 click to read more | | Saint of the Day for April 19
(October 4, 1922 – April 28, 1962) Saint Gianna Beretta Molla's Story In less than 40 years, Gianna Beretta Molla became a pediatric physician, a wife, a mother and a saint! She was born in Magenta near Milano, the tenth of Alberto and Maria Beretta's 13 children. An active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and a leader in the Catholic Action movement, Gianna also enjoyed skiing and mountain climbing. She earned degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Pavia, eventually specializing in pediatrics. In 1952, Gianna opened a clinic in the small town of Mesero, where she met engineer Pietro Molla. Shortly before their 1955 marriage, Gianna wrote to Pietro: "Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put into the soul of men and women." In the next four years the Mollas had three children: Pierluigi, Mariolina, and Laura. Two pregnancies following ended in miscarriage. Early in her final pregnancy, doctors discovered that Gianna had both a child and a tumor in her uterus. She allowed the surgeons to remove the tumor but not to perform the complete hysterectomy that they recommended, which would have killed the child. Seven months later in April 1962, Gianna Emanuela Molla was born at the hospital in Monza, but post-operative complications resulted in an infection for her mother. The following week Gianna Molla died at home, and was buried in the cemetery of Mesero. Gianna Emanuela went on to become a physician herself. Gianna Beretta Molla was beatified in 1994 and canonized 10 years later. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on April 28. Reflection With great faith and courage, Gianna Molla made the choice that enabled her daughter to be born. We can often wish that we were in different circumstances, but holiness frequently comes from making difficult choices in bad situations. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla is a Patron Saint of: Doctors
Unborn Children
Wives | 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. Psalm 34:2-9 R. 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. 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. 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 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. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. Jn 3:16
Alleluia, alleluia. John 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) Everyone in their parish Bible study knew that Rebecca was dying of cancer. They had been praying and supporting her for years and knew that her medical options were running out. One evening, at the end of their gathering, Rebecca shared with everyone how she had felt the Lord's blessing through them: all the answered prayers, the encouraging phone calls, and the meals and rides to and from the clinic. Reflecting on these gifts kept her determined to rely on God's faithfulness. In today's first reading, we see the apostles showing a similar determination. The very day after they had been arrested for preaching the gospel, they went right back to the Temple and continued preaching. They knew they were placing themselves at risk, but they did it anyway. What kept the apostles going, despite the dangers? The very same thing that kept Rebecca going: they had the support of a community of faith. We tend to think of the first apostles as being heroes on their own, but the truth is they were part of a larger gathering of believers whose prayer and practical help sustained them. The early Church consisted, of course, of Peter and James and John, but it also included their wives and children. It included Martha and Mary and Lazarus (John 12:1-3). It included Simon of Cyrene and his children, Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21). And it included the Virgin Mary herself (Acts 1:14). In fact, Luke tells us that "about one hundred and twenty persons" made up the nucleus of the early Church—even before the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:15)! All these people, and many others, formed a spiritual network that supported the apostles and gave them the strength to keep testifying to the Lord. The apostles' experience of community tells us that we need each other! We cannot live this life on our own. As the articles at the front of this magazine explain, God has given us as gifts to one another. Let's open ourselves to receiving—and offering—the gift of Christ's love whenever we can. "Thank you, Jesus, for giving me brothers and sisters to help me on my journey with you." Psalm 34:2-9
John 3:16-21 |  click to hear 2cents | Listen to my2cents audio. Share the link if you like:
[Click to hear it | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
""The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people." It is hard to put out a wildfire...you step on the embers and they disperse in the wind. Such was the fire that God our Father lit in our Lord Jesus. A light torch was raised as they raised him on a cross. Everything became dark...and He became our light. | 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." | In the Gospel today 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" end quote l. So did you get a chance to see the movie at the end of Lent called "His Only Son"?
It's about Father Abraham and the moment he is going to light up his only son.
The son carries the wood up the mountain, following his beloved father.
And that is the spirit we are to have...total obedience.
Total trust.
To be the only son means something.
It means there is no other.
It means the fullness of redemption and the fullness of God Himself.
It means, then, a total giving and trusting in the world.
Trusting who?
You! | Let's pray:
...†....
Lord and Heavenly Father....I trust in You...with my life! | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 130:5 " I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; " | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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