 |  clickable | | A Sign of Hope Let us always have at heart the Virgin Mary, a humble girl from small people lost on the fringes of a great empire, a homeless mother who could turn a stable for beasts into a home for Jesus with just a few swaddling clothes and much tenderness. Mary is a sign of hope for peoples suffering the birth pangs of justice. —from Mother Mary: Inspiring Words from Pope Francis |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"The Lord has turned all our sunsets into sunrise."
—St. Clement PRAYER DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary,
We, your children of every nation,
Turn to you in this pandemic.
Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great.
Grant that we might deposit them at your feet,
Take refuge in your Immaculate Heart,
And obtain peace, healing, rescue,
And timely help in all our needs.
You are our Mother.
Pray for us to your Son.
Amen. PRAYER OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION†
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. †MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"The freshness of a living hope in God fills the soul with such energy and resolution, with such aspirations after the things of eternal life, that all this world seems to it—as indeed it is—in comparison with that which it hopes for, dry, withered, dead, and worthless. The soul now denudes itself of the garments and trappings of the world, by setting the heart upon nothing that is in it, and hoping for nothing that is, or may be, in it, living only in the hope of everlasting life. And, therefore, when the heart is thus lifted up above the world, the world cannot touch it or lay hold of it, nor even see it. The soul then, thus disguised and clad in the vesture of hope, is secure from its second foe, the world, for St. Paul calls hope the helmet of salvation. Now a helmet is armor which protects and covers the whole head, and has no opening except in one place, where the eyes may look through. Hope is such a helmet, for it covers all the senses of the head of the soul in such a way that they cannot be lost in worldly things, and leaves no part of them exposed to the arrows of the world."
— St. John of the Cross, p.175
AN EXCERPT FROM
Dark Night of the Soul † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"
John 8:31 |  click to read more | | ST. ROSE VENERINI St. Rose Venerini (1656–1728) was born in Italy, one of four children of a pious physician and his admirable wife. Rose was a bright and gifted child. At the age of seven she made a vow to consecrate her life to God. However, she was later conflicted between her vow and living in the world. At the age of 20 she knew she must make a decision between marriage and the cloister, the only two options available to women of her day, both of which she esteemed. After much prayer and suffering she entered a monastery. Only a few months passed before she returned home upon the sudden death of her father. This was followed not long after by the deaths of her brother and mother. Still yearning to respond to God's call to the consecrated life, she began by gathering together the young women of her neighborhood to pray the rosary. She was struck by the cultural, moral, and spiritual poverty of the women, and their lack of basic Christian formation. This inspired her to begin a school for their instruction and human formation, which became Italy's first public school for girls. This was an innovation in her day, as teaching catechism belonged to the clergy. After facing initial resistance, the fruit of her work and the moral improvement of the women became evident to all. The Pope himself attended one of her classes and praised her work. Governors and cardinals asked her to open schools in their areas. Over the course of her life she opened 40 schools across Italy dedicated to the education and promotion of women for the uplifting and ennobling of society. "Educate to save" became her motto. Her feast day is May 7th. | Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 282
Reading 1 Acts 13:13-25 From Paphos, Paul and his companions
set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
the synagogue officials sent word to them,
"My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
for the people, please speak." So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
"Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out,
and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land as an inheritance
at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
of him he testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'" Responsorial Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27 R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'"
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Rv 1:5ab R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead,
you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 13:16-20 When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, he said to them:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." | Today's Meditation: John 13:16-20 . . . so that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (John 13:18) Jesus had just washed the feet of the apostles, including Judas, whom Jesus knew was going to betray him that very night. That's why he quoted Psalm 41:10: "The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me." He wanted to show the others that Judas' betrayal was actually part of God's fulfillment of the Scriptures (John 13:18). Isn't it amazing how God can use even the bitterest of betrayals to fulfill the Scriptures and his promise to save his people? God's ways so often look nothing like what we expect. Faithful Jews awaited a Messiah who would rescue Israel. They could look back to heroes of their national past, such as Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and David, and conclude that they needed another mighty hero to overturn the Roman occupation and reestablish the kingdom. But in Jesus, the heir to the throne of David, fulfillment of the Scriptures looked quite different from what anyone expected. He would not rule by force or domination. Instead, he would be betrayed by one of his closest companions and ultimately give up his life on the cross out of love for his people. So on a night suffused with great promise and hope, Jesus showed his disciples what kind of coronation he would receive and what kind of kingdom he was establishing. By washing his disciples' feet, he showed them that he is a king who serves his servants. Over the next few days, they would see a king who lays down his own life for his subjects. They would see a king who defeats even death, a king who offers to cleanse them every day by washing away their sins. Jesus wants to come into your life and serve you. This is not what you might have expected from the King of the universe, but it is exactly how God has chosen to fulfill the Scriptures. So open your heart to him, and let him serve you today. Let him forgive your sins and wash you clean. Let him be your Servant-King, both now and forever. "Jesus, thank you for serving me, cleansing me, and laying down your life for me! Acts 13:13-25
Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27 |  clickable | Joy always goes in two directions. We never give joy to anyone else without giving joy to ourselves, any more than we behave in an untoward way toward others without wizening ourselves.
— Mother Mary Francis, PCC
From Cause of Our Joy: Walking Day by Day with Our Lady | my2cents: "I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish."
Every wish God wanted, would be granted by David's...lineage...the Son of David, of the lineage of the chosen after God's own heart. What does that mean, to be "a man after my own heart"? Right? To truly seek His heart's desire? One who follows His heart? Or one who desires that true love of God? Ponder that as we delve into the Word...made flesh. | We prayed today: "The favors of the LORD I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever"; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."
How do you sing forever? How is He proclaimed for generations? Today, we carry traditions from centuries ago, and in the Catholic church, of thousands of years ago. It is being proclaimed, and it is being sung. Jesus sung. Jesus lived. Jesus sings. Jesus sings. It happens through the Holy Body of Christ. | Our Lord speaks, after washing feet: ""...no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it."
Jesus slaves and declares God greater.
Jesus is the messenger and declares He has been sent.
Jesus says if you understand this, then do this...declare God is greater, and be the slave and messenger now of Christ, for Christ commends us to do His Word and the Word will become flesh. | "I know those whom I have chosen." He knows them. He knew them before physically meeting them. He knows who will do what and who loves how. And that is a revelation about you and I. You and I are called and chosen, and the chosen are called. We have answered His call, to read this, and to do this, what our Lord commends us to do. Remember the slave messenger. An Archangel comes to Mary, the angel is a messenger, fulfilling God's orders...to change the world.
It is a free world too, so free, and this freedom is scary. With the pandemonium pandemic we face, statistics say that this stay at home order has caused pornography to rise sharply, drinking has risen sharply, and people cannot attend church sharply. It is like a furnace of hell. They say statistics show that suicide hotlines are ringing off the hooks. Stay home and feel the heat of passions and desires that you normally handle by being distracted at work or school. Those passions are flames from hell. And so I beg you to ask yourself...'what am I passionate about?'.
Is it the Word of God? Has His fire touched you? Back in the day, a sacrifice would be consumed with fire...His fire, in the time of great prophets. The consummation was a sign of God's acceptance. Am I using the word consummation wrong? Isn't it what married couples do? In the Holy Sacrament, consummation occurs. God accepts us and we accept God. It is a consumption. He loves the free will given to Him and we love the God that gave us this free will..in thanksgiving, in Eucharist. "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." Has God spoken to you? Some say He speaks to their heart. It is true, He can speak to the heart direct, and when He does, YOU WILL KNOW.
But, He speaks through others too. Pay attention. Pay close attention because sometimes He says things we don't like to hear...truth.
And yet, we want to consume the truth? In Holy Consummation? That is Holy Communion? Are we worthy?
God calls us chosen. And the chosen have made a choice. King David was not perfect, but was a man after God's own heart. If we met King David today, he'd probably seem very down to earth, and a great leader, but still have a little bit of faults, but compared to many, He'd seem a saint. He danced for God without a shirt on. He sung. He played the equivalent of a guitar. He was an orator, and guess what? To this day we sing the song of David. For generations...what you do...happens... Lord, let us sing forever for you...love you forever! | Random Bible verse from an online generator: Proverbs 16:9
WHOA! 9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit my website Going4th.com, surely you'll find me there. God Bless You! Share the Word. Share this, share what is good | | |
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