 | Weaving Prayer and Work Sustaining them in these trials was the work of prayer. To such communities the church entrusted the "office" of praying the liturgy of the hours. The day—and night—was punctuated by formal prayer. In this way hymns, psalms, and prayers—recited or sung—would continually rise from earth to heaven. In this way the glory of God never ceased to be celebrated and the needs of humankind never ceased to be a source of trusting petitions. If those first sisters did, indeed, count the insults and privations as "great delights" what would explain such joy but the exaltation that flows from a love that "surpasses understanding." It was through the daily cycle of prayer that such "blessed assurance" grew in them. The rounds of hours of the breviary brought the richness of psalms and Scripture texts into dialogue with their daily tasks. Meditation upon the Byzantine Cross, the adoration of the Eucharist, attending Mass, hearing sermons—all gave new meaning to each day's trials or triumphs. Weaving prayer and productive work created the balance within their hearts and minds that allowed them to keep moving. The poor sisters lived filled with consolation, with assurance. They dared to believe that promise of Jesus. They were learning that he was true to his word and their joy was, indeed, full and free. They learned to reverse their own standards of judgment in favor of the riddle that calls one to lose life in order to gain it. That women could live without the safety net of approved monastic vows and ample endowments and follow Christ in such literal fashion was news indeed. And the women themselves were the first to understand that. — from the book Light of Assisi: The Story of Saint Clare by Margaret Carney, OSF |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"I earnestly admonish you, therefore, my brothers, to look after your spiritual well-being with judicious concern. Death is certain; life is short and vanishes like smoke. Fix your minds, then, on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for us, he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sake he endured every torment of body and soul and shrank from no bodily pain. He himself gave us an example of perfect patience and love. We, then, are to be patient in adversity."
— St. Francis of Paola † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"God will forgive you if you forgive others. Forgiving those who cause offense or injury is often exceedingly difficult. And yet, forgiveness is one of the most beautiful and important teachings of Jesus Christ. It is central to the gospel because, without it, you can't go to heaven."
— Patrick Madrid, p.21
AN EXCERPT FROM
A Year with the Bible †VERSE OF THE DAY
"Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you."
1 Samuel 12:23-24 |  click to read more | | ST. LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM St. Lidwina of Schiedam (1380-1433) was born to a poor family in Holland. She had a devotion to the Blessed Mother and would often pray before the miraculous image of Our Lady of Schiedam. One winter, when she was 15 years old, she fell while ice skating and broke a rib, which she never recovered from. Gangrene spread throughout her body, which became as one big sore, and she was bed-ridden for the rest of her life. No medicine was able to help her. Her gradual physical deterioration was so grotesque that many suspected her of being possessed by the devil. However, when a priest brought her an unconsecrated Host, she was able to discern that it was not the Body and Blood of Christ. She experienced great suffering in this way until she was 53, but God rewarded her with the gift of heightened prayer, mystical visions, and spiritual consolations. Although she was not cured, many miraculous healings were attributed to her intercession. She fasted continuously, eventually surviving on only the Eucharist, and after her death on Easter Sunday the sweet odor of sanctity filled her room. Her grave became a pilgrimage site over which a chapel was erected. St. Lidwina of Schiedam is the patron of the chronically ill and ice skaters. Her feast day is April 14th. | Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter Lectionary: 269
Reading I Acts 5:17-26 The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison,
led them out, and said,
"Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life."
When they heard this,
they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
"We found the jail securely locked
and the guards stationed outside the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
"The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people."
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force,
because they were afraid of being stoned by the people. Responsorial Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 3:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 3:16-21 God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. | Daily Meditation: John 3:16-21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light. (John 3:21) Think of what it's like when the sun comes out after a string of gloomy days. You feel a lift in your spirits. You feel more alive, more energetic. The world doesn't seem like such a bad place after all. That's what it can feel like when we come into the presence of the Lord—even on the gloomiest of days! But the light of Jesus isn't there just to make us feel happy. It reveals things. If you've ever tried to play hide-and-seek outside on a sunny day, then you know how hard it can be to avoid detection. It's the same way with our sin. Just as the darkness hides things, we try to hide our misdeeds and sinful attitudes. We don't want them to come into the light. So think about the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear St. John in today's Gospel talk about people who "preferred darkness to light" (John 3:20). Do you picture yourself as one of those people, or do you picture someone you know? Most of us tend to overlook ourselves and think of the worst examples of those around us. Anything to keep the light from shining on those things we are trying to hide away! But even the best of us can struggle with sin. Think of St. John Paul II. He made it a point to go to Confession every week. Most likely this wasn't because he had a lot of awful things he needed to confess. It's because he didn't want to keep his sins hidden in the dark—even the little ones we usually overlook. He wanted to invite Jesus to shine his light on all his sins so that the darkness and gloom surrounding them could be driven away. If John Paul II could admit his faults, then so can you. Remember, Jesus doesn't shine his light in your heart to shame and embarrass you. He came so "that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17). So let him continue to save you! Let his light offer you a chance to change! "Jesus, I don't want to hide my sins from you or from myself. Give me the courage to face them so that I can draw closer to you." Acts 5:17-26
Psalm 34:2-9 |  clickable | If the love of Christ lives in us, then we do as He did and seek after the lost sheep. Natural love seeks to possess the beloved entirely and as far as possible not to share him. Christ came to win back lost mankind for the Father; whoever loves with His love will want people for God and not for himself.
— St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross | my2cents:
""Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life." Our Lord asks us all in this command to do as He says. Go to the temple. Go be a witness of a life in Christ, with Him, and through Him. Be the light. | We pray today: "Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. The Lord hears the cry of the poor."
Have you ever seen a person that radiates light and joy? They exist! LOL. There are people that actually radiate light. And I've made an interesting correlation in my revelations...it is the pure that radiate, and in many cases, it is those who receive our Lord, and in some cases, some who I can't figure out, a glow that comes and goes, some pass away, some get back to their old ways. But to be sure, we can radiate light, the light of Christ, a smile in the darkness that says "God I still love you no matter what". And people can see this light. And it gives comfort...and guidance. | Our Lord said at one point today about the light: "And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil."
God brought the light in John 3:16, His only Son is given to darkness to transform it, to make a whole new bond with it. And we live in it now. If you want to radiate light, this is your chance. I need to see the light. I need to see Jesus in you. I need it so I can show it too. The best way is to love God. Who is He? Your Father. What does He ask? That we follow Him. Go to the temple, and give light. The temple lights are important. You. You are important.
Those that choose not to come to church, to the temple, to Mass, to Confession, to the priest, to the community, they are inadvertently choosing darkness. Can we say it is unintentional? The truth is, the very choice is a choice. Not to choose is to choose. Not to come has been the decision. | Now, let's not get too proud of being avid church goers, because as you know, I like to go deeper as does our Lord when He ushers the new commandments.
"For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed."
Judas Iscariot was an avid church goer and a disciple, and was called to be an Apostle. But in the end, He betrays the Lord. How? He thought he knew better. That's where things went wrong. That's where humility goes out the door. When we make up our own ways and ideas, that's when things go wrong. What makes for the worst corruption in your home, or country, or the church?
Economy means handling of the household from its Latin term.
How are you handling your household? Yet, now I'm speaking of your own temple, your body, your soul.
Did you know you let things in and let things out?
Have you ever accidentally said something sinful? Like gossip? Like putting another person down? Like a cursing? I like to think of it as something evil, yes, but I wonder if it is an evil weed inside of me trying to grow.
And so we must expose this to the light, in Holy Confession. We must uproot darkness. If you become brighter for God, the world becomes brighter. Exorcists are having a hard time exorcising demons as if they have grown in strength lately. How is this possible? Easy, if the church is weakened in overall faith, the lights are dimmer, and darkness is overpowering. But it can be the opposite, and that is why I write to you and end my videos with two words "Be Holy His".
Let's make that our new motto, you who are Going Forth. Lord, I want to be light, I want to radiate joy, peace, and purity, all things grace. Send us grace from Heaven to bust forth from the darkness and bring your loving embrace to a world separated by sin. In Your Holy Name we pray...amen. | from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian | Random online bible verse from a random verse generator: WOW!!! James 4:7 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
