†Saint Quote
"We must faithfully keep what we have promised. If through human weakness we fail, we must always without delay arise again by means of holy penance, and give our attention to leading a good life and to dying a holy death. May the Father of all mercy, the Son by his holy passion, and the Holy Spirit, source of peace, sweetness and love, fill us with their consolation."
–St. Colette †Today's Meditation
"Without doubt, Jesus Christ could have abolished pain at a single stroke, and, by virtue of the infinite grace of the Redemption, restored man to the state of complete, unmixed bliss that he enjoyed in the paradise of innocence. He did not so wish. He judged that, for some, suffering would be a source of merit, a gain, a source of glory, and a means of renewal and triumph; that, for the greater number, it would be a necessary expiation. He therefore maintained suffering, but purified, ennobled, and transfigured it by taking it upon Himself. He became the man of sorrows, virum dolorum, in the strict and absolute sense of these words."
—Fr. Charles Arminjon, p. 276 †Daily Verse
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous by faith will live." –Romans 1:16-17 |  click to read more | | St. Francis de Laval Saint Francis-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval (1623-1708) was one of eight children born to one of France's most illustrious families. He learned his piety from his mother, and like his namesake desired to become a priest and missionary. This dream was realized when he was appointed by Pope Alexander VII to be the first Apostolic Vicar of New France (Canada). His territory covered all of what is now Canada and the central section of what would become the United States, an enormous frontier which he undertook as a great spiritual work. He landed in Quebec in 1659 when the population was just 500 people. He supported the missions, built a cathedral to the Immaculate Conception, taught devotion to Our Lady under this title, founded a seminary and an industrial school, and began the first Catholic school system in Canada. In all seasons he made long and perilous journeys by land and water to minister to his flock. When Quebec became a diocese he was consecrated as Canada's first bishop. He fought the sinister alcohol trade to the Indian tribes by having it outlawed within his territory and excommunicating those involved with it. He converted and baptized an Iroquois chief who then became a promoter of the Christian faith and won other converts among the local tribes. St. Francis de Laval was a man known for his great influence and holiness of life. His feast day is May 6th. | Prayers to Protect Us
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Reading I Acts 9:1-20
‐---‐----------
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,
if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?"
The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,
and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias."
He answered, "Here I am, Lord."
The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight
and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.
He is there praying,
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
come in and lay his hands on him,
that he may regain his sight."
But Ananias replied,
"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name."
But the Lord said to him,
"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,
and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."
So Ananias went and entered the house;
laying his hands on him, he said,
"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,
that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes
and he regained his sight.
He got up and was baptized,
and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,
and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God. Responsorial Psalm 117:1bc, 2 R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 6:56 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood,
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:52-59 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my Flesh is true food,
and my Blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."
These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
| DAILY MEDITATION: ACTS 9:1-20
Get up and go. (Acts 9:11) "Oh, the places you'll go!" exclaimed Dr. Seuss as he imagined a life of excitement and possibility for his readers. God has an exciting life planned for each of us, and it's not imaginary. It's a life of significance and relevance. It's a life loaded with eternal consequence. And it's a life that is possible for you personally. All you need is an open and willing heart. In today's first reading, Ananias' heart was open to God's command to go, despite his concerns. And because Ananias got up and went, Saul (later called Paul) recovered his sight, was baptized, and received the Holy Spirit. Just imagine! "Get up and go" looks different for each of us. For some, it is a call to action—works of mercy or the cause of justice, perhaps. For others, it is a call to more time in prayer and study. It likely will look different at different times of your life too. The Lord knows that, and he will help you understand your call as you spend time in prayer and reflection. While his direction is not always easy or convenient, it will be possible. He will always help you. "But I'm too young—or too old," you might say. Jeremiah tried that objection, and it didn't fly (1:6). Moses tried—"I'm too slow to speak"—and that didn't work either (see Exodus 4:10). Why? Because when God asks someone to go, he provides the grace to do it. He will give that grace to you. He formed you and knows everything about you, including what is and is not possible for you. He is not bothered by your objections, so express them if you must, just as Ananias did. And then listen quietly for his response. God is delighted by your willingness to "go." He offers you a life filled with hope and opportunities. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll see visions as Ananias did. Sometimes "get up and go" means doing something you already know you should be doing. So look for little ways the Lord offers direction—a phrase from Scripture, a nudge to do something unexpected, or a recurring urge to love. You might not travel the world, but you will still have adventures as you follow the Lord. Just imagine! "Lord, help me to follow your Spirit's direction today." Psalm 117:1-2
John 6:52-59 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
_""Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?" Have u ever seen scales fall from someone's eyes?
Probably not. But I have seen how some see...unclear....misdirected.
Yet our Lord works with us...even the blind.
And we will no longer be blind....if we do what He says. Not what the world teaches...but as He teaches.
Watch how the world wants control...to control the news and what to believe. In communist countries they heavily control what they want you to hear. Their truth is skewed and diabolical. Are you aware or are you allowing this to be....by being neutral? Being neutral is abhorrable. No neutral soul enters Heaven...rather....most suffer eternity for not caring. | We pray in Psalms:
"Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! Go out to all the world and tell the Good News." | In today's Gospel we heard:
'Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day." | From Bishop Barron today; "Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus declares that "unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you." The talk that Jesus gave concerning the sacrament of his Body and Blood was quite literally revolting. It is a rather remarkable understatement when John writes, "The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, 'How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?'" So what does Jesus do when confronted with this objection? One would think that he would offer a metaphorical or symbolic interpretation of his words. Instead, he intensifies what he had said. How do we appropriate this shocking talk? We honor these unnerving words of Jesus, resisting all attempts to explain them away. We affirm the doctrine of "Real Presence." Vatican II re-expressed the traditional Catholic belief when it taught that, though Jesus is present to us in any number of ways—in the proclamation of the Gospel, in the gathering of two or three in his name, in the poor and suffering—he is nevertheless present in a qualitatively different way in the Eucharist." The world needs the truth of Christ. Yet many choose to hide. Why do we hide the love of God? Do we not have any?
If we do not love God...does He stop loving?
I find myself as the body of Christ...that if I see a soul desiring to bless God...then I want to bless that soul.
I am not a normal Christian.
Normal ones say they believe but do not show it.
People are not stupid. They can smell a holy person a mile away. And for evil...this is prey.
But I become poison for darkness.
Here...a wretched soul attacks me...and they come out saved. And so...Saul [meaning the great] becomes Paul [meaning the less].
And the more we become less...the greater we shall be...in light and purity.
God help us. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: Hebrews 6:11–12
[Hebrews 6] 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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