†Saint Quote
"It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name."
–St. Ignatius of Antioch †Today's Meditation
"He does not come down from Heaven each day to stay in the gold ciborium. He comes down to find another Heaven He cherishes infinitely more than the first, the Heaven of our souls, made in His image, living temples of the Most Blessed Trinity!"
—St. Therese of Lisieux, p. 31 An Excerpt From
Meditations with the Little Flower †Daily Verse
"The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived."
–1 John 2:3-6 |  click to read more | | St. David of Wales St. David of Wales (6th c.), also called Dewi Sant by the Welsh, was a missionary priest, Celtic monk, archbishop, miracle-worker, and the founder of many monasteries in Wales and western England. He was descended from Welsh royalty, and in medieval times many believed he was the nephew of the famed King Arthur. His great leadership abilities gave him influence over many Church affairs. In the dozen monasteries he founded he established strict asceticism modeled after the early desert hermits. St. David is often depicted standing on a mound with a dove on his shoulder. According to legend, one day while preaching a dove rested on his shoulder, and the earth rose to lift him above the crowd so that all could hear him speak. During a battle with the Saxons, St. David advised the Welsh soldiers to wear leeks in their hats to distinguish themselves from their enemy; this is the origin of the leek as an emblem of Wales. St. David is one of the great saints of the 6th century whose work helped to establish Christianity in Europe. He is the patron saint of Wales, and his feast, "St. David's Day," is a popular cultural celebration. The Cathedral of St. David's in Pembrokeshire was built over his remains and became a pilgrimage destination for centuries. St. David of Wales' feast day is March 1st.
Find a Devotional for This Saint | Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Reading I 1 Pt 1:10-16 Beloved:
Concerning the salvation of your souls
the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
searched and investigated it
investigating the time and circumstances
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
when it testified in advance
to the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look. Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly,
and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Like obedient children,
do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
but, as he who called you is holy,
be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
for it is written, Be holy because I am holy. Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation. Alleluia See Mt 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 10:28-31 Peter began to say to Jesus,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."
| Daily Meditation: 1 Peter 1:10-16 Set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13) Haven't we all had the experience of setting our hopes on something that winds up disappointing us? It might be someone's unfulfilled promise of a good job or an easy assignment at school. It might be a financial investment that wasn't as profitable as we had hoped it would be. Or maybe it was a new medical treatment that failed to bring longed-for healing. In contrast, Peter advises us to anchor our hope to something strong enough to support us, something that comes from God and is completely reliable. And that something is God's own grace. Grace is the most secure foundation we can have because it directs our hope toward what is coming—ultimately, the gift of eternal life. We have all been beneficiaries of God's grace, even though its fullness hasn't yet been revealed. It is as if we're getting glimpses of his loving presence, glimmers of his glory and majesty. Grace is already seeping into our lives, and it builds a strong foundation for us when we look toward the future. Take a few moments to consider the ways in which you have already received the benefits of God's grace. Of course, his grace has made you his son or daughter. But go further. Think of times when you made it through a difficult situation or felt God's love and mercy deeply. Remember the gift of an unexpected friendship or a sudden inspiration for a complex or tricky problem. These are all personal experiences of God's grace and favor. Let these experiences help you set a firm foundation for your faith. You know that the fullness of grace will come when you see Jesus face-to-face. But in the meantime, you can still trust in God's faithfulness and his love for you. That's an "anchor of the soul" that will never fail (Hebrews 6:19). "Father, thank you for all the blessings you've already poured into my life. Help me to place my hope entirely on the grace that you have yet to reveal to me." Psalm 98:1-4
Mark 10:28-31 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
" he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy." Our Lord says always to you directly, believe it or not these 3 words, daily, even hourly: "I Love You". Now what? How do you respond to those words you can only see and hear with an open heart? Today He says to us: Be Holy. Our Father is saying: "I AM holy, and you are made in My image, therefore, be what I AM". You see, in the hereafter, in the real present, the forever now, it is all about the being. Therefore, be what you are called to be. I have an old keychain somewhere that says "Be holy, or die trying". | We pray in Psalms:
"The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel."
Do you have faith in humanity? Does God our Father have faith in humanity? He must, and we must implore to Him, and we must demonstrate to God faith. I've heard many near death experiences, and I've come to a common denominator among many: God loves it when we pray. God loves it when we show love. God loves it when we love Him...in others. Therefore, faith in humanity must and can be restored. And it begins with you, no matter the current circumstance you are in. | Our Lord speaks in the Holy Gospel:
Peter our first Pope says to our Lord Himself: "We have given up everything and followed you." Indeed, they gave up marriage, work, careers, everything to follow Christ our Lord.
Is it possible for you to give up everything, sell everything, and be perfectly His?
It is possible with God. And for us who can't literally uproot our lives, we can do one thing that we shall begin in Lent: Renunciation. What is renunciation? A quick definition look up says: " Renunciation is the act of rejecting something, especially if it is something that the renunciant has previously enjoyed or endorsed." It is to renounce what we like. It is to repent. It is what is in Lent. 40 days are coming, not counting Sundays, in which we shall denounce and renounce sin. Turn from evil, and do good. This is the overwhelming messages from our Mother in Heaven lately; Reject sin. Accept our Lord, do good instead of evil.
What can you give up? And what WILL you give up? Yesterday someone mentioned that I give up so much during lent, and then they asked me what I would give up this year?
I have no idea. I usually give up on top of everything I've ever given differently every year, so I'll wind up giving up several things.
But the point of lent is to turn us into saints, Holy Saints of God.
To give up, to fast, to abstain means sacrifice, and God loves heart sacrifices.
I'm not supposed to tell you what I'll give up. It is supposed to be from the heart.
And this lent, I believe I'm going to do something that will cost me something.
It will be a departure from my normal self.
It will have to reshape who I am. It will have to sacrifice who I have been.
For Lent, we must Pray, Fast, and Give.
Without the first leading to the second and culminating in the 3rd...from the heart, how can this tripod stand? 3 things for God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We must do one thing for each.
Pray to God all day.
Fast in sacrifice for Jesus as He did for us.
Give to and through the Holy Spirit, the very essence of God, Love itself. Our Lord recognizes His own children when they shine in the darkness. His very essence calls out from within our very being. | From a Spanish reflection ending in this prayer today:
"Lord, don't let me end up being a monster of pride and narcissism because I want to be a saint. Raise my poor humanity on the shoulders of your forgiveness and transform everything in me that doesn't look like you." | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: 1 John 3:2 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
