†Saint Quote
"God loves those who thank Him even in suffering."
— St. Arnold Janssen † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"I believe that if those souls that tend towards sanctity were instructed as to the conduct they ought to follow, they would be spared a good deal of trouble. I speak as much of people in the world as of others. If they could realize the merit concealed in the actions of each moment of the day: I mean in each of the daily duties of their state in life ... they would indeed be happy. If, besides, they understood that to attain the utmost height of perfection, the safest and surest way is to accept the crosses sent them by Providence at every moment, that the true philosopher's stone is submission to the will of God which changes into divine gold all their occupations, troubles, and sufferings, what consolation would be theirs! What courage would they not derive from the thought that to acquire the friendship of God, and to arrive at eternal glory, they had but to do what they were doing, but to suffer what they were suffering, and that what they wasted and counted as nothing would suffice to enable them to arrive at eminent sanctity: far more so than extraordinary states and wonderful works."
—Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, p. 18
AN EXCERPT FROM
Abandonment to Divine Providence †VERSE OF THE DAY
"It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens."
Jeremiah 10:12 |  click to read more | | ST. JEROME St. Jerome (347 - 420) was born to a wealthy pagan family in Dalmatia. He was sent to Rome for his schooling and there converted to Christianity, being baptized by Pope Liberius. He studied theology and traveled widely to the important intellectual and theological centers across the newly-established Christian Empire. He was ordained a priest at Antioch and lived many years as a hermit in a nearby desert. He became an extraordinary scholar, considered to be the most learned of the Latin Church Fathers. Because of his many significant theological works, most notably the thirty years he spent writing the Latin translation of the Bible (the Latin Vulgate), he is one of the most influential and orthodox theologians in the life of the early Church. In his final years Saint Jerome lived in a monastery that he founded in the Holy Land near Bethlehem, where he worked on writing histories and biographies in addition to drawing deeper into a life of prayer and asceticism. For his important scholarly contributions St. Jerome was named a Doctor of the Church. He is the patron of libraries, archaeologists, students, and translators. St. Jerome's feast day is September 30th. | Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 458
Reading I Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate,
and they called upon Ezra the scribe
to bring forth the book of the law of Moses
which the LORD prescribed for Israel.
On the first day of the seventh month, therefore,
Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak until midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
(for he was standing higher up than any of the people);
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
"Amen, amen!"
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
As the people remained in their places,
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
"Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep"–
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"
And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,
"Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened."
Then all the people went to eat and drink,
to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy,
for they understood the words that had been expounded to them. Responsorial Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye;
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. Alleluia Mk 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 10:1-12 Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.'
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town." | Daily Meditation: Luke 10:1-12 Into whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this household." (Luke 10:5) We all know how wonderful it feels to be around someone who is peaceful. Just as someone who is stressed can spread that stress to their environment, someone who is at peace can be a source of peace, comfort, and assurance to the people around them. This seems to be the principle behind today's first reading, when Jesus instructed his disciples to offer peace to each house they visited. Note that Jesus didn't tell them to begin by offering food, forgiveness, or healing; their job was to begin with peace. That was—and still is—one of the most effective ways to soften people's hearts and help open them to the good news of the gospel. Jesus loves to spread his peace through the witness of his people—people like us. We know that Jesus wants to give us his peace as we draw close to him in prayer. We know that he promises us a peace that the world cannot give to us. But we often forget that Jesus doesn't want us to keep this peace all to ourselves. He wants us to share it with everyone we meet so that it will spread. And we share it, not by by telling everyone how peaceful we feel, but by simply remaining close to Jesus and letting his peace flow out of us. Your efforts to stay rooted in the peace of Christ are not lost on the people around you. Just think of the effect that someone like Mother Teresa had on those who met her. Or to bring it closer to home, think of someone you know who radiates the presence and the peace of Christ. People notice when someone seems centered and calm in difficult situations. It's true for you as well. Your peace can flow to the people you encounter in the supermarket, at work, in the parking lot, or in your home. You can make a difference! So yes, continue to ask Jesus to give you his peace and to make you into a more peaceful person. But remember also to give that peace to people wherever you go. "Lord, make me a channel of your peace to everyone I will meet today." Nehemiah 8:1-12
Psalm 19:8-11 |  Listen to 2cents | From Today's Holy Scripture in the book of Nehemiah:
"He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
(for he was standing higher up than any of the people);
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
"Amen, amen!"
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
As the people remained in their places,
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read."
Let us go to the Altar of God. Let us prostrate ourselves before Him. Let us understand what is read. And the proper form to understand has been given. Obedience. Honor to God. Respect is not a good word, for with true honor to God, respect is a second degree. This is much more. Then, the honor of man shall come. | We pray in Psalms:
" The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart."
On some of the first days of teaching RCIA, I told the students that we were going to learn to be saints, for only saints are in Heaven. And that we were going to learn truth, and that truth would entail and enjoin true joy. Not happiness as the world teaches with disorder, but an inexplicable anchor into LIFE. | Our Lord speaks in the book of John:
"He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you." | All I got to say is AMEN to what our Lord says. I've been working on ministries for about 20 years. And what is the harvest like? What is the harvest? Souls. Right? I'm heavily involved and I know what it is like to be short handed. Just last night the religious coordinator asked for names for more teachers, and I'm involved with tons of people to put on our family festival. I'm asking every single day for help everywhere, pulling people from retirement at work and retirement from CHURCH! LOL. To me, there is no such thing as retiring, I understand the 80 year old priest(s), but he is still a priest! He is still a priest even in the next life they are marked forever as priest! If you are local and reading this, I need your help.
The harvest of souls though, that's where it gets tough. But it is not impossible. All I do is ask for help, and for this, we need to take on a new realm, with angels. We need angelic help, spiritual help. And it happens.
Lately, I've been calling on help against evil. And you have to. Because evil takes root in people. How can I help someone deeply rooted in evil? Start hacking away...praying for them, working with them, feeding them and teaching them the good. Such was the works of our Lord. Healing, preaching, feeding, always with the flock, always the Good Shepherd.
Your job at the end of things and at the end of Holy Mass is to go forth, preaching, bringing others to Christ, so that they may eat, so that they may be fed..and so led. Let's pray:
Lord, I pray that we bring peace to the household of God in the world.
We are constantly being fed other things and misled.
I pray for guidance, and I pray for light.
I pray for strength and I pray for might.
Send us zeal and fervor for your House.
The House of God, the Holy Temple, The Very Body of Christ. amen | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: Galatians 5:22–23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
