 clickable | | Like Mary, We Bring Christ to the World Francis recognized that there are two moments in our life with God. There is the moment when we are passive, when God's grace overwhelms us, when we are forgiven, when we receive our new life in Christ. At this moment God is active; God does for us what we could never do for ourselves. But there is another moment when we become active, when we respond to God's grace, when we become sources of blessing in the lives of others, when we share the new life we have received, namely, Christ. We are then the Mothers of Christ. We receive Christ as Mary did, by God's grace, but then like Mary we are to bring Christ forth, to present Christ to a world in need. Francis' Marian spirituality was not limited to singing Mary's praises. It moved Francis to action, to share with those in need. Our shrines to Mary ought to be the shelters for the homeless who share her poverty. Our words in praise of Mary ought to be the words and deeds we say and do to bring an end to war and terrorism in the name of the Queen of Peace. Our pilgrimages in her honor might be a walk for the poor. And although Francis' words about Mary are steeped in the sentiment characteristic of the church of his day, his piety went far beyond mere sentiment. —from the book In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare by Roch Niemier, OFM |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"This bread is bread before the words of the Sacrament. But when the words of Christ come to it, it is the body of Christ ... Before the words of Christ it is a cup full of wine and water. When the words of Christ become operative, the blood which has redeemed the people is caused to be there."
— St. Ambrose † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"To become holy, to become saints, we must of course try as hard as we can to do God's will as it comes to us in a general way that is valid for everyone: through Scripture, the Commandments, and so on. It is also indispensable, as has just been said, to go further: to aspire to know not only what God demands of everyone in general, but also what he wants more specifically of us individually."
— Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 19
AN EXCERPT FROM
In the School of the Holy Spirit ⛪ TODAY'S FEAST DAY⛪ SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION
August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Holy Day of Obligation. It is an ancient feast of the Church, celebrated universally by at least the 6th century. According to tradition, all of the Apostles were present when Our Lady came to the end of her earthly life and peacefully went to be with Christ in Heaven, an event also known as the "Dormition of Mary." The tomb where her body was laid was found empty, her body being taken up into heaven a short time after she passed into eternal life. The Church's historic belief that the Virgin Mary is presently in heaven reigning as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, in body and soul, next to her Divine Son, was pronounced as infallible dogma in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The bodily Assumption of Jesus' mother into heaven is a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. † VERSE OF THE DAY
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5 |  click to read more | | Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith: "We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory." The pope proclaimed this dogma only after a broad consultation of bishops, theologians and laity. There were few dissenting voices. What the pope solemnly declared was already a common belief in the Catholic Church. We find homilies on the Assumption going back to the sixth century. In following centuries, the Eastern Churches held steadily to the doctrine, but some authors in the West were hesitant. However by the 13th century there was universal agreement. The feast was celebrated under various names—Commemoration, Dormition, Passing, Assumption—from at least the fifth or sixth century. Today it is celebrated as a solemnity. Scripture does not give an account of Mary's Assumption into heaven. Nevertheless, Revelation 12 speaks of a woman who is caught up in the battle between good and evil. Many see this woman as God's people. Since Mary best embodies the people of both Old and New Testaments, her Assumption can be seen as an exemplification of the woman's victory. Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul speaks of Christ's resurrection as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus' life, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to believe in Mary's share in his glorification. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with him body and soul in heaven. Reflection In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) with new meaning. In her glory she proclaims the greatness of the Lord and finds joy in God her savior. God has done marvels to her and she leads others to recognize God's holiness. She is the lowly handmaid who deeply reverenced her God and has been raised to the heights. From her position of strength she will help the lowly and the poor find justice on earth, and she will challenge the rich and powerful to distrust wealth and power as a source of happiness. | Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass During the Day Reading 1 Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab God's temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed One." Responsorial Psalm Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16 R.(10bc) The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father's house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. Reading 2 1 Cor 15:20-27 Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has destroyed every sovereignty
and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death,
for "he subjected everything under his feet." Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven;
a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 1:39-56 Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever." Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
| Meditation: Luke 1:39-56 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity) From this day all generations will call me blessed. (Luke 1:48) The Jeddah Light Tower in Saudi Arabia is currently the tallest operating lighthouse in the world. At 436 feet, it can cast a beam of light over a 25 nautical-mile radius. That beacon helps sailors know where they're headed so that they don't venture into dangerous areas. Just as sailors need a lighthouse, so we all need beacons to guide us on our journey to heaven. And what better beacon could we ask for than the Virgin Mary, who has been called "Star of the Sea" since St. Jerome coined the phrase in the fifth century? All her life she has shown us how to say yes to God. Even as she came to the end of her life on earth and was assumed into heaven, she continued to shine. Pope Benedict XVI once said, "By contemplating Mary in heavenly glory, we understand that the earth is not the definitive homeland for us either, and that if we live with our gaze fixed on eternal goods, we will one day share in this same glory." It's not always easy to keep our eyes fixed on heaven, especially when life is hard. The problems in front of us have a way of obscuring the glorious future that God has in store for us. But Pope Benedict reminds us that Mary's assumption is a "luminous sign" that "shines out even more brightly when sad shadows of suffering and violence seem to loom on the horizon" (General Audience, August 16, 2006). Mary's assumption into heaven may have signaled the end of her physical presence on earth, but she is still very much with us. So let her be your beacon of hope in good times and in bad. Let her take you by the hand and lead you to her Son, Jesus. She will reassure you of his never-ending, merciful love for you. She will encourage you to persevere, as she did. And she will show you that just as God had a glorious plan for her life—one she didn't always understand—so he has a wonderful plan for you. It's a plan that culminates in heaven, with you standing next to all the angels and saints, joyfully worshipping her Son! "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me!" Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
Psalm 45:10-12, 16
1 Corinthians 15:20-27 |  clickable | Sacrifices made out of love for one another bring a couple closer than any pleasure on earth.
— Jason Evert
from Purity 365 | my2cents:
"God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet..."
Can you believe this sign appeared in Mexico? She appeared clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet! And the image is imprinted on a cactus cloth that is over 500 years old, and that stuff shouldn't last 50 years! She appeared and the stars are swept. Eventually we will hear "She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod." And the Revelation comes true: "...hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power." Authority established, and ultimately death is no more. For all those in Christ! | Let us pray: " The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father's house."
Forget your people? Forget your father's house? Yes, turn your ear. Once you are God's, you are HIS FOREVER. | In the Holy Gospel, St. Elizabeth exclaims "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
How does this happen to me? How is it that the Mother of Our Lord should come to us? And she does. She is that Mother in Heaven, the strong yet humble mother. The kind that always waits for the Father. The kind that tends to the children of the Father. The kind that holds everything precious. The kind that can make the bad go away, while the Father is away. For she is full of grace. She is amazing grace. For every prayer she hears she takes to the Father. Her Magnificat sings forever the praises of God our Father. | "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed".
Tonight we will sing "Behold" by David Kaufman and will attempt it in spanish which is even more beautiful it seems called "Mirad" by David Kaufman, in Holy Mass for Our Blessed Mother Mary's Assumption, a Solemnity.
She sings the songs the highest angels sing in Heaven "Holy, Holy, Holy".
What is grace? Grace moves gently. But what is grace? Grace is pure and attached to God. Yes, but what is grace itself? Grace is not of this world. How can one explain it? All we've to do is to pray and live with and for grace. Be graceful. Slow to anger. Merciful. Compassionate. He lifts up the humble. Mary was looked on with favor and was given grace of an incomprehensible magnitude to bear the load that was to bring the heaviest of crosses on them...her and Jesus. An affliction occurred in her life. She was forever afflicted. It was Jesus. The day He was conceived, the day He was put on the cross, the day He was ascending into Heaven. 3 partings. He parted from her. She is precious.
No wonder she was assumed so soon into Heaven. Sister Ann Emerich said she was assumed the day of her death I believe, at about an age of the sixtys. And all that time, she never really laughed, she had the slightest of smiles if anything. Its as if nothing moved or phased her, grace, peace, joy...affliction? She was torn to pieces when our Lord bled nearly to death on the way to the cross, she roamed the crucifixion streets trying to mop up His precious blood. For some strange reason she did the stations of the cross every day, in the mountains, in exile, in front of everybody, or alone. Why? Why that strange devotion....to Jesus? It was as if she always relived it...and they say they made her a little stone house, and they'd celebrate the "Mass" daily with her. And today...she reigns in splendor, helping people to the tune of millions and millions daily. God truly loves her. Jesus truly loves her...faithful soul.
And as her children....adopted or in blood through Jesus, we must follow her and obey her sayings...to build a church for Jesus, to do what HE SAYS. To honor God with purity and holiness. Mother pray with us always until our death
HOLY HOLY HOLY |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Ephesians 4:26-27 (Listen) 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. Thank You Jesus | |
