†Saint Quote
"Quote of the Day
"He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands."
–St. Bernard †Today's Meditation
"The story of Christ's life and ministry cannot be told without giving due space to Satan's activity. The Gospel writers carefully distinguish between cases of mere physical ailments and cases of a demonic character (both of which Jesus cures). Jesus frequently refers to the devil in his parables and other teachings, and the devil himself tempts Jesus in the desert and returns again later to engineer Judas' betrayal (cf. Jn 13:2). This Gospel motif teaches us an undeniable, if uncomfortable lesson: the devil is real, and he is interested in counteracting the work of grace. In one sense, accepting this fundamental truth, and keeping it always in the back of our minds, can comfort us tremendously: it helps us make sense of all the unpleasant influences at work in and around us. We are not crazy; we are not failures; we are simply engaged in a spiritual battle. If we believe in Jesus Christ, we must also believe in the devil—doomed as he is, he would love to take as many souls as he can along with him."
—Fr. John Bartunek, p. 350 An Excerpt From
The Better Part †Daily Verse
"So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
–Matthew 5:48 |  click to read more | | St. Elizabeth of Hungary St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231) was born in Hungary, the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and his wife Gertrude. As a child she was sent to Thuringa (now Germany) to be brought up with Prince Ludwig of Thuringa, whom she was to marry at the age of 14 in order to solidify a political alliance between the two nations. Their marriage was a very happy one, and they had three children together. Although Elizabeth was a princess surrounded by a magnificent court, she lived a humble life serving the sick and poor outside her castle walls. No amount of disapproval from those who considered this behavior beneath her royal status could dissuade her from her faithfulness to this task. One day, on her way to feed the poor, her husband stopped her and asked to see what she concealed beneath her mantle. The food she carried was miraculously replaced by roses, signifying God's approval of her charity. When her husband, after six years of marriage, tragically died on his way to join the crusade in Jerusalem, Elizabeth was grief-stricken. She vowed to never remarry, and eventually left her life of nobility to join the Secular Franciscans as a penitent. She continued her charitable works to an even greater degree, and helped Thuringa recover from a famine by giving them a huge gift of grain. It was this act, along with her habit of distributing bread to the poor, that made her the patron saint of bakers. She is also the patron of hospitals, the homeless, widows, charities, and nursing homes. St. Elizabeth of Hungary's feast day is November 17th. | Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, religious Reading 1 RV 5:1-10 I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.
It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,
"Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to examine it.
I shed many tears because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll or to examine it.
One of the elders said to me, "Do not weep.
The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,
enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals."
Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders
a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.
He had seven horns and seven eyes;
these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.
He came and received the scroll from the right hand
of the one who sat on the throne.
When he took it,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.
They sang a new hymn:
"Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth." Responsorial Psalm PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B R. (Rev. 5:10) The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia PS 95:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 19:41-44 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
| Daily Meditation: Luke 19:41-44 He saw the city and wept over it. (Luke 19:41) The Mount of Olives provides a sweeping view of the city of Jerusalem. From where he stood, Jesus would have seen the magnificent Temple on Mount Zion towering over the rest of the city. But Jesus could not enjoy the scenery. He knew that one day the Temple, and all of Jerusalem, would be destroyed. Not even "one stone upon another" would be left standing (Luke 19:44). And so he wept. But these were not tears of bitterness or anger; they were tears of compassion. Jesus was entering Jerusalem for the last time; it wouldn't be long before he would be hanging on a cross. He knew that many in the city would not accept the salvation that he had come to give them. Still, he loved them, and he wanted them to see what God was doing right in their midst. He felt sorrow for the consequences they would one day suffer for failing to recognize him as the Messiah. Jesus' reaction provides a glimpse not only into his heart but also into the heart of his Father. We might feel tempted to think that all the sin in the world is cause enough for God to become angry, and perhaps even to lash out in revenge. But that's not the way of our God. He knew in advance that many would reject his Son, and this knowledge must have grieved him! Yet in his merciful, compassionate love, he never gave up hope that every one of his beloved people would eventually turn to him. At times we may find ourselves mourning as Jesus did. We mourn when we see so many people who don't acknowledge him. We mourn when we see the consequences that inevitably come from turning away from him. We mourn for the times we have also turned away from God. And in all those times, our weeping is appropriate. But we don't want our mourning to overshadow the joy we are called to have as disciples of Christ. We especially don't want to become angry or bitter. We can instead let our sorrow move us to fall on our knees and intercede for all those who don't yet know the Lord. And as we pray, we can unite our hearts with the heart of our Father, who wants nothing more than for everyone to recognize the time of his Son's visitation. "Jesus, today I weep for all those who don't know you. May they open their eyes to your saving love." Revelation 5:1-10
Psalm 149:1-6, 9 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth." Recall that you are baptized as a priest, prophet, and king. Recall that you are made one in Christ our King. Recall now, that the Kingdom reigns, both today, and forever. The value of God our love and our light is what shall reign forever. | We pray today;
"Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God" How hard is it to step out in faith? It is hard to have faith, in the unknown, to believe in what few care to believe. What drives my own faith? A couple of things: my inner consciousness, an inner calling, and holy obedience, both work hand in hand to bring about faith. | In the Gospel today we heard our Master and Teacher:
_"As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes." If we only knew what makes for peace! What does the name "Jerusalem" mean? In Hebrew, the first part "yeru" means like to flow. The second part "shalom" means to be at peace and to be made whole. It is strange that this did not truly exist in the city, at the time of God's coming. Right? Yet, He named it that for a reason...there is where the King of Peace would enter, be rejected, killed, murdered, by being nailed to the cross. The flowing peace would flow from His right side. A trickling to cause a new coming of a new peace. If we only desired true peace.
And now it boils down to a worldwide kingdom.
Jesus is King.
There is mischief and misdeeds in a kingdom, but there is still a king!
There is dark corners in the kingdom in this world, but there still is a light that can shine in every corner!
All these Scriptures are leading to Sunday's Gospel, in which we recall Jesus Christ King of the Universe.
Now, is He your king?
In spanish, there is a loving connotation when you call someone "mi rey" meaning "my king". It is to say to someone with the most loving and meaning affection, you are my everything and I'd give anything for you.
I can see doing that for a child, and that is mostly how the connotation is directed to, perhaps in this case, to the child Jesus. But, is this how you treat everyone else?
I'd dare say, that this is how Jesus loved everyone. This is how the saints love everyone, well most of the saints, LOL.
Mother Teresa for sure. What poured from her was love.... and this love poured into her in the Most Holy Eucharist.
Love GOD there, and you will love God everywhere. | ........................................
Lord, may I recognize You in Your daily coming into my life!
............................................... adrian |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 11:1 WOW! By Faith 11
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
