†Saint Quote
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
–St. Francis of Assisi †Today's Meditation
"Many men keep the commandments in the way sick men take medicine: more from fear of dying in damnation than for joy of living according to our Savior's will. Just as some persons dislike taking medicine, no matter how pleasant it is, simply because it is called medicine, so there are some souls who hold in horror things commanded simply because they are commanded . . . On the contrary, a loving heart loves the commandments. The more difficult they are, the sweeter and more agreeable it finds them, since this more perfectly pleases the Beloved and gives Him greater honor."
—St. Francis de Sales, p. 20 An Excerpt From
Finding God's Will for You †Daily Verse
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe."
–Proverbs 18:10 |  click to read more | | St. Maria Goretti St. Maria Goretti (1890–1902) was born in Italy to a humble farming family. Her father died from malaria when she was 9, leaving the family destitute. Her mother and older siblings worked in the fields while Maria managed the household chores and cared for her younger siblings. One summer day while the family was in the fields, Maria was attacked by their neighbor, a 19-year-old boy named Alessandro, who attempted to rape her. Maria wasn't yet 12 years old. She fought back, yelling to him that it was a sin and that he would go to hell for his actions. In a rage over her refusal, Alessandro stabbed Maria fourteen times. Doctors operated to save her life, without anesthesia, and Maria lingered for two days after the attack. She verbally forgave Alessandro for his crime, offered her suffering to God, and died while holding a crucifix. Alessandro went to prison for murder, full of hardness of heart. One day in prison Maria appeared to him in a dream. She placed 14 white lilies, one at a time, into his hands; one for each of the times he stabbed her. This stunning experience of forgiveness brought him to repentance, and Alessandro was converted. Upon leaving prison he sought reconciliation with Maria's mother and with the Church. Alessandro called Maria "his little saint" and prayed to her daily. He also attended her canonization Mass in 1950. Alessandro joined the Franciscans as a lay brother until his death in 1970. St. Maria Goretti is the patron saint of children, youth, young girls, the poor, martyrs, purity, poverty, chastity, rape victims, and forgiveness. Her feast day is July 6th. | Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 385
Reading 1 HOS 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Israel is a luxuriant vine
whose fruit matches its growth.
The more abundant his fruit,
the more altars he built;
The more productive his land,
the more sacred pillars he set up.
Their heart is false,
now they pay for their guilt;
God shall break down their altars
and destroy their sacred pillars.
If they would say,
"We have no king"—
Since they do not fear the LORD,
what can the king do for them? The king of Samaria shall disappear,
like foam upon the waters.
The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,
the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars.
Then they shall cry out to the mountains, "Cover us!"
and to the hills, "Fall upon us!" "Sow for yourselves justice,
reap the fruit of piety;
break up for yourselves a new field,
for it is time to seek the LORD,
till he come and rain down justice upon you." Responsorial Psalm PS 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (4b) Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Seek always the face of 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. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia MK 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand:
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel MT 10:1-7 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
"Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" | Daily Meditation: Matthew 10:1-7 Jesus sent out these Twelve. (Matthew 10:5) We might wonder how the experience of the Twelve applies to us today. Do we go into the streets and cry out, "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand"? Do we demonstrate God's kingdom by healing the sick, raising the dead, or casting out demons? Certainly it's possible; God can and does work miracles through us. But that's generally not our day-to-day experience. If looking at the feats performed by the disciples discourages you, don't forget the point of what Jesus was saying here. The signs the apostles worked weren't meant to be an end in themselves. They were meant to point people to the presence of God's heavenly kingdom on earth. They were meant to point people to Jesus himself, who is the ruler of this kingdom. Physical healings, exorcisms, and the like still happen today, and sometimes they happen through us! But they aren't the only signs of God's presence on earth. There are many other ways to demonstrate the love, joy, and peace of the kingdom to the people around us. Certainly pray that your child be healed or that a friend be set free from a sinful habit. But also be open to whatever way the Lord wants you to be a sign. Think, for instance, about the deep impact your faith can have on other people. Think about how dramatic a "sign" it can be if you forgive someone who has deeply offended you. Or the "sign" of being kind to someone whom others completely ignore. Or what about the "sign" you perform simply by trying to live out the virtues of purity, humility, gentleness, and faithfulness in your relationships? When you focus your heart on Jesus' presence in you, you become a sign that points to him wherever you go. You can begin just by making this prayer of St. John Henry Newman your own every morning: "Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus!" This is the calling of every Christian; this is the way we point to God's kingdom here on earth. It's a calling Jesus fulfilled in the Twelve, and it's a calling he is happy to fulfill in us. "Lord, shine through me!" Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Psalm 105:2-7 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"If they would say,
"We have no king"—
Since they do not fear the LORD,
what can the king do for them?" And so it is with many people that choose to believe in their own version of a god. The liberation movement always wants one to be free from rules. Why? So they can establish their own rule. And this liberation sets well with those who refuse God's will. When will we be able to turn from this selfish mentality of man? When? Sooner the better. | We pray in Psalms:
"Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Seek always the face of the Lord" | In today's Gospel we heard our Lord:
"Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness." | From Bishop Barron today:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus commissions the twelve Apostles. Perhaps we can see here a fulfillment of his prophetic invitation to the first disciples: "Come after me and I will make you fishers of men."
"Come after me." This is a Hebraicism that indicates discipleship. Jesus is not offering a doctrine, a theology, or a set of beliefs. He is offering himself. He's saying, "Walk in my path; enter into the world that I have opened up."
"And I will make you fishers of men." This is one of the best lines in Scripture. Notice the first part of the phrase: "I will make you." God is the one who makes us from nothing. To live in sin is to live outside of the creative power of God, to pretend that we can make ourselves. How wonderful that he tells us that he will make us!
And what he makes us is always a reflection of himself: a fisher of men. God wants to draw all things and all people into a community around him, in him. He is a fisher of people—and so wants us to be."
........... Our Lord summoned the chosen to clean people and cure them, basically right?
Do we need to be cleansed? The answer is always yes. Of course. But do we want to be made clean? Like the leper? The leper wanted and longed to be back in the family, back in the flock.
Few people long to be cleansed. And the atrocity of this, is eternal ramifications to be found wanting, that is, lacking in the one thing that is lacking...Christ the Light in our souls.
So how can we help priests and the whole Church and Holy Spirit movement bring souls to Christ, therefore, God Himself? ""Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." As much as I'd love to convert paganism centers, centers of self interest and other gods, there is still much work to do in God's lost flock.
They say that the second biggest religion behind Catholicism is the fallen away Catholics. And if you care, you can throw in all protestants into that category too, for they too are fallen away Catholics, attempting to make their own set of beliefs, to allow divorce, and even worse, twisted marriages.
How is the light to shine in the Church? Many people don't see it happening, so what do they do? Fall away! LOL. What an oxymoron! Instead of sticking to it, we quit? How is a fire supposed to be made bigger if everyone goes off to do their own thing?
Yet, that's the scheme of the evil one...to divide, to split up, and to water down the flame of love...for God. Mother God, pray for us! Let's begin to pray the flame of love for the world every day. Pray with your family, and friends, and church! † Prayer #2 "My adorable Jesus,
May our feet journey together.
May our hands gather in unity.
May our hearts beat in unison.
May our souls be in harmony.
May our thoughts be as one.
May our ears listen to the silence together.
May our glances profoundly penetrate each other.
May our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father. ..................... Jesus said, "Through this prayer, Satan will be blind and souls will not be led into sin. ( p.25 ) The Lord explained, "Satan being blind signifies a worldwide triumph of my Sacred Heart, the freedom of souls and a full opening of the road of salvation." (p. 87) Prayer #3: Hail Mary: The Addition of the Important Petition Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee,
blessed are Thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
spread the effect of grace of Thy Flame of Love over all of humanity,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen." |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: AMEN!! 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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