 clickable | | We Are Only Given This Day What if we could place a meal on the table differently and then hear, finally, the simple things—laughter, rain, and the smell of the sea? What if the dark is spilling the impossible blue on each one who passes by, breaking our hearts open until we see that everything gleams with light—until we are no longer able to "pass by like a dream?" A single sentence, a single word keeps turning life over. We are only given this day. —from the book Stars at Night: When Darkness Unfolds as Night |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me."
— St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"The Spirit of God is a spirit of peace, and he speaks and acts in peace and gentleness, never in tumult and agitation. What's more, the motions of the Spirit are delicate touches that don't make a great noise and can penetrate our spiritual consciousness only if we have within ourselves a sort of calm zone of silence and peace. If our inner world is noisy and agitated, the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit will find it very difficult to be heard. If we want to recognize and follow the Spirit's motions, it is of the greatest importance to maintain a peaceful heart in all circumstances."
— Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 37
AN EXCERPT FROM
In the School of the Holy Spirit † VERSE OF THE DAY
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:13-14 |  click to read more | | ST. ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769–1852) was born in Grenoble, France, to a wealthy and prominent family. At the age of 18 she joined the Visitation nuns against the wishes of her family, taking her religious name after St. Rose of Lima and St. Philip Neri. During the anti-religious fervor of French Revolution, the "Reign of Terror," her convent was shut down. She then took up the work of providing care for the sick, hiding priests from the revolutionaries, and educating homeless children. When the tensions of the revolution subsided, she rented out her old convent in an attempt to revive her religious order, but the spirit was gone. She and the few remaining nuns of her convent then joined the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since childhood St. Rose Philippine had had a strong desire to do missionary work in the New World, especially among the Native Americans. This was realized in 1818 when she and four nuns traveled across the Atlantic, a journey of eleven weeks, and another seven weeks up the Mississipi river to serve in one of the remotest outposts in the region in St. Charles, Missouri. St. Rose Philippine was a hardy pioneer woman ministering in the Midwest during its difficult frontier days. She opened several schools and served the Potawatomi Indians who gave her the name "Quah-kah-ka-num-ad," meaning, "Woman-who-prays-always." Her feast day is November 18th. | Dedication of Churches of Saints Peter and Paul Saint of the Day for November 18 St. Peter's is probably the most famous church in Christendom. Massive in scale and a veritable museum of art and architecture, it began on a much humbler scale. Vatican Hill was a simple cemetery where believers gathered at Saint Peter's tomb to pray. In 319, Constantine built a basilica on the site that stood for more than a thousand years until, despite numerous restorations, it threatened to collapse. In 1506, Pope Julius II ordered it razed and reconstructed, but the new basilica was not completed and dedicated for more than two centuries. St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls stands near the Abaazia delle Tre Fontane, where Saint Paul is believed to have been beheaded. The largest church in Rome until St. Peter's was rebuilt, the basilica also rises over the traditional site of its namesake's grave. The most recent edifice was constructed after a fire in 1823. The first basilica was also Constantine's doing. Constantine's building projects enticed the first of a centuries-long parade of pilgrims to Rome. From the time the basilicas were first built until the empire crumbled under "barbarian" invasions, the two churches, although miles apart, were linked by a roofed colonnade of marble columns.
Reflection Peter, the rough fisherman whom Jesus named the rock on which the Church is built, and the educated Paul, reformed persecutor of Christians, Roman citizen, and missionary to the gentiles, are the original odd couple. The major similarity in their faith-journeys is the journey's end: both, according to tradition, died a martyr's death in Rome—Peter on a cross and Paul beneath the sword. Their combined gifts shaped the early Church and believers have prayed at their tombs from the earliest days. | Dedication of Churches of Saints Peter and Paul Saint of the Day for November 18 St. Peter's is probably the most famous church in Christendom. Massive in scale and a veritable museum of art and architecture, it began on a much humbler scale. Vatican Hill was a simple cemetery where believers gathered at Saint Peter's tomb to pray. In 319, Constantine built a basilica on the site that stood for more than a thousand years until, despite numerous restorations, it threatened to collapse. In 1506, Pope Julius II ordered it razed and reconstructed, but the new basilica was not completed and dedicated for more than two centuries. St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls stands near the Abaazia delle Tre Fontane, where Saint Paul is believed to have been beheaded. The largest church in Rome until St. Peter's was rebuilt, the basilica also rises over the traditional site of its namesake's grave. The most recent edifice was constructed after a fire in 1823. The first basilica was also Constantine's doing. Constantine's building projects enticed the first of a centuries-long parade of pilgrims to Rome. From the time the basilicas were first built until the empire crumbled under "barbarian" invasions, the two churches, although miles apart, were linked by a roofed colonnade of marble columns.
Reflection Peter, the rough fisherman whom Jesus named the rock on which the Church is built, and the educated Paul, reformed persecutor of Christians, Roman citizen, and missionary to the gentiles, are the original odd couple. The major similarity in their faith-journeys is the journey's end: both, according to tradition, died a martyr's death in Rome—Peter on a cross and Paul beneath the sword. Their combined gifts shaped the early Church and believers have prayed at their tombs from the earliest days. | Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 497
Reading 1 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 [From the descendants of Alexander's officers]
there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,
son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.
He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven
of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there appeared in Israel
men who were breakers of the law,
and they seduced many people, saying:
"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
The proposal was agreeable;
some from among the people promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to introduce the way of living
of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem
according to the Gentile custom.
They covered over the mark of their circumcision
and abandoned the holy covenant;
they allied themselves with the Gentiles
and sold themselves to wrongdoing. Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
each abandoning his particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;
they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-five,
the king erected the horrible abomination
upon the altar of burnt offerings
and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,
and whoever observed the law,
was condemned to death by royal decree.
But many in Israel were determined
and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food
or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
Terrible affliction was upon Israel. Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158 R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Alleluia Jn 8:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 (USA) Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin (Optional Memorial) Many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts. (1 Maccabees 1:62) Do you remember the image of the twenty-one Coptic Christian men in orange jumpsuits? They were lined up on a beach, kneeling and about to be martyred for their faith. It was a stark reminder that the kind of persecution depicted in today's first reading is still happening today. The first Book of Maccabees begins tragically. Some Israelites had decided to go along with a pagan king's efforts to destroy the Jewish religion and "seduced" other Jews to join them (1:11). As a result, many abandoned the faith—but not all. Some remained "determined and resolved" not to forsake the Lord (1:62). And for their faith, they were put to death. Most of us don't face this kind of persecution. We are not forced to choose between God and our communities, our rights, or even life itself. But some of our brothers and sisters do face these kinds of choices: • Of the 70 million Christians who have been martyred in the course of history, more than half were martyred in the twentieth century. • 322 Christians are killed for their faith every month. • 105 churches are destroyed every month. • 722 forms of violence are committed against Christians every month. • Christians in more than 60 countries face some form of persecution. Such widespread violence can make us feel powerless. But we can help! We can support organizations that defend persecuted Christians. And just as important, we can pray. We are connected to our persecuted brothers and sisters by the bonds of Baptism and faith. When they suffer, the whole body of Christ suffers—including us. But if we join our prayers to theirs, Jesus will hear our cries and answer us. At the same time, we can also pray for the people who are persecuting Christians. God wants everyone to turn to him, even those who have committed the worst atrocities. May they all come to know the saving love and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord! "Jesus, hear the cries of your people. Convert the hearts of those who are persecuting them." Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
Luke 18:35-43 |  clickable | Very often in prayer we do not have a deep sense of the presence of God. … Really, we are very much like children that are carried in mother's arms. If we are carried in Our Lord's arms, we rarely see His face. But we know it is there.
—Ven. Fulton Sheen
from Prayer is a Dialogue | my2cents:
"In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people..."
Misery loves company they say. And the foul seduction is laid out as a snare ...for faith. Nowadays, what do these seductions look like? They look like things that ask for you to give into the world, in the name of "peace", but this is a false prophet of peace. Eventually, this so called "peace" costs something...a surrendering of faith. Eventually, it would call on an annihilation of all things Church, take for instance, the French Revolution, and the times of the Maccabees in the old Testament. It calls for a trade ultimately, like your soul, for momentary happiness. It is strange how we think we are free, yet we are so persecuted. "You are to religious" they say, and they hate you for standing up for what we believe. They want you to bow down to what they say. Their idols. Their idealism. Their gods. It is time for a change...or face a collapse. It is always the appropriate time for a conversion. | Let us pray: "Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Indignation seizes me because of the wicked who forsake your law." The wicked have been around since the beginning. It becomes a matter of who can win the battle on earth, for this is the church militant. They will attempt to wear you out. Faith is being proven. Will you relax? Will you give up? Will you, give in? Many have, and many do. But a few have become beacons, light towers in the storms. And the storms will subside, they don't last forever. | In the Holy Gospel, we heard "Son of David, have pity on me!"
Have mercy on me.
It was the cry of the 10 lepers, and now the cry of the blind.
Most often, we can associate a miracle from Christ, to some great meaning, of things of the past being restored, to today's living life, and what is to come in the future.
So what do we see?
We see Mercy, amen? | God was merciful then, and He is merciful now, and will be merciful tomorrow.
Today, I see people turn their backs on our Lord. Yesterday some did so, and some came into faith. More have died than have come in.
What does this mean? It means much if you want to see.
Our Lord approached the blind and said ""What do you want me to do for you?"
And the prayer continued from the blind "Lord LET ME SEE".
That's when it happened, with the Word of Christ ", "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
Have sight. Now see what the Hand of God has wrought and brought.
Your faith can move mountains, and this is proof.
Has saved, said our Lord, your Faith has saved you.
Have faith. Have sight.
Now, the important part wasn't so much as the miracle, but salvation, and what happened after the healing...so we heard "He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God."
A conversion happened. Not only for him, but for all who witnessed what transpired. "...all gave praise to God".
So what's it going to take for us to see and help others see?
They announced "JESUS IS COMING" and the blind believed.
We must announce always, JESUS IS COMING.
Now you may begin to call out and help others calling out for help.
Bring them to Jesus.
Carry them to Jesus. Open the roof, haul them up the roof, do whatever it takes, because Jesus is Here. He will not leave us alone.
Not even when the cross is too heavy. That's when He comes in all the more....
I LOVE YOU
Do Not Be Afraid
All these things have to be, but take heart,
Psalm 31:24
…23Love the LORD, all His saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but fully repays the arrogant. 24Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD. |  hear it read | adrian Random bible verse
Romans 10:17
7 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
->Thank You Jesus<-
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