†Saint Quote
"It is part of the discipline of God to make His loved ones perfect through trial and suffering. Only by carrying the Cross can one reach the Resurrection."
–Fulton Sheen †Today's Meditation
"With creation, God does not abandon his creatures to themselves. He not only gives them being and existence, but also, and at every moment, upholds and sustains them in being, enables them to act and brings them to their final end. Recognizing this utter dependence with respect to the Creator is a source of wisdom and freedom, of joy and confidence: 'For you love all things that exist, and detest none of the things that you have made; for you would not have made anything if you had hated it. How would anything have endured, if you had not willed it? Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved? You spare all things for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living' (Wisdom 11:24-26)."
—The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 301 An Excerpt From
Catechism of the Catholic Church †Daily Verse
"If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."
–Matthew 6:14-15 |  click to read more | | St. Donan St. Donan (d. 617 A.D.), also known as St. Donnán of Eigg, was a prominent Celtic missionary and Gaelic priest. Little is known of his life except that he was likely an Irishman who traveled as a missionary throughout Galloway and northward along the west coast of Scotland. He is thought to have been a contemporary of St. Columba. Donan formed a religious community on the tiny northwest island of Eigg in Scotland. The community grew to fifty-two men. One year, after celebrating the Easter Vigil Mass, they were unexpectedly attacked and martyred either by pirates or a band of Viking raiders. Tradition holds that the community was gathered together and killed in the refectory on the night of April 17, 617. The martyrdom of Christian missionaries at this time was rare, leading many to suspect the attack was instigated by a malicious local queen who viewed St. Donan and his monks as a threat to her power. His feast day is April 17. | Monday of the Second Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 4:23-31 After their release Peter and John went back to their own people
and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.
And when they heard it,
they raised their voices to God with one accord
and said, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth
and the sea and all that is in them,
you said by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of our father David, your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage
and the peoples entertain folly?
The kings of the earth took their stand
and the princes gathered together
against the Lord and against his anointed. Indeed they gathered in this city
against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,
Herod and Pontius Pilate,
together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
to do what your hand and your will
had long ago planned to take place.
And now, Lord, take note of their threats,
and enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Responsorial Psalm Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9 R. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
he terrifies them in his wrath:
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Col 3:1 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 3:1-8 There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him,
"How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"
Jesus answered,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
'You must be born from above.'
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
| Daily Meditation: Acts 4:23-31 Lord, . . . enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness. (Acts 4:29) If you were being persecuted for your faith, you'd probably pray for the persecution to end. But in today's first reading, the early Christians ask God for courage and boldness to proclaim the gospel in spite of it! And because God answered their prayer, the faith spread like wildfire and has continued to grow ever since. Over the centuries, Christians have endured many forms of persecution: rejection, loss of employment, imprisonment, torture, and even death. Yet like the first disciples, men and women have persisted in gathering together and praying "to speak . . . with all boldness" (Acts 4:29). Of course, the Lord wants us to pray for an end to persecution and for the passage of laws that protect religious freedom. But today, let's also pray as the disciples did. Let's invite the Lord to give us more boldness. Let's pray for our hearts to be infused with courage, joy, and perseverance so that we can share the love of God with other people who also need to hear the good news. While we're at it, let's also pray for boldness in other areas of our lives. That boldness can help us push back against the fears that may creep into our hearts. When news headlines and social media feeds lure us into distraction and worry, that boldness can help us refocus and pay attention to what God is saying to us. When a medical diagnosis leads us into a swirl of worry, boldness can empower us to be still before the Lord and receive his peace. And when our own shortcomings and brokenness discourage us, that boldness will open us to receive his mercy and start the day afresh. So keep asking for boldness, whether it's so that you can stand up for your beliefs, spread the faith, or conquer your fears. God is faithful. Just as he gave the disciples boldness and courage, so he will give it to you. And who knows? With such boldness, you may just witness "signs and wonders . . . done through the name of . . . Jesus" (Acts 4:30)! "Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and enable me to speak and act with boldness today." Psalm 2:1-9
John 3:1-8 |  click to hear 2cents | Listen to my2cents audio. Share the link if you like:
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My 2 cents with your brother Adrian | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." end quote. What will it take for a Catholic to become an evangelizing Catholic? The first thing is the sincerity of the faith. A deep apostolic zeal must take place. A ground-shaking prayer in unison with like minded souls, praying to do God's will together. We move, and He moves the world.
If only we would gather and pray like the Apostles, we too would find ourselves emboldened in faith, confident and unafraid...to love God and His Holy Will for our lives and the salvation of the world. He could do it alone, but He chose us to help Him, to allow Him through us. This is not for the weak, but for the ones accepting and making themselves available to His grace. Such things always take place when we take to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation...from His Heart...to ours, rays of light, of blood and water, of life, of grace and mercy. | We pray today:
"The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall rule them with an iron rod; you shall shatter them like an earthen dish." Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord" end quote. If our Lord has been given dominion of all the universe, what have we to do then? What have we to worry? My body is made of "land" right? It is made of the crust of the earth, isn't it? Has He conquered that?
That body is His? But what of the soul, that is created by God our Father, and Jesus is in God. Our Lord can only conquer those hearts that let themselves be won over....by His grace, mercy, and beautiful love. | In the Gospel today we heard: "Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." end quote. Do you know why the Catholic priests are called "father"? Because by their hands, letting Christ act and live in them at the Holy Sacraments, they become spiritual fathers in the Church. We are born again...in Holy Baptism. The priests are living and are to live the life of Christ, representing the Father in Heaven, in mercy, in healing, in giving life from above.
There used to be a day, when I was very young, that I would have to kiss the hand of my dad, and the priests. All that has gone by the wayside.
Today, dad's are distracted, and put without honor. Priests are looked on with disdain, and forgotten as part of the family. Stereotypes abound, and we have lost sight of what it means that a father does in the family: He provides and gives his very life for his wife and children. And what of the wind that blows and where it goes nobody knows?
Perhaps there are deep theological explanations to this that I've yet to learn, but, I know one thing is for certain, that, God moves and acts in mysterious ways, and speaks and lives in people we could very well encounter every single day of our lives.
What has made a transformation in my life? To know that God can be in any soul at any given part of the day; a loved one, a stranger, a voice, a message to the heart. And the most unique? A direct hearing of Him in the heart. You have to be silent for that to happen. You have to be in prayer for that. You have to set time apart with Him to be more intimate with Him. And realize this can more easily Happen in Holy Communion and in Holy Confession. Let your heart burn for love. His Sacred Heart is giving the light of life, to make our hearts yearn and burn for Him.
Do you want? | Let's pray:
...†...
Lord, If only my heart would seek You above all things and people, how life would be different...how much more light would I live in....and forever! | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 115:3 "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
