 clickable | | What If We Did What Francis Did? In one way or another the Franciscan saints were all struck by the question that came to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, whose dramatic conversion was prompted by his meditation on the saints: "What if I should do as St. Francis did?" Another translation of that question might be: What if I were to live as if the Gospel were true? As Carlo Carretto, a modern admirer, has observed: "At least once in our lives we have dreamed of becoming saints.… Stumbling under the weight of the contradictions of our lives, for a fleeting moment, we glimpsed the possibility of building within ourselves a place of simplicity and light.… This is when St. Francis entered our lives in some way." —from The Franciscan Saints by Robert Ellsberg |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint 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 | | ST. JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663) was the son of a poor Italian carpenter. His father died before he was born, leaving his mother destitute. As a result Joseph was underfed and often sick. He was an intellectually dull child who constantly found himself the worse off in every situation. He was awkward, absent-minded, unintelligent, and difficult to be around. Many people thought he was good for nothing–including his own mother, who treated him harshly and considered him a burden. Added to the scorn he received from everyone, at the age of eight he began receiving ecstatic visions for which he was also ridiculed. At the age of seventeen Joseph found work with the Capuchin Franciscan friars, eventually joining their order once they recognized his holiness beneath his irritating demeanor. His ecstasies became more pronounced, and he would often levitate or float as they happened. These ecstasies could be triggered easily through the mention of anything heavenly, or by any mortification. These occurrences became a spectacle and disturbance to others and caused Joseph much suffering; they were a cross he would bear his whole life. For example, as a priest he could not celebrate Mass publicly due to his distracting ecstasies. He was even reported to the Inquisition for fear he was involved in witchcraft. Yet St. Joseph lived a life of deep prayer and severe penance through continual fasting, subjecting himself every year to seven Lents of forty days each. Sometimes called "The Flying Saint," St. Joseph of Cupertino is also the patron of air crews and aviators. His feast day is September 18th. | Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Tm 3:14-16 Beloved:
I am writing you,
although I hope to visit you soon.
But if I should be delayed,
you should know how to behave in the household of God,
which is the Church of the living God,
the pillar and foundation of truth.
Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory. Responsorial Psalm Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R.(2) How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. How great are the works of the Lord! Alleluia See Jn 6:63c, 68c R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life,
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 7:31-35 Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.' For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children." | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: 1 Timothy 3:14-16 24th Week in Ordinary Time . . . taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16) If you were reading an e-mail or letter from a good friend and that person wrote, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound," you would almost immediately know that she was referencing the hymn. We have all probably sung this song at church and heard it on the radio. What might surprise you is that today's first reading is also a hymn, one that may be unfamiliar to us but was very familiar to Paul's readers. Just like many of today's hymns, it outlines some of the key aspects of the Christian faith. It proclaims that there is only one God (in contrast to many pagan gods). It describes how Jesus became Messiah, not only for Israel but for all peoples, and how he was "taken up in glory" to sit at the right hand of God (1 Timothy 3:16). These few lines from an ancient hymn give us a glimpse into how the early Christians worshipped. The interesting part is how similar it is to how we worship two thousand years later. Our liturgy at Mass contains many similar statements. Just think about the Creed, for example, or the Gloria. Many Christian songs contain proclamations about what Jesus did on the cross and how he rose again. These similarities are not just a coincidence. They reveal the faithfulness of God over all these centuries. Despite historical and political changes, wars and persecution, and the rise and fall of countless nations, the basic core of our faith has remained the same. God's light has continued to shine, and his praise continues to resound in the hearts of his people. This can give us great comfort. As we look at the dramatic changes unfolding in the world, we can know that the beauty and the truth of the gospel message will continue to shine. God has always been faithful to his people, and he will continue to be faithful right up to the very end. Let's take today to thank the Lord for his faithfulness. Let's thank him for touching those early Christians who passed on their faith and for touching our lives too. And the next time you sing a hymn at church or recite the Creed with your parish community, remember that God will keep his light shining, no matter what. "Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 111:1-6
Luke 7:31-35 |  clickable | I could never see why anyone in this day and age should object to the Immaculate Conception; all modern pagans believe that they are immaculately conceived. If there is no Original Sin, then everyone is immaculately conceived. Why they shrink from allowing to Mary what they attribute to themselves? ... Original Sin and the Immaculate Conception are mutually exclusive. If Mary alone is the Immaculate Conception, then the rest of us must have Original Sin.
—Ven. Fulton Sheen
from The World's First Love | my2cents:
"... if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God..."
What was it like when you were a kid and your parents weren't around? Were you the same as when they were not around? Or did you do things you shouldn't have done? Why were you not the same, or why were you the same? It becomes a matter of formation. And that formation helps us, no matter what our innate decisions have brought about. Nowadays, behavior is a big deal. Very liberal corners state that you should not attempt to change the behavior of a child, especially when dealing with sexual behavior. It is a depraved school of training. Very dark indeed. These liberal and progressive corners do not believe in gender, even though it is real. They believe that the thought of man is more. Not the thought of God. Keep this in mind as go into today's Gospel. | But first, let us pray: "How great are the works of the Lord! He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations." What has happened since the dawn of time? And time began when the Son gave light? Amen? Since the day He was born til this day, until this day, until meaning still goes on, (keep that in mind for purity), until this day, the greatest of prophets lives on, because Jesus carries the torch of victory from the prophets of old. Keep that in mind because in the Holy Gospel, the old was not accepting the new...Prophet. God Himself who saw what was good, had become depraved. And now the new was a stark difference. Let us turn now to our Lord. | Jesus says today: "'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'
The prophets of old came, Saint John The Baptist included. And the prophets of new came, JESUS and the Holy Spirit and the Father. But, the people "of God" would not listen. They hardened their hearts, just like all the other times in history.
"As it has been said: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion." Mt3:15
Beware of the false leaven.
"…So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, "Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? 18'Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?' And do you not remember?…" Mark 8:17. | From Psalm 95:8
"...if you hear His voice, 8do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness, 9where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work.…". I know you have seen God's hand at work. Otherwise, you would not be reading this to strengthen your faith. This message is clear. God is speaking. If God moves you in the good times, it is good. If He moves you in the bad times, it is good. We shall praise him from night to day. Until night becomes day and forever more. For some, faith does not seem to matter. No oil for their lamps. But you, hold steadfast, hold the light up. Let people see Christ lives.
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible."― St. Thomas Aquinas. I've no longer to explain anything to you of faith. But to those without faith? Why throw pearls to swine?
But be ready to give account and testimony to the one who asks. Pounce on the opportunity like a lion. Because the will of the soul has been opened to the light, and the light is relentless, just like water.
That makes the Way, relentless. You shall have no rest until God rests. That is the servant method.
And remember "... wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
Your children amplify your life. If you've been crooked, they will be more crooked. If you are straight, they will be more straight.
If you are faithful, they very well could be more faithful. Is this always the case? Not all. But most. And you are not done being a parent until you pass on.
So pass on this great gift of faith. This, what I've equated to great love of God. Could there be any greater inheritance? So God takes away and gives.
Gives to the meek and humble, the keys to the Kingdom. For they will find their way, always. Because they know how to serve Love. And God is Love. My Lord, My God, Jesus almighty, teach us the way, send your holy angels among us to guide us along the way, to true love, to true fidelity and holiness. We need you now, and in every breath we take. And I want to thank you Lord for every single great gift, and every soul we encounter, thy neighbor, thou has sent for the greater good. May we be a world of greater light, letting the flute and dirge direct our every move and dance, and vigil, to better praise you and honor you for being so great.... |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse 1
Phil 4:13 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Thank You Jesus | |
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