† Quote "No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ." -St. Leo the Great Today's Meditation "Voluntary poverty restores to man the nobility of his condition, liberating him from vile servitude and reinstating him his noble freedom and mastery of all things. The soul is never more a mistress than when she despises them, and only then has she the more firm possession and makes the more excellent use of riches, when she gives them away or leaves them of her own free will; only then her appetite for them is best satiated, when she does not care to possess them. Then above all is the heart set free and made capable of the treasures of the Divinity, for which it is furnished by the Creator with almost infinite capacity." —Ven. Mary of Agreda, p. 85
An excerpt from The Mystical City of God Daily Verse "But thou, O Lord, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my mind toward thee." -Jeremiah 12:3a | Pope St Leo The Great Pope St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461 A.D.) was born in Tuscany to an aristocratic family. After serving as deacon under two popes he became the Roman Pontiff from 440 to 461 A.D. He was one of the greatest Holy Fathers the Church has known; he was the first pope, and one of only two, to bear the title "Great." He guided the Church through the turbulence of the collapse of the Roman empire, waves of barbarian invasions, widespread disintegration of morality, and many dangerous heresies including Pelagianism and Manichaeanism. His feats include persuading the Emperor Valentinian to recognize the primacy of the Bishop of Rome; preventing a doctrinal split in the Eastern churches; persuading Attila the Hun to turn back and forsake his invasion of Italy; and convincing the Vandals under their leader Genseric not to pillage the city of Rome or harm its inhabitants. He championed the Church and the Catholic faith in an uncertain era by maintaining unity, defending orthodox doctrine with clarity, and preaching vigorously against false teaching. By his strong influence he changed the course of European history; he was known not only as a leader of the Church but also as the protector of all of Rome. Pronounced a Doctor of the Church in 1754, many of his writings survive today. St. Leo the Great's feast day is November 10th. | Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Wisdom 1:1-7
Love justice, you who judge the earth;
think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 139:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Alleluia Philippians 2:15d, 16a R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.-- Gospel Luke 17:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'
you should forgive him." And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Wisdom 1:1-7 God is the witness of his inmost self and the sure observer of his heart. (Wisdom 1:6) What an unsettling thought! God sees into our "inmost self" and is the "sure observer" of even the deepest secrets of our hearts (Wisdom 1:6). In other words, it's impossible to trick him or to hide anything from him. But this truth doesn't have to frighten us! In fact, knowing that God sees us so clearly is probably one of the most comforting things we could ever hear! After all, he knows everything about us, and he still loves us completely. Today's responsorial psalm perfectly captures this mysterious combination of God's penetrating vision and his undying love. So let's pray through this psalm together, praising him for his faithfulness to us. "O Lord, you have probed me and you know me (Psalm 139:1). You know my deepest desires, my passions, my hopes, and my dreams. No one understands me better than you do. So no one is more qualified to guide me and lead me. Father, I place my complete trust in you! "My journeys and my rest you scrutinize (Psalm 139:3). You know my every step, Lord, because you are committed to walking with me. Whenever I am resting or sleeping, you are there with me. Thank you, my Father, for being so committed to me! "Before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know the whole of it (Psalm 139:4). There is no thought I can think, no word I can speak—helpful or harmful, wise or foolish—that you don't know about, Lord. You even know the motives of my heart that give rise to these thoughts and words. Come, Lord, and purify me so that I say only those things that reflect your love! "Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence where can I flee? (Psalm 139:7). Lord, you have been with me, through all my best days and worst days. Even when I feel most alone, you are still with me, offering me your unfailing help! Lord, I can't begin to comprehend your greatness! All I can do is stop and ponder, speechless with wonder and awe!" "Lord, thank you for your amazing ever-present love!" Psalm 139:1-10
Luke 17:1-6 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Ai Audio 2cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "....Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him....." Word of the Lord. | In a bit of Roberto Juarez reflection it says:
"Today's Gospel is brief, but it contains a profound and demanding teaching. Jesus speaks to us of three fundamental attitudes for building community life and Christian discipleship:
• avoid scandal,
• always forgive,
• and live with a humble and trusting faith.
They are three pillars that support any Christian community and any true human relationship. Jesus invites us today to review how we are living these attitudes in our personal, family and ecclesial life." end quote.
Causing another to sin, is grave matter. Where does that leave those who are neutral? I've heard of someone getting an abortion, and the girl's friend or boyfriend, or even her daddy takes her to the abortion clinic, and some of them say "I don't agree, but I am here to support her decision". That is to claim neutrality. Does that exonerate you? Does that neutrality completely free you from that sin you are connected with? You did NOTHING for God. How can that be good? God desires life, mercy, and grace...all things in Holy Obedience.
Watch what you do, because people, little ones, are watching closely, the things you don't think they notice....they know. Before I go on, I want to take a moment to thank you for your prayers for this weekend we were at a prison ministry, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We needed your prayers. I cannot explain, how strangely difficult it is to be with the prisoners. In a way, we went to suffer with them, and to try to liberate them...yes, for their salvation. These souls, many are living in torment. I can only equate it to a type of purgatory, but not a good one, if they do not suffer for God. Some, go from this to worse. Some, a few, learn and become something better than ever before. Many are lost in limbo. I don't have enough time to explain but we do need to keep prisoners in prayer, because they live in a tighter mix of people with psychological problems, physical problems, and both physiological, and this all is easily a spiritual problem, that was fueled many times by all of the above, emotions sparked by whatever cause and drugs. I don't have words, it is hard, and so they do need our prayers too. If you feed many homeless people and get to know them personally, you might get a hint of what I speak about. I digress, thank you though. Our example in the world leads the way, for better, or for worse. And the example starts deep inside the heart, where only God can see everything. And then, if good, if a light is there, it begins to shine from within. That light, yes, it is good, because that light is of God. Christ our Lord.
Yesterday we went to the weekly Sunday visits to nursing homes, where there are more locked up souls in need of hope.
That is what some prisoners said "thank for leaving your daily lives, to bring us hope, thank your families for us too, for letting you come to us" and another said "you all volunteers are our angels today, thank you for being with us".
And the same happens with sick and the elderly we visit. They look forward to our visit...of hope, in song, and prayers. And me and my family leave with our last song "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine! Let it shine!".
It is not only our light though, God gives us the light to eternal life.... |  Audio of Random Verse | Random Bible Verse 1
Jeremiah 31:3
"the LORD appeared to him1 from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." . . . . . . . . Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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