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Quote of the day: "Mother of our Savior, may well be called a morning, since before her there was none without sin. After her, the most clear sun Christ Jesus showed his light to the world." St. John Fisher Today's Meditation "In the throes of pains too excruciating to wrap our minds around, Jesus revealed a most precious gift offered for all of us: his mother. Among His seven last words, or phrases, Jesus said to St. John the Beloved, "Behold, your mother!" (Jn 19:27). Scripture says that from that hour on, John took Mary "to his own home." Pope Benedict XVI said that the Greek translation of the phrase "to his own home" is far deeper and richer than the English. He writes, "We could translate it: he took Mary into his inner life, his inner being…into the depths of his being. To take Mary with one means to introduce her to the dynamism of one's own entire existence. It is not something external." John served as a symbol for the rest of us. Like him, we are given the gift of a true spiritual mother, one who can mold the very depths of our being and transform us. As a trusted mother, she always points us to her Son."
–Carrie Gress and Noelle Mering, p. 203
Cover image from the book, Theology of Home
An Excerpt From Theology of Home Daily Verse "So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 | Blessed Anna Maria Taigi Bl. Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837) was born in Siena, Italy, to a poor working class family. Her family later moved to Rome, and Anna took on various low-skill jobs to help with the family finances. She married a pious man with a bad temper, which helped her to grow in virtue, and together they had seven children. As a young wife and mother she discerned God calling her to renounce the vanities and worldliness that she was accustomed to. She began to give little care to fancy dress, and accepted God's grace more in her life. With her husband's consent she transformed their home into a sanctuary through which she would serve God. Although she was not wealthy, Anna would give her spare money to the poor and needy. She soon entered the Third Order of Trinitarians and grew in holiness. God transformed her into a mystic: she experienced ecstasies during prayer, and was given visions of the future and the state of other's souls which were shown to her in a miraculous golden globe of light over the course of forty-seven years. Many sought her out for spiritual advice as she attended her household duties. She refused special favors from benefactors, and instead lived a life of austerity, relying on God to provide for her daily needs. Anna Maria's life was marked with much suffering, which she joyfully embraced, and God used her as an instrument for many conversions. Her feast day is June 9th. | Genesis 3:9-15, 20 (or Acts 1:12-14) After Adam had eaten of the tree, the Lord God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself." Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!" The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it." The Lord God then asked the woman, "Why did you do such a thing?" The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it." Then the Lord God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel." The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living. Psalm 87:1-3, 5-7 R. Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the Lord loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob. R. Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
And of Zion they shall say:
"One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High Lord." R. They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
"This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
"My home is within you." R. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia.
O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord;
O blessed mother of the Church,
you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ.
Alleluia, alleluia. John 19:25-34 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst." There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out. | 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: "Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst." ....." | From Roberto Juarez;
"This feast invites us to contemplate Mary as mother in the order of grace (cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 61). She is not only the mother of Jesus, but also our mother, who accompanies us as she did with the disciples at Pentecost.
Mary does not occupy the center: she leads us to Christ. But her presence is maternal, close and necessary, like that of a mother who, without making a sound, supports, guides and consoles.
Do I receive it in my "house", as the beloved disciple? Do I make room for it in my life, especially when I stand before my own cross?
Holy Mary,
Mother of the Church,
Our Mother:
teach us to stand by the crosses of the world,
to receive the Spirit with humility,
and to live as faithful disciples of your Son.
Intercede for us,
walk with us,
and help us to welcome grace
that springs from the open side of Christ.
Amen."
From Bishop Robert Baron:
"Friends, today we celebrate the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.
We recall that, from the cross, Jesus pronounced this word to St. John: "Behold, your mother." In saying this, he was giving Mary not only to John, but through John to the whole Church. Mary would be the mother of all the beloved disciples of Jesus up and down the centuries.
Then we recall that, at the Annunciation, the angel declared to the maiden of Nazareth: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God." The two persons required for the Incarnation were the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother.
Now we can make the connection: in becoming the mother of Christ, Mary, by extension, would become the mother of all those members of Christ's Mystical Body across space and time. Just as the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother were required to bring about the Incarnation in history, so those same two agents are required to bring about the birth of Christ in our souls."
Our Blessed Mother, to many, is an unknown person.
How can we get to know her, and her Son of God?
How can we develop a relationship?
How can our Lord Jesus be a real person in our life? Does He have to be physically present? Then He is, but in the Eucharist, and through the Holy Spirit by which way, He was actually made incarnate through the Virgin Mary. He was made flesh with her flesh. She is then touched by God in the most unique way imaginable.
So how can we know Jesus and Mary? Through what bound them in the first place: The Holy Spirit.
I went to confession, and most of the conversation was about the Holy Spirit...about God Himself.
I invite you then, to live Pentecost this week. May we be made born in the Fire of His Love.
We celebrate Mary today. The Mother of God. May we hail her above all women. Because, the ARCHANGEL of God said so.
Hail Mary,
Blessed Are You Among Women!
And Blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb! JESUS! Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us Sinners!
Now and forever!
Amen... |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Revelation 22:20 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
