†Saint Quote of the Day
"When we appeal to the throne of grace we do so through Mary, honoring God by honoring His Mother, imitating Him by exalting her, touching the most responsive chord in the Sacred Heart of Christ with the sweet name of Mary."
–St. Robert Bellarmine †Today's Meditation
"Let them fly with utter confidence to this most sweet Mother of mercy and grace in all dangers, difficulties, needs, doubts, and fears. Under her guidance, under her patronage, under her kindness and protection, nothing is to be feared; nothing is hopeless. Because, while bearing toward us a truly motherly affection and having in her care the work of our salvation, she is solicitous about the whole human race. And since she has been appointed by God to be the Queen of heaven and earth, and is exalted above all the choirs of angels and saints, and even stands at the right hand of her only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she presents our petitions in a most efficacious manner. When she asks, she obtains. Her pleas can never be unheard."
—Blessed Pope Pius IX, p.84 An Excerpt From
Manual for Marian Devotion
†Daily Verse
"And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."
–Revelation 12:1 | Queenship of Mary Daily Feast
August 22nd is the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This title of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven (Regina Caeli), is rooted in biblical history where the mother of Israel's king had the royal title of Queen Mother. Church Tradition holds that once Mary, the Mother of God, was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthy life, she was crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth to reign alongside her Son, Jesus the King of Kings. |  click to read more | | St. John Kemble St. John Kemble (1599-1679) was born in England to a prominent Catholic family when Catholicism was outlawed in the country. He was ordained a priest in 1625 and ministered in England as an itinerant priest for fifty-three years. Although persecution of Catholics was rampant, in his particular region Catholics were generally not harassed. In the infamous "Popish Plot" of 1678, Protestant politicians began a violent crackdown on Catholics, particularly on priests. Although 80 years old at the time, Father John Kemble was arrested. He was warned in advance but declined to leave his flock, saying, "According to the course of nature, I have but a few years to live. It will be an advantage to suffer for my religion and, therefore, I will not abscond." Although he was found innocent of any involvement in the "Popish Plot," he was condemned for being a Catholic priest and sentenced to death by being hanged, drawn, and quartered on August 22, 1679. His last words, addressed to the crowd were: "The failure of the authorities in London to connect me to the plot makes it evident that I die only for profession of the Catholic religion, which was the religion that first made this Kingdom Christian." He was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970. St. John Kemble is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. His feast day is August 22. | Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Readings for the Memorial of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Reading 1 Jgs 6:11-24a The angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth in Ophrah
that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite.
While his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press
to save it from the Midianites,
the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said,
"The LORD is with you, O champion!"
Gideon said to him, "My Lord, if the LORD is with us,
why has all this happened to us?
Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers
told us when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?'
For now the LORD has abandoned us
and has delivered us into the power of Midian."
The LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have
and save Israel from the power of Midian.
It is I who send you."
But Gideon answered him, "Please, my lord, how can I save Israel?
My family is the lowliest in Manasseh,
and I am the most insignificant in my father's house."
"I shall be with you," the LORD said to him,
"and you will cut down Midian to the last man."
Gideon answered him, "If I find favor with you,
give me a sign that you are speaking with me.
Do not depart from here, I pray you, until I come back to you
and bring out my offering and set it before you."
He answered, "I will await your return." So Gideon went off and prepared a kid and a measure of flour
in the form of unleavened cakes.
Putting the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot,
he brought them out to him under the terebinth
and presented them.
The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and unleavened cakes
and lay them on this rock; then pour out the broth."
When he had done so,
the angel of the LORD stretched out the tip of the staff he held,
and touched the meat and unleavened cakes.
Thereupon a fire came up from the rock
that consumed the meat and unleavened cakes,
and the angel of the LORD disappeared from sight.
Gideon, now aware that it had been the angel of the LORD,
said, "Alas, Lord GOD,
that I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
The LORD answered him,
"Be calm, do not fear. You shall not die."
So Gideon built there an altar to the LORD
and called it Yahweh-shalom. Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9, 11-12, 13-14 R. (see 9b) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace
To his people, and to his faithful ones,
and to those who put in him their hope.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people. Alleluia 2 Cor 8:9 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 19:23-30 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
"Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible."
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
| Daily Meditation: Matthew 19:16-22 You will have treasure in heaven. (Matthew 19:21) Haven't you felt it? That unsettled feeling, that dissatisfaction that asks, "Isn't there something more?" The young man in today's Gospel certainly did. His restlessness, his unsatisfied thirst led him to search for Jesus. Notice that he seems to have done everything right: he possessed earthly riches, but he didn't use it to chase after fame, power, or pleasure. He already knew that human beings needed more than that; they needed to seek God. He kept the commandments and lived an honorable life. Still, it wasn't enough. So he asked, "What do I still lack?" (Matthew 19:20). In reply, Jesus put his finger on the restlessness that we all sense. What do I still lack? It's one of the most important questions we can ask, and it speaks to something deep within us. Each of us has an inborn desire, a longing or thirst that cannot be satisfied with the things of this created world, no matter how good they are. Some theologians even go so far as to say that we are "living thirsts." Everyone is thirsting for more, but not everyone recognizes that this thirst is really a longing for God. St. Augustine expressed it this way: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." So our thirst is a gift meant to lead us back to the God who made us. Back to the God who knows that nothing else will ever satisfy us. Back to the God who offers us true treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21). Jesus wanted the young man to see that he was trying to satisfy himself with his "many possessions" (Matthew 19:22). He was gently showing the man that his wealth was holding him back. His possessions were preventing him from receiving the true treasure of knowing Jesus. Unfortunately, the man went away sad and still restless. Jesus doesn't want to take away all the good things that you love. Instead, he points to the things that hinder you because he knows that they will not satisfy. He knows that if you hold them tightly as your treasure, you can't open wide your arms to receive the treasure that is more real, more lasting, and more satisfying than anything you have ever known: God himself. "Lord, you are my treasure." Judges 2:11-19
Psalm 106:34-40, 43-44 |  click to hear 2cents | audio link
Reflections with Brother Adrian: | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"The LORD is with you, O champion!"
Gideon said to him, "My Lord, if the LORD is with us,
why has all this happened to us?......" end of verse. Isn't that the ongoing question in our lives, just like Gideon "if the Lord is with us, why is all of this happening to us?".
It is not a bad question. It is a very valid question.
Our Lord is Emmanuel, which means "God is with us". And today we have even more assurance than Gideon did, because our Lord has entered our lives in the Holy Spirit, and even in the Holy Eucharist. He is with us. So why do all these horrible things happen? In Gideon's time, Israel had been taken over by the dominating Midianites, who had oppressed them and stolen their food and resources for over seven years. With God's help, Gideon rallied troops to overthrow the Midianites, and then continued to lead the nation of Israel for another 40 years.
Gideon is known for being an unlikely leader. He did not see himself the way God saw him, and responded to God's call with fear and resistance. But his decision to "go in the strength he had" gives us an inspiring example to follow and teaches us that God can do a lot with a few small steps of faith.
And so what are we in the middle of? What oppression do we face? Many countries face severe oppression, especially in places where dictators rule even the food they can take. Who would deliver the oppressed from such harmful evil?
And you? Who is robbing you of your peace? Did you know that most are facing some type of adversity? Why can't we just be happy and live in peace?
I would say something that don't make sense here: to live in the world, and following Christ, means that you will not have peace in the world, but the joy of Christ supersedes the worldly peace offered to take away of the joy and love of the Lord. | We pray today:
" The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace
To his people, and to his faithful ones,
and to those who put in him their hope.
The Lord speaks of peace to his people......."_ end of Psalm. And so Gideon made an offering to God, and God accepted it, burned it with the staff of the angel, like incense offered to the sky. Gideon saw he was small, and of little strength compared to the enemy, the adversary, but with our Lord, the little becomes the great. | In the Gospel today we heard:
" "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible."
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"..." end of Gospel verse. Our Lord was speaking of the rich not being able to enter Heaven.
Our Lord is said to send away the rich empty, as our Mother said in her magnificat: "....He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever....." Our Lord proves Himself to the lowly, the ones that are not rich.
Why? How? Is it fair? Is it right?
Angels appear to the lowly, and the weak.
Mother Mary appears to the lowly and the weak, like herself.
Ever wonder why so few see Mary? Ever wonder why really nobody sees God?
This is why! Because we are too rich. When you are filled with the world, you cannot see our Lord. What if I told you though, that there is a way, to see Him or Mother Mary?
Queen Mother Mary can show us her son.
But do you really want to see?
If we persevere in our faith, we will be able to see.
He doesn't hide like we do.
Our world is weak, and so fills itself up with entertainment, pleasures, outings, food, music, and anything and everything but what truly feeds our soul...God Himself, in the Holy Eucharist. | So how can we become poor before our Lord?
Detach yourself of worldly loves. Is it so hard to love God? How can I turn hearts to our Lord to seek His love and let Him feel our Love?
Maybe that's exactly what we need to ask people "do you really love God?".
You'll probably be surprised by the plethora of answers.
What is your answer? ........
Let us pray: Mother Mary, Immaculate Conception, Mother of God, help me love our Lord and Father as I ought. Help me love Jesus as you. Help us love to Heaven in the name of the one who rules Heaven, our King. Please Mother and my Queen. |  Click To Hear | Proverbs 17:22 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
