† Quote of the Day "Only God knows the good that can come about by reading one good Catholic book." — St. John Bosco Today's Meditation "It almost always happens that interior sentiments of pride precede the commission of grievous sins. Peter was not aware of his own weakness. He preferred himself before others; he trusted in himself as though he were incapable of sinning, boasting that no temptation would separate him from Jesus. He would not even believe the assurance of his Divine Master, that he would deny him thrice. Deceived by this vain confidence in his own strength, he neglects to pray, and to have recourse to God; and God, in His justice, permits him to fall, in punishment of his pride. There is nothing more dangerous than to confide in our own strength, and trust to feelings of fervor. We are full of malice, and capable of committing the most enormous crimes, unless God supports us." —Fr. Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, p. 85-86 An excerpt from The School of Jesus Crucified Daily Verse "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." — Jeremiah 17:7-8 | Blessed Thomas Maria Fusco Blessed Thomas Maria Fusco, also known as Tommaso, (1831-1891) was born to a noble and pious family in Italy, the seventh of eight children. He was orphaned at an early age and raised by his uncle, a priest, who oversaw his education. He had a deep love for the faith, especially to the Passion of Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows. He became a priest at the age of 24 and opened a school in his own home. He later became an itinerant missionary throughout southern Italy. After traveling for a number of years he opened another school, this time to train priests on how to be good confessors. He also founded the Priestly Society of the Catholic Apostolate to support the missions, which gained papal approval. During his work with the poor he discerned a call to start a new religious order of sisters, the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood, to minister to orphaned children. In addition to all of this, Fusco was also a parish priest, a confessor to a group of cloistered nuns, and a spiritual father to a lay group at the nearby Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He died of liver disease at the age of 59. He was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 2001. His feast day is February 24. | Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Sirach 1:1-10 All wisdom comes from the LORD
and with him it remains forever, and is before all time
The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain,
the days of eternity: who can number these?
Heaven's height, earth's breadth,
the depths of the abyss: who can explore these?
Before all things else wisdom was created;
and prudent understanding, from eternity.
The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom
and her ways are everlasting.
To whom has wisdom's root been revealed?
Who knows her subtleties?
To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed?
And who has understood the multiplicity of her ways?
There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring,
seated upon his throne:
There is but one, Most High
all-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one,
seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion.
It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit,
has seen her and taken note of her.
He has poured her forth upon all his works,
upon every living thing according to his bounty;
he has lavished her upon his friends. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 R.(1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R.The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R.The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R.The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. Alleluia 2 Timothy 1:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 9:14-29 As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed.
They ran up to him and greeted him.
He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"
Someone from the crowd answered him,
"Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so."
He said to them in reply,
"O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? Bring him to me."
They brought the boy to him.
And when he saw him,
the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.
As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around
and foam at the mouth.
Then he questioned his father,
"How long has this been happening to him?"
He replied, "Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him,
"'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
"Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!"
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
"Why could we not drive the spirit out?"
He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Mark 9:14-29 I do believe, help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24) Imagine what it was like to be the father in today's Gospel. News about Jesus' power to perform miracles had given him hope—perhaps for the first time—that his son could be healed. But Jesus' own disciples were powerless to help him. So seeing his prayers still unanswered, he wavered between faith and doubt. All he had experienced for years was his son's oppression at the hands of an evil spirit—all the seizures and all the times he had fallen into fire and water. So, as Jesus stood before him, this father simply spoke what was on his heart: "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" (Mark 9:22). Jesus' reply shook him: "If you can! Everything is possible to one who has faith" (Mark 9:23). Was Jesus scolding him? Or was he challenging him to have more faith? Maybe both. So the man gave the best response that he could: "I do believe, help my unbelief" (9:24). We're not much different from this beleaguered father at times. Sometimes we wonder if Jesus can really help us. It's not because we don't believe in him. It's just that we are so used to trusting only in what we have experienced in the past. But as he did with this man, Jesus assures us that so much more is possible—if we have faith. But how much faith do we need? It's enough for Jesus if we respond only with the faith we have. This father didn't have perfect faith, but Jesus honored what he did have. He answered his cry for help even as the man struggled with unbelief. So whatever you are dealing with, give it to Jesus! Tell him of your fears and doubts, but give them to him as well. The smallest seed of faith can bring God into your situation. Don't wait until you think you have "great faith." Just offer Jesus what you have. As you see him at work in your life, your belief and trust will grow stronger. It will guide you and help you navigate your challenges. It will open you to the wisdom and comfort of the Holy Spirit. So stand back, take a deep breath, and watch Jesus get to work! "Lord, I come to you now, with the faith I have, to ask for your help!" Sirach 1:1-10
Psalm 93:1-2, 5 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Jesus said to him,
"'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
"Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!"
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
"Why could we not drive the spirit out?"
He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."" - Word of the Lord! | From Bishop Barron:
"Faith is an attitude of trust in the God who is always holding out new possibilities to us. When our lives and hearts are aligned to the God who creates the universe, when our wills are directed according to his purposes, we become the conduits of enormous power......." end quote.
In other translations, including a simple spanish reading of today's Holy Gospel adds two more words to the end of today's final words of our Lord when He says "This kind can only come out through prayer.", and those extra words missing are "and fasting" and so we would read it ""This kind can only come out through prayer and fasting".
This is important to know, because, fasting is a powerful means to achieve a better outcome, when prayer does not seem to be enough.
The apostles, the disciples, they had much to learn. We must be always fasting, it seems, then, to always be prepared. Apparently this was the case for our Lord too. He came and realized the situation, nobody could expel or heal, and they were all arguing why! Even the possessed boy's daddy was crying out to our Lord as we all do in exasperation ""I do believe, help my unbelief!" to which our Lord had said ""'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
This is why the message comes to you right now.
Where is your faith? Is it not enough? They say that faith is a gift from God. We should cherish it, we should make it grow, we should make it bear fruit, and let the light of God's Kingdom on earth grow. Faith then, is something to nurture, with study, with holiness, and then with action. These are the 3 pillars of Cursillo, and the foundation of what is fundamental to being a Christian. To Know Him, to Love Him, and to Serve Him. Then, action comes in the end. After much love, fasting, then we can instantly heal and expel evil spirits. Fasting from food, fasting from sin is even better. This is all a good preparation for what is coming...the 40 days of purifying the temple of God. Your very soul. Our very body of a joined body of metaphysical realities...that of the body of Christ, that is growing, expanding into the Universe, for the greater good, and for the greater glory of our Father, who art in Heaven, Holy Be His Name...both now and forever! |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Colossians 2:6–7 Alive in Christ "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
