 |  clickable | | Living Life to the Full "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" Jesus told the disciples (Luke 12:49). These radical women saints got that. They lived it, and they didn't care whether it cost them earthly love or respect. They did so in a world that looked much like ours. Many of these saints took trains, rode in cars or airplanes, received telegrams, talked on phones, watched television and movies, and perhaps a few knew their way around a computer. All were photographed, and many were filmed as they shared their radicalness. They had an awareness of some—not all, but some—of the modern-day distractions that, when not used in moderation, threaten to crowd out room for God. And while they may not have taken selfies and had social media accounts, I think it's a pretty safe bet that if they had, they wouldn't have been checking likes and shares at prayer, meals, or time with their loved ones. —from Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century, by Melanie Rigney New call-to-action |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"The blessed lady, Mother of our Savior, may well be called a morning, since before her there was none without sin. After her, the most clear sun Christ Jesus showed his light to the world."
— St. John Fisher 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
"I call upon you, my God, my mercy, who made me, and did not forget me, although I forgot you. I call you into my soul, which you prepare to accept you by the longing that you breathe into it. Do not desert me now when I call upon you, for before I called upon you, you went ahead and helped me, and repeatedly you urged me on by many different words, so that from afar I would hear you, and be converted, and call upon you as you called to me."
— St. Augustine, p. 302
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Confessions of St. Augustine †VERSE OF THE DAY
"In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other."
Ecclesiastes 7:14a |  click to read more | | ST. BONA OF PISA St. Bona (1156 - 1207 A.D.) was born in Pisa, Italy. She experienced visions at a young age which led her into an ascetical life of penance and fasting. She dedicated herself to God at the early age of ten and became an Augustinian tertiary. At the age of fourteen she went on her first pilgrimage to Jerusalem where her father was fighting in the crusades. On her trip home she was captured and wounded by Muslim pirates and imprisoned, later being rescued by her fellow countrymen. She became fond of making pilgrimages and returned to the Holy Land many times. She also led a large pilgrimage group along the Way of St. James (Santiago de Compostela), a 1,000 mile journey. She had a great devotion to St. James, whom she had seen in a vision as a child. She was named an official guide of the ancient route by the Knights of St. James. St. Bona made the Way of St. James a total of nine times. On her tenth trip she had to return home due to illness, and died soon after. St. Bona of Pisa is the patron saint of travelers, couriers, tour guides, pilgrims, flight attendants, and the city of Pisa. Her feast day is May 29th. | Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 301
Reading 1 Acts 25:13b-21 King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying,
"There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor's decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." Responsorial Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:26 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 21:15-19 After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
"Do you love me?" and he said to him,
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." | Today's Meditation: Acts 25:13-21 They had some issues with . . . a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. (Acts 25:19) If someone "can't see the forest for the trees," it means they are so involved in the details of a problem that they have lost sight of the situation as a whole. Well, if anyone had reason to get caught up in the "trees" of a situation, it was Paul. He had been accused by some of the Jewish leaders of stirring up riots and desecrating the Temple. Arrested and put in jail, he spent two years in custody under the procurator Felix and was now standing before his successor, Festus, facing the same charges. You can imagine all the details of his situation swirling in his mind day after day while he sat in prison. But Paul had built his life on Jesus, so the "trees" didn't block his vision. As he strove to stay close to the Lord, he was able to see beyond the details of his trials. He saw God's faithfulness and protection. He experienced Jesus' love and mercy. He saw his captors as being in the dark about Jesus, just as he had been, so he avoided hating them. He saw all the people who had never heard the gospel and longed to share it with them. Our lives may be filled with the "trees" of trials—or maybe just the trees of a busy schedule and concerns about our loved ones. But like Paul, we can learn how to see the whole forest. Just what is this forest? It's the expansive heavenly vision that the Holy Spirit wants to give us. It's remembering that our world is filled with God's wonders and marvels. It's remembering that every act of love reveals another facet of our gracious, creative God. It's the ability to enjoy the blessings of family and home that we do have rather than focusing on the things we may be lacking. It's the decision to love our holy, beautiful Church even as we acknowledge the need for reform and renewal. Don't get caught up in the details! Don't let the trees wear you down! Let God fill you with his panoramic vision. Make it a point every day to stand back and rejoice in all the blessings that Jesus has given you. "Jesus, open my eyes to see the work you have already done in my life." Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
John 21:15-19 |  clickable | The issue of life and its defence and promotion is not a concern of Christians alone. Although faith provides special light and strength, this question arises in every human conscience which seeks the truth and which cares about the future of humanity. The value at stake is one which every human being can grasp by the light of reason; thus it necessarily concerns everyone.
— St. John Paul II
from The Gospel of Life | my2cents:
"...they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive."
It was a religious matter. How would the government handle that? The religious wanted a man killed. It's not even about the government, it's about the people, unless of course you are talking about a dictator who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and whatever he wants, to whoever he wants. Yet, this body is a voice, a body of people. And here is where things get interesting. Your voice matters, as it makes the greater part. What is your voice speaking? What is it singing? What tune? What melody? What...message? | "The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels, you mighty in strength, who do his bidding. The Lord has established his throne in heaven"
Jesus is King. No matter where you turn, no matter where you go. Bless the Lord, angels of God. Angels help us. Angels, do what you are supposed to do. Sing to God. Praise God. Help the flock of God. Tend the sheep and tend to the fine that feeds the sheep. Angels, hide no more, but come show yourself before the living God. Angels, rise up. Do His Bidding. | In the Gospel we heard our King speaking to a member of the body that would be the rock of the Church, petras, the rock, Peter:
""Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
3 Times our King asked the rock to feed the sheep.
Shepherd. Shepherd is the message. That's the task of a shepherd. Always feeding, always tending to the flock, gathering, healing, seeking the lost and defending, protecting the flock from thieves and wolves.
What a monstrous task, right? Who can be a good shepherd? Who can do all of this? It is the task of every priest, isn't it?
And you have been baptized as priests. | And then our Lord said: "...when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." The first image I get when I hear this, is the elderly in nursing homes. We push them around in their wheelchairs, they don't say where they want to go and even if they do speak, they don't always get what they want "no, you have to go over because.." But is that what our King was speaking about? The elderly? Scripture says that he was talking about the death Peter would face, for following Him.
Our King ended with "Follow Me".
Follow Me wherever I go.
Follow Me for I am your shepherd.
Follow Me and you will feed.
Follow Me and you will always be with me.
Follow Me and I will heal you when you are hurt.
Follow Me and you will be guided and protected.
Follow Me and I will lay down my life for you.
Follow Me and you will have life eternal.
Follow Me and know what true love is.... |  click to hear | Random bible verse from an online generator:
ACTS 20:32
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. | 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 | | |
