the residents and chatting with them. She liked hearing their stories and praying with them. Sheila's excitement was so striking that first one friend, and then another asked if they could come along. Soon they became regular volunteers as well. You might say Sheila was "rousing" her friends to love and good works. Surprised? You shouldn't be. When you read this verse, you might think of someone standing on a soapbox telling you to go out and "do the right thing." But the Greek word used here for "rouse" can also mean "excite." We are supposed to get one another excited about the Christian life and all that it entails! That's how we rouse one another, by our passion and our example, as much as by our words. So what excites you about your life in Christ? Maybe you love the one-on-one time you spend with Jesus in Eucharistic adoration. Perhaps your passion is reading and studying Scripture. You might enjoy serving in a ministry like RCIA or teaching English as a second language. Whatever it is, your excitement is attractive and contagious. It may be just the thing that rouses another person to take up the same spiritual practice or join you in a good work. If you haven't been feeling much excitement about your faith lately, think about what has excited you in the past. You may need to get back to what you were doing then or find another avenue to channel your love. If you've been serving for a long time in one area, for example, making a change could help reenergize you. Find out what excites your brothers and sisters. Maybe God is calling you to do the same thing. The author of Hebrews knew that Christians need one another. You might need a fellow believer to inspire you to do something you may have never even considered. And they might need you. So don't be afraid to communicate your passion and excitement to someone else. You might just be rousing another brother or sister to follow Jesus more closely. "Lord, thank you for all the times a brother or sister has roused me to love, prayer, and good works." Psalm 24:1-6
Mark 4:21-25 | 2cents:
"We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near." Why shall we not stay away from the assembly? Because, "...through the Blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh, and since we have "a great priest over the house of God," let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience...". Jesus offers Himself for you, that's why. Completely. And how do we offer ourselves...to what degree? | "Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face...". These words speak about Heaven. And people. People that desire Heaven. You are the type of person that desires Heaven. Otherwise, you wouldn't allow a stranger like me to come into your life. But we are no longer strangers when we are on the same path, we travel together...the few of us. And take heart. Although we see darkness, God sees everything. So let us turn to Him. | "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?" So, how do we hide the lamp in our life? First, what is the lamp? It is Christ. It is Jesus. Jesus. " Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12. Walk this Way. The first Christians were being persecuted for living the "Way". It was the Way of life. They gathered daily, broke bread, and shared compassion and charity and mercy. You must follow the Way of Heaven on earth. Do you see the Way being lived out loud? The world says you may, if you dare. Almost like a threat. People are afraid of the light. Strange huh? Check this out. I grew up, some years in old Mexico. Fond memories of poverty. Then we moved to the U.S., rat race memories here. And we brought along a paralyzed uncle and he was mentally retarded, with the brains of a 2 year old they said. Boy was he a burden on the family of 9 who had lost their parents in their teens and early 20's. He was tossed from sibling to sibling to "take turns" with the burden. Eventually, only 2 or 3 siblings only took care of him. One tossing him to the street because "her turn was up". This uncle would drag himself on his bottom, and used diapers. He was heavy. He eventually wound up back in Mexico and poisoned himself to death accidentally. His death was so hard, lots of tears. We were all there in the village and many of us stayed at my aunt's house were my uncle died. There was a street light, and I was in a room in the dark night with lots of cousins. I couldn't sleep. I heard dragging noises on the street. Then I see a figure dragging across the curtains, only a silhouette was visible. I remember getting chills witnessing what I saw. Who was it? Was it my dead uncle? Or was it some animal roaming? Witches? It mostly resembled my uncle. Years later a cousin said he was awake and seen the same weird thing. Verification, I wasn't crazy!
So why do I bring up this weird story? First, The light allows you to see scary things. But without light, you could live next to scary things and never know it. Secondly, my uncle was a cross that nobody desired, it was thrown on them. Nobody cherished or relished in suffering or giving.
Thirdly, everyone was crushed when he died about the age of 33. It actually seem to bring the family together...forever.
Scary things we see in the light. But all things are in God's light. All your thoughts and actions of all your life.
Let them be good thoughts and actions from here on out.
Can I tell you something scary but you not be afraid?
I had a prophetic message that started hitting me yesterday.
It is only scary though, to a soul in love with God.
Revelation being revealed. The serpent of evil waits to devour the unborn.
And laws are being pushed to kill as the baby is being born and some are already proposing to bring laws that are of infanticide. Revelation said it was hurling stars. It is engrossing. Grossly attracting multitudes, a culture of death. I see these things in the light. Do not let your hearts be troubled. These things must happen, just as they did when Jesus was born. Jesus came.
These things happen because in the dark, darkness whispers voices disguised so you are fooled thinking it is someone else.
What do these voices sound like? Temptations. sssss " you don't have to suffer" sssss sssss" you don't have to take this"ssss
sssss "you don't need anyone telling you how to live"ssssss
Remember what Jesus said, our King said, the Lord said today:
"Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you".
What you hear has to come through a filter of grace.
But if your filter is clogged, grace will not operate.
Confess. And allow grace to come in, more prayer, more spiritual works, more sacrifice will spring forth, the more you receive grace.
Grace is our Lord in our lives, after all, He is in Heaven and we desire Heaven...Amen? |  an audible random bible verse | adrian | |
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