 clickable | | The Key to a Joy-filled Life Joy goes beyond happiness. Joy is the happiness that does not depend on what happens. It springs from gratefulness. When we begin to take things for granted, we get sucked into boredom. Boredom is deadly. Yet, everything within us longs for "life, life in fullness" (John 10:10). The key to life in fullness is gratefulness. —from the book The Way of Silence: Engaging the Sacred in Daily Life |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote "Often, actually very often, God allows his greatest servants, those who are far advanced in grace, to make the most humiliating mistakes. This humbles them in their own eyes and in the eyes of their fellow men."
— St. Louis de Montfort † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"We do not come to church to attend the service as a spectator, but in order, along with the priest, to serve God. Everything we do—our entering, being present, our kneeling and sitting and standing, our reception of the sacred nourishment—should be divine service. This is so only when all we do overflows from the awareness of a collected heart and the mind's attentiveness."
— Fr. Romano Guardini, p. 28
AN EXCERPT FROM
Meditations Before Mass † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Ephesians 6:14-17 |  click to read more | | ST. CHARLES BORROMEO St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584) was born into an ancient and wealthy family in Lombardy, Italy. When his uncle became Pope Pius IV, Charles was brought to Rome to take over several important assignments connected with the Vatican. He was ordained to Holy Orders at the age of 25 and was later made Archbishop of Milan, a position of high influence in the Church, and Cardinal. He initiated large-scale reform of his enormous and dilapidated diocese, which had not seen a resident bishop in 80 years. Clergy were ignorant and disobedient, religious were negligent and scandalous, and the laity had drifted from Church teaching. He rectified abuses and maintained the integrity of the Church's internal structure, all for which he encountered strong opposition and threats against his life. He also established hospitals, seminaries, orphanages, and the first Sunday School classes. He was a key player in the Council of Trent and kept it going when it was in danger of breaking up. He was a prominent defender of Church teaching in the Counter-Reformation and helped produce an official catechism. His counsel was widely sought, especially by the Catholic kings and queens of Europe and the popes under whom he served, and his virtue was evident to all. Throughout his life he held his rank and authority with humility, living austerely and constantly striving for sanctity. When plague and famine hit Milan in 1576, Charles stayed in the city to care for those in need and borrowed large sums of money to feed tens of thousands of people each day. Exhausted from his reforming labors, he died at the age of 46. St. Charles Borromeo is the patron of catechists, catechumens, seminarians, spiritual directors, and bishops. His feast day is November 4th.
See More About This Saint > | Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop Reading 1 Rom 11:29-36 Brothers and sisters:
The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy
because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given him anything
that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To God be glory forever. Amen. Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:30-31, 33-34, 36 R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not."
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
They shall dwell in the land and own it,
and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall inhabit it.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. Alleluia Jn 8:31b-32 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 14:12-14 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Romans 11:29-36 Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop (Memorial) The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) St. Paul grieved deeply that many of his fellow Jews had not accepted the gospel message. Earlier in his letter to the Romans, Paul expressed "great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart" for the Jewish people, and even went so far as to say that he himself would willingly separate himself from Christ if only they would believe (Romans 9:2, 3). However, in today's passage, it's clear that Paul has not given up hope. He believes that the salvation experienced by the Gentiles will cause the Jewish people to desire Christ. He trusts that "by virtue of the mercy shown to [the Gentiles], they too may now receive mercy" (Romans 11:31). We all know family members and loved ones who do not know Christ, and like Paul, we also grieve for them. We want them to experience the same love and mercy that God has showered on us, along with the freedom to live an abundant and fruitful life. Like Paul, we also know that we can't force anyone to believe. All we can do is pray that their hearts will someday be open and that someone will be there to share the good news with them. In the meantime, we can also have hope. Just as it was for the Jewish people, so it is for everyone: God's gifts and call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). He will never withdraw from them; it would be against his nature to do so. He has not rejected anyone, even people who have rejected him. In fact, his greatest desire is to have all of us close to his heart every moment of every day. So let's continue praying for our loved ones and for everyone who is far from the Lord. Let's pray that God's light will shine in their lives. Let's also pray for ourselves and for all believers; we have all been sent into the world to preach the gospel. As Paul says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:15). "Jesus, you call everyone to yourself, even those who don't yet know you. Open their hearts to your grace. Give me the boldness and courage to share with them all that you have done in my life." Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36
Luke 14:12-14 |  clickable | God can be loved—wholeheartedly—anywhere. Loving God does not depend on the kind of place I'm in—it depends on the kind of person I am.
—Fr. Patrick Peyton
from Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book | my2cents:
"For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all."
In a bible study yesterday, one said "I don't know if there would be anyone alive if God were to smite every sinner" and I agreed saying "not a one would be alive today".
It is then, a consolation, to know we are living in a time of great mercy. The greater the sin, the greater the mercy that awaits. That is the reason there is rejoicing in Heaven. One student had a hard time though, when I said "I'm amazed when a Satanist comes and is saved, I've even heard of a priest that used to be satanic". How can someone under oppression be saved? Because it has been a voluntary oppression, to give your soul to something else, isn't it? It is the same when someone "takes their own life", isn't it? Why not do what God did on earth? He GAVE His life. | We pray today: "Lord, in your great love, answer me. "See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not." I recounted how a satanic guy, born and raised that way, said he was a big time general, even causing many deaths through spells and what not, one day was deeply afflicted, he had tried to kill a pastor in the middle of services, choking him, and they held him down forcing him to say "Jesus is Lord three times. Eventually, he realized something greater with more power was out there than the influence he was devoted to. One day he said to God in a thought and prayer "God if you're out there, I can't give my life to you, I've given it away already, but if you can...make me yours". I'm paraphrasing. Long story short, he went through a great deal of suffering, he went blind, the evils hated him, but he eventually came to be a Christian, and is now a follower, and now his sight has been restored. Why do I say this story, such a darkish story? Because, it speaks of God's mercy. Just because you put limits on it, doesn't mean there are limits. His is a greater love than we could ever imagine. | Our Lord said at one point today "...invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you."
At our family festival a couple weeks ago, the week before, I visited a friend at the nursing home, a blind man in his 70's. I thought about taking him to the festival, to all the food and fun that would be had. I think I kind of threw it out there for him to ponder. I thought about how I could take him there, and being the super busy director, I couldn't figure out how, so I didn't offer to take him myself. I thought about his other church friends, but they were involved in cooking at the festival, super busy. I thought about his family members, but they don't hardly go to church, and ...I just didn't think much more. I wound up asking for prayers for all to go well. | He agreed and said everyone would be in his prayers. I left. The festival was beautiful. But I didn't see him there. Looking back, I believe I could've forced something to happen to make him be there, find a caretaker and what not. Keep that story in mind.
2nd story: Yesterday, a couple shared how they went to confession on Saturday. I said I couldn't go because I was asked to lead a public prayer at our local chamber of commerce for "dia de los muertos". I was super busy.
What caught my attention on this, was that they said they actually had to plan their whole day around the confession time. EXACTLY.
When we go on vacation, we have to plan all our activities on Sunday around going to Mass. Jesus Christ becomes the center. What's more, the most memorable memories have always been attending Mass somewhere different.
What's the point? Who are the blind? Who is the real blind one? Who are the lame who can't go to a banquet.
LOL, as a family, I've invited other couples and families to go eat dinner. I've yet to be "repayed", probably because we have 7 kids and the bill would cause someone to faint! LOL. I'm joking. That is not a spirit of giving. I would never expect someone to pay me back.
Do you remember how this whole reflection started?
It was about someone "taking their life".
It was about God GIVING His life.
The true art to master is that of GIVING Love.
I cannot master it yet. I'm a goofball still. I wish I could give perfectly.
As CHRIST.
This is a daily task for us who are in what I want you to begin in your parish and community the:
School
Of
Saints Mastery of the Way will be the curriculum. The Life of CHRIST our LORD from Heaven. THANK YOU
Gratefulness will be always on the agenda.... |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse 1
1 Corinthians 13:1–3
The Way of Love 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,1 but have not love, I gain nothing. Thank You Jesus | |
