†Saint Quote
"In this life no one can fulfill his longing, nor can any creature satisfy man's desire. Only God satisfies, he infinitely exceeds all other pleasures. That is why man can rest in nothing but God."
— St. Thomas Aquinas † MEDITATION OF THE DAY†
"In the spiritual life, I can promise myself nothing without the special help of God . . . From one moment to another, I may fall into mortal sin: consequently, even though I may have labored many years in acquiring virtues, I may in one instant lose all the good I have done, lose all my merit for eternity, and lose even that blessed eternity itself. How can a king rule with arrogance when he is besieged by his enemies and from day to day runs the risk of losing his kingdom and ceasing to be a king? And has not a saint abundant reasons, from the thought of his own weakness, to live always in a state of great humility, when he knows that from one hour to another he may lose the grace of God and the kingdom of Heaven, which he has merited by years of laboriously acquired virtues? 'Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it' (Ps. 126:1). However spiritual and holy a man may be, he cannot regard himself as absolutely secure. The Angels themselves, enriched with sanctity, were not safe in Paradise. Man, endowed with innocence, was not safe in his earthly paradise. What safety, therefore, can there be for us with our corrupt nature, amid so many perils and so many enemies who within and without are ever seeking insidiously to undermine our own eternal salvation? In order to be eternally damned, it is enough that I should follow the dictates of nature; but to be saved, it is necessary that divine grace should prevent (go before) and accompany me, should follow and help me, watch over me and never abandon me. Oh, how right therefore was St. Paul in exhorting us to 'work out our salvation'—which is for all eternity—'with fear and trembling' (Phil. 2:12)."
— Fr. Cajetan da Bergamo, p. 21-22
AN EXCERPT FROM
Humility Of Heart ⛪TODAY'S FEAST DAY OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS Our Lady of the Snows is one of the oldest devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It commemorates a miraculous event that happened during the reign of Pope Liberius. A wealthy, childless Roman couple prayed to know how their fortune should be used for God. Our Lady answered them in a dream and asked that a church be built in her honor. She also appeared in a dream to the Holy Father with the same request. On August 5, 352 A.D., a hot summer day, snow fell on Esquiline Hill. All of Rome proclaimed it a miracle, and a basilica was built on the spot according to the outline of the pattern of snow. The church, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major), is the largest church in the world, and one of the first, dedicated to Our Lady. August 5th celebrates its rebuilding and dedication in 434 A.D. †VERSE OF THE DAY
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you."
Matthew 7:1-2 |  click to read more | | ST. OSWALD OF NORTHUMBRIA St. Oswald (605-642 A.D.) was the second of seven sons born to the pagan king of Northumbria in northern England. After his father was killed in battle, the kingdom was split. His uncle claimed the throne, while Oswald fled with his mother and brothers to Scotland for safety. There his family was converted to Christianity by the renowned monks of Iona. Oswald was educated by the holy monks and grew into a brave and pious warrior. After the death of his uncle and elder brother, Oswald moved to reclaim his father's throne and liberate it from enemy rule. On the eve of a decisive battle, he received a vision of St. Columba who promised him success. Before battle, Oswald erected a cross and knelt before it in prayer, along with his army. Following his victory, St. Oswald reunited Northumbria and was made king. His influence as a monarch was so great that he was considered the Emperor of almost all of Britain, uniting the the Britons, Picts, Scots, and the English. He requested a bishop to be sent to his kingdom to aid in the conversion of his people to Christianity; he also invited St. Aidan and a group of Irish monks from Iona to found a monastery for the kingdom at Lindisfarne. This ushered in Northumbria's "golden age" as the most important centre of learning and arts in the British Isles. Oswald ruled as a saintly and powerful Christian king, in justice, humility, and generosity to the poor and strangers, as noted by the prestigious historian, the Venerable Bede. St. Oswald was killed in battle, and afterwards the place of his death was noted for many miracles. His feast day is August 5th. | Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 410
Reading I Nm 20:1-13 The whole congregation of the children of Israel arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people settled at Kadesh.
It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried. As the community had no water,
they held a council against Moses and Aaron.
The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,
"Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the Lord's presence!
Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this desert
where we and our livestock are dying?
Why did you lead us out of Egypt,
only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?
Here there is not even water to drink!"
But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly
to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD said to Moses,
"Take your staff and assemble the community,
you and your brother Aaron,
and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.
From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation
and their livestock to drink."
So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,
where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels!
Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"
Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,
and water gushed out in abundance for the people
and their livestock to drink.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,
you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them." These are the waters of Meribah,
where the children of Israel contended against the Lord,
and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them. Responsorial Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice: "Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me; they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Alleluia Mt 16:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 16:13-23 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." | Daily Meditation: Matthew 16:13-23 Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. (Matthew 16:17) Peter and the other disciples had spent enough time with Jesus to know there was something special about him. He taught in a way that nobody else did; he worked miracles; he even called God his "Father." So they hoped that he might be the Messiah. But Peter went a step further and said it out loud. And he didn't identify Jesus only as Messiah—he proclaimed him as the Son of God! Peter's confession didn't come from his "flesh and blood" experience; it came by revelation (Matthew 16:17). It came from God. Like Peter, we can know a lot about Jesus: what he said, what he did, and how he prayed. We can draw reasonable conclusions from all of this that Jesus must be more than just a man. We can even be inspired by other people's stories of faith in him. But to come to our own personal faith in Jesus, we need more than just reason or logic, hearsay or feelings. We need revelation—revelation from God. Only God can lead us beyond our limitations to faith in Christ. The Catechism puts it this way: There is another order of knowledge, which man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers: the order of divine Revelation. Through an utterly free decision, God has revealed himself and given himself to man . . . by sending us his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. (CCC, 50) How amazing that the infinite God has made himself knowable in Jesus! Even more, he has given us the Spirit to enlighten our hearts so we can recognize that Jesus is the Son of God—just as Peter did. Everything you have learned and experienced in your journey of faith has created fertile soil within you. And each day, your relationship with Jesus can grow as the Spirit makes Jesus more real to you. All it takes is time and an open, teachable heart. So reread today's passage and ask yourself, "Who do I say that Jesus is?" Invite the Spirit to search your heart and strengthen the faith that's already there. Ask him to show you who Jesus is—more and more each day. "Jesus, reveal yourself to me." Numbers 20:1-13
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 |  Listen to 2cents | my2cents:
From today's first Holy Scripture:
"Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD said to Moses,
"Take your staff and assemble the community,
you and your brother Aaron,
and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.
From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation
and their livestock to drink."
So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,
where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels!
Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"
Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,
and water gushed out in abundance for the people
and their livestock to drink.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,
you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them." This Holy Scripture has always confounded me. Our Lord reproaches, not the people this time for complaining, but Moses and Aaron! This is a day to reckon, all priests, religious, take note! Even a chosen person can lose as much as a non-chosen person. Today is a lesson for all of us to reckon...and learn humility. Never lose humility. Wait...do you got humility? What in the world is that? I heard a sermon as I was meditating before writing on it, from the brothers at Sensus Fidelium on YouTube. The priest with a heavy accent speaks about humility and relates it to truthfulness. The word humility comes from a derivative word called humus, meaning dirt. And that is what we should all reckon with, that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Everything else is of God, and even our body He shall glorify. To Him all the honor and glory my friend. As of late, if I see a success in my undertakings and ministries, I look down and say to myself, it wasn't me, it is all the Lord, I am thankful to be a part of it. And I pray that the Lord will not forget me.
And you should know where this attitude is coming from, well, firstly, the school of hard knocks, as I'm striving to live a holy life. And onnce, a retreat also pushed my face to the dirt and humiliated me, called "Escuela de la cruz", 'School of the cross" retreat put on by a Chicago (former) gangster and squad) and also, and even more so than the retreat, I'd suggest reciting and learning and living out the humility litanies. (Click for Humility prayer). | And we honor our Lord by living His Word:
We pray in the Holy Psalms today:
"Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me; they tested me though they had seen my works." If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." | Bear with me as I re-introduce our Lord's words (for recording purposes):
"Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." | And this began what is known as THE CHURCH. And it is what we now recognize as the Catholic Church, as we recognize Peter as basically our first Pope! He's been given the keys, to bind and loose things on Earth as it will be in Heaven. And the CHURCH will never perish. The gates of hell will not prevail against it.
And this speaks volumes for all of us that are in the Church. We are in a protected zone, full proof? Yes, but it is not fools proof. As many get fooled by temptations and lies of the devil, and it happens much more often that we'd care to admit. In comes that little big word...humility. If you turn on the bad news, all you will hear is things against humility. If you turn on the Good News, all you will be led to is true humility, because it leads to ONE....Jesus, the messiah, the CHRIST, the Savior. And guess what the greek hebrew meaning of Christ means? Anointed. And we are anointed in Baptism into Christ! Isn't that spectacular? Isn't that special? It is! Christ builds His Church on us. We are a sacred temple. How Holy is this place?
Before we get too haughty and arrogant, let's continue reading the Gospel, because something peculiar happens immediately after Peter is chosen, listen here:
"Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Oh boy, Peter...and Satan? How quickly Satan enters the scene to speak to Jesus, and this time through Peter!!
How does this happen? How does Satan speak through people? Just as our Lord can speak through people, so does the evil spirit.
Now things are getting deep, but listen up! Listen!
In my life, Jesus speaks to me, and I've recognized His soft, subtle voice, most often heard in complete attention and silence in total devotion to Him, and sometimes, He speaks so harshly to me, or so irritatingly, that I know it is the truth calling for humility, and sacrifice.
And the devil's voice? I've learned how it works, with lures, and sorts of lures, lies, accusations, sweet temptations. I've heard: "Don't do it, so you don't have to suffer". I've heard "Who do you think you are Mr. Holy!?", and I've heard "comon just this once". And check this one out that I always have to pray when I hear: "oh you did so good, I just love what you did (at church)", believe it or not, that is a dagger I have to pray for...so my ego will not be inflated, so pride is not built up, it is words from the devil and I pray when I'm being praised "Satan get behind me".
Take these words to heart. Learn your place. Catholics should live in fear of the Lord. Protestants take note. Salvation was afforded by blood, yes, but we are saved by grace.
Shall a disgraceful soul enter Heaven? I think not. Not even Moses, the meekest man on the face of the earth, got to enter the promised land with his people. Let's pray (the Litany of Humility): O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus. That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. amen | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse from online generator: Praise be to you O Lord!
2 Samuel 7:28
28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
