 clickable | | The Blessed Mother's Love and Care A statue of Mary is carried through the crowd in 2013 at the Marian shrine of Fatima in central Portugal. (CNS photoPaulo Cunha, EPA)We can all understand the universal care of our Mother in Heaven for us or, at the very least, the longing for that spiritual motherly care in our lives. The Blessed Mother's love and care is especially healing for those whose own biological mothers were unwilling or unable to provide authentic self-giving love. Mother Mary loves us all with a pure, selfless, and steadfast motherly love. She tirelessly calls to our hearts and souls. Her utmost aim is to bring us to her Son. Mother Mary's care is rooted in the Holy Spirit. —from the book Our Lady of Fatima: 100 Years of Stories, Prayers and Devotions by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote "Heaven is filled with converted sinners of all kinds, and there is room for more."
— St. Joseph Cafasso †Meditation of the Day
"The reason why the soul not only travels securely when in obscurity, but also makes greater progress, is this: In general the soul makes greater progress in the spiritual life when it least thinks so, yea, when it rather imagines that it is losing everything ...There is another reason also why the soul has traveled safely in this obscurity; it has suffered: for the way of suffering is safer, and also more profitable, than that of rejoicing and of action. In suffering God gives strength, but in action and in joy the soul does but show its own weakness and imperfections. And in suffering, the soul practices and acquires virtue, and becomes pure, wiser, and more cautious."
— St. John of the Cross, p.149
An Excerpt From
Dark Night of the Soul †Verse of the Day
"O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us."
Isaiah 26:12
Saint of the Day |  click to read more | | St. Matthias the Apostle St. Matthias the Apostle (1st c.) followed Jesus during his entire earthly ministry and was one of his 72 disciples. Matthias was chosen by the 11 Apostles to replace Judas Iscariot after his betrayal of Christ and subsequent suicide. After Christ's Ascension into heaven, St. Matthias devoted himself to preaching Christianity among the pagans, some of them barbarians and cannibals, all over Judea, Cappadocia, and Ethiopia for over 30 years. Many miracles are ascribed to him as the pagans sought to kill him: that he was unharmed after being forced to drink poison, that he once hid by becoming invisible, and that the earth opened up and swallowed his attackers. St. Matthias also preached the need for mortification of the flesh as an aid to growth in holiness. Eventually, at God's appointed time, he was martyred for the cause of Christ, though there are conflicting traditions as to exactly where and how. St. Matthias is the patron saint of carpenters, tailors, and reformed alcoholics. His feast day is May 14th. | Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle Reading 1 Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters
(there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons
in the one place).
He said, "My brothers and sisters,
the Scripture had to be fulfilled
which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand
through the mouth of David, concerning Judas,
who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.
Judas was numbered among us
and was allotted a share in this ministry.
For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate,
and may no one dwell in it.
and:
May another take his office. Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men
who accompanied us the whole time
the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
beginning from the baptism of John
until the day on which he was taken up from us,
become with us a witness to his resurrection."
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas,
who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Then they prayed,
"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all,
show which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this apostolic ministry
from which Judas turned away to go to his own place."
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias,
and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles. Responsorial Psalm Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 R.(8) The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
To seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia See Jn 15:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love. "I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."
| Meditation: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 Saint Matthias, Apostle (Feast) May another take his office. (Acts 1:20) You probably know the story in today's first reading already. Jesus had chosen twelve apostles, a way of mirroring and fulfilling the role of the original twelve tribes of Israel. But when Judas betrayed him and then took his own life, a gap in the number of apostles opened up. So when the remaining apostles selected two possible candidates and sought God in prayer, he chose Matthias to be the new twelfth apostle. God loves to fill in gaps, just as he did with St. Matthias. Whether it's the gap between him and you, an empty place in your heart, or the distance between what you believe and how you behave, God delights in closing them all. You might say that's what living life in the Spirit is all about. But there's another kind of gap God loves to address. Does it seem like there's something "missing" in your parish? Maybe the flowers around the altar look like they're not getting enough water. Maybe the selection of music seems limited. Single people might feel left out of family-related activities, or you notice too little emphasis on serving the poor. If you notice something lacking, that's a good indication that it's on God's heart as well. And it's also quite possible that he wants you to do something about it. So instead of becoming discouraged or worrying about the problem, ask him if there's something you could do to help fill that gap. God is endlessly creative, and he may have ideas for you that you never would have thought up yourself. If you play an instrument, he may be asking you to offer to accompany the choir. He may prompt you to invite people into your home for a Bible study. Or he may inspire you to organize an intercessory prayer ministry among those who are homebound. God used Matthias to fill a clear gap among the apostles. Are there ways he wants to use you? Think about the "gaps" you notice in your church. Then see if the Holy Spirit is inviting you to do something. "Father, thank you for the full life you want all your children to experience. Is there a gap you want me to help fill in?" Psalm 113:1-8
John 15:9-17 |  clickable | Humility means that God, being the creator, the Lord of the universe, has hidden himself under a baby, under a piece of bread—and I must say that this is what fascinates me also about Jesus.
—FR. RANIERO CANTALAMESSA, OFM CAP,
Preacher to the Papal Household
from Sign of Contradiction | 2cents:
"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen..."
So many. 120 to choose from. It boils down to 2 men, and then a prayer. Who will continue the mission of the Apostle? Who will be chosen to go to the ends of the earth? And to your end? | We pray: "Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people." When things hit the nitty gritty in church, immediately people want to hit up the priest and then the Bishop. Much is entrusted on them...but what about us? What is our part? My job is to help do all my part, not throw everything on them. Too often I hear everything blamed on the priests or bishops, i.e., "Why aren't the youth involved?" Blame the priest / bishop. "Why can't we get a building or fix this?" Blame the priest / bishop/ "Why can't I get transformed and on fire?" Blame the priest / bishop. We can blame and point fingers all day can't we? | Let us turn to the Lord today, see what our Lord says: "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain" TADA! There we have it. Who is to bear fruit? Fruit that will remain? Fruit of Love? Who? Who will keep His commandments? Who will lay down their lives for one's friend? Who is your friend? Would you lay down your life for that friend? And I'm talking about your friend our Lord! Who lays their life for our Lord? Who dies for Him? Eek. Now we hitting the nitty gritty. Amen? Who chooses to die to sin? Who chooses to let themselves be slaughtered in daily ministry? Who lets themselves be second? Who shows the way of true love? YIKEs! Enough said? No. We must go on. Love costs, and love hurts. We must be that sacrificial love of God in the world. The kind that chooses to stay onboard rather than give up. The kind that says "you know...this is worth it...Jesus is worth every last drop of blood of mine".
And that return to the Lord is praise and exaltation in Heaven. He loves you every day. He does more than you will ever know. Let us pray:
Lord, Heavenly Father, we need you so much. We need to bear fruit of great love. Love fruit from above. Help us prune ourselves of dead weight, the kind of sinfulness we divulge into. Help us raise up in glory for you, and forever give you honor and praise. We ask this in your Holy Name Jesus. |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
2 Samuel 7:28 (Listen) 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Thank You Jesus | |
