 clickable | | Jesus, Our Friend This, Brother, is what I think of God's justice; my way is all confidence and love. I do not understand souls who fear a Friend so tender. At times, when I am reading certain spiritual treatises in which perfection is shown through a thousand obstacles, surrounded by a crowd of illusions, my poor little mind quickly tires; I close the learned book that is breaking my head and drying up my heart, and I take up Holy Scripture. Then all seems luminous to me; a single word uncovers for my soul infinite horizons, perfection seems simple to me, I see it is sufficient to recognize one's nothingness and to abandon oneself as a child into God's arms. Leaving to great souls, to great minds the beautiful books I cannot understand, much less put into practice, I rejoice at being little since children alone and those who resemble them will be admitted to the heavenly banquet. — From a letter to Père Adolphe Roulland (member, Foreign Missions of Paris) | May 1897 —from the book The Way of Simple Love: Inspiring Words from Therese of Lisieux by Father Gary Caster |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"God loves those who thank Him even in suffering."
— St. Arnold Janssen † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"I believe that if those souls that tend towards sanctity were instructed as to the conduct they ought to follow, they would be spared a good deal of trouble. I speak as much of people in the world as of others. If they could realize the merit concealed in the actions of each moment of the day: I mean in each of the daily duties of their state in life ... they would indeed be happy. If, besides, they understood that to attain the utmost height of perfection, the safest and surest way is to accept the crosses sent them by Providence at every moment, that the true philosopher's stone is submission to the will of God which changes into divine gold all their occupations, troubles, and sufferings, what consolation would be theirs! What courage would they not derive from the thought that to acquire the friendship of God, and to arrive at eternal glory, they had but to do what they were doing, but to suffer what they were suffering, and that what they wasted and counted as nothing would suffice to enable them to arrive at eminent sanctity: far more so than extraordinary states and wonderful works."
— Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, p. 18
AN EXCERPT FROM
Abandonment to Divine Providence † VERSE OF THE DAY
"It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens."
Jeremiah 10:12 |  click to read more | | ST. JEROME St. Jerome (347 - 420) was born to a wealthy pagan family in Dalmatia. He was sent to Rome for his schooling and there converted to Christianity, being baptized by Pope Liberius. He studied theology and traveled widely to the important intellectual and theological centers across the newly-established Christian Empire. He was ordained a priest at Antioch and lived many years as a hermit in a nearby desert. He became an extraordinary scholar, considered to be the most learned of the Latin Church Fathers. Because of his many significant theological works, most notably the thirty years he spent writing the Latin translation of the Bible (the Latin Vulgate), he is one of the most influential and orthodox theologians in the life of the early Church. In his final years Saint Jerome lived in a monastery that he founded in the Holy Land near Bethlehem, where he worked on writing histories and biographies in addition to drawing deeper into a life of prayer and asceticism. For his important scholarly contributions St. Jerome was named a Doctor of the Church. He is the patron of libraries, archaeologists, students, and translators. St. Jerome's feast day is September 30th. Reflection Jerome was a strong, outspoken man. He had the virtues and the unpleasant fruits of being a fearless critic and all the usual moral problems of a man. He was, as someone has said, no admirer of moderation whether in virtue or against evil. He was swift to anger, but also swift to feel remorse, even more severe on his own shortcomings than on those of others. A pope is said to have remarked, on seeing a picture of Jerome striking his breast with a stone, "You do well to carry that stone, for without it the Church would never have canonized you" (Butler's Lives of the Saints).
Saint Jerome is the patron Saint of: Librarians
Translators
Scholars | Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Zec 8:1-8 This word of the LORD of hosts came: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice. Responsorial Psalm Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23 R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory. Alleluia Mk 10:45 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 9:46-50 An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest." Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you." | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Luke 9:46-50 Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Memorial) Jesus realized the intention of their hearts. (Luke 9:47) Close friends can often finish each other's sentences. They have spent so much time together that they know each other intimately. But sometimes, even good friends can be wrong. Only God knows the deepest intentions of a person's heart. In today's Gospel, we see Jesus' closest friends having a hard time understanding him. They had already seen him feed five thousand people and heal a boy possessed by a demon. Peter, James, and John had even seen him transfigured in glory. Surely they would know what Jesus thought was most important. But every time Jesus spoke about his upcoming death, they didn't get it. They couldn't grasp the sacrificial nature of his love. Ironically, they then got into an argument about which of them was the greatest disciple. But Jesus, closer than the best of friends, knew their hearts. Long before this little incident, he was already aware of their pride and rivalry. So patiently and calmly, he made his priorities clear once again. Bringing out a child, he told them, "The one who is least among all of you . . . is the greatest" (Luke 9:48). Jesus never seemed to grow weary of his disciples' questions and their weak faith. He continued to teach them day after day, until that Friday afternoon when he hung on the cross and gave them the greatest revelation of the depth of his love. Jesus knows the intention of your heart as well. He lives in you and knows you better even than you know yourself. He sees your every thought and emotion. He knows the words you will speak before you utter them. He sees the good that lies deep within you, and he knows your most imperfect impulses. And just as he patiently helped the disciples, he will help you. As you sit with Jesus in prayer today, allow him to search your heart. Let his light reveal the mercy and generosity that already lie there. Let him patiently uncover any fear or bitterness that binds you. And let him teach you of his sacrificial love, which has the power to change your mind and heart so that you think as he thinks and love as he loves. Never doubt that Jesus is the best friend you could ever have! "Jesus, searcher of my heart, make me more like you." Zechariah 8:1-8
Psalm 102:16-21, 29, 22-23 |  clickable | But in the modern world we are primarily confronted with the extraordinary spectacle of people turning to new ideals because they have not tried the old. Men have not got tired of Christianity; they have never found enough Christianity to get tired of. Men have never wearied of political justice; they have wearied of waiting for it.
—G.K. Chesterton
from What's Wrong with the World | my2cents:
"I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem. They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice." They said Jerusalem would be called "The Faithful City". If you look at it today, it looks like a divisive city, always caught in strife. That is...looking at it from afar. They say, though, that when you go in closer, you will see that is not really the case. Faith plays all the role of centuries. But is this the Jerusalem God is talking about? Because He said He would make a new Jerusalem, didn't He? Could this be Heaven? From the Book Of Revelation "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." Now God is talking about a bride. Not a city. It is a body. It is a people. It is a citizenship, but it is a corporal work. And she was a beautiful bride, dressed for her husband. Not undressed, but dressed. Not ugly in sin, but beautiful in holiness. Are you the New Jerusalem? The one prepared for God? | Let us pray: "The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the LORD..."
Rebuild Zion? Appear in Glory? Future creatures? What in the world is going on here? For sure, let us not look further than our Lord Himself! Think about our Lord our God always...Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit. Think Zion and Jerusalem, the holiest of hills, which some have equated to Mt. Calvary. Digest Zephaniah 3:16: "The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel's King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm. 16On that day they will say to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp. 17The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing."…Future creatures, heed the Word! | In the Holy Gospel, our Lord embraces a child in front of the crowd and says "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me" Pause. Whoever receives a child, receives Jesus? But the world is hostile to children, from exploitation for selfish gain, down to the unborn, not allowed to breathe life. I digress, but can you see the hostility towards...our Lord Himself? Back to Him:
"...and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." How are we to receive a child then? As an honor? What is our Lord getting at here? We continue to hear Him speak:
"For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest." | A child is set as an example by our Lord. Service. Obedience. Love with tenderness. Perhaps even...innocence. A child had no word, and now a child had a chance to shine. How? Why? What do you mean? The grownups would show the child the light. And future creatures would be born in the new Jerusalem, and what does Jerusalem mean? Teaching of peace, some say. And here we have our Lord talking about children and teaching.
But the hardest lesson for us all is what He says about being the least.
In the world I live in, much like centuries ago, the "least" are far and few. I can see from laity to clergy, the lack of being the least is a real dilemma. Who are the least? The poor? Not materially. Who are the poor then? Children have nothing, own nothing. Are they poor? Not necessarily. The poor, the least, these are the ones God sees. He hears them. For they are dressed for the New Jerusalem. Let us pray that we may know the least, love the least, and be like the least. For then, we will be like Jesus, receiving Him and being Him. Yours in service to sincerity of Love our Lord.... |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse 1 www.SandersWeb.net
Random Bible Verse 1
Ephesians 2:1–3
By Grace Through Faith 2
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body1 and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.2 Thank You Jesus | |
