† Quote of the Day "The Creator of the universe awaits the prayer of one poor little person to save a multitude of others, redeemed like her at the price of His Blood." — St. Therese of Lisieux Today's Meditation "The freshness of a living hope in God fills the soul with such energy and resolution, with such aspirations after the things of eternal life, that all this world seems to it—as indeed it is—in comparison with that which it hopes for, dry, withered, dead, and worthless. The soul now denudes itself of the garments and trappings of the world, by setting the heart upon nothing that is in it, and hoping for nothing that is, or may be, in it, living only in the hope of everlasting life. And, therefore, when the heart is thus lifted up above the world, the world cannot touch it or lay hold of it, nor even see it. The soul then, thus disguised and clad in the vesture of hope, is secure from its second foe, the world, for St. Paul calls hope the helmet of salvation. Now a helmet is armor which protects and covers the whole head, and has no opening except in one place, where the eyes may look through. Hope is such a helmet, for it covers all the senses of the head of the soul in such a way that they cannot be lost in worldly things, and leaves no part of them exposed to the arrows of the world." —St. John of the Cross, p. 175 An excerpt from Dark Night of the Soul Daily Verse "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." — John 8:31-32 | St. Rose Venerini (1656–1728) was born in Italy, one of four children of a pious physician and his admirable wife. Rose was a bright and gifted child. At the age of seven she made a vow to consecrate her life to God. However, she was later conflicted between her vow and living in the world. At the age of 20 she knew she must make a decision between marriage and the cloister, the only two options available to women of her day, both of which she esteemed. After much prayer and suffering she entered a monastery. Only a few months passed before she returned home upon the sudden death of her father. This was followed not long after by the deaths of her brother and mother. Still yearning to respond to God's call to the consecrated life, she began by gathering together the young women of her neighborhood to pray the rosary. She was struck by the cultural, moral, and spiritual poverty of the women, and their lack of basic Christian formation. This inspired her to begin a school for their instruction and human formation, which became Italy's first public school for girls. This was an innovation in her day, as teaching catechism belonged to the clergy. After facing initial resistance, the fruit of her work and the moral improvement of the women became evident to all. The Pope himself attended one of her classes and praised her work. Governors and cardinals asked her to open schools in their areas. Over the course of her life she opened 40 schools across Italy dedicated to the education and promotion of women for the uplifting and ennobling of society. "Educate to save" became her motto. Her feast day is May 7th. | Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 16:22-34 The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas,
and the magistrates had them stripped
and ordered them to be beaten with rods.
After inflicting many blows on them,
they threw them into prison
and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.
When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell
and secured their feet to a stake. About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying
and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,
there was suddenly such a severe earthquake
that the foundations of the jail shook;
all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open,
he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,
thinking that the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul shouted out in a loud voice,
"Do no harm to yourself; we are all here."
He asked for a light and rushed in and,
trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said,
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus
and you and your household will be saved."
So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds;
then he and all his family were baptized at once.
He brought them up into his house and provided a meal
and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8 R. (7c) Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple,
and give thanks to your name.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Because of your kindness and your truth,
you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia See Jn 16:7, 13 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 16:5-11 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Now I am going to the one who sent me,
and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.
For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes he will convict the world
in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:
sin, because they do not believe in me;
righteousness, because I am going to the Father
and you will no longer see me;
condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned."
| Daily Meditation: Acts 16:22-34 He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds. (Acts 16:33) The Acts of the Apostles is filled with stories about the amazing works of the Holy Spirit: inspiring new languages, healing the sick, raising the dead, and bringing thousands to conversion. And today we hear about an earthquake that breaks open prison doors! Yet in all this excitement, it can be easy to miss the more quiet work that the Spirit does in people's hearts—a work that we can experience as well. Today's reading tells how the Holy Spirit prepared a jailer in Philippi to receive the gospel. Upon witnessing an earthquake, this fellow was—understandably—filled with fear. Realizing the quake was probably the result of the prayers of the apostles Paul and Silas, he asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). When the apostles told him about Jesus, the jailer was moved by the Holy Spirit to a quiet act of Christlike love and service. Though it was very late at night, he took Paul and Silas into his home and tended to their wounds. Then, almost as if in response, the two apostles baptized him and his whole family and shared a meal with them (16:33-34). You have probably seen more of these quiet testimonies to the Spirit than showstopping miracles like an earthquake. In fact, take a moment right now to think of someone who reflects the love of God. It may even be someone who, like the jailer, seems far from the Lord. But you can see evidence of the Spirit's work in them as they care for a loved one in the hospital or as they show courage in adversity or dedication in serving. Resolve to reach out to that person today. Tell them how you see God's presence in them. Tell them how inspiring they are to you. Who knows? Your words of affirmation may well move them closer to the Lord. Or you may prompt them to seek him out more deeply. Keep your eyes open for the Spirit's quiet activity in people. And when you recognize it, point it out to them. Help them to see and rejoice in God's creative love at work in their hearts. Then, one day, perhaps you will marvel at the way they have "come to faith in God" (Acts 16:34). "Jesus, help me recognize and affirm the work that you are doing in those around me." Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8
John 16:5-11 |  try to hear it read by AI | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.
For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes he will convict the world
in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation....." end quote. | There is a difficult dilemma when you lose someone you trusted in for so much, and now they are gone. I'm talking about my conundrum with my boss, my best friend, my dad that passed away a couple of years ago. Everything was built by him. Of course we all know it was God that allowed it to be. The good and the so called "bad" that we see.
It was like this when our Lord was telling his disciples He was going to leave them and nobody dared to ask Him where He was going. Eventually some would ask and He would say "Where I am going you cannot go (right now)".
And I say all of this because it seems that the same scenario has been presented with my boss, my dad passing. He has gone somewhere we cannot go...right now.
And so, what happens when we leave this world? To me, the universe is such a vast place, and compare this world to other world's, how in the world can we ever possibly ever unite again?
In comes the answer, in comes the Holy Spirit. That Spirit of God that Unites us. It is God. It is this Spirit that has overcome the world. Jesus is triumphant. And so we have to remember how to be triumphant with Him.
Paul and Silas were in jail, in a dark cell, like a version of hell.
I don't know where you are at today, but sometimes, we go through these spells. But they united in prayer, and they were singing. Reminds me of the songs that were being sung by St. Maximilian Kolbe while being starved to death in the NAZI concentration camps. They were trying to kill them and they wouldn't die. Finally they injected him with carbolic acid to assure he dies. But even then, St. Max lives on. Next week I will be involved in a Kolbe Prison retreat in Texas. We honor this saint in the prisons, where there, we will attempt to bring the Holy Spirit, and I too will help lead in songs.
This past Sunday me, my wife, and a few of our kids went to sing to others that are locked in, their nursing homes. I told them that we came to visit and pray and sing with them, so that the Holy Spirit can have a humble abode, a place in our hearts to live and give light.
And so it is. When we pass, the doors of death will fling open. Where will we go? We will go where the Holy Spirit says.
It would be good to know how the Holy Spirit leads us now.
I believe in the Holy Spirit. It is what guides every single thing we do, especially in the things of faith. I also believe in this that very few people have talked about: That the very name of the Holy Spirit has power. Just whisper those two words of the name, and see what happens! I do it all the time. When people come yelling at me, when a conversation I want to turn to God comes upon me, when I want God to be involved, I whisper right there very quietly "Holy Spirit" come in this place, and guide us to Your precious place and holy will.
And then salvation comes. We unite. We will not be lost. We are in the body of Christ! |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Matthew 6:24 24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.1 | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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