†Saint Quote
"Let all nations know that Thou art God alone, and that Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and that we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture."
–St. Clement †Today's Meditation
"Let us say boldly with St. Bernard that we have need of a mediator with the Mediator Himself, and that it is the divine Mary who is the most capable of filling that charitable office. It was through her that Jesus Christ came to us, and it is through her that we must go to Him. If we fear to go directly to Jesus Christ, our God, whether because of His infinite greatness or because of our vileness or because of our sins, let us boldly implore the aid and intercession of Mary, our Mother. She is good, she is tender, she has nothing in her austere and forbidding, nothing too sublime and too brilliant. In seeing her, we see our pure nature."
—St. Louis de Montfort, p. 42 An Excerpt From
True Devotion to Mary †Daily Verse
"Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour."
–James 5:8 |  click to read more | | St. John Kemble St. John Kemble (1599-1679) was born in England to a prominent Catholic family when Catholicism was outlawed in the country. He was ordained a priest in 1625 and ministered in England as an itinerant priest for fifty-three years. Although persecution of Catholics was rampant, in his particular region Catholics were generally not harassed. In the infamous "Popish Plot" of 1678, Protestant politicians began a violent crackdown on Catholics, particularly on priests. Although 80 years old at the time, Father John Kemble was arrested. He was warned in advance but declined to leave his flock, saying, "According to the course of nature, I have but a few years to live. It will be an advantage to suffer for my religion and, therefore, I will not abscond." Although he was found innocent of any involvement in the "Popish Plot," he was condemned for being a Catholic priest and sentenced to death by being hanged, drawn, and quartered on August 22, 1679. His last words, addressed to the crowd were: "The failure of the authorities in London to connect me to the plot makes it evident that I die only for profession of the Catholic religion, which was the religion that first made this Kingdom Christian." He was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970. St. John Kemble is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. His feast day is August 22. | Memorial of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Readings for the Memorial of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Reading 1 2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,
as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more,
and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.
Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God
regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions
and the afflictions you endure. This is evidence of the just judgment of God,
so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God
for which you are suffering. We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5 R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 23:13-22 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You traverse sea and land to make one convert,
and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna
twice as much as yourselves. "Woe to you, blind guides, who say,
'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.'
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?
And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.'
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,
or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
one who swears by the temple swears by it
and by him who dwells in it;
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it." | Daily Meditation: Matthew 23:13-22 Woe to you. (Matthew 23:13) Jesus' exclamation "Woe to you!" can sound like a threat or a scathing denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees who opposed him. The truth is, Jesus loved these Jewish leaders as much as he loves you. It was their hypocrisy he decried. The phrase "Woe to you" is not the same as "Shame on you." It's an expression of grief, dismay, or exasperation similar to the way the Old Testament prophets called ancient Israel back to the Lord. Jesus was releasing what was in his heart—his desire for these men to receive the love that God has for them. He wanted them to understand it and share it with the people of Israel. We're not all that different from these misguided scribes and Pharisees. Although we might not think that the disapproval Jesus delivered here applies to us, we too can focus on outward observances while not paying enough attention to what's in our hearts. But Jesus reminds us that there's more to faith than performing acts that people can see. There's a deeper, fuller relationship that God wants to have with us, a relationship based on God's holiness and his love for all people. Jesus wants us to live out our faith fully, and that means loving our God and our neighbor as he does. He wants us to know that there's more to it than checking items off a list. Behind every rebuke stands the God who loves us, who wants to free us, and who can change us from the inside out. As we experience his love more deeply, our daily devotions become a humble response to his love. And that love can displace our hypocrisy and selfishness and affect how we treat each other. Jesus is extending an invitation to you today. He's calling out, "Come to me! Don't reduce the gospel to a checklist. Don't miss out on the greatness of my love!" So come to the One who loves you. You are the apple of his eye. If you need correction, he will take care of you. He will speak in a way you can hear. Maybe he will warn, "Woe to you!" But more likely, he will gently nudge you in the right direction. "Jesus, search my heart. Show me today how to enter into your love." 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12
Psalm 96:1-5 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling..."
Whence a newbie enters the Church, some enter rather naive of how Church works. It's like entering a family, with all sorts of folks, and some families aren't really all that great at working together. And if a newbie enters the church and encounters some rough parishioner in charge of a ministry, oh boy, the newbie will be gone as soon as they enter. What needs to be trained into newbies is the cross, the school of the cross, the school of the suffering Christ crucified. Watch the guards trying to guard you from Christ Himself. For the guards need prayer and transformation too. And most guards are easy converts, if only...they see Christ whom they seek too. Does this make sense? I've never met a soul who does not need prayer. | We pray today;
"Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations"
What is it like to have other gods? It is a thwarted worship. You go see them turning on incense and even cutting themselves for these foreign gods that speak not and act not. They do not reply, but if you dabble into the occult, you will get replies and signs, and their charge is your blood and your soul.
What's it like to worship gods who need no money? You still pour out your money on the temples and sacrifices. I'm leading you on, in case you haven't noticed. Because I always am looking out to how society is paying into other gods. The old god called Mammon...I think of the banks...some places look like temples. People pour all their money into savings and different types of accounts. Storing all their wealth and depending on their wealth for their security..their future. Keyword: trust. Another place that looks like temples...movie theatres. People pour out all their time and money for these gods on the screens that in turn teach them false doctrines of life, with ideals, and more. It's a look into a horoscope and they feed you horror forever by introducing demons in horror films into innocent souls...don't believe me? Ask exorcists how this works. And so, what about your temple for God? How is it? Is it in a state of disarray? How can His temple truly be beautiful? I've walked into some beautiful old churches, and they are empty on Sundays. You see, what makes it beautiful are the people...God's flock...what good is a stall without the flock? Its emptiness begs to be used...to fill with food, a feast. | Our Lord speaks;
"'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.'
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?" | What is gold? Gold becomes a matter of value. But in Heaven, gold is used for dirt, to make streets, or paths, it is dirt cheap. For us though, it is valuable because it is rare.
So, let's think...what is rare in Spiritual terms? Real faith. Real Love of God.
Which is greater the: a piece of gold, or faith that can move mountains?
Likewise, it is the temple that makes things sacred.
How so? Your body is a temple...what do you make sacred? What treasures do you hold?
You make gold valuable, or not.
You make faith valuable...or not.
You see? Is it that hard to understand God's words? Only to those who have ears will they hear. God is speaking and if you have a well formed conscious, you will understand the pull He has on your heart...to do the right thing...to say the right things, to be sorry for the right things....to be humble when you are being scorned and taught to be obedient.
Lately, I'm learning the value of obedience which reigns supreme in Heaven.
We should take heart. Love demands mercy and justice. Love is calling you at every moment.... |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator:
Proverbs 13:20
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
