†Saint Quote
"No one can make excuses, because anyone can love God; and he does not ask the soul for more than to love him, because he loves the soul, and it is his love."
–Bl Angela †Today's Meditation
"The vow of poverty is a generous renunciation and detachment from the heavy burden of temporal things. It is an alleviation of the spirit, it is a relief afforded to human infirmity, the liberty of a noble heart to strive after eternal and spiritual blessings. It is a satiety and abundance, in which the thirst after earthly treasures is allayed, and a sovereignty and ownership, in which a most noble enjoyment of all riches is established. All this, my daughter, and many other blessings are contained in voluntary poverty, and all this the sons of the world are ignorant and deprived of, precisely because they are lovers of earthly riches and enemies of this holy and opulent poverty."
—Ven. Mary of Agreda, p. 85 An Excerpt From
The Mystical City of God †Daily Verse
"We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
–1 John 5:19-20 |  click to read more | | Pope Saint Callistus I Pope St. Callistus I (d. 223 A.D.) was a Roman by birth and a Christian slave. He was the servant of a fellow Christian serving in the Roman imperial household. He was entrusted with the task of managing his master's wealth, which he used to operate a bank into which many Christians invested their money. When the bank failed due to unpaid loans, Callistus fled the city in fear of retribution. He was soon caught, and in punishment was sentenced to hard slave labor in the Sardinian mines. He eventually obtained his freedom when he and the other Christian slaves working in the mines were released, or perhaps ransomed, with special pardon from the Emperor. Callistus was later recalled to Rome by Pope Zephyrinus to serve as his deacon, top adviser, and the caretaker of the important Christian cemetery along the Appian Way. This cemetary, which now bears Callistus' name, contains the relics of many martyrs. As the Holy Father's adviser, St. Callistus drew the ire of Tertullian and St. Hippolytus of Rome who were his constant theological opponents. When Pope Zephyrinus died, Callistus was elected to the Chair of St. Peter in 217 A.D. As pope, St. Callistus was known for his leniency and forgiveness. He upheld the teaching of the Church that grave sins could be forgiven with true contrition and due penance, which was controversial at the time. He reigned for five years and died a martyr; one account holds that he was killed by an anti-Christian mob, being thrown from his house and stoned to death. His | Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 EPH 1:11-14 Brothers and sisters:
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory. Responsorial Psalm PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13 R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Alleluia PS 33:22 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May your kindness, LORD, be upon us;
who have put our hope in you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 12:1-7 At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
"Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows." | Daily Meditation: Luke 12:1-7 Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7) Does Jesus seem to contradict himself in today's Gospel? He first tells the disciples not to fear anyone who has the power to harm them bodily but instead to fear God, the One who has power to cast them into Gehenna (Luke 12:5). But then in this same passage, he just as emphatically tells them how precious they are to his heavenly Father. How do we make sense of this progression from a warning to fear God to a warm assurance of God's tender love? Clearly, God isn't out to condemn us—that's not the kind of God he is. Jesus himself said that he was sent into the world not to condemn it but to save it (John 3:17; 12:47). But Jesus also wants us to know that there are consequences to our actions that can lead us to lose the gift of eternal life. This is far worse, he warns, than losing our natural life. So should we be afraid of God? Not if we understand what Jesus has done for us through his death and resurrection. Because we are fallen human beings, we will sin, and perhaps even act hypocritically at times as some of the Pharisees did (Luke 12:1). But through Jesus, our Father has offered us the gift of salvation. When we recognize our sin and turn to him in repentance, he floods us with his mercy. This is how much God loves us and longs to be close to us—both now and forever! Jesus uses two striking images to show us how precious we are to his Father. If God notices five sparrows that sell for just two small coins, of course he will notice us, the crown of his creation! And more than just notice us, he knows us so intimately that he has counted every hair on our heads (Luke 12:6-7). These are images we can keep close to our hearts whenever we are tempted to fear God's condemnation or doubt that he will forgive us. God doesn't want to lose you—or anyone else, for that matter. He treasures you too much. With such a loving Father, you have nothing to fear! "Thank you, Jesus, for showing me how precious I am to my Father in heaven." Ephesians 1:11-14
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory" We were destined. We are destined, that is, pointed and appointed for God's purpose, if we so will, if we so desire, if we so align our whole lives with His desires, and let us not be far off from what He wants...the whole of our heart, and to fill the hole we desire to be our happiness and joy forever. Exist to praise His Glory! | We pray today;
"Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own" | In the Gospel today we heard our Master and Teacher:
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear."
Who are you afraid of?
Are you afraid of being embarrassed as if those have more power over you?
In the Cursillo we are taught "Christ and I are an overwhelming majority".
Do you think Mother Teresa was afraid? Not once our Lord entered her life.
She was spat on by others, she was shot at here in the United States by gang members, and she goes on fearlessly all over the world into the worst places imaginable, and her spirit still does today.
Who are you afraid of?
Can you be strong...in the Lord?
Our Lord is asking us to recognize who to be afraid of...none other than...offending Him, or to be apart from Him. | He goes on: "Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows." What does this mean my child? It means you are loved beyond human comprehension.
In the world, many, MANY feel unloved. Mother Teresa said there were two kinds of poverty, material poverty, and the poverty of not being loved.
She chose to cover both with all the means she could gather...and her power came from the Eucharist, the very same one you are invited to every day of the week.
This is Sacrificial love.
God loves you my child. The Holy Spirit has me writing to you, He wants you to know it, and He wants you to show it.
He wants you to say "I love You too God and Father!". HE loves to hear it...and see it in action...real faith. Lord, You are my inner most soul and being...I live and thrive only in Your Holy Love and light. Fasting on Fridays,
Our Lord gave us His Heart this day,
your bro in Christ,
adrian |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 4:15 [Hebrews 4] 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
