† Quote of the Day "Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head." -St. Charles Borromeo Today's Meditation "What is this brightness—with which God fills the soul of the just—but that clear knowledge of all that is necessary for salvation? He shows them the beauty of virtue and the deformity of vice. He reveals to them the vanity of the world, the treasures of grace, the greatness of eternal glory, and the sweetness of the consolations of the Holy Spirit. He teaches them to apprehend the goodness of God, the malice of the evil one, the shortness of life, and the fatal error of those whose hopes are centered in this world alone. Hence the equanimity of the just. They are neither puffed up by prosperity nor cast down by adversity.'A holy man', says Solomon, 'continueth in wisdom as the sun, but a fool is changed as the moon.' (Ecclus. 27:12). Unmoved by the winds of false doctrine, the just man continues steadfast in Christ, immoveable in charity, unswerving in faith." —Venerable Louis Of Grenada, p. 135
An excerpt from The Sinner's Guide Daily Verse "So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight." -2 Corinthians 5:6-7 | St Kieran The Younger St. Kieran the Younger (512-546 A.D.), also known as St. Ciaran, was born in Connacht, Ireland, the son of a carpenter. He demonstrated a great aptitude in his studies, being educated by a holy deacon who had him baptized. Kieran tended cattle in the fields before continuing his education at Saint Finnian's monastery school at Clonard, where he became a monk. He soon earned the reputation for being the most learned monk at Clonard, and was held in high esteem by his instructors and peers. Kieran's years of residence there were marked by many miracles. He also mentored, befriended, and tutored many of the founders of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Saint Kieran eventually left Clonard and went on to found the famous Clonmacnoise Abbey in West Meath Ireland, which attracted thousands of students from all over Europe. St. Kieran was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland - the first twelve bishops in Ireland consecrated by St. Patrick. He is also honored as the first Irish-born saint. St. Kieran's feast day is September 9th. | Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest [In the Dioceses of the United States] Reading 1 Colossians 2:6-15 Brothers and sisters:
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to the tradition of men,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ. For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power.
In him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not administered by hand,
by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
You were buried with him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the power of God,
who raised him from the dead.
And even when you were dead in transgressions
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he brought you to life along with him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims,
which was opposed to us,
he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;
despoiling the principalities and the powers,
he made a public spectacle of them,
leading them away in triumph by it. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11 R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever. R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works. Alleluia See John 15:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
that you may go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 6:12-19 Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Colossians 2:6-15 He made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph. (Colossians 2:15) Strong images and strong words—St. Paul uses both to help us understand the miracle of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. First, the strong image: a Roman "triumph" (Colossians 2:15). The term might not be familiar to us, but it would have been known to St. Paul and the Colossians. A triumph (triumphus in Latin) was a public spectacle recognizing a decisive military conquest. The victorious general humiliated his defeated enemies by parading them through Rome in chains for the entire city to see. By comparing Christ's victory over sin and death to a Roman triumph, Paul painted a vivid picture in the minds of the Colossians: Jesus' victory was complete! His death and resurrection have brought about a decisive and enduring conquest of all that afflicts us. It was an image that would help the Colossians "walk in him" (2:6). It can help you, too. Try to imagine Jesus marching toward heaven, with sin and death chained and bound, humiliated and defeated, trailing behind him. Imagine your own sins in that procession—even the ones that trouble you the most! And the strong words? Listen to the way Paul describes Christ's victory on the cross. He says that when you were dead in your transgressions, Jesus brought you to life along with him (2:13). Sin held you in a death grip. But through Baptism, you were joined to Christ, and his death and resurrection have brought you to life. He has forgiven all your transgressions (2:13). Not just some, but all. Paul also says that Jesus has obliterated the bond against you, with its legal claims (2:14). Sin has a real effect. It separates you from God. But Jesus has eliminated that effect—he demolished it, annihilated it! How? By nailing it to the cross (2:14). With Christ, all the claims against you were crucified. Jesus has despoiled the powers against you—sin and death and the devil—because he has removed you from their grasp. Let these words and this image fill your heart. There is no question: Jesus has defeated sin and death. He has conquered your own sins. He has set you free! "Jesus, I praise you for your triumph over sin and death!" Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11
Luke 6:12-19 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:....." Word of the Lord. | From Marcel Bastin today: "......Praise be to the fairest of the sons of men,
Jesus, your Son from all eternity!
In him your plan is revealed and your love is realized;
He is the man after your heart,
the new Adam, faithful to your designs.
In Him your creation discovers its destiny
and through Him all things give you glory.
In Him our earth passes into eternity
and through Him all things are integrated
in the construction of an immense body,
body saved, transfigured, resurrected.
Through Him, who is the Fullness of your Grace
and the Firstborn of the new world,
We praise You, God, our Creator......... " end quote.
The Holy Gospel starts us off by venturing into a lonely place with our Lord Jesus. He goes to a mountain to pray. It is a special trip. Indeed, for He returns from the prayer with a phenomenal plan, the chosen ones, the ones He called Apostles would be chosen. A quick search said: "The English word "apostle" comes from the Greek word apostolos, which also means "sent out person" or "messenger," and was a translation of the Hebrew shaliach in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible."
These apostles are sent out to the world. All the first ones were martyred. And today, our direct descendants by laying of hands of the apostles are our bishops. Are they perfect? No. But they are given authority against darkness. They are given tremendous responsibility. And, they need our help. They need our obedience. They need your holiness. They need us just as much as we need them. Today then, ought to be a prayer day for them, so that they may help usher in the greater light that the world so much needs....in you, your world.
And just as they are "sent out", they send us out, to be the very Body of Christ. We are a particular breed for Christ's Kingdom. Are we not?
Aren't all Christians the same? Only in as much as Christ shines truly in their hearts.
There are too many cafeteria Christians that pick and choose what they like. Many despise the cross. Many despise suffering. Many despise even going to Church and keeping Holy The Sabbath. Many despise the priests and bishops. You see? We are not truly Christ followers if we are any of these.
We are called, as Catholics, to be the very heart of Christ, and to be truly so, we need true priests, and bishops are priests.
For this, we have been sent into the world.
We have a purpose, a mission, in this world that is a special place, a calling to the Lord.
For this, we need grace. Sacramental grace. Sacrificial grace. We should adhere to Him, and let Him sink into the depths of our soul....forever more. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."
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