† Quote of the Day "A word or a smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul." — St. Therese of Lisieux Today's Meditation "Prayer, for me, is simply a raising of the heart, a simple glance towards Heaven, an expression of love and gratitude in the midst of trial, as well as in times of joy; in a word, it is something noble and supernatural expanding my soul and uniting it to God. Whenever my soul is so dry that I am incapable of a single good thought, I always say an Our Father or a Hail Mary very slowly, and these prayers alone cheer me up and nourish my soul with divine food." —St. Therese of Lisieux, p. 141
An excerpt from The Story of a Soul Daily Verse "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." — Romans 12:1-2 | St. Therese Of Lisieux St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) was the last of nine children born to Saints Louis and Zelie Martin in Alencon, France. Her family was devoutly religious, and all five surviving siblings, all daughters, entered the convent. From an early age Therese desired to give herself totally to Jesus. Her happy childhood gave way to trial following the death of her mother when she was four years old. This event changed her personality from merry and bright to withdrawn and sensitive. She also suffered a strange illness that brought her near death. Her sisters prayed for her recovery, and Therese was completely healed after she saw the Virgin Mary statue in her room smile down on her. Just before her 14th birthday, on Christmas Eve, Therese had a mystical experience of the Child Jesus. Her sensitiveness disappeared and her faith was greatly fortified. She attended daily Mass with her father and cultivated her strong desire for the salvation of souls. At the age of 15 she obtained special permission to enter the Carmelite convent in Lisieux where two of her sisters were professed. Recognizing her youth and weakness, and unable to do the great things for God in the world that her heart desired, she determined that she would follow the path of spiritual childhood at the feet of Jesus, as his "Little Flower", and instead focus on small acts of kindness for love of Jesus and interior acts of self-denial, a spirituality called "The Little Way." Therese died of Tuberculosis at the age of 24, and her high degree of holiness was discovered through her autobiography, Story of a Soul. Her "Little Way" became profoundly influential around the world, and although she was not a learned scholar, her deep theological life caused Pope St. John Paul II to declare her a Doctor of the Church. She is the patron against sickness, tuberculosis, and loss of parents, as well as of pilots, air crews, florists, missionaries, and the sick. St. Therese of Lisieux's feast day is October 1st. | Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23 Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
Job spoke out and said: Perish the day on which I was born,
the night when they said, "The child is a boy!" Why did I not perish at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts? For then I should have lain down and been tranquil;
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver. There the wicked cease from troubling,
there the weary are at rest. Why is light given to the toilers,
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in! Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8 R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
For my soul is surfeited with troubles
and my life draws near to the nether world.
I am numbered with those who go down into the pit;
I am a man without strength.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
My couch is among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom you remember no longer
and who are cut off from your care.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit,
into the dark abyss.
Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
and with all your billows you overwhelm me.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. Alleluia Mk 10:45 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 9:51-56 When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
| Daily Meditation: Luke 9:51-56 Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven? (Luke 9:54) James and John were angry that the people in a Samaritan village had refused to welcome Jesus. They were so angry, in fact, that they wanted to destroy the whole town (Luke 9:54). What a contrast to Jesus' reaction! Instead of punishing the villagers, he confronted the disciples. Didn't they understand what he was trying to teach them? He wanted them to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:27, 29). Like these disciples, we often want to retaliate for the hurt or rejection someone has caused us or a loved one. Somehow it makes us feel better to know that the person is "paying" for their actions. That's our natural inclination, but as always, Jesus calls us to take the high road. He wants us to let go of the urge to get back at someone. He wants us to trust that he is a God of justice and that he will see that justice is done in his own time and way. And how often does God's justice look like mercy instead! In today's Gospel passage, Jesus didn't just rebuke the disciples for asking if they should destroy the village. He also wanted them to realize that God is merciful. Maybe these Samaritans just needed more time to understand that Jesus was the Messiah. It's even possible that after Jesus' death and resurrection, some became his loyal followers (Acts 8:4-8). In the end, the disciples learned the lessons that Jesus wanted to teach them. As they went out to preach the gospel after Jesus had ascended into heaven, they were slandered and persecuted. Most were martyred. But like Jesus, they didn't fight back or retaliate. They trusted in God's justice and mercy instead. Today, think of a situation where you've been tempted to retaliate. Then pray for the person or people who hurt or rejected you. Ask the Lord to be just as merciful to them as he has been to you! "Lord, help me to love my enemies!" Job 1-3, 11-17, 20-23
Psalm 88:2-8 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him........." end quote. | Bishop Barron said:
"Friends, today is the Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. The best introduction to Thérèse's spirituality is a text that she wrote at the behest of Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart, a sort of memoir of the retreat that she made in September 1896, just a year before her death.
What she offers is a "science of love," a way of knowing and acting that is utterly conditioned by the love that Jesus has placed in her heart: "Jesus deigned to show me the road that leads to this Divine Furnace, and this road is the surrender of the little child who sleeps without fear in its Father's arms."
God, Thérèse concluded, is pleased to work with those who have become utterly docile to his direction, who have acknowledged their total dependence upon him, their readiness to receive gifts. Any sense that God's love must be earned or that a relationship with him is a product of economic calculation is repugnant to a healthy spirituality: "Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude."
When this attitude is in place, anything and everything is possible. Following Thérèse, we can be pleasing to God and valuable to the Church in the humblest places and through the simplest acts. All we need to do is surrender, like a little child asleep in its Father's arms.
. . . ." end of Bishop's quote.
"... they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village."
We can become indignant, as if it were our human nature right? When we are rejected, we scoff, or send a little insult their way, right? Who does that? People who do not care.
Our Lord rebuked them then, for not caring. How could you call down fire from the Heavens to burn them alive? That's someone who don't care. How can you call on retribution and wish them their so called "karma" back to them? That is not accepting of God's will.
We've much to learn as we live about the way, the so often ignored little road and the "little way" as today's St. Thérèse describes in her book before dying at the age of 24.
This "little way" is the path less taken. The path that says that others may be greater, and that you become lesser.
Such was the way that Saul realized before being called Saint Paul.
His name Saul meant "the greater" and then became Paul, which means "the lesser" something I learned hearing Jim Caviezel say in a talk about the movie he was in about St. Paul.
The whole of life, the Christian life, then could be one of learning to become less, while the world demands that you become the best and the greatest in worldly terms. But the last will be first. Those who strive to be top dogs and first will be last.
I don't want to be last in line to enter Heaven. There is hell to pay for sins against charity, true love.
We don't hear it enough, but why do we want to put others through burning fires, a living hell for a mere scoff? God sees beyond the human weakness. He sees with mercy.
Jesus is the heart of God trying to teach us what He wants both now and forever.
That others be more, and that I might be forgotten. Learn the litany of humility. It is the little way, little known, the path less taken. This is why the world is upside down in a war and death hungry world driven by demonic of self pleasure and aggrandizement. No! When it comes to faith, family, and work, learn the "little way" of St. Thérèse the little flower.
God loves a little flower perhaps more than a grand detailed bouquet with exotic flowers, why? Because, it is the child that gives it over that He loves and the love of simplicity and humility in which it is given. Like a toddler that found a weed that flowers and brought it to his mommy to see her loving smile and loving joy exuberant at the exchange.
This happens with a little smile that will brighten someone's day. A little mercy when they wrong you. An opening of a door and not expecting a thank you for anything. To honor others as greater than thou...because in the end, it is about serving God in brethren.... |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 103:11–12 [Psalm 103] 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
