 clickable | | Our Common Horizon Just as in each of our lives, we always need to begin again, to get up again, to rediscover the meaning of the goal of our lives, so also for the great human family it is always necessary to rediscover the common horizon toward which we are journeying.… The model of this spiritual disposition, of this way of being and journeying in life, is the Virgin Mary. A simple girl from the country who carries within her heart the fullness of hope in God! In her womb, God's hope took flesh, it became man, it became history: Jesus Christ. Her Magnificat is the canticle of the People of God on a journey, and of all men and women who hope in God and in the power of his mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be guided by her, she who is Mother, a Mamma, and knows how to guide us. —from Mother Mary: Inspiring Words from Pope Francis |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"Faith is a habit of the mind whereby eternal life is begun in us, making the intellect assent to what is non-apparent."
— St. Thomas Aquinas † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Very pleasing to Me, dearest daughter, is the willing desire to bear every pain and fatigue, even unto death, for the salvation of souls, for the more the soul endures, the more she shows that she loves Me; loving Me she comes to know more of My truth, and the more she knows, the more pain and intolerable grief she feels at the offenses committed against me."
— God to St. Catherine of Siena, p. 9
AN EXCERPT FROM
Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways."
Psalm 119:1-3 |  click to read more | | BL. ANTONIA MESINA Blessed Antonia Mesina (1919-1935) was one of ten children born to a poor family on the island of Sardinia in Italy. Being the second oldest child, she had to leave school to help with the family chores after her mother became bedridden, a task which she accepted with obedience, humility, and joy. Antonia's mother referred to her daughter as "the flower of my life." Antonia was also active in her parish, joining the Young Women of Catholic Action organization at the age of ten and encouraging others to do the same. On May 17, 1935, while in the forest with a friend gathering firewood, Antonia was assaulted by a teenage boy who attempted to rape her. Her friend ran for help while Antonia bravely defended herself against her attacker. The young man, unable to achieve his goal due to her continuous resistance, brutally attacked Antonia with dozens of blows with a rock. By the time help arrived, it was too late. Antonia died at the age of sixteen. The entire town accompanied her body to the site of her burial. She is considered a martyr of sexual purity, and was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1987. Her story has been likened to that of St. Maria Goretti. Blessed Antonia Messina is the patron of rape victims. Her feast day is May 17th. | Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 13:26-33 When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:
"My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,
and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets
that are read sabbath after sabbath.
For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,
they asked Pilate to have him put to death,
and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,
they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead,
and for many days he appeared to those
who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
These are now his witnesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you
that what God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus,
as it is written in the second psalm,
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you." Responsorial Psalm Ps 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab R.(7bc) You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 14:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
| Meditation: John 14:1-6 4th Week of Easter I am going to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2) A teenage girl who was the youngest of eight children had waited for years to have a room of her own. For her sixteenth birthday, her busy mom secretly sewed a beautiful comforter with matching curtains. When the girl arrived home from school on her birthday, she discovered her new room decorated in yellow and pink, her favorite colors. It was a place prepared just for her! Today's Gospel reading is typically used for funeral liturgies. Jesus has ascended to heaven and is preparing a place for us when we pass from this life to the next. But there's more to this promise than the guarantee of a heavenly home. Jesus is also telling his disciples that he has prepared a place for each of them on earth, in his kingdom, as it breaks out all around them. Jesus has prepared a place for you—here and now—as well. Just as that mother decorated a place for her daughter, Jesus has fashioned a niche all your own where you can flourish and thrive. It's a spot uniquely suited to your personality, gifts, and abilities. It's the place where you can become an effective coworker with him in building his Father's kingdom. So where is this place? Take a moment to consider where it may be at this time in your life. Whether it's in your parish or in your workplace or at home with your children, you can rest assured that it has been tailor-made just for you. It's the place where you can best radiate God's love and mercy to the people around you. Believe too that in your special place, Jesus is there with you, working in you and alongside you. His constant presence can sustain you, even when you face obstacles and hardships. It can give you wisdom and insight to help you fulfill your calling. It can give you energy and hope when you feel depleted. And best of all, Jesus' presence can fill you with joy as you await the time when you inherit that special place he has prepared for you in heaven! "Jesus, thank you for the place you have fashioned for me here on earth—and for the place you are preparing for me in heaven." Acts 13:26-33
Psalm 2:6-11 |  clickable | The Church is a house with a hundred gates; and no two men enter at exactly the same angle.
—G.K. Chesterton
from The Catholic Church and Conversion | 2cents:
"These are now his witnesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you..."
A witness was asked to speak. Now it was on the people to reject or believe. He gave witness of the resurrected Christ. Can you give this kind of powerful witness? Our Lord Jesus said at one time ""Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Be blessed. Believing without seeing calls for a special blessing from Heaven. Let us go there. | We pray "And now, O kings, give heed; take warning, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him; with trembling rejoice. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you". Rulers must serve. Are you a ruler? Or are you thinking of the presidents and kings of the nations? You rule. You are given a certain authority. What are you doing with that? Are you the dictator covering your own, or are you looking to show the way of salvation? Like our Lord and savior? Let us turn to Him always. | Our Lord says today: ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. "
Jesus asks one thing today "Have Faith". Twice in a row He said it. Have faith. But, but, but! How many buts do we insert after that command from Heaven? How many doubts do you put before His command? As I was putting together today's email for you, the readings and all, I got a call that one of our guys fell off a truck and I needed to call an ambulance. Have faith. Right? But, but now what, what if this or that happens. All sorts of doubts and worries cross my mind as an employer, as a friend of the man, a fellow Knight of Columbus, a brother in Christ. Have faith. But!! And then about 2 or 3 other problems are thrown right after that. How can a person handle these things? Grace. God has a place prepared....for those who have a place prepared for Him. He seeks to dwell in you if you seek to dwell with Him. So many times I feel so relaxed in front of the Blessed Sacrament, I wish to just sleep there, even live there. I say this as I can't forget a beautiful soul, Deacon Manuel Luevano. An abandoned child, half chinese but looks like a big Mexican, always ridiculed, unlearned, illiterate, gangster life he took as often do these types of folks left to their own whims. He accepted a challenge, to go to a cursillo...there He met Christ. He fell in love with Christ our Lord and our Father. He remained with Christ. Christ dwelled in him. Manual cried and sang during his powerful talks in cursillos and retreats. A beautiful story of redemption. He died this week. I believe from 2 months of complications after a car accident where some guys were robbing others and were speeding through an intersection and struck him, nearly killing him onsite. Choices. So often our choices bring life ... or death. Every little choice makes all the difference in the world. To dwell, to remain, or not. Let us decide to choose Life as Moses said, so our people will live...forever.
Open your hearts to one another...that is Christ |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Zechariah 7:9-10 (Listen) 9 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." Thank You Jesus | |
