†Saint Quote of the DayThe Divine Heart is an ocean full of all good things, wherein poor souls can cast all their needs; it is an ocean full of joy to drown all our sadness, an ocean of humility to drown our folly, an ocean of mercy to those in distress, an ocean of love in which to submerge our poverty. ▪ St. Margaret Mary
Today's Meditation“I never found anyone so religious and devout as not to have sometimes a subtraction of grace, or feel a diminution of fervor. No saint was ever so highly rapt and illuminated as not to be tempted sooner or later. For he is not worthy of the high contemplation of God who has not, for God’s sake, been exercised with some tribulation. For temptation going before is usually a sign of ensuing consolation. For heavenly comfort is promised to such as have been proved by temptation. To him that overcometh, saith our Lord, I will give to eat of the tree of life.”
— Thomas à Kempis, p. 65
Daily Verse †But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. ▪ 2 Timothy 4:5-8
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St. Gerard SagredoPatron Saint of: Hungary, missionaries, and bishops
Feast Day: September 24 St. Gerard Sagredo (980–1046 A.D.) was born in Venice, Italy. From an early age he desired to dedicate his life to God, and as a young man became a Benedictine monk. He first served as abbot at a monastery in Venice, but left to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While passing through Hungary he met the Hungarian king, St. Stephen, who asked him to stay in his country to evangelize and minister to his people. St. Gerard agreed, and was named Bishop of Csanád and the royal tutor of the Hungarian prince. He ministered tirelessly among the Hungarian people and helped to convert the whole country to Christianity, for which he is called the “Apostle of Hungary.” After the death of King St. Stephen there was a pagan uprising against the Christians, and St. Gerard was martyred for the faith along with two others. His death took place on a hill in Budapest which is now named after him; according to one tradition he was placed in a barrel lined with spikes, and rolled down the hill. He was declared a saint in 1083 by Pope St. Gregory VII. St. Gerard Sagredo is the patron saint of Hungary, and his feast day is September 24th.
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Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 452 Reading 1Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing. What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17bc R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. AlleluiaJohn 14:6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelLuke 9:7-9 Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
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Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!
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From Word Among Us WAU.org
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Daily Meditation: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11All things are vanity! (Ecclesiastes 1:2) You won’t see today’s passage from Ecclesiastes in a list of Top 10 Pep Talks. In fact, reading it in the wrong spirit might put you in a bleak mood. Yet because it is God’s word, it offers us an essential perspective on life. The author, “Qoheleth,” is presented as a wise king who has accumulated all the wealth and wisdom and pleasure that a man could want. And yet he still laments that “All things are vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The Hebrew word for vanity, hebel, literally means breath or vapor. Contemplating the riddle of human existence and pondering the fruits of his own labor, Qoheleth comes to the somber realization that all these things eventually pass away. Every achievement, monument, innovation, and kingdom—even the cycle of seasons and years and generations—will pass like a breath. Of course, Qoheleth is not wrong. Everything does fade away over time. Everything, that is, except for us humans. That’s because the “breath” that animates each person comes directly from God (Genesis 2:7). And that breath is the farthest thing from vanity! It’s so valuable that Jesus wants us to experience that gift with him for all eternity. It’s true that time marches on and that all things will pass away like a vapor in the wind. But not everything is vanity. Your life and your decisions have eternal value because you were made for eternity. The breath of God, his very life, is in you. And that life is a life of divine love, a love that “never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Imagine! Your prayer life, your devotion to your loved ones, your love for Scripture, your care for your neighbor, your compassion for the least of those among us—these are all grace-filled movements of the heart. And they do not fade. They are all moments when you can touch heaven here and now. They are moments when you encounter the Lord, who is inviting you into the blessed communion for which you were created. Your life is not vanity! When everything else passes away like a wisp of cloud, the new creation you have become in Christ will remain. “Thank you, Jesus, for breathing your life into me!” Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Luke 9:7-9
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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From today's Holy Gospel: "….But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.”
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From Roberto Juarez: "….Today's Gospel also speaks to us of our conscience. We live surrounded by noise, news, screens, messages, opinions, worries. And in the midst of all that noise we can stop listening to the inner voice that invites us to return to God. That is why we need moments of silence, prayer, to enter within ourselves and ask ourselves before the Lord: "How am I living?" "What do I have to change?" "Is there something that is taking me away from you?" "What are you asking of me?" Perhaps the answer does not come immediately. But the simple fact of presenting ourselves sincerely before God is already a beginning. Today's Gospel leaves us with a question that deserves to accompany us throughout this day: Who is Jesus for me? Not for others, not for society, not only for my family. For me. And perhaps we can add a second question: If I really believe that Jesus is Lord, what needs to change in my life today? May we not just want to "see" Jesus, may we want to meet him, let us open our hearts, let his Word question us and allow his grace to transform us." end quote.
From Brother Adrian: Why did Herod want to see the supposed "raised John" from the dead?
Why was Herod even remotely interested in this figure, our Jesus?
Some speculate it was because he was simply curious. He was curious about John's words. Until he had him beheaded to please his vanity, his family, his court.
But there is a problem here. How many are interested in our Lord…for self interests?
Stay tuned during Sunday's Gospel coming up. We will hear about a son that said no to His father's command to go work in the vineyard, but later repented and went. The other said "sure thing" and never went to the vineyard.
The parable has our Lord asking in a sense "which one actually did Our Father's will?"
You see, we all have a past. A past that we can repent from. The story speaks about work.
The story speaks about a response.
The story then, is about God and humanity, how we deal with our free will.
Why should we even be noticed by God? It must be…because He cares…He is interested, in you, and in me.
These are proofs if you look deep.
If you read the story with humility, a certain light appears.
If you read the story with pride, you will see darkness.
The bible then, reveals something deep inside.
Inside of God? Sure, of course!
But what about, what is being revealed inside of you?
Who is this Lord you are seeking?
I have been a faithful Catholic all my life…I done all the sacraments as a youth, my mom said I was rebellious before confirmation, because my friends weren't doing it, and she said I wasn't interested. When she told me, I was astounded….at the foolishness of this guy. Why wouldn't this guy want to be confirmed, because of his friends? Where would they have led him to?
And so, I can only express what has got me far into the faith…obedience…the language of Heaven.
But obedience only brought me to the gate of Heaven, to the proposal of our Lord. My interest, after putting on retreats as a youth and in college, my interest after getting married and started having children…my interest after experiencing a vision…only then….then did I truly begin to ask, after all this work people done, all this retreat stuff…way later I began to ask "who is this man on the cross at church…really?"
I began to be curious. I began to….truly seek. All my life I was obedient. And it led me to the door. And that door had no knob. The door…to my heart.
I slowly opened it. Peeking to see who was there knocking all this time, all those years.
As if me saying "I have heard something like a knock."
And after a while "I saw a Eucharist turn to flesh before my eyes, Lord…what is all this about?"
And after another vision in a Cursillo, I saw Him when I was taken away from the world to the darkest moment in history…the crucifixion.
Breathing His last, I could only see a shadow in the dark, a disfigured body hanging in there, hanging waiting…waiting for me…(and you). And in this realm, no words were necessary. My out of body experience, my soul knew exactly who this was, for He revealed Himself to a sinner, a lost soul, peeking.
This man, so strong, if you will believe what I knew, not felt, but knew, a full knowing….this man was Father God. We all say "Son of God" but this was God the Father, for I seen our Lord and I seen the Father, but not in the light, but in the disfigure we see Him in, because of our sin.
Curious for more?
This vision means so much to me, but for people that hear it, it could sway one or two, some will just move on as if to say "Oh well" and "that was entertaining". Yes, that is the spirit of Herod.
But for those who will believe? You are in for the most impacting moment, salvation.
Today, I want you to know, that being curious…can be a good thing…or a bad thing….and it all hinges on the question "why do you want to know….who this is?".
If you are seeking for the love of your life, He is waiting.
If you are needing a quick favor, for convenience, your heart is not ready.
If you want to grow, keep reading. Keep tuning into things of our Lord. Mass, He is there. Confessions. He is there. In groups of 2 or 3 for Him, He is there. Retreats, He is leading them. He is everywhere, if we only seek truly, and humbly….we shall find humility and truth.
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Random Bible Verse 1
John 14:21 "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Word of the Lord!
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Month of Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa)
Devotion of the Month Opening prayer of Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows: O, Mother most holy and sorrowful, Queen of Martyrs, you who stood by your Son as He agonized on the cross; by the sufferings of your life, by that sword of pain that pierced your heart, by your perfect joy in heaven, look down on me kindly as I kneel before you, sympathizing with your sorrows and offering you my petition with childlike trust. Dear Mother, since your Son refuses you nothing, ask of His Sacred Heart to mercifully grant what I ask, through the merits of His sacred passion, along with those of your sufferings at the foot of the cross. Mother most merciful, to whom shall I go in my misery if not to you who pities us poor, sinful exiles in this valley of tears? In our name, offer Jesus but one drop of His most precious blood, but one pang of His loving heart. Remind Him that you are our sweetness, our life, and our hope, and your prayer will be heard. Amen.
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God Bless You! Peace
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