 clickable | | Mysticism of the Streets St. Francis of Assisi brought mysticism from the monasteries and academia to the streets. He said, "Don't talk to me about some rule or other, neither that of St. Benedict, nor of St. Augustine, nor of St. Bernard, nor about any life or way of life other than that which the Lord has mercifully shown and given to me."10 So we Franciscans were never called monks. We are friars. A friar is one who mixes with the ordinary people and in the city. Our emphasis was not on academia or a daily monastic schedule, but on ordinary life itself. "Preach the Gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words" is the summary statement attributed to Francis. —from the book Yes, and...: Daily Meditations by Richard Rohr, OFM |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder . . . What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection."
— St. Padre Pio † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Whenever we receive Communion, we enter into communion with the Holy Trinity. Did anybody ever tell you that? With each reception of Holy Communion, we experience, already here on earth, the same divine activity that we will one day experience in all its fullness in heaven—the divine activity of love eternally taking place within the Trinity . . . God wants to live his triune life in us. We are called to be dwelling places for the Holy Trinity and to enter into a personal relationship with each of the persons in God."
— Vinney Flynn, p. 27-8
AN EXCERPT FROM
7 Secrets of the Eucharist † VERSE OF THE DAY
"No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, says the Lord."
Isaiah 54:17 |  click to read more | | ST. MONICA St. Monica (322-387 A.D.) was raised in a Christian home in Tagaste, North Africa. Early in life she struggled with alcoholism, sneaking draughts of wine from the family cellar, before being caught and overcoming the habit. She was later given in marriage to an ill-tempered and adulterous pagan Roman official. She suffered greatly on account of her husband, and that of her unkind mother-in-law with whom she lived, and she fervently prayed for their conversion over the course of many years. Her patience and kindness became a source of encouragement to other unhappy housewives with whom she came in contact. Monica gave birth to three children, and she was grieved that her husband would not allow them to be baptized. Her eldest son, Augustine, was a wayward child and caused her the most pain, and she prayed fervently for decades for him to become a Christian. Through her persistence in prayer and good example, her husband was converted shortly before his death. When Augustine became entrenched in heretical sects and moved to Milan, St. Monica followed him. Monica befriended the Bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose, who consoled her by saying, "The child of those tears shall never perish." Augustine was eventually brought into the Church by St. Ambrose. Everything we know of St. Monica's heroic virtue is from the writings of her son, who became the great St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most influential saints in Church history. St. Monica is patron of housewives, difficult marriages, alcoholism, mothers, widows, abuse victims, victims of adultery, and disappointing children. Her feast day is August 27th. Reflection Today, with Google searches, online shopping, text messages, tweets, and instant credit, we have little patience for things that take time. Likewise, we want instant answers to our prayers. Monica is a model of patience. Her long years of prayer, coupled with a strong, well-disciplined character, finally led to the conversion of her hot-tempered husband, her cantankerous mother-in-law and her brilliant but wayward son, Augustine.
Saint Monica is the Patron Saint of: Alcoholics
Conversion
Married Women
Mothers | Memorial of Saint Monica Reading 1 1 Thes 2:1-8 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us. Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:1-3, 4-6 R.(1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Alleluia Heb 4:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 23:23-26 Jesus said:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean." | Meditation: Matthew 23:23-26 Saint Monica (Memorial) Cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean. (Matthew 23:26) You reach for a coffee mug. It sure looks clean, but then you discover that it hasn't been washed properly. There are stains and specks of leftover coffee grounds inside. It's not the clean mug you thought it was going to be! The Pharisees in today's Gospel passage were like that coffee mug: clean on the outside but in need of a more careful cleansing on the inside. By keeping up with their tithes and the other details of the Law of Moses, they were doing what they thought holy men of God ought to be doing. And yet Jesus said they were neglecting "the weightier things of the law," such as "mercy and fidelity" (Matthew 23:23). Sometimes we may need cleaning up on the inside as well. We may exert all our energy in doing godly things, but we do them with the wrong attitude or disposition. For example, you might be serving the poor at a homeless shelter, but you find yourself judging how some of the people there got to such a low point. Or maybe you are attending daily Mass, but instead of listening to the readings, you find yourself criticizing the way the lector speaks. You don't mean for these thoughts to rise up in you, but they sneak in anyway! Of course, Jesus is always pleased when you serve the poor or spend time worshipping him. He also knows that none of us can control every thought that comes into our minds. But you can do something. Whenever you realize that your attitude has wandered out of line, stop right away and ask the Lord for forgiveness. He knows you well, and he knows that you are trying to please him. He will be merciful and help you the next time you are tempted by judgmental, critical, or resentful thoughts. He may even flood your heart at that moment with love for the person you are judging! You can be clean both on the inside and outside. Turn to Jesus and trust that he can—and will—change your heart to become more like his. "Father, give me a heart like Jesus, filled with love and mercy!" 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Psalm 139:1-6 |  clickable | I look to all of you, brothers and sisters of every state of life - to you, Christian families, to you, the sick and elderly, and to you, young people: Confidently take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives. May this appeal of mine not go unheard!
—Saint John Paul II
from The Rosary of Saint John Paul II | my2cents:
"Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us." The story of Saint Monica is forever remembered as the story of a Mother who persisted and prevailed, for God accepted her tears, torments, and sufferings as a worthy sacrifice. That's what we remember. And what if I told you that's what it's going to take for you to help convert a wayward family member? Hounding them, praying for them, and following them, like that funny commercial where the kids get married, move across the country and their parents welcomed them having bought the house next door! LOL. Nowadays "we don't want to bug anybody". Right? Even preachers say that. I've even heard apologists say it "you done your part with your kids, now just leave them alone". BAHUMBUG! LIES! Preach without words? That's saying nothing at all! I bet the devil loves that quote "preach without words". Silence is deadly, and when it comes to souls, it is worse because now we are dealing with eternal ramifications. Most men I talk to that are fathers, I flat out tell them "all your kids are your responsibility to take them to Heaven with your wife". Does that line work? I think it leaves an impression for sure. If God doesn't stop seeking us, who are we to stop seeking for God? | Let us pray:
"You have searched me and you know me, Lord. O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar."
Has God kept you in mind? There are some clues to take into account. First, you read this for a reason today. Yes, He kept you in mind.
Second, look at the day you were born, what events happened, what Saint was celebrated that day? What significance does that have on your life? I know today it is my godson's birthday, and I've wondered for a long time why I must persist in chasing him for his soul's sake. I just realized he was born on the day of Saint Monica, the one who always persisted. I can envision the day the godson will do a 180 and be that child of God he was meant to be, not of the world, but of our Lord. Amen? Strangest thing how I feel a calling to pray for certain people, to hound them, to chase them, to never let up on them, and you know what? That's grace. The Catechism defines grace as "Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life." Catechism 1996. That's what we pray for, to obtain for ourselves, and for others. Intercessions are powerful, inasmuch as they are truly prayed, and sacrificed, so far as true love is concerned for eternity. | In the Holy Gospel, our Lord has words of eternal life for us all: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others."
Can I put this in layman's terms? "Watch out you two faced people, you do religious things, but deny God what He really wants, to be faithful, to be merciful, and holy". Amen? Judgement demands justice and justice demands Holiness, righteousness, amen?
Who are the Pharisees and hypocrites nowadays? Go look in a frame with glass with dark backing, and you'll see one hypocrite. Me. I do things, many church things, and I deny Him what He really wants. No sooner than we walk out of church when those lips start mindlessly flapping and thoughts start up on foolishness.
Walking out of Mass tells you what's inside. Honestly. But let's see what our Lord says about that today: | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean."
You see? You are a vessel. Our Lord asks "Can you take the Chalice that I will take?" Can you drink of what He drinks? Can you partake of what Dr. Scott Hahn calls "the fourth cup"? The cup of the cross, the cup of sacrifice, the cross of self giving in a never ending ceremony.
I believe Saint Monica took this cup. She was all about saving souls. It was said that she was a leader, a true mother, leading people to Christ, just like our Blessed Mother Mary. Mother Mary followed Jesus everywhere, even to the cross and straight to Heaven. But she was the Mother of God. She is Our Lady of Grace. Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lady of Perpetual Help. And the titles go on and on about our Mother. Back the cup.
Back to the Mass. And the cup. Think cleansing of the cup, your soul, especially through confession. Back to you and our Lord.
Tell me what happens to you after taking the cup in Holy Communion. Do you become Judas, or Peter? Judas went on to betray Christ. Peter denied Christ but did not betray. You see? Let your yes mean yes.
And this is for you who have thought about giving up. This message is for you who have grown tired of trying. No my child. No no no!
God doesn't give up and God works through people. He speaks through people. He loves through people. He calls through people. I'm sure we've denied Him, but let us not betray Him. Rather, let us deny ourselves and take this cup of self giving, giving all to the bitter end, bitter sweet, for God loves a cheerful giver, and know that He gladly has formed you in the womb and world for Himself, the gift He so much cherishes.... |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Romans 6:22 (Listen) 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. Thank You Jesus | |
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