 clickable | | Our Physical Surroundings Are Holy We who tend to think of nature as nothing more than a usable commodity can learn a great deal from Francis's relationship with the environment. He teaches us the liberating truth that our physical surroundings are holy because they aren't purely physical. Instead, they're permeated through and through with the Spirit and beauty of God. In a mysterious way that the mind can't fathom but the heart knows full well, we don't just dwell in God's world. In dwelling in God's world, we also abide in God himself. —from the book Perfect Joy: 30 Days with Francis of Assisi by Kerry Walters |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"Is it not a wonderful thing, that he that is the Lord and author of all liberty, would thus be bound with ropes and nailed hand and foot unto the Cross?"
— St. John Fisher † Meditation of the Day
"We frequently need other people's help to figure out what God wants of us. It is relatively easy to sort out what is bad from what is good, but it is much more difficult to sort out what is good from what is better and what is bad from what is worse. The Holy Spirit gives us the counsel we need through external and internal signs of grace."
— Rev. Jude Winkler, p. 35
An Excerpt From † Verse of the Day
"Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
2 Timothy 3:12-15 |  click to read more | | Saint Anthony Mary Claret (December 23, 1807 – October 24, 1870)
The "spiritual father of Cuba" was a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen's chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop, and refugee. He was a Spaniard whose work took him to the Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris, and to the First Vatican Council. In his spare time as weaver and designer in the textile mills of Barcelona, Anthony learned Latin and printing: The future priest and publisher was preparing. Ordained at 28, he was prevented by ill health from entering religious life as a Carthusian or as a Jesuit, but went on to become one of Spain's most popular preachers. Anthony spent 10 years giving popular missions and retreats, always placing great emphasis on the Eucharist and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was said that his rosary was never out of his hand. At age 42, he founded a religious institute of missionaries beginning with five young priests, known today as the Claretians. Anthony was appointed to head the much-neglected archdiocese of Santiago in Cuba. He began its reform by almost ceaseless preaching and hearing of confessions, and suffered bitter opposition mainly for opposing concubinage and giving instruction to black slaves. A hired assassin—whose release from prison Anthony had obtained—slashed open his face and wrist. Anthony succeeded in getting the would-be assassin's death sentence commuted to a prison term. His solution for the misery of Cubans was family-owned farms producing a variety of foods for the family's own needs and for the market. This invited the enmity of the vested interests who wanted everyone to work on a single cash crop—sugar. Besides all his religious writings are two books he wrote in Cuba: Reflections on Agriculture and Country Delights. He was recalled to Spain for a job he did not relish—being chaplain for the queen. Anthony went on three conditions: He would reside away from the palace; he would come only to hear the queen's confession and instruct the children; and he would be exempt from court functions. In the revolution of 1868, he fled to Paris with the queen's party, where he preached to the Spanish colony. All his life Anthony was interested in the Catholic press. He founded the Religious Publishing House, a major Catholic publishing venture in Spain, and wrote or published 200 books and pamphlets. At Vatican I, where he was a staunch defender of the doctrine of infallibility, Anthony won the admiration of his fellow bishops. Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore remarked of him, "There goes a true saint." At the age of 63, he died in exile near the border of Spain.
Reflection Jesus foretold that those who are truly his representatives would suffer the same persecution as he did. Besides 14 attempts on his life, Anthony had to undergo such a barrage of the ugliest slander that the very name Claret became a byword for humiliation and misfortune. The powers of evil do not easily give up their prey. No one needs to go looking for persecution. All we need to do is be sure we suffer because of our genuine faith in Christ, not for our own whims and lack of prudence.
Saint Anthony Mary Claret is Patron Saint of: Weavers | Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Rom 6:19-23 Brothers and sisters:
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature.
For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity
and to lawlessness for lawlessness,
so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
But what profit did you get then
from the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
the benefit that you have leads to sanctification,
and its end is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 R.(Ps 40:5) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Alleluia Phil 3:8-9 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 12:49-53 Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Romans 6:19-23 Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Optional Memorial) You . . . have become slaves of God. (Romans 6:22) Slavery is a terrible evil. It always has been, and it always will be. To be enslaved means to suffer physically and emotionally. Slaves have no freedom; they are not their own person. So why in the world would Paul call himself and other Christians "slaves of God" (Romans 6:22)? And why would he say that Jesus took "the form of a slave" when he became man (Philippians 2:7)? This is yet another example of how the Bible takes our expectations and our philosophies and turns them upside down. The first thing to remember is that Jesus came into the world to free us from sin, the slavery that every human being experiences. And second, God gave us the gift of free will, so the last thing he wants is to take it away. Instead, he lets us choose whether or not to follow him and how we will serve him—if we serve him at all. This is exactly why Paul tells us to present ourselves by our own choice as "slaves to righteousness" (Romans 6:19). He urges us to freely choose to follow God's commands and seek his will. Still, why would anyone who has been freed from one kind of slavery—slavery to sin—want to enter into another oppressive, life-threatening form of slavery? They wouldn't! The slavery that Paul has in mind is completely different. It's a slavery of love. It's service born out of gratitude and humility, not out of coercion and abuse. It's a voluntary gift of our lives to God, who has given us everything. This is the kind of slavery that we choose every day. Each time we feel tempted but turn to the Lord anyway, we are choosing it. When we make sacrifices for our families that prevent us from doing whatever we want, we are choosing it. When we hold our tongues, choose to forgive, or say no to resentment, we are choosing it. And the result? "Eternal life" (Romans 6:23)! Serving God freely is one of the greatest gifts we can offer him. It's also the only gift that has a priceless return. Every day we can tell him, "I want to serve you, Lord. I want to obey you. Thank you for loving me so deeply. It's my privilege to love you in return." "Lord, show me how to use my freedom to serve you." Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Luke 12:49-53 |  clickable | Both prayer and Bible reading are ways of listening to God. They should blend: our prayer should be biblical and our Bible reading prayerful.
—Peter Kreeft
from You Can Understand the Bible | my2cents:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Wages of righteousness, wages of holiness, wages of doing God's will is availing the gift of eternal life. This gift is in no comparison to anything the world can offer. Eternal life has no price tag, yet, we put a price tag on it...by crucifying our Lord when He appeared in the flesh. How can you put a price on eternity? And what will eternal life be like? The only way to find out is to take the the chalice of Christ. | Let us pray: "Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord."
I told my 9th graders last night in class to make friends and communities in Christ, to be with each other, otherwise, other friends will take them elsewhere. I made a couple man friends, now we don't get together as we ought anymore, apparently he has found another friend, but they are friends in church, and that's all I care about....lest you get cold. Lest...you lose the Way. | In the Holy Gospel, our Lord said "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!"
ME TOO!
The book of Revelation says "…I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! 16 So because you are lukewarm— neither hot nor cold— I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.…"
You will be found hot, on fire, lit up, or you will be found cold.
Cold hearted. Cold in the dark. They say Dante's hell speaks of a cold hell.
The book of Revelation talks about a lake of fire, but it is the second death "14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death— the lake of fire. 15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.…". | At our parish, in these funerals we do, we ask the family of the departed to sign a book, and Father calls it a book of life. The names are written and attested to, we have offered a sacrifice for them, the ultimate prayer on earth...the Holy Mass.
Our Lord continues: "Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?" Think again!
Because of His Word On Fire, many purification are taking place. There is much suffering. They say purgatory burns like hell. I bet many believe they are in hell.
They say we can pray for those souls. A novena starts soon, 9 days to All Souls Day. Will we care enough to offer a novena now for them?
I think we should care.
That is a burning heart. That is a soul on fire!
I Want you to feel the good burn. The warmth of Christ in your heart.
I want you to move mountains, make the impossible the possible.
If you burn for Christ, you will show the light. And how will you know you are burning?
By having lots of followers and conversions?
Wouldn't you like to know to inflate your big head huh?
No.
You will know when the devil sends out a message to you "I hate you", and "Here comes Mr. Holy Roller".
Then you will know you are on to something! Like fire!
Take it as a compliment. Read between the lines.
And be careful when people compliment your ministry, it is a guise in disguise, a ploy to inflate your head.
They are making a movie about today's saint, and it is titled "Poor and on Foot" (Pobre Y A Pie).
Good title. Good saint. Poor means something beautiful. On Foot, means always on the go.
My purpose to write to you is to encourage you to be on foot and poor.
God loves you so much for it.
He is asking me to tell you that message today. HE LOVES YOU for it. |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse 1
Romans 15:4 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. and Proverbs 21:17
The lover of pleasure will suffer want;
the lover of wine and perfume will never be rich. Thank You Jesus |  New Movie On Today's Saint releasing in 2020 | | |
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