†Saint Quote
"Those whose hearts are pure are the temples of the Holy Spirit."
–St. Lucy †Today's Meditation
"If favored souls are sometimes sensibly conscious of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in our churches, how much more must holy Joseph, whose spiritual senses were so delicate and refined, have felt his heart burn within him with divine charity, from the nearness of Him who now dwelt in Mary as His living tabernacle!"
—Edward Healy Thompson, p. 168 An Excerpt From
The Life & Glories of Saint Joseph †Daily Verse
"Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart."
–Hebrews 12:3 |  click to read more | | St. Agnes of Montepulciano St. Agnes of Montepulciano (1268–1317) was born into a noble family in Tuscany. Her birth was announced with strange lights surrounding her dwelling, considered a sign that she was a favored child. At nine years of age she requested to enter the local Franciscan monastery in Montepulciano. Although doing so at her young age was against Church law, she obtained special permission from the pope. She became a model nun, reached a high degree of contemplative prayer, and executed her duties so well that she was chosen to help found and lead a new monastery in Proceno when she was just 15 years old, again with special permission at her young age. She lived there for 20 years and became known as a great mystic and visionary while cultivating a special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She became locally famous for her miracles as well as for her austerities. She lived on bread and water, slept on the ground, and used a stone for a pillow. Eventually, Agnes returned to Montepulciano. By request she founded and led an even larger monastery, this time receiving a vision that it should be a convent of Dominican nuns dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Through her prayers she cured the sick, multiplied food, and raised to life a child who had drowned. Her feast day is April 20. | Wednesday in the Octave of Easter Lectionary: 263
Reading I Acts 3:1-10 Peter and John were going up to the temple area
for the three o'clock hour of prayer.
And a man crippled from birth was carried
and placed at the gate of the temple called "the Beautiful Gate" every day
to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple,
he asked for alms.
But Peter looked intently at him, as did John,
and said, "Look at us."
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk."
Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up,
and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
they recognized him as the one
who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple,
and they were filled with amazement and astonishment
at what had happened to him. Responsorial Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 R. (3b) Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations--
Which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Ps 118:24 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 24:13-35 That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus' disciples were going
to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,
Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them,
"What are you discussing as you walk along?"
They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,
"Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem
who does not know of the things
that have taken place there in these days?"
And he replied to them, "What sort of things?"
They said to him,
"The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over
to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;
and besides all this,
it is now the third day since this took place.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:
they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his Body;
they came back and reported
that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
who announced that he was alive.
Then some of those with us went to the tomb
and found things just as the women had described,
but him they did not see."
And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are!
How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
and enter into his glory?"
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
he interpreted to them what referred to him
in all the Scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going,
he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, "Stay with us,
for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over."
So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,
but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other,
"Were not our hearts burning within us
while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem
where they found gathered together
the Eleven and those with them who were saying,
"The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!"
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way
and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. | Daily Meditation: Acts 3:1-10 In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean . . . (Acts 3:6) Public officials will sometimes announce the passage of a law or decision with the words "By the authority vested in me . . . " They're saying that they are "vested" or "clothed" with an authority that is higher than their own. More than simply naming that authority, they're saying that this authority has been given to them. Whether it's a federal constitution or a state law, that's the authority that makes the official's statement effective. That is what Peter was doing when he prayed for this man to finally be able to walk. He was acting on behalf of a higher authority—Jesus Christ. He wasn't just saying Jesus' name for effect. Peter had been commissioned by Jesus. He had been filled with Jesus' Spirit at Pentecost. That gave him and the other apostles Jesus' own power to heal, to evangelize, and to be witnesses to the world. Peter believed in this power because he had seen Jesus heal and heard him say, "Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these" (John 14:12). As baptized Christians, we have all been given that authority too. Like the disciples, we too have been sent to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Like Peter, we can call on the name of Jesus. Take a moment to think about how powerful that name is. It is mightier than any other name. It's the name to which all of creation must bow (Philippians 2:9-10). So the next time you are praying for something difficult, don't just think about the difficulty. Think about whom you're praying to: Jesus, whose name means "God saves." He has sent you with his authority to do his works. When you call on him with a sincere heart, he will come to you. When you say his name with reverence, he is there with you. It's true whether you pray for a friend's healing or your own. It's true whether you ask for patience, strength, wisdom, or peace. It's true even if your prayer isn't answered exactly how or when you hoped it would be. Jesus hears you. So don't fail to call on his name! "Lord Jesus Christ, I praise you for your powerful name!" Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9
Luke 24:13-35 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk." What is better than silver and gold? What could it be? Silver and gold, if you think are "precious" metals, but only because we value them as such...or because they are rare. So what is rare nowadays? True fidelity to Christ. Faith itself. | We pray in Psalms:
"Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord." Who serves the Lord? Angels do. Who else? Saints do. Who else? We are called to serve Him. That is our purpose. As the old Baltimore Catholic teaching says we are born to
Love God,
Know God,
Serve God both now and for eternity. My question always is: What are you serving to God? What's more precious than gold or silver? They say time is money, is that a clue? Let's get to the heart of serving and servitude. | In today's Gospel we heard:
" And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight." | To this day, would you believe, that our Lord is not recognized among us? (Think Holy Eucharist and Holy Sacraments through a Holy Priest.)
Have you ever heard of someone seeing someone that totally disappeared after meeting them? I've heard a couple stories where those that disappeared were considered angels. But, as of late, I'm starting to believe it could've been suffering souls that appear needing help, or even our Lord Himself. So be careful what you see, and be careful what you say, and be ever mindful of what you serve.
Every soul is precious to God, even if it is not to you. And what is precious to our Lord shall be precious to us. Do you look forward to serving God in Heaven forever?
Let us begin to do so as of now. Not tomorrow. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: Psalm 25:7 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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