Quote of the Day "The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." — St. Thomas More Today's Meditation "A sculptor who wishes to carve a figure out of a block uses his chisel, first cutting away great chunks of marble, then smaller pieces, until he finally reaches a point where only a brush of hand is needed to reveal the figure. In the same way, the soul has to undergo tremendous mortifications at first, and then more refined detachments, until finally its Divine image is revealed. Because mortification is recognized as a practice of death, there is fittingly inscribed on the tomb of Duns Scotus, Bis Mortus; Semel Sepultus (twice died, but buried only once). When we die to something, something comes alive within us. If we die to self, charity comes alive; if we die to pride, service comes alive; if we die to lust, reverence for personality comes alive; if we die to anger, love comes alive." —Fulton J. Sheen, p. 219
An excerpt from Peace of Soul Daily Verse "Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my groaning. Hearken to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to thee do I pray. O Lord, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch. For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not sojourn with thee." — Psalm 5:1-4 | St Elmo St. Elmo (d. 303 AD), also known as St. Erasmus of Formia, was an Italian bishop during the reign of Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. During their brutal persecution against Christians, St. Elmo left his diocese and fled to Mount Lebanon where he lived for seven years. An angel advised him to return to his diocese in order to vanquish his enemies. As he traveled there he was stopped and questioned by Roman soldiers. After declaring himself to be a Christian, he was brought to stand trial before Diocletian himself. St. Elmo confessed his faith in Christ and denounced the emperor for his impiety. For this rebuke he was tortured and thrown into prison, but an angel miraculously freed him so that he could continue on his journey and save many souls along the way. Two more times St. Elmo would endure the cycle of working miracles, baptizing thousands of people, getting arrested and mercilessly tortured, and being miraculously freed before arriving back in his own diocese. During his travels he suffered many horrible tortures at the hands of his enemies, but according to the oldest tradition he died at peace in Formia, though later accounts have him being martyred there by disembowelment. St. Elmo is the patron of mariners and sailors, abdominal pain, intestinal cramps, and women in labor. The electrical discharge on ships at sea, "St. Elmo's Fire," is named for him. His feast day is June 2nd. | Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 19:1-8 While Apollos was in Corinth,
Paul traveled through the interior of the country
and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples.
He said to them,
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?"
They answered him,
"We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
He said, "How were you baptized?"
They replied, "With the baptism of John."
Paul then said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus."
When they heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Altogether there were about twelve men. He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly
with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Colossians 3:1 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel John 16:29-33 The disciples said to Jesus,
"Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God."
Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: John 16:29-33 In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. (John 16:33) When Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, he was preparing to suffer and die—hardly a time to talk about conquering the world! But he knew that when he rose from the dead, they would understand what he meant. They would see that his victory over sin and death wasn't just for him; they, too, could experience it, even as they faced their own "trouble" as apostles in the world. We can see a dramatic illustration of Jesus' words in the life of Pope St. John Paul II. Both before and during his papacy, he faced many trials that could have made him lose hope. Before becoming pope, Karol Wojtyla lost all of his immediate family members, witnessed the horrors of World War II, and endured the oppression of Communism. As pontiff, he was almost killed by an assassin and suffered with Parkinson's disease. Not to mention all the challenges he faced leading a global Church in a rapidly changing world. But despite all of this, John Paul continued to proclaim the power of Jesus' cross and resurrection with conviction and with joy. He was convinced that Jesus had "conquered the world," and he believed in the depths of his heart that he had a share in that victory (John 16:33). In fact, John Paul became known throughout the world as a champion of hope. People of all cultures and ages were inspired by his words and chose to follow Christ because of him. You may even be one of them! Today, you may be facing trouble, but Jesus Christ remains victorious over sin and death; he truly has overcome the world! As you put your hope in him, he will help you face challenges with courage. Even in the darkest valleys of life, when sufferings seem to be more than you can bear, Jesus is with you. You can trust in him and make John Paul's words your own: "Be not afraid! There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already carried for us and does not bear with us now." "Lord, you have conquered the world. Help me to be a champion of hope today!" Acts 19:1-8
Psalm 68:2-7 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world......." | From Roberto Juarez:
"This passage is a call to mature trust. Jesus does not promise the absence of trials, but a faithful presence in the midst of them. His victory is not only future; He is already real, he has already won with his self-giving, his cross and his resurrection. • Do I trust in Jesus' presence even when everything seems to fall apart? • Do I seek the peace that comes from Him, or do I take refuge in passing securities? • Am I willing to follow Him also in the hour of the cross?
Lord Jesus, When fear paralyzes me and tribulation overtakes me,
Remind me that I am not alone, because you overcame the world.
Give me your peace, the peace that springs from your faithful love,
and teach me to trust, as you trusted in the Father.
Amen."
In the Book of John, chapter 16, we hear our Lord say to us:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Take heart! Be encouraged! He has overcome it all. This is why in the Cursillo movement we say "Christ and I are an overwhelming majority".
Our Lord Jesus is the ultimate example of what He just said. He had to take heart in the Father, for the Father is supreme over all. He had to trust the Father's will. That in this way, He would overcome the world, and become Master of all.
And we are called to follow these footsteps of faith. Our Lord endured, suffered many torments of the world, temptations, sadness, yes, anxiety like very few in the world have ever suffered, even sweating blood. But, He still went forth, to do the will of Our Father.
And this is for us to see that we too can trust in the Father, like the song we sang to the elderly in the nursing home yesterday "He's got the whole world, in His hands".
Can you trust Him...with your family? Your job? Your very life?
Can you trust Him when things are not going your way, or the way you would like them? Have you spoke with Him about it? He's got the whole world in His hands! He's got this.
Where is your heart? Is is it set for Heaven? All He asks is for pure love, faith, that trust we keep talking about here. He has conquered, and we are living in the age of victory...that we might spread the good news.... |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 13:15 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
