† "Do not be anxious: go straight on, forgetful of self, letting the spirit of God act instead of your own."
— St. Julie Billiart Today's Meditation "True devotion to Our Lady is holy; that is to say, it leads the soul to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of the Blessed Virgin, particularly her profound humility, her lively faith, her blind obedience, her continual prayer, her universal mortification, her divine purity, her ardent charity, her heroic patience, her angelic sweetness and her divine wisdom. These are the ten principal virtues of the most holy Virgin." — St. Louis De Montfort, p. 55 Daily Verse "For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who [also] gives his holy Spirit to you."
— 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 | Saint of the Day for June 6
(c. 1080 – June 6, 1134) Saint Norbert's Story In the 12th century in the French region of Premontre, Saint Norbert founded a religious Order known as the Praemonstratensians or the Norbertines. His founding of the Order was a monumental tasks: combating rampant heresies—particularly regarding the Blessed Sacrament, revitalizing many of the faithful who had grown indifferent and dissolute, plus effecting peace and reconciliation among enemies. Norbert entertained no pretensions about his own ability to accomplish this multiple task. Even with the aid of a goodly number of men who joined his Order, he realized that nothing could be effectively done without God's power. Finding this help especially in devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, he and his Norbertines praised God for success in converting heretics, reconciling numerous enemies, and rebuilding faith in indifferent believers. Many of them lived in central houses during the week and served in parishes on weekends. Reluctantly, Norbert became archbishop of Magdeburg in central Germany, a territory half pagan and half Christian. In this position he zealously and courageously continued his work for the Church until his death on June 6, 1134. Reflection A different world cannot be built by indifferent people. The same is true in regard to the Church. The indifference of vast numbers of nominal faithful to ecclesiastical authority and essential doctrines of the faith weakens the Church's witness. Unswerving loyalty to the Church and fervent devotion to the Eucharist, as practiced by Norbert, will continue immeasurably toward maintaining the people of God in accord with the heart of Christ. | Acts 25:13b-21 King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a man here left in custody by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. So when they came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or R. Alleluia.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. R. For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us. R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding. R. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
Jn 14:26
Alleluia, alleluia. John 21:15-19 After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: John 21:15-19 Follow me. (John 21:19) In today's Gospel, we read about a conversation between Jesus and Peter that takes place not long after Jesus has risen. So the sense of Easter joy is still present, but there's also a tinge of sadness. Surely Jesus' threefold question, "Do you love me?" reminds Peter of his own threefold denial of Jesus on the night of his arrest. How could he ever live up to Jesus' call to feed his sheep or tend his lambs? How could he possibly fulfill Jesus' call to "follow me" (John 21:19)? If you've ever been on the receiving end of an invitation to follow someone, you know that it requires a good bit of humility. It requires you to put aside your own path, admit the limitations of that path, and trust that the one inviting you to follow truly wants to help you. That's exactly what Jesus is asking of Peter. He repeatedly invites Peter to feed his sheep and tend his lambs, and he ends with Jesus inviting him to follow him. Over and over, he asks Peter to trust him. He makes it clear that, even after Peter has denied him, Jesus still loves him. He still wants to help him fulfill the calling he had given Peter when they first met: "Come after me [or follow me], and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Jesus still trusts Peter; the question now is whether Peter will trust him. "Follow me." This is a universal invitation, offered to each and every one of us, no matter who we are or what we have done in the past. Jesus doesn't wait until we love him perfectly. He doesn't wait for us to be completely free of sin before he calls us. He knows that by putting aside our path and accepting his, we are already beginning to submit to his healing power. And then, every step along the way transforms us a little more. So follow Jesus today! Let him take your yes, however small it may seem, and bring you into an ever-deepening relationship with him. Trust that he knows the destination far better than you do, and he also knows the best way to get there. "Jesus, help me to trust in you more deeply. Lord, I want to follow you with all of my life for the rest of my life!" Acts 25:13-21
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me......" | Some people say that it's what you do with your failures that counts. We know that Peter failed our Lord 3 times for sure, by denying Him 3 times.
And look at us. How many times per day do we deny our Lord?
Even by omission?
I could've prayed today. I could've reached out to Him in the elderly, or in prison.
I say that from my own take. I was indeed all day in prison with a Kolbe retreat, there seems to be around 100 of us, 18 on team and 80 or so retreat goers.
But still, what else could I have done? How did I deny Him? By my words? By my thoughts? How else did I deny Him?
Do you do a daily examination of conscience at the end of the day?
Do you go over all your failures? Do you then, pray, for help, and forgiveness?
Some of the prisoners said that they needed to be in prison to hear about the Lord, because nowhere else would they have been caught listening to God or attending a retreat.
And so, the failures turn to good. People like Kolbe go in and make a difference under the example of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
Do you Love the Lord?
Does it show?
I notice some go to church, and are even in ministry, but you would never know they are Christian by the way they talk about others.
Even priests are hard to distinguish, a crop of not so good priests came out of the sexual revolution.
But, there seems to be a new and better crop of priests and religious coming. And we must be that fertile soil for it to come to fruition.
"Do you Love Me?" Asks our Lord.
Not only to Peter, but to the entire Holy Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself and with Peter as the head, the rock.
And here we are, learning from our failures. And here we are, fighting to be holy, trying day in and day out.
For this, I pray for the grace of our Lord to reach us...in the Sacraments...to feed the flock, the word, and the very Body of Christ with the very Body of Christ.... |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
1 Corinthians 2:9 9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"— | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
