 clickable | | Surviving Stormy Seas When I shall have arrived at port, I will teach you how to travel, dear little brother of my soul, on the stormy sea of the world: with the surrender and the love of a child who knows his Father loves him and cannot leave him alone in the hour of danger… The way of simple love and confidence is really made for you. — Autobiography of a Soul | Epilogue —from the book The Way of Simple Love: Inspiring Words from Therese of Lisieux by Father Gary |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"[Jesus'] body was for Him not a limitation, but an instrument, so that He was both in it and in all things, and outside all things, resting in the Father above. At one and the same time - this is the wonder - as man He was a human life, and as Word He was sustaining the life of the universe, and as Son He was in constant union with the Father."
— St. Athanasius of Alexandria † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Prayer, for me, is simply a raising of the heart, a simple glance towards Heaven, an expression of love and gratitude in the midst of trial, as well as in times of joy; in a word, it is something noble and supernatural expanding my soul and uniting it to God. Whenever my soul is so dry that I am incapable of a single good thought, I always say an Our Father or a Hail Mary very slowly, and these prayers alone cheer me up and nourish my soul with divine food."
— St. Therese of Lisieux, p. 141
AN EXCERPT FROM
Story of a Soul † VERSE OF THE DAY
Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
John 18:37 |  click to read more | | ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) was the last of nine children born to Saints Louis and Zelie Martin in Alencon, France. Her family was devoutly religious, and all five surviving siblings, all daughters, entered the convent. From an early age Therese desired to give herself totally to Jesus. Her happy childhood gave way to trial following the death of her mother when she was four years old. This event changed her personality from merry and bright to withdrawn and sensitive. She also suffered a strange illness that brought her near death. Her sisters prayed for her recovery, and Therese was completely healed after she saw the Virgin Mary statue in her room smile down on her. Just before her 14th birthday, on Christmas Eve, Therese had a mystical experience of the Child Jesus. Her sensitiveness disappeared and her faith was greatly fortified. She attended daily Mass with her father and cultivated her strong desire for the salvation of souls. At the age of 15 she obtained special permission to enter the Carmelite convent in Lisieux where two of her sisters were professed. Recognizing her youth and weakness, and unable to do the great things for God in the world that her heart desired, she determined that she would follow the path of spiritual childhood at the feet of Jesus, as his "Little Flower", and instead focus on small acts of kindness for love of Jesus and interior acts of self-denial, a spirituality called "The Little Way." Therese died of Tuberculosis at the age of 24, and her high degree of holiness was discovered through her autobiography, Story of a Soul. Her "Little Way" became profoundly influential around the world, and although she was not a learned scholar, her deep theological life caused Pope St. John Paul II to declare her a Doctor of the Church. She is the patron against sickness, tuberculosis, and loss of parents, as well as of pilots, air crews, florists, missionaries, and the sick. St. Therese of Lisieux's feast day is October 1st. Reflection
Thérèse has much to teach our age of the image, the appearance, the "self." We have become a dangerously self-conscious people, painfully aware of the need to be fulfilled, yet knowing we are not. Thérèse, like so many saints, sought to serve others, to do something outside herself, to forget herself in quiet acts of love. She is one of the great examples of the gospel paradox that we gain our life by losing it, and that the seed that falls to the ground must die in order to live. Preoccupation with self separates modern men and women from God, from their fellow human beings, and ultimately from themselves. We must re-learn to forget ourselves, to contemplate a God who draws us out of ourselves, and to serve others as the ultimate expression of selfhood. These are the insights of Saint Thérèse, and they are more valid today than ever.
Saint Thérèse is the Patron Saint of: Florists
Missionaries
Pilots
Priests | Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Zec 8:20-23 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
There shall yet come peoples,
the inhabitants of many cities;
and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,
and say, "Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD";
and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."
Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Responsorial Psalm Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (Zec 8:23) God is with us.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
"This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say: "One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD."
R. God is with us.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
"This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
"My home is within you." R. God is with us. Alleluia Mk 10:45 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 9:51-56 When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village. | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Luke 9:51-56 St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (Memorial) They entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there. (Luke 9:52) Maybe you've heard this expression: "The Queen thinks the world smells of fresh paint." No, there's nothing wrong with the Queen of England's nose. It's just that, when she visits a town, her people make sure the locals work hard to spruce things up. The landscaping is freshly groomed. Highways are swept clean. Painters splash color onto walls. Everyone tries to look their best for their monarch. Contrast this with Jesus. When he sent messengers ahead into Samaria, he didn't instruct them to beautify it—not even to renovate the local religious practices. He simply told them to proclaim good news: Jesus the King was coming to visit (Luke 9:6). But when James and John encountered opposition in one particular village, their tempers flared. They had missed that Jesus was prepared to enter these villagers' messy lives with the power to heal them. Just like the messengers in today's Gospel, Jesus is sending you out "ahead" of his coming. Your assignment is to help prepare the people around you for his reception. It's not as hard as you might think. First, focus on loving people right where they are. Don't wait for them to renovate their lives. And don't pressure or nag them either. Trust that Jesus can use your small acts of kindness and love to prepare them for a deeper relationship with him. Second, bring good news. When the time is right, share about the difference Jesus has made in your life. Finally, don't be offended if people aren't ready to hear about Jesus. After all, Jesus didn't hold a grudge against the Samaritans. He even healed a Samaritan leper (Luke 17:16)! Then, after Jesus' resurrection, his disciples went again into Samaria to proclaim the gospel (Acts 8:25). So keep sowing seeds of love in the people around you. And pray for a harvest! In time, they will be ready to receive their King. "Lord, please use my small acts of love to prepare your way." Zechariah 8:20-23
Psalm 87:1-7 |  clickable | Lucifer no longer has a monopoly dominion over humanity. He does not. We can fight back. We can be free. Free through the Cross, Baptism, Faith, Hope, and Love.
—ROBERT HADDAD
from The Devil in the Details | my2cents:
"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."
We follow faithful people. If it were not the case, we would not follow saints, their ways, their sayings, modern day prophets if you will. And we would not follow daily Scripture. We would then, not follow the Lord Himself! Amen? But, we do follow hope. We do follow Christ. We do follow in complete faith. I believe that is the basis of our lives. And faith is a gift to receive in gratitude, cultivating it, working with it, always making it greater. | We pray today: "They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: "This man was born there." And all shall sing, in their festive dance: "My home is within you.". God is with us." I am already thinking of Emmanuel. I am already thinking of the great Noel. I am already thinking of the day our Lord said "I will always be with you" and then ascended into Heaven. If we are gathered in prayer, in His name, He is already there. Believe! Believe that what is going on is transitory. In a transition state. We are forming, as if in the womb. And this is the greatness of life on earth. To be able to sense and hear things on the outside of the womb, but we have not seen until we are born. And to be born, we must leave the womb. Leave life as you know it. | In the Holy Gospel today, we heard "...they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem." It is as if they turned their backs on the Lord. Once they heard where He was going they were like "oh no, we don't want no trouble" so they locked their doors on Him. Why is it like that? Cowards? No Grace. No fortitude. No Courage. No gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit empower us to deepen our intimacy with God and to participate in His Divine Life. Three of the Gifts enhance our will – our ability to choose what is good even when the choice gets difficult: Piety, Fortitude, and Fear of the Lord. These gifts strengthen our ability to choose the ultimate good with the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Can it be that when we want something we are good kids, but when we are asked for something, we say no? A people of convenience? What if what God asks don't fit your wants or desires? What if it calls for true...sacrifice? What if it calls for something down right scary? Who then will sing "Here I Am Lord"? | ""Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?"
Now what in the word!? What are the disciples saying here? Like Sodom and Gomorrah fire and brimstone? Call down God's wrath! Like Jonah! Asking for the place to be annihilated? Instead of....mercy?
What did Jesus do? He rebukes them just like He rebukes the devil speaking through Peter "Get Behind Me Satan". And in Matthew 9:13 our Lord says" But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
YIKES! Sacrifice was mercy itself! WHOA! Be merciful to those who hate you. Be merciful to those who turn their backs on you. Be merciful to hose who pluck your beard all for the name of Jesus. That is not only mercy, but true love. Lord help us. We need grace to have the Holy Spirit. We need true love from above to shine and show the way. Lord, please, we all have our problems but may our problems but that we love you too much! If that is possible, make it possible to shine that light ever more in our daily living and dying.... |  hear it read | adrian
Random Bible Verse 1
Galatians 6:9–10 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. WOW!! Thank You Jesus | |
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