†Saint Quote of the Day
"Many people [in authority] oppose us, persecute us, and would like even to destroy us, but we must be patient. As long as their commands are not against our conscience, let us obey them, but when the case is otherwise, let us uphold the rights of God and of the Church, for those are superior to all earthly authority."
–St. John Bosco †Today's Meditation
"Each of us must come to the evening of life. Each of us must enter on eternity. Each of us must come to that quiet, awful time, when we will appear before the Lord of the vineyard, and answer for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad. That, my dear brethren, you will have to undergo. … It will be the dread moment of expectation when your fate for eternity is in the balance, and when you are about to be sent forth as the companion of either saints or devils, without possibility of change. There can be no change; there can be no reversal. As that judgment decides it, so it will be for ever and ever. Such is the particular judgment. … when we find ourselves by ourselves, one by one, in his presence, and have brought before us most vividly all the thoughts, words, and deeds of this past life. Who will be able to bear the sight of himself? And yet we shall be obliged steadily to confront ourselves and to see ourselves. In this life we shrink from knowing our real selves. We do not like to know how sinful we are. We love those who prophecy smooth things to us, and we are angry with those who tell us of our faults. But on that day, not one fault only, but all the secret, as well as evident, defects of our character will be clearly brought out. We shall see what we feared to see here, and much more. And then, when the full sight of ourselves comes to us, who will not wish that he had known more of himself here, rather than leaving it for the inevitable day to reveal it all to him!"
—Saint John Henry Newman, p. 101 An Excerpt From
A Year with the Saints †Daily Verse
"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you."
–Deuteronomy 31:6 |  click to read more | | Blessed Jane of Aza Blessed Jane of Aza (12th c.), also known as Joanna or Juana of Aza, belonged to the Spanish nobility. At a young age she married a nobleman and together they had five children. She was a pious woman known for her life of prayer and generosity to the poor. When her two eldest sons were given to the priesthood, she went to the nearby church of St. Dominic Silos, a miracle worker and a patron saint of pregnant women, to pray earnestly for another son who would carry on the succession of the family. In a dream the saint appeared to her and said that she would bear a son who would be a shining light to the Church. She also dreamed of a dog that leaped from her womb carrying a torch in its mouth, lighting all the world on fire. She gave birth to a son in answer to her prayers, and in gratitude named him Dominic. She brought her son to the altar of St. Dominic Silos and there offered him to God. At the child's baptism his godmother saw a star shining from his forehead. All of these signs were taken to mean that the child would be great. Jane brought her son up with the utmost care, and as the child grew he evidenced uncommon sanctity and virtue. When Dominic turned age seven Jane generously gave him to be educated as a priest, leaving her family without a male heir. St. Dominic went on to found the famous Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, who became known as the "Hounds of the Lord", a great preaching order against heresy and in defense of the Catholic faith. Her feast day is August 2nd. | Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Ex 34:29-35 As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them,
he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
he removed the veil until he came out again.
On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
all that had been commanded.
Then the children of Israel would see
that the skin of Moses' face was radiant;
so he would again put the veil over his face
until he went in to converse with the LORD. Responsorial Psalm Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9 R. (see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
R. Holy is the Lord our God. Alleluia Jn 15:15b R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 13:44-46 Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." | Daily Meditation: Matthew 13:44-46 The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure. (Matthew 13:44) Imagine this man excitedly selling everything to obtain a treasure that he's just discovered. It's such a valuable treasure that he's willing to part with everything in order to own it. Years later, we can picture him telling this story to his grandchildren—sharing the joy of finding something more valuable than anything he had ever seen before! Jesus uses this parable to demonstrate the joy that we can experience when we discover the kingdom of heaven. When we come across this "pearl of great price" (Matthew 13:46), everything else we have held dear seems to pale in comparison. We have discovered the wonderful treasure of new, abundant life that Jesus offers us. What was it like for you when you discovered the joy of the kingdom of heaven? How has Christ become your treasure and source of abundant life? Perhaps your priorities have changed, from a selfish focus to one that is generous and outward looking. Or perhaps you now enjoy and seek out the silence of prayer, whereas you once ran from it. Whatever your experience and however you came to discover the value of Jesus in your life, you have a unique story. Your testimony—your heartfelt account of what led you to embrace him—can inspire others to consider following Jesus, too. The Samaritan woman, whose story is recounted in John 4, discovered that Jesus was her living water—the source of satisfaction that she had been searching for. And her testimony involved sharing things that, just minutes before, she had been so ashamed of. She told her neighbors all about the "man who told me everything I have done" (John 4:29), and the Samaritans in Sychar "began to believe in [Jesus] because of the word of the woman who testified" (4:39). A personal testimony is a powerful way to make people thirsty for the living water that Jesus offers to each person. So what's your story? How have you discovered the "treasure" of abundant life in Jesus? Take a moment to recall it, and then ask the Lord for the opportunity to share it today. "You are my treasure, Jesus! Help me share the joy of your kingdom with others today." Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99:5-7, |  click to hear 2cents | Audio link
Reflections with Brother Adrian: | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
" When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him....." end of verse. Have you ever noticed someone glowing after receiving the Eucharist or is speaking at Mass?
I have. And I always like to tell people that going to Holy Adoration in the Exposition of our Lord in the Holy Monstrance makes one sit in front of Him and get spiritual radiation, and the radiation affects our souls. Can we approach our Lord? Are we afraid to approach and get good radiation? What keeps us from approaching Him and start glowing...being the light? | We pray today:
"Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
Holy is the Lord our God......" end of Psalm. God is Holy. Heaven is Holy. What is keeping us from being Holy? Did you know that holiness is already within us? Through Baptism and through the rest of the Sacraments, we carry the very image of our Lord inside of us, and where He is, there is Holiness. We can choose to be holy...or not. | In the Gospel today we heard:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field..." end of Gospel verse. | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, today Jesus offers two parables about the kingdom of heaven. Let's focus on the first one: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again."
Sometimes God's love is found that way. There's a saying: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Sometimes in the course of our everyday lives, something happens that vividly and surprisingly summons us to union with God. We realize, in a flash, what it's all about. We weren't particularly looking for it, but it found us.
That's what Jesus is getting at today. As you walk through the fields of life, be open to the inrushing of grace when you least expect it. And when it comes, give up anything that holds it back."
There are saints who literally give up everything and follow God, like Saint Francis of Assisi, and most others living life as clergy, or consecrated in some way. Even our Blessed Mother was said to have been consecrated a virgin as a youth. Can we all do that? Sure. Why not? If we really wanted to we could live life, trading in our old lives and living solely for Christ. You can be in any career, and still be a saint. You can shine the light right where you are. It is no mistake you are living where you are at right now. That is exactly where our Lord wants you to shine, believe it or not! This light can be seen across the world! Believe it or not. Let's pray: Lord, this treasure, this light, help me keep it lit with Your oil, now and forever! |  Click To Hear | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 34:8 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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