† Quote of the Day "Let each of us accept the truth of the following statement and try to make it our most fundamental principle: Christ's teaching will never let us down, while worldly wisdom always will. Christ Himself said that this sort of wisdom was like a house with nothing but sand as its foundation, while His own was like a building with solid rock as its foundation."
— St. Vincent de Paul Today's Meditation "If during vocal prayer your heart is drawn to mental prayer, do not restrain it, but let your devotion take that channel, omitting the vocal prayers which you intended to say: that which takes their place is more acceptable to God, and more useful to your own soul." —St. Francis de Sales, p. 63
An excerpt from An Introduction to the Devout Life
An Introduction to the Devout Life Daily Verse "Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you."
— 1 Samuel 12:23-24 | St. Lidwina Of Schiedam St. Lidwina of Schiedam (1380-1433) was born to a poor family in Holland. She had a devotion to the Blessed Mother and would often pray before the miraculous image of Our Lady of Schiedam. One winter, when she was 15 years old, she fell while ice skating and broke a rib, which she never recovered from. Gangrene spread throughout her body, which became as one big sore, and she was bed-ridden for the rest of her life. No medicine was able to help her. Her gradual physical deterioration was so grotesque that many suspected her of being possessed by the devil. However, when a priest brought her an unconsecrated Host, she was able to discern that it was not the Body and Blood of Christ. She experienced great suffering in this way until she was 53, but God rewarded her with the gift of heightened prayer, mystical visions, and spiritual consolations. Although she was not cured, many miraculous healings were attributed to her intercession. She fasted continuously, eventually surviving on only the Eucharist, and after her death on Easter Sunday the sweet odor of sanctity filled her room. Her grave became a pilgrimage site over which a chapel was erected. St. Lidwina of Schiedam is the patron of the chronically ill and ice skaters. Her feast day is April 14th. | Monday of Holy Week Reading 1 Isaiah 42:1-7 Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spreads out the earth with its crops,
Who gives breath to its people
and spirit to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid? R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Verse Before the Gospel Hail to you, our King;
you alone are compassionate with our faults. Gospel John 12:1-11 Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages
and given to the poor?"
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,
not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: John 12:1-11 The house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. (John 12:3) How would you react if someone poured out an entire bottle of the world's most expensive perfume over the feet of one of your dinner guests? Astonished? Scandalized? Maybe even a little jealous that a friend of yours could afford to be so generous? Jesus had a different reaction when Mary anointed his feet with her priceless perfume. Mary probably did this to express her deep gratitude to Jesus for having raised her brother, Lazarus, from the dead. But Jesus saw this gesture as something inspired and prophetic: without even knowing it, she had anointed him for the day of his burial (John 12:7). Imagine the scent of this exotic perfume lingering with Jesus through the drama of Holy Week. Did it leave an impression on those who encountered him in his final days? Did the memory of it—along with the sting of Jesus' words of rebuke—spur Judas to go to the chief priests and betray him? Maybe the fragrance filled the upper room as he stooped to wash his disciples' feet. Its aroma may have hovered over Pilate or the Sanhedrin, or the soldiers who mocked and beat him. Let the fragrance of Mary's perfume linger over you this week as well. Along with the incense offered at Mass on the Easter Vigil, let it draw your heart upward to the Lord in worship and gratitude. But don't stop there. Our celebration of Holy Week engages all of our senses, so savor every bit of it! Let the taste of the Bread of Life and the Wine of Salvation take you back to the tension and sadness of the Last Supper. Open your ears in a new way to a familiar chant or hymn so that you hear it as if it were the first time. Let the starkness of the sanctuary on Good Friday, followed by the dramatic shift from darkness to light at the Easter Vigil, help you experience the radiant glory of the risen Lord. Let every part of your surroundings help you marvel at the love of Jesus poured out for you. In all of this, try to imitate Mary as you express your love and gratitude to the Lord. Lift him up in worship, and let him lift you up with his grace. "Lord, help me to walk with you this Holy Week!" Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: Our Lord said:
""Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages
and given to the poor?"
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me......." - Word of the Lord! | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus' feet with perfumed oil, preparing him for burial.
This gesture—wasting something as expensive as an entire jar of perfume—is sniffed at by Judas, who complains that, at the very least, the nard could have been sold and the money given to the poor.
Why does John use this tale to preface his telling of the Passion? Why does he allow the odor of this woman's perfume to waft, as it were, over the whole of the story? It is because, I believe, this extravagant gesture shows forth the meaning of what Jesus is about to do: the absolutely radical giving away of self.
There is nothing calculating, careful, or conservative about the woman's action. Flowing from the deepest place in the heart, religion resists the strictures set for it by a fussily moralizing reason (on full display in those who complain about the woman's extravagance). At the climax of his life, Jesus will give himself away totally, lavishly, unreasonably—and this is why Mary's beautiful gesture is a sort of overture to the opera that will follow......." end quote.
From brother Adrian: Why doesn't the Vatican sell all its riches to give to the poor?
The spirit that spoke in Judas the one who betrayed Jesus, still permeates today. Usually people speak their sins, at the forefront of their consciousness. A priest once complained to ArchBishop Fulton Sheen about the stinginess of people. Archbishop asked him "how long have you been stealing from the parish?" The priest was astonished about being found out.
You see, we point the finger, and the rest point back.
But let's leave that point for other things.
Today, Mary Magdalene, they say, was the Mary that used the perfume to anoint our Lord's feet. They say it was her livelihood, her former job as a prostitute perhaps, the life of a sinner really, if you think about it, she pours it out all over the Lord's feet.
They say this smell aroused the men and accusers, some of which probably "knew" her in a special way, to the point of guilt and shame and anger and violence...towards our Lord.
But that is not the point here either.
What is important to know then is what? To know that Mary showed God value. Whereas the rest do not.
Those who accuse the Vatican, do not know why we choose gold on our altars. It is not about anything else, than the value we place on God.
And you? How much have you valued our Lord...this lent? Was it spent very little on our Lord? How was your life spent? Lord, so long as I breathe, I have hope...I have You, come Lord Jesus, let this Holy week be made holy through me and Your Holy Church...Your Holy Body! | Random Bible Verse 1
Isaiah 41:10 [Isaiah 41] 10 "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
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