† Quote of the Day“If you wish to strengthen your confidence in God still more, often recall the loving way in which He has acted toward you, and how mercifully He has tried to bring you out of your sinful life, to break your attachment to the things of earth and draw you to His love.” -St. Alphonsus Liguori Today’s Meditation"God knew you before you were born. He has given you certain gifts and talents to develop as you grow in His grace. Feed His lambs with words of wisdom. Light the path for others and God will delight in you. Heavenly Father, help me to fulfill my potential. Give me the grace to overcome my selfishness." —Father John Catoir, p. 85
An excerpt from Uplifting Thoughts for Every Day Daily VerseWith the loyal thou dost show thyself loyal; with the blameless man thou dost show thyself blameless; with the pure thou dost show thyself pure, and with the crooked thou dost show thyself perverse. Thou dost deliver a humble people, but thy eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down. -2 Samuel 22:26-28
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St. HunnaSt. Hunna (d. 679 A.D.) was born in Alsace, France. She was the virtuous daughter of a duke, and she married a similarly virtuous nobleman. Hunna and her husband did not indulge in unnecessary luxuries according to their high state in life, and instead detached themselves from their riches by opening their home to the poor and assisting them in their need. St. Deodatus, a bishop who resigned from his See, came to live with the holy couple for a time. St. Hunna and her husband greatly profited from his religious instruction and grew in sanctity as a result. When Hunna bore a son, she named him after St. Deodatus. This child, raised by such holy parents, later joined a monastery and also became a saint. After her husband's death Hunna continued to spend her life serving the poor, especially women. No task was too menial for her. She tended to the poor and the sick and regularly, including their laundry and mending, even to the point of exhaustion. For this she was nicknamed the "Holy Washerwoman." She also gave away her wealth and property to build churches and monasteries. So many miracles were attributed to her that Pope Leo X canonized her in 1520. St. Hunna is the patron saint of laundresses and her feast day is April 15.
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Wednesday of the Second Week of EasterLectionary: 269 Reading 1Acts 5:17-26 The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison,
led them out, and said,
"Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life."
When they heard this,
they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
"We found the jail securely locked
and the guards stationed outside the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
"The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people."
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force,
because they were afraid of being stoned by the people. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R.(7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R.The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia. AlleluiaJohn 3:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 3:16-21 God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
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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: John 3:16-21God so loved the world . . . (John 3:16) Did you know that this verse is not just talking about how much God loves the world? It’s also talking about the way God loves the world. The Greek word for “so” used in this sentence means “in this manner” just as much as it means “to this extent.” So another reading of this verse could be “This is the way God loved the world.” So how does God love the world? Let’s take apart the rest of this famous verse. He gave: God loves without reservation. Love is not something God hoards to himself. It does not stay confined in his own perfection. It naturally bursts forth, out of himself, to us. Because God’s love is generous. His only Son: God does not love begrudgingly. He doesn’t give us just any old thing. He gave us his only begotten Son, one in being with him, the One most precious to his heart. Because God’s love holds nothing back. So that everyone who believes: God loves without restriction. He has opened the door of his heart to anyone who believes, no conditions. He makes no exceptions. He pours his love out on every person who comes to him in faith. Because God’s love flows freely. Might not perish: God does not brood over injury. He does not withhold his love from us because we have sinned against him. He does not give us “what we deserve.” No, he forgives us, removes our guilt, and restores us. Because God’s love is merciful. But might have eternal life: God wants us to be united with him. It wasn’t enough to take away our sin. In his abundant love, God wants us to be with him eternally. He has opened heaven’s gates and welcomes us in! Because God’s love is everlasting. God wants to show you how he loves you today. As you take some time to pray with one—or several—of these ideas, let his free, generous, and overflowing love wash over you. Let that love sink in! Then, let your heart respond with praise and thanks to the Lord who loved not only the whole world, but you! “Praise to you, Lord, for the way you love each and every person you have made! Help me to receive all the love you have for me.” Acts 5:17-26
Psalm 34:2-9
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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Audio of 2 Cents
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From today's Holy Gospel: ".. And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. ..."
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From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, today in the Gospel, Jesus delineates the nature of his mission: “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” In his passion to set right a disjointed universe, God broke open his own heart in love. The Father sent not simply a representative but his own Son into the dysfunction of the world, so that he might gather that world into the bliss of the divine life. God’s center—the love between the Father and the Son—is now offered as our center; God’s heart breaks open so as to include even the worst and most hopeless among us. In so many spiritual traditions, the emphasis is placed on the human quest for God.
But this is reversed in Christianity. Christians do not believe that God is dumbly “out there,” like a mountain waiting to be climbed by various religious searchers. On the contrary, God, like the hound of heaven in Francis Thompson’s poem, comes relentlessly searching after us. Because of this questing and self-emptying divine love, we become friends of God, sharers in the communion of the Trinity." end quote.
From Roberto Juarez: "Today the Lord invites us to take one more step on this Easter journey, to recognize that we are loved by God, to trust in Christ, and to choose to live in the light.
Let us ask that we may cease to be afraid of the light, that we may open our hearts to the truth, and that we may live as children of the light. And that, by welcoming the love of Jesus of Nazareth, may our lives reflect that profound truth that God loves us and calls us to live in his light." end quote.
I don't remember when or where, but I do remember a revealing vision that transpired inside of me.
It was a vision of the nearing of self to the divine light of God, as if to be traveling ever higher into Heaven.
It was unnerving. It was a type of death. It did not set well.
Why? Because, it was as if one is being called into the light and losing yourself, your identity, yourself on earth, your whole being and existence as you would become one with that light.
Looking back, that vision means so much more.
Why are we afraid of losing ourselves?
Why would we not want to be one with the oneness of God!
What is so scary about not being yourself anymore?
Wouldn't you want to give yourself totally to God Your Father?
In many near death experiences, people say they are drawn to a light.
That light that has always called us but we have failed to see in our daily lives!
That light, not of physical death, but of spiritual life!
Let us not be afraid then...of God's desires.
He calls light to light. Your light, to His light. It has always been His light, and how honored we are to carry His light!
Lord, give us the strength to be YOUR loving light in the dark.
To guide souls to Your bosom. Because You love each one intensely. Even giving Your very heart....The Sacred Heart of JESUS!!
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Random Bible Verse 1
1 Corinthians 10:13 " No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
Word of the Lord!
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God Bless You! Peace
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