†Saint Quote:“At the end of our life we shall be judged by charity.” -St. John of the Cross Today’s Meditation"Prayer brings our mind into the brightness of divine light, and exposes our will to the warmth of divine love. Nothing else can so purge our mind from its ignorance, and our will from its depraved affections. It is a blessed fountain which, as it flows, revives our good desires and causes them to bring forth fruit, washes away the stains of infirmity from our soul, and calms the passions of our hearts." —St. Francis de Sales, p. 61
An excerpt from An Introduction to the Devout Life Daily VerseI tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. -Luke 12:4-5
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St Francis Of GirolamoSt. Francis de Girolamo (1642-1716) was the eldest of eleven children born to honorable and virtuous parents in Naples, Italy. As a child he was drawn to God and a life of prayer. Realizing his vocation to Holy Orders, he was ordained a Jesuit priest at the age of 28. He became a renowned public preacher due to his distinguished and eloquent voice. He was described as "a lamb when he talks, and a lion when he preaches." He had a heart for the missions after his patron St. Francis Xavier, but instead of traveling to distant lands he accepted his hometown of Naples as his India. He went as a missionary priest into country towns and villages for open-air preaching in the streets. He sought to convert sinners wherever they were—in brothels, prisons, galleys, hospitals, and asylums—as well as instructing the pious in their religious houses. He converted Muslim prisoners of war to the Christian faith, rescued chidren from dangerous and degrading situations, and opened a pawn shop for charity. The fruit of his labor was abundant. He converted many souls, even hardened sinners, and made them virtuous. Everyone knew him for his holiness and zeal. He also had a reputation for being a miracle worker during his lifetime and after his death. After spending 40 years in apostolic labor in Naples, he died of an illness from which he suffered greatly without complaint. His feast day is May 11th.
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Monday of the Sixth Week of EasterLectionary: 291 Reading 1Acts 16:11-15 We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace,
and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi,
a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.
We spent some time in that city.
On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river
where we thought there would be a place of prayer.
We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there.
One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,
from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened,
and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what Paul was saying.
After she and her household had been baptized,
she offered us an invitation,
"If you consider me a believer in the Lord,
come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia. AlleluiaJohn 15:26b, 27a R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 15:26—16:4a Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning. "I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you."
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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 15:26–16:4 The Spirit of truth . . . will testify to me. (John 15:26) Jesus knew what the disciples would face after his departure: expulsion from synagogues, persecution, even death (John 16:2). He also knew how little of what he taught them had sunk in. And so, on his last night with them, in order that they would not “fall away” (16:1), he promised that he would send them the “Spirit of truth” to “testify” to him (15:26). He knew that they needed the Spirit to continue to remind them of his love and to reveal to them more and more who he is and what it means to be a member of his kingdom. And look what happened when the Spirit came! Wavering men and women became unshakably convinced that Jesus was the Messiah—and they boldly preached that message. Homegrown fishermen traveled to distant lands to proclaim the truths of Christ that would change millions of lives. They wrote Gospels and letters that instructed new believers in the faith—words that touch our lives even today. All because of the Spirit of truth! This is the same Holy Spirit that you received in Baptism. This Spirit will continue to reveal Christ to us, just as he did for the disciples. He will continue to “testify” to his love through the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church, and his quiet voice in our hearts. He will lead us into all truth (John 16:13), opening up our understanding of who Jesus is and helping us discern his plan for our lives. So ask the Holy Spirit to testify to Jesus in your heart today. Take today’s Scripture passages to prayer and expect him to reveal something about Jesus to you. Turn to him during your day, and ask for his guidance to help you follow Jesus better. Bring him your concerns, and know that you can rely on him to be your guiding light when you are confused or when, like the apostles, you face challenges. Keep your heart open to him and his words, confident that he can help you and strengthen you so that you don’t “fall away” into fear or sin or selfishness (John 16:1). Because the Spirit of truth will testify to Jesus. “Holy Spirit, help me to hear your testimony about Jesus today!” Acts 16:11-15
Psalm 149:1-6, 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: ".. "I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you.".. ”
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From Bishop Barron: "The “world” is that collectivity of persons, institutions, armies, and nations predicated upon the loss of friendship with God. That network will hate the followers of Jesus because it cannot frighten them, and its success depends upon fear. Jesus is about to be swallowed up by the forces of the world, but he is not held captive or entranced by them, because he does not live in himself—and hence in fear—but rather in the Father, the power that conquers the world. What Jesus wants his followers to experience is that same freedom and insouciance, but it is participation in the coinherent dynamics of God’s being—the insertion into the loop of grace that God is—that makes such liberating detachment possible. " end quote.
From Roberto Juarez: "Today the Lord invites us to two very concrete things: to allow ourselves to be sustained by the Holy Spirit and to live as courageous witnesses of the Gospel.
Let us pray that the Spirit of truth will strengthen our faith, that we may not be afraid to live as Christians, and that our lives may bear witness to Jesus of Nazareth. And when difficulties come,
doubts or tiredness, let's remember that we do not walk alone. The Holy Spirit continues to act, continues to sustain the Church, and continues to make it possible for Christ to be proclaimed to the world." end quote.
Have you experienced rejection on account of your faith? If not, then why?
We all love sweet effects and no stress, right? But what about the moment you are put on stand? What about the moment of truth? What about the moments in your life, nobody else can see? What about the moment of sacrifice? When you think to yourself "this is going to hurt me...to help them...but here it goes anyway", and you move in the name of Love...the name of God!
These moments of grace and love are needed....they could be fueling Heaven, or Heaven needs to fuel us with grace and mercy in these moments! I encourage you. This is a sign of the Holy Spirit at work. Our Lord is encouraging us...and we are to encourage one another, as a clear sign of the Holy Spirit at work.
We are fast approaching the moment of the Paraclete, the encouragement, the very love of God that comes to consume us as a fire...the Holy Spirit. Let us be the kindle that needs Him to burn and yearn...to do God's Holy Will.
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Random Bible Verse 1
John 3:16–17 [John 3]
For God So Loved the World “For God so loved the world,1 that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
Word of the Lord!
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God Bless You! Peace
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