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 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. | Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 8:1b-8 There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,
and all were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the Apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment. Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!" R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia See John 6:40 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,
and I shall raise him up on the last day, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel John 6:35-40 Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Acts 8:1-8 When they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. . . . there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:6, 8) The church in Jerusalem was experiencing severe persecution. Stephen had been stoned to death, and "all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1). In the middle of this difficult situation, Phillip, a deacon like Stephen, went to Samaria and began to proclaim the Messiah. And because of all the signs he was doing, "there was great joy in that city" (8:8). When we feel we are in the midst of turmoil, it can be easy to lose our joy. We don't even need persecution; our daily lives can be hard, too! The loss of a job, the illness of a loved one, that unsolved problem with an old friend, or simply all the demands of a busy day—there are many reasons why we might feel discouraged. But we are still celebrating the Easter season! We are still celebrating Jesus' victory over sin and death that Philip proclaimed in Samaria. And although we probably don't always see paralyzed people being cured and evil spirits being cast out (see Acts 8:7), we have seen and believed in the signs of Jesus' resurrection. And what are those signs? Maybe your daughter who stopped attending Mass returns to the Church. Or you have tried to overcome a sin, and then one day you receive the grace to finally do it. Maybe you see a sign of Jesus' resurrection in the love you have for your neighbor and the love you receive from the people around you. When you see these signs and believe in the risen Lord, your heart will be filled with joy, and you will know eternal life. It's just as Jesus says in today's Gospel: "This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day" (John 6:40). This joy will enable you to go—as Phillip did—and tell others what you have heard and seen. It will enable you to share your hope with them and remind them that Jesus Christ has saved them, too. Your heart will rejoice, and you will be able to sing with the psalmist, "How tremendous are your deeds, Lord! Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you! (Psalm 66:3, 4)" Psalm 66:1-7
John 6:35-40 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: In the Gospel we hear today:
"Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe........" - Word of the Lord! | From Roberto Juarez:
"What areas of our lives do we need to fill with that bread of life that Jesus offers us? How can we deepen our relationship with Him so that, as He tells us, we will never hunger or thirst again?
Reflect on your inner hunger and thirst. What are you really looking for? Are you looking for what only Christ can give? Receive Jesus. In the Eucharist, in daily prayer, in the encounter with others, He makes Himself present to satiate our souls. To live eternal life here and now. Be aware that eternal life begins the moment we relate to Christ from the heart.
Lord Jesus,
you are the Bread of Life,
the food that satisfies my deepest hunger,
The water that quenches my thirst for love and truth.
Help me to always seek you
to believe you, to trust in your promise of eternal life.
May I not look elsewhere for what only You can give me.
Amen...... " End quote.
From Bishop Barron: "Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus declares that he is the bread of life and promises eternal life to all who believe in him.
Many of the Church Fathers characterized the Eucharist as food that immortalizes those who consume it. They understood that if Christ is really present in the Eucharistic elements, the one who eats and drinks the Lord's Body and Blood becomes configured to Christ in a far more than metaphorical way. The Eucharist, they concluded, Christifies and hence eternalizes.
If the Eucharist were no more than a symbol, this kind of language would be so much nonsense. But if the doctrine of the Real Presence is true, then this literal eternalization of the recipient of Communion must be maintained.
But what does this transformation practically entail? It implies that the whole of one's life—body, psyche, emotions, spirit—becomes ordered to the eternal dimension. The Christified person knows that his life is not finally about him but about God; the Eucharistized person understands that her treasure is to be found above and not below. Wealth, pleasure, power, honor, success, titles, degrees, even friendships and family connections are all relativized as the high adventure of life with God opens up" end quote. From brother Adrian:
During the rosary decades, of the birth of our Lord, we can think of God giving to us, Himself, in the incarnation, in the birth, in the crucifixion, in the Ascension, in the descent of the Holy Spirit. It is a continuous giving of Himself, over and over again. Should we not offer thanksgiving? Eucharist means thanksgiving. And as an offering gift, He gives us the Eucharist, Himself, upon the altar, the Jews called their bread, the "bread of the Presence", the Presence of God.
The Holy Mass avails us then...God Himself, to commune, to consume, to be one with Him intimately, and what a gift of divine Godliness really, that we should become one like Him in every sense of the word. That we become more true to Love, because God is love. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 11:1 11
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
