†Saint Quote
"Quote of the Day
"Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You."
–St. Brendan †Today's Meditation
"Whenever that sacrifice of Christ is memorialized in the Church, there is an application to a new moment in time and a new presence in space of the unique sacrifice of Christ Who is now in glory. In obeying His mandate, His followers would be representing in an unbloody manner that which He presented to His Father in the bloody sacrifice of Calvary. After changing the bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood: He gave it to them (Mark 14:22). By that communion they were made one with Christ, to be offered with Him, in Him, and by Him. All love craves unity. As the highest peak of love in the human order is the unity of husband and wife in the flesh, so the highest unity in the Divine order is the unity of the soul and Christ in communion."
—Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, p. 401-402 An Excerpt From
Life of Christ †Daily Verse
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness."
–Lamentations 3:22-23 |  click to read more | | St. Zita St. Zita (d. 1271) was born into poverty in Tuscany, Italy. Her mother taught her to develop a strong prayer life, which, combined with her happy disposition, enabled her to seek God's will in all her life circumstances. At the age of twelve she became a servant for a noble Italian family. The family she served lived near a church, and Zita would rise early to attend daily Mass before beginning her duties. She saw her work as being in the service of God, which she executed with care and diligence. Because of her goodness she suffered harsh treatment and even physical abuse at the hands of both her employers and the other servants. From her patient endurance of such mistreatment, Zita's humility and virtue became evident to all. She was eventually respected and promoted to a leadership role of managing the entire household and its servants. Throughout her life she exemplified hard work, gentleness, and a life of prayer, despite being overworked. She died at the age of 60 serving the same family, and after her death many miracles occurred through her intercession. The family contributed to the cause for her canonization. St. Zita is an incorruptible, and her relics are kept in the Basilica of St. Frediano where she attended Mass. She is the patron saint of maids, domestic servants, butlers, waiters, rape victims, lost keys, and people ridiculed for their piety. St. Zita's feast day is April 27th. | Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter Reading I Acts 5:17-26 The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison,
led them out, and said,
"Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life."
When they heard this,
they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
"We found the jail securely locked
and the guards stationed outside the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
"The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people."
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force,
because they were afraid of being stoned by the people. Responsorial Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 3:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so love the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 3:16-21 God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
| Daily Meditation: Acts 5:17-26 Go and take your place in the temple area. (Acts 5:20) When the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail to let the apostles out, he told them, "Go and take your place in the temple area and tell the people everything about this life" (Acts 5:20). Their miraculous release enabled them to continue their preaching, with all the signs and wonders that were bringing people to faith in Jesus. Go and take your place. This command wasn't just for the apostles; it's for each one of us too. The risen Christ has asked us, his beloved brothers and sisters, to leave our "prisons" behind and go. Maybe the place he is sending you is in your home or in your workplace or parish. No matter where, he wants you to live out your life in Christ by fulfilling the unique mission he has given to you. What are these prisons? They're not literal prisons like the one the apostles were in, because even there we can answer God's call. No, these are prisons of fear or discouragement or unworthiness or lack of confidence or complacency. Maybe we're locked up but don't realize it. Or maybe we don't recognize what is holding us back. Yet God doesn't want us in chains; he wants to set us free to go wherever he is sending us. So how does God free us? The good news is that through Jesus' death and resurrection, he already has! That's the reality, even when we have trouble believing it. As St. Paul wrote, "For freedom Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1). That means the prison door is unlocked; we can truly cross the threshold and walk out. Today, ask God if there is any prison door you need to walk through. Believe that the Holy Spirit wants you to experience the freedom that Christ has already won for you, and then take some action, however small, to begin to break out of that prison. Jesus has set you free so that you can accomplish his work in the world. One step at a time, you can, like the apostles, Go and take your place. "Lord, open my eyes to the 'prisons' that keep me from doing your will." Psalm 34:2-9
John 3:16-21 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
""Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life." There's something I'm noticing about our company safety meetings. People show up. They sit to listen, and the vast majority I'm not sure are actually listening. Some actually go and do the opposite of what was preached about at the gathering. Sometimes I am afraid of talking about a particular subject because they seem to go and do what I'm asking them not to do! And so our safety man suggested that we start a disciplinary action program. Now, let's talk about Church.
Everyone shows up. They don't believe the message pertains to them. The vast majority are there to save face, or just try to save themselves from something. But many go and do what the church teaches us NOT to do! And there will be punishment. I went ahead and stuck my neck out at today's meeting, tired and worried about recent accidents and hospitalizations, exactly what I did not want this year because our statistics are stacked against us, and are we facing impending doom? Regardless, I want nobody hurt under my watch, I'm invoking prayers from angels every day and I was being more provocative in my wording today. I said things like "today, I will use reverse psychology, I want you to smash your hands and fingers" the topic of the day. "Who of you needs your hands any ways, or fingers?". It is a shocking remark, isn't it? But it raises awareness. And then I said something silly. "Be scared of everything! Like I am afraid to sin, and I want to be a saint!" Be scared of everything. Be scared to fail God. Too many of us don't care enough for ourselves...therefore, care much less for others.
This is not the True Christ, the True Love from Heaven's message and purpose. | We pray in Psalms:
_"Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. The Lord hears the cry of the poor." I'm facing daily challenges, motors messing up, employees in emergency rooms, insurance skyrocketing because all this, and it all seems to be getting worse. I've actually invited an exorcist priest this past weekend to bless our place this past weekend! I don't know what's going on! Why the constant attacks? How I would love to get away from it all! And to boot, sometimes my own loved ones attack me and cuss at me! WHy?! Why me? Wouldn't it be easier to just give up on everyone and every thing? Has God our Father given up on us? I am amazed how people are still alive today...I see God's mercy alive in the world. | In today's Gospel we heard:
"God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."
Shall we kneel at the incarnation? Shall we bow at the birth of our Savior? Shall we genuflect to our King and God? Shall we obey and seek His every Word? What does it mean that God sent His Son?
To someone that barely believes, it barely means anything at all. Who is this guy dead on a cross? Jewelry stores in the isles sell you a golden crucifix and the salesman person asks "do you want a cross or a cross with a little man on it?" LOL. Really? Do you even know what a crucifix is or what it says or what it means? The man on the cross means EVERYTHING! He is the Savior of the entire world! Because God said so.
And what's even crazier is that this is crazy love, just self sacrificed for YOU! Don't you enjoy it when someone loves you? Sure we do! God does too. He designed us to love HIM back and be receivers of Him. We are designed to receive and to bear fruit, like a woman with children for the world.
John 3:16 is deep and beautiful. It is God Himself offering Himself to us and not leaving us ever alone ever again! A gift on top of a gift!
Yet, how do we see this contradictory sign? Today, let's reflect on the rest of His word. | "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God." Wicked people hate light...hate Christ. But they won't show it.
Wicked people hate church goers. Wicked people hate listening to God. Wicked people are power hungry. Wicked people want you to respect them above all else. Wicked people want you to slave for them but not every slave for you. Wicked people want you to love them but they do not wish to love you in return. Wicked people love you to apologize and you will never receive their apologies. Wicked people are always right. Wicked people do not desire God in any of the Holy Sacraments with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. Wicked people love the night, things of darkness, all contrary to Holy Church. Wicked people save all their money for themselves. Need I go on? Today's reverse psychology for spirituality is this: Don't sacrifice yourself for others. Just like at the safety meeting there you go.
Don't take your station in life (meaning where you are now) and don't preach the gospel. Don't live your life as if God is the most important being in the entire world. Live yourself as the most important. Make only yourself happy.
Give into all your pleasures and temptations. Do whatever in hell you would like to be doing forever. Had enough? The words I have said are unfortunately are the way the world is preaching today. Moral relativism, a heresy against Church and God, says "do whatever and believe whatever and that is truth" and this says "you are god and nobody can tell you different". And this is the mantra of darkness. And so, if the baby today is not killed in abortion, then they are not even given a name of a boy or a girl, because the baby will have to grow up and figure out if it is a boy or a girl or if anything at all. And so the laws of nature are supposedly trumped by man, but this is a farce, it is a lie, and it is a doubt cast into the world to devour souls. And it is working. Darkness is always at work. And why?
To purify the faithful. I see all these attacks in my family, my work, and especially at Church, all aimed to cast doubt, fear, and separation, so the world grows colder and colder as is evident in despondence today in the modern generations. The solution?
Christ our Lord and Savior...God Himself.
Let us make Easter glorious as He did and died. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: WOW AMAZING:
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
