†Saint Quote
"Faith is a habit of the mind whereby eternal life is begun in us, making the intellect assent to what is non-apparent."
–St. Thomas Aquinas †Today's Meditation
"Very pleasing to Me, dearest daughter, is the willing desire to bear every pain and fatigue, even unto death, for the salvation of souls, for the more the soul endures, the more she shows that she loves Me; loving Me she comes to know more of My truth, and the more she knows, the more pain and intolerable grief she feels at the offenses committed against me."
—God to St. Catherine of Siena in the book, Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena, p. 9 An Excerpt From
Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena †Daily Verse
"Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!"
–Psalm 119:1-3 |  click to read more | | Bl. Antonia Mesina Blessed Antonia Mesina (1919-1935) was one of ten children born to a poor family on the island of Sardinia in Italy. Being the second oldest child, she had to leave school to help with the family chores after her mother became bedridden, a task which she accepted with obedience, humility, and joy. Antonia's mother referred to her daughter as "the flower of my life." Antonia was also active in her parish, joining the Young Women of Catholic Action organization at the age of ten and encouraging others to do the same. On May 17, 1935, while in the forest with a friend gathering firewood, Antonia was assaulted by a teenage boy who attempted to rape her. Her friend ran for help while Antonia bravely defended herself against her attacker. The young man, unable to achieve his goal due to her continuous resistance, brutally attacked Antonia with dozens of blows with a rock. By the time help arrived, it was too late. Antonia died at the age of sixteen. The entire town accompanied her body to the site of her burial. She is considered a martyr of sexual purity, and was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1987. Her story has been likened to that of St. Maria Goretti. Blessed Antonia Messina is the patron of rape victims. Her feast day is May 17th. | Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter Lectionary: 286
Reading I Acts 14:19-28 In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium
arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God."
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the Church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Then they spent no little time with the disciples. Responsorial Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21 R. (see 12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May my mouth speak the praise of the LORD, and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia See Lk 24:46, 26 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 14:27-31a Jesus said to his disciples:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
'I am going away and I will come back to you.'
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.
I will no longer speak much with you,
for the ruler of the world is coming.
He has no power over me,
but the world must know that I love the Father
and that I do just as the Father has commanded me." | Daily Meditation: John 14:27-31 Not as the world gives [peace] do I give it to you. (John 14:27) Advertising agencies have made a fortune using "peace" to sell their products. Whether it's a bubble bath that promises to take us away from our worries, an all-inclusive island getaway, or just a fast-food restaurant where we are told we deserve a break today, peace is what they are really selling. There may be some value in a quiet bath, an island getaway, or a quick hamburger, but in the end, the peace offered in these settings is fleeting. Even the peace that comes from the end of a war is temporary. Another conflict always seems to be waiting in the wings. So when Jesus offers us peace, he quickly points out that he is not offering the temporary peace that the world gives. He is offering something far deeper and more lasting. His peace doesn't rely on changing scenery or moments of indulgence. It comes from standing before God as his child: beloved, redeemed, and filled with his Spirit. His peace is always available to us. This is why turning to Jesus is our wisest course of action when worries occupy our thoughts or anxieties wake us up at night. We reach out to him instead of reaching for the television remote, some ice cream, or some other familiar stress reliever, and know that he will hear us and help us. Even when we are feeling weighed down by serious issues, we can still come to the Lord and he will share our burdens. And what if we don't "feel" more peaceful? That's where faith comes in. Recall who you are as a child of God. Recall the attributes of your heavenly Father. Believe that he won't give you a stone if you ask for a piece of bread (Matthew 7:9). Your troubles won't automatically disappear, but it will be harder for fear or anxiety to consume you. Don't settle for a temporary peace! Jesus came to establish his peace as a permanent, trustworthy refuge for you no matter what your situation may be. What problems are you facing today? Turn them over to Jesus. Trust in his promise to be with you always. Ask him for the peace that endures to eternal life. "Lord, help me to trust in your presence and your promises. Jesus, I need your peace!" Acts 14:19-28
Psalm 145:10-13, 21 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead." Then Paul rose again...to do the will of God, that is, to continue the Holy Will of God, as we heard " they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples...".
For:
"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God." For our Lord said that in the world we will have trouble, can I get an AMEN!?
But take Heart He says. For HE has conquered the world. | We pray in Psalms:
''Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom." Who then is God's friend? It is those who are true, and love to speak about Him. Watch what comes out of your heart...and you will see if you are His friend. If it is good talk about His life for us, then you are friends, but if you never speak of Him or speak ill of Him, then you are not friends. Would you like to meet my best friend? Would you share Him with the rest of the world? Or do we keep Him to ourselves? | In today's Gospel we heard our Lord:
""Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." But we have hearts that are troubled and afraid...all the time, right? But He says "do not be troubled! In comes the whole trust thing again.
And you are talking to a guy here that has a thousand irons in the fire, many things going on at once, continuously, all day, every day. If I told you what I have to handle, would you believe? I'll give you a sample, like at work right now: 3 work inuries, and one lawsuit, and this alone is horrible news, but add on a truck that caught fire a few days ago, and various citations increasing our rates, and the multiple tasks of hundreds of pieces of equipment and juggling jobs, and that's just at work. In the family, I've many worries of how things seem to want to fall apart with so many loved ones falling away from faith, some turning against themselves in sin, and this is obvious in a homosexual style choice...an implosion onto self.
Ok, had enough? I'm talking about teens and adults in here, but there's more. Sometimes these loved ones turn on me, cussing and insulting or just avoiding one at all costs. Had enough? Let's go on, at Church we have many irons in the fire, I've many ministries, and there too, have to juggle many things at once, and responsibilities call all throughout the day, a retreat here, a wedding to sing at there, weekly duties in RCIA, festival to plan for the community, and the constant battling of trying to get a parish building built and wishing I could do so much more with a 40 year old church building in need of reparations and renovations. Want more? What else should I take on? Can I take on anything else?
Most of the work was handled by my dad who just passed away. Most of choirs were not a problem until the choirs faded away leaving me alone and some even blaming me to boot. And most family problems could've been avoided if someone had remained faithful...to God first. Today's saint was a young teen who was murdered by a would be rapist.
Bishop Sheen said "first comes nudity, then comes violence".
Watch how violence today persists, and it is fueled by indecency, pornography, all things impurity. Watch how threats are coming to bring more violence as this impurity is fueling hatred. So how can I be not afraid?
How can I take heart? How? I'm realizing it, and here's the answer:
Humility. This will be your answer. Humility before God. To turn to Him.
Perhaps then true disciples will be made, and the world will see a greater light. And this message is not for others, but for you.
It is going to start within your heart. This world passes quick. But His Words will never pass away. For HE is the truth of eternity. | "..the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me." | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: Hebrews 13:5
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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