†Saint Quote
"Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love."
–St. Clare of Assisi †Today's Meditation
"When we make a good resolution, we merely consider the beauty and excellence of virtue, which attracts even the most vapid minds, but we never consider the difficulties of attaining it. Consequently, cowardly souls are dismayed at the first sign of trouble and they hurriedly abandon their project. For this reason, it would be better for you to consider the difficulties which occur in acquiring virtue, rather than the virtues themselves, and to prepare yourself accordingly. You may rest assured that the greater courage you show in conquering yourself or defeating your enemies, the sooner will your difficulties diminish, and they will gradually vanish."
—Dom Lorenzo Scupoli, p. 94 An Excerpt From
The Spiritual Combat †Daily Verse
"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
–1 Corinthians 1:18 |  click to read more | | St. Scholastica St. Scholastica (480–542 A.D.) was born in Nursia, Italy, to a noble Roman family, along with her twin brother, the famous St. Benedict of Nursia. Their mother died in childbirth. Scholastica was dedicated to God as a child, and from a young age both siblings sensed a special divine calling. They both entered religious life and established communities within five miles of each other; St. Scholastica led a convent near Monte Cassino where Benedict established his world-renowned monastery. Because of the isolated nature of their vocations, the siblings only met once a year at a local farmhouse to discuss spiritual matters. During what was to be their final meeting, St. Scholastica had a premonition that her death was imminent. She asked Benedict to spend the night at the farmhouse so they could continue their visit, but he refused as it was forbidden in his monastic rule. Scholastica turned her request to God and prayed that her brother would stay with her. Suddenly a great thunderstorm erupted that made travel impossible, and Benedict was forced to stay. Scholastica died a few days later, and in a vision St. Benedict saw her soul leave her body in the form of a dove. St. Scholastica is the patron of nuns and against lightening, rain, and storms. Her feast day is February 10. | Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin Lectionary: 332
Reading I 1 Kgs 11:4-13 When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to strange gods,
and his heart was not entirely with the LORD, his God,
as the heart of his father David had been.
By adoring Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians,
and Milcom, the idol of the Ammonites,
Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD;
he did not follow him unreservedly as his father David had done.
Solomon then built a high place to Chemosh, the idol of Moab,
and to Molech, the idol of the Ammonites,
on the hill opposite Jerusalem.
He did the same for all his foreign wives
who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
The LORD, therefore, became angry with Solomon,
because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel,
who had appeared to him twice
(for though the LORD had forbidden him
this very act of following strange gods,
Solomon had not obeyed him). So the LORD said to Solomon: "Since this is what you want,
and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes
which I enjoined on you,
I will deprive you of the kingdom and give it to your servant.
I will not do this during your lifetime, however,
for the sake of your father David;
it is your son whom I will deprive.
Nor will I take away the whole kingdom.
I will leave your son one tribe for the sake of my servant David
and of Jerusalem, which I have chosen." Responsorial Psalm 106:3-4, 35-36, 37 and 40 R. (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people; visit us with your saving help.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
But they mingled with the nations and learned their works.
They served their idols, which became a snare for them.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
And the LORD grew angry with his people, and abhorred his inheritance.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people. Alleluia Jas 1:21bc R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 7:24-30 Jesus went to the district of Tyre.
He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,
but he could not escape notice.
Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.
She came and fell at his feet.
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,
and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
He said to her, "Let the children be fed first.
For it is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs."
She replied and said to him,
"Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps."
Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go.
The demon has gone out of your daughter."
When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed
and the demon gone. | Daily Meditation: 1 Kings 11:4-13 Solomon had not obeyed him. (1 Kings 11:10) Early in his reign, King Solomon had a dream in which God told him to ask for anything. When Solomon requested wisdom, God was greatly pleased and promised to give Solomon a heart so wise and discerning that "there has never been anyone like you" (1 Kings 3:12). So looking at today's first reading, you might wonder, What happened to the wisest man who ever lived? In the world's eyes, Solomon was a success. He undertook many publics works projects, increased trade, and formed favorable political alliances, all the time increasing Israel's power and influence. But God looks at the heart, and he didn't like what he saw in Solomon's. By the end of Solomon's life, corruption had set in. The man who had once built a fabulous Temple for the Lord was now building temples to false gods all over Israel. At the same time, other "gods" had taken hold of Solomon's life. Wealth, power, and his numerous wives and concubines became more important to him than God. When commenting on this reading, Pope Francis noted that Solomon's "weakness of the heart" was "a slow journey that slides along step by step." Francis warns that this gradual distancing from God is something that can happen to any of us as well. "You don't even realize it, but slowly you slip" (Homily, February 13, 2020). It's interesting that we don't hear any response from Solomon when God expresses his displeasure with how he is living (1 Kings 11:14-40). It seems that despite all his wisdom, Solomon never confessed his sins. He never sought to repair his relationship with the Lord or tried to undo the damage he had caused to God's people. How can we avoid falling into the same trap as Solomon? Pope Francis urges us to stay alert "for the grace to understand when our heart begins to weaken and to slide." By keeping ourselves focused on God's presence, we will become more aware of when we start slipping away from him. Then, with a simple prayer of repentance and surrender, we can find the strength to stand fast. "Lord, keep me alert to your presence so that I won't give in to sin." Psalm 106:3-4, 35-37, 40
Mark 7:24-30 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"The LORD, therefore, became angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel..." So what happened? The rich King Solomon had grown rich, by God's gifts. And Solomon turned away still. Can that happen to any of us? We make God out to be a big softy that has no heart? What happens when we turn from Him? Cruelty happens. One of the gods was Molech and this one asks for baby blood, children's blood. How do you think our Lord felt? Betrayed. Yet that same god Molech exists in spirit today, and is fed with abortions. Do you think our Lord is not affected by this cruelty? This is what happens when we go against Him. In tolerance, in neutrality. | We pray in Psalms:
"Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people; visit us with your saving help. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people" | Our Lord speaks in the Holy Gospel:
_"She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." If I but only touch the tassel. Later on some just wanted to be in the shadow of St. Peter to be healed. It is people of great faith that are healed. And I've been praying since yesterday, that I may have the faith of a child. Not one that doubts. Not a faith that turns away. And so should we all. Have a faith that can move mountains, and it is only the size of a mustard seed. If only we had the faith to feed off a morsel of bread. | Let's Pray:
Lord Heavenly Father,
Increase our faith. Increase grace in us.
Increase but helping us be small, like a mustard seed.
Humble, and truly fearful to ever turning away from You. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian We are looking at possibly doing long term recovery, and we are speaking to the doctor today. Pray for good report, and God our Father to feed us a morsel of life...His very essence of Love, as we pray for faith for a miraculous healing because His is all the power and glory.
Thank you Lord. |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: 2 Peter 3:8
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
