†Saint Quote
"The fast of Lent has no advantage to us unless it brings about our spiritual renewal. It is necessary while fasting to change our whole life and practice virtue. Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, avoiding all gossip, lying and swearing. To abstain from these things—herein lies the true value of the fast."
–St. John Chrysostom †Today's Meditation
"It is undoubtedly true that each of us, men and women, irresponsible and thoughtless as we often are, hold within our hands the happiness and sorrows of others. We cannot help it or escape from it. The power is in us inalienably almost from birth to death—in us, because we are persons—and we are responsible for the use we make of it. Indeed, so mysterious is this power that the very presence of a person who does not realize his responsibility is often the source of the keenest pain of all . . . The failure to exercise the power to give happiness to others is not merely negative in its results; it is the source of the most positive suffering of all. Thus there is no escape from the responsibility involved in the possession of this power. Not to use it where it is due is to destroy all happiness. Strange power, indeed, to be committed to such weak and unworthy hands; yet there could be but one thing worse: that none could interfere with the joys and sorrows of others. We might envy their happiness and pity their sorrows, but we could not help them. It would be a world of isolated individuals wrapped in inviolable selfishness; each must take care of himself and the world must go its way."
—Fr. Basil W. Maturin, p. 149
An Excerpt From
Christian Self-Mastery †Today's Meditation
"Wait a little while, my soul, await the promise of God, and you will have the fullness of all that is good in heaven. If you yearn inordinately for the good things of this life, you will lose those which are heavenly and eternal. Use temporal things properly, but always desire what is eternal. Temporal things can never fully satisfy you, for you were not created to enjoy them alone . . . for your blessedness and happiness lie only in God, who has made all things from nothing."
—Thomas a' Kempis, p. 133-134 An Excerpt From
Imitation of Christ †Daily Verse
"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.'"
–1 Peter 1:13-16 |  click to read more | | Pope Saint Hilary Pope Saint Hilary (5th c.) was Bishop of Rome from 461 to 468. Not much is known of his early life other than that he was from Sardinia. He rose to prominence in the Church when he became archdeacon under Pope St. Leo the Great, working closely with him as a trusted aid. St. Leo sent Hilary as one of the papal legates to the Council of Ephesus in 449. There St. Hilary fought bravely against the monophysite heresy, for which his life was threatened. He was forced into hiding and fled back to Rome for safety. He was so highly esteemed that after Pope Leo's death he was elected to the papacy. As pope, St. Hilary fought for the rights of the papacy in spiritual matters against the Roman Emperor, and increased organization and discipline between the bishops and the Holy See. He also did much work in building, remodeling, and decorating Roman churches and other public places. Pope St. Hilary's feast day is February 28. | Tuesday of the First Week of Lent Reading 1 Is 55:10-11 Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it. Responsorial Psalm PS 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19 R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.
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. From all their distress God rescues the just.
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. From all their distress God rescues the just.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just. Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:4b One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Gospel Mt 6:7-15 Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. "If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."
| Daily Meditation: Matthew 6:7-15 This is how you are to pray. (Matthew 6:9) Have you ever wondered if you're praying "correctly"? For example, you might be unsure of how long you should pray or how to get rid of distractions. Maybe you'd like to know the best way to begin and end your prayer. But rather than give us a specific set of instructions, Jesus taught us a way to pray that both reveals God's heart to us and invites us to attune our hearts to his (Matthew 6:7-15). By beginning with "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9), we acknowledge who God is: a Father who loves us more than any earthly father ever could. How he must delight in hearing us, his beloved children, address him as Abba, or "Daddy"! When we pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done" (Matthew 6:10), we are aligning our hearts with God's because his greatest desire is to see his kingdom flourish on earth. And while building his kingdom is primarily his work, he invites us to cooperate with him by doing what he asks of us, whatever that might be. Next, because he knows his Father's compassion and care for us, Jesus invites us to ask God for "our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). He wants us to trust God to give us bread that nourishes our bodies as well as bread from heaven to strengthen us in spirit. Jesus also knows the depths of God's mercy for us, so he invites us to repent of our sins each time we pray (Matthew 6:12). And when we forgive others, we are doing what God has already done for us. Not only that, but we are taking on the merciful heart of our heavenly Father (6:12). Finally, when we ask God to "deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13), we are acknowledging his might, power, and victory over sin. The more we understand this truth, the more we will rely on him whenever we are confronted with temptation. Today, pray the Our Father slowly. With each petition, think about how it reveals God's heart. Don't worry if you are praying "correctly." Just praise God with all your heart for his never-ending love, compassion, and mercy for you! "Jesus, may my prayer today lead me to the heart of the Father." Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will..." I think we've been losing the art of Heaven in the last few decades, the language of Love from Heaven. Our Lord here today, basically spells out His desire...obedience. Heavenly obedience. Obedience to what? Obedience to whom? Your Father! Our Father! And our Holy and righteous and loving and merciful King! And with Him there is true justice. | We pray today:
"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. From all their distress God rescues the just." | In the Gospel today we heard our Lord:
"This is how you are to pray:
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven." | From Bishop Barron today:
"Hallowed be thy name." May your name be held holy. The first thing we ask is that we might honor him, that we might make him first in our lives, that he might be set apart from everything else. Job, family, money, success, the esteem of others, our friends—all of it is good, but none of it is to be held holy in this sense.
If we get this wrong, we get everything else wrong. If we don't hold his name holy above all, everything becomes profane." end quote Bishop Barron.
....
Our Lord continues: "Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;" Why would we say "give us our daily bread" and not really know what that bread is? It is Himself, Jesus the Christ our Lord and Savior!
The bread is our life, life itself. So why would we ask for this and not partake of it? Daily Mass? Yes! Daily deep devotional prayer? Yes!
Asking Him to come into your mind body and soul? YES!
And why do we ask for mercy? So we can give mercy to others.
Our Lord is teaching us how to live by His very own prayer.
I hope this lent does more than before. And it will only do as much as we put into it. ....†....
Lord, this time of being in the desert is supposed to fortify our relationship with You, we starve together, we suffer together, we learn together, and in the end, are to die together....only to rise together. Always together...how amazing, help us with Thy bread of life, Your very being...forever. .......... from your brother Adrian@Going4th.com |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 13:6 " So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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