 clickable | | Loving Lady Poverty A very early Franciscan document, Sacrum Commercium, The Sacred Exchange, begins with words reminiscent of the Bible's Song of Songs: "Francis began to go about in the streets and crossings of the city, relentlessly, like a persistent hunter, diligently seeking whom his heart loved. He inquired of those standing about, he questioned those who came near to him, saying, 'Have you seen her whom my heart loves?'" This kind of language and imagery for Franciscan poverty makes of poverty and penance a joyful enterprise, the joyful knight, Francis, going about the countryside as the embodiment of the good knight whose virtues are those of a knight of the new Round Table of the Lord. Poverty and penance, then, are not a grim affair, but the kind of derring-do a knight would perform to impress the Lady of the Castle, even rolling in briar bushes in the dead of winter to show his fidelity to her. This charges the tone of the early Franciscan Order with the chivalry and adventure of the Quest, a Spiritual Battle, fired by a deep and abiding love for Christ the Lord whose self-emptying is symbolized in Lady Poverty who was Christ's vesture. —from Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"Build an oratory within yourself, and there have Jesus on the altar of your heart. Speak to Him often while you are doing your work. Speak to Him of His holy love, of His holy sufferings and of the sorrows of most holy Mary."
— St Paul of the Cross † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Consider not only that God your benefactor is present but also that He acts continuously in all His creatures. And for whom is this continual action, this work of God in nature? For you. Thus, He lights you by the light of day; He nourishes you with the productions of the earth; in a word, He serves you by each one of the creatures that you use; so that it is true to say that at every moment the bounty, the wisdom and the power of God are at your service and are exercised in the world for your wants or pleasures. This conduct of God toward man should be the model of your conduct toward God. You see that the presence of God in His creatures is never idle; it acts incessantly, it preserves, it governs. Beware, then, of stopping at a sterile contemplation of God present in yourself. Add action to contemplation; to the sight of the Divine presence add the faithful accomplishment of the Divine will."
— St. Ignatius, p. 182
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius ⛪OUR LADY OF LOURDES
On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubiroux in the hollow rock of Massabielle in southern France. That year Bernadette would report a total of 18 apparitions of a woman she described as "lovelier than I have ever seen." The woman in the vision revealed herself as the "Immaculate Conception," in confirmation of this dogma of the Catholic faith which was infallibly defined by the Holy Father just four years previous. Our Lady told Bernadette to drink from an unseen fountain at the grotto, and called for a chapel to be built there. When Bernadette scratched at the ground, a stream of pure spring water surged forth. This stream demonstrated healing properties, and it continues to draw pilgrims to the grotto from around the globe. A basilica was built upon the rock of the Massabielle in response to Our Lady's request, and in 1876 it was consecrated as the "Church of the Rosary." Due to the multitudes of medically documented miraculous healings, the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.'"
Isaiah 45:22-23 |  click to read more | | Our Lady of Lourdes On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: "O Mary conceived without sin." During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was "something white in the shape of a girl." She used the word aquero, a dialect term meaning "this thing." It was "a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm." Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity. Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.
Reflection Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is not surprising. It is a continuation of Jesus' healing miracles—now performed at the intercession of his mother. Some would say that the greater miracles are hidden. Many who visit Lourdes return home with renewed faith and a readiness to serve God in their needy brothers and sisters. There still may be people who doubt the apparitions of Lourdes. Perhaps the best that can be said to them are the words that introduce the film The Song of Bernadette: "For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible." Our Lady of Lourdes if the Patron Saint of: Bodily Ills | SAINT OF THE DAY BL. BARTHOLOMEW OF OLMEDO
Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo (1485-1524) was a Spanish Mercedarian priest, and the first priest to arrive on Mexican soil in 1516 at the age of 31. He was chaplain for the expedition of Spanish Conquistador Fernando Cortés, who began the Spanish colonization of the Americas and the downfall of the Aztec empire. Bartholomew was well-liked by the native people. He taught them the Christian faith and exhorted them to end their practice of human sacrifice. He also defended them against injustice and restrained Cortés from acting out in violence against them. Bartholomew taught the native Mexicans devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Mercy, which they embraced. Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo baptized more than 2500 people before he died in Mexico in 1524 at the age of 39. He was buried in Santiago de Tlatelolco. His feast day is February 11. | Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 330
Reading 1 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30 Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD
in the presence of the whole community of Israel,
and stretching forth his hands toward heaven,
he said, "LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below;
you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants
who are faithful to you with their whole heart. "Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth?
If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you,
how much less this temple which I have built!
Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God,
and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant,
utter before you this day.
May your eyes watch night and day over this temple,
the place where you have decreed you shall be honored;
may you heed the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place.
Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel
which they offer in this place.
Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon." Responsorial Psalm 84:3, 4, 5 and 10, 11 R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! Alleluia Ps 119:36, 29b R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 7:1-13 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"
He responded,
"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
as it is written: This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."
He went on to say,
"How well you have set aside the commandment of God
in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said,
Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
Yet you say,
'If someone says to father or mother,
"Any support you might have had from me is qorban"'
(meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of God
in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.
And you do many such things." | Meditation: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 Our Lady of Lourdes (Optional Memorial) Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth? (1 Kings 8:27) "Father, is it possible? Can you really dwell on earth? King Solomon wondered this as he dedicated his Temple to you. 'If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you,' he asked, 'how much less this temple which I have built!' (1 Kings 8:27). How could you, who made the stars, come and live in a building made of wood and stone? And even more important, why would you want to? With the vast expanse of heaven stretched out before you, what could be so compelling about this one spot in the universe that you would want to dwell here? "There is only one possible answer: love. It's the reason why you created this world in the first place. You wanted a people with whom you could share your creative, overflowing love. And to show us your love—to prove it without a shadow of a doubt—you came and revealed yourself to us. You spoke your laws to us, you rescued us from slavery in Egypt, you formed us through your prophets. Day after day, you showed that you are with us and that you longed for us to be with you. "Then came the biggest surprise of all. You came to dwell, not just through your word, not just through historical events, not just through the beauty of creation, but as a human being, fully man and fully God. Jesus entered your creation in the most complete, permanent way possible—because you loved us. Who could imagine such humility and devotion? Who could possibly conceive of such a drastic and marvelous plan? "But even that wasn't enough for you. From Pentecost until today—and until the Second Coming—Jesus continues to dwell on earth by dwelling in us! By your Spirit, Jesus has made each of us into a temple of your presence, more sacred, even, than Solomon's Temple. "Father, I stand amazed at your goodness and generosity. I marvel that you would love us so deeply. I marvel that you would love me so deeply. Lord, give me a greater reverence for your presence in me—and in every single person you have called your own." "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!" (Psalm Response) Psalm 84:3-5, 10-11
Mark 7:1-13 |  clickable | We have a job to do. We have to get the Faith into our heads and into our hearts—not just for the information, but to let it sink in deeply—so that we can go out and rescue a culture that has rejected God and does not know who they are as human beings.
— Tim Staples
from Why Be Catholic? | my2cents:
"Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon."
King David asks that from this temple, God to hear our petitions.
Yet, can we hear His? | Today we pray: "I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God"
Where God dwells, it must be a lovely dwelling place. He desires to dwell in you. | They approach our Lord with a question: "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"
It is a question that presumes He is teaching them to break the law. It is a question to point out a flaw. It is a straw and a log in the eye question. Our Lord calls them hypocrites. "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts." | They said that when people were busy in the Babylonian times, there were a few people still in the faith, but...they say they were too busy building and working on the church...when all came crashing down. It is the conundrum of Martha and Mary, works vs faith and this has been a cause of division in theological trains of thought especially in the debates among protestant denominations.
Our Lord came to point out how far we can lose sight of His true will.
The solution is the Universal/Catholic solution, not either or, but both, faith and works. An ex Judaism/Jew told me a few weeks ago, that following the law was even more important than believing in God Himself. This is why our Lord came crashing the temple down, whipping out all the "animals".
Of course this did not set right with the Jews there. As a matter of fact, this only fueled their hidden hatred, for they did not want to be told what to do.
Is this hitting a chord? I've noticed that if I impose my authority, or ask for more than what is comfortable, people rebel against me.
We live in a society with lost authority. They say teens of our time don't really believe there is an authority out there.
A disbelief. Yet, we have a set of beliefs, and this is called religion. And modern culture sets themselves to oppose religion. Jesus didn't oppose the laws, but clarified what the laws were meant to do...purify the soul. He didn't come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.
And that is our duty as Christ followers, to fulfill God's laws.
The more I read into Mother Mary, the more I see a servant and instrument of God's grace, and He calls her our Mother.
Hearts...turn to God and turn into God...a sacrifice called LOVE. |  click to hear a message | ->Random Bible Verse 1<
Hebrews 12:1
Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith 12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Thank You Lord | 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 | |
