The Precious Blood"Prayer to the Precious Blood" written by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Lord Jesus, by faith in Your merits, I now take Your Precious Blood and sprinkle it over myself and my family right from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet. I claim total and complete protection for my life and my family. Lord Jesus, keep me free today from evil, sin, temptation, Satan’s attacks and afflictions, fear of darkness, fear of man, sickness, diseases, doubts, anger, all calamities and from all that is not of thy Kingdom. Fill me, Lord Jesus, with the gift of Your Holy Spirit, and grant me the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment so that I will live today in Your glory by doing that which is right. Amen.
† Saint Quote:“If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything.” St. Bonaventure Meditation quote"If you would suffer with patience the adversities and miseries of this life, be a man of prayer. If you would obtain courage and strength to conquer the temptations of the enemy, be a man of prayer. If you would mortify your own will with all its inclinations and appetites, be a man of prayer. If you would know the wiles of Satan and unmask his deceits, be a man of prayer. If you would live in joy and walk pleasantly in the ways of penance, be a man of prayer. If you would banish from you soul the troublesome flies of vain thoughts and cares, be a man of prayer. If you would nourish your soul with the very sap of devotion, and keep it always full of good thoughts and good desires, be a man of prayer. If you would strengthen and keep up your courage in the ways of God, be a man of prayer. In fine, if you would uproot all vices from your soul and plant all virtues in their place, be a man of prayer. It is in prayer that we receive the unction and grace of the Holy Ghost, who teaches all things." St. Bonaventure, p. 25-26 An excerpt from The Ways of Mental Prayer Daily VerseThen he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Luke 14:12-14
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St BonaventurePatron Saint of: Theologians, Franciscans, students, and bowel disorders
Feast Day: July 15 St. Bonaventure (1221–1274) was born with the name Giovanni in Tuscany, Italy. As a child he became seriously ill and was in danger of death until his mother brought him to St. Francis of Assisi, who was then living in the region as a mendicant friar. It is said that St. Francis healed the child and afterward exclaimed, "O buona ventura (O good fortune)!" when he prophetically perceived how great the child would one day become, and this is how he began to be called Bonaventure. He joined the Franciscan order at the age of 22 and went on to study theology at the University of Paris, where he became famous friends with the Dominican friar St. Thomas Aquinas. The two friends graduated together, each insisting that the other be the first to receive honors. St. Bonaventure is regarded as one of the great philosophers and theologians of the Middle Ages, earning the name "Seraphic Doctor." In addition to his many writings, including a Life of St. Francis of Assisi, he was elected to serve as head of his order, and was appointed a cardinal-bishop by the Holy Father. St. Bonaventure died while assisting at the Second Council of Lyons, which worked for the reunification of the Catholic Church with the Eastern Orthodox churches. His feast day is celebrated on July 15th.
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Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchLectionary: 391 Reading 1Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16 Thus says the LORD:
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few. For he says:
“By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!” Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15 R. (14a) The Lord will not abandon his people.
Your people, O LORD, they trample down,
your inheritance they afflict.
Widow and stranger they slay,
the fatherless they murder.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
And they say, “The LORD sees not;
the God of Jacob perceives not.”
Understand, you senseless ones among the people;
and, you fools, when will you be wise?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,
he who teaches men knowledge?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people AlleluiaMatthew 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelMatthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal 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: Matthew 11:25-27You have revealed them to the childlike. (Matthew 11:25) Today’s Gospel offers a welcome voice of encouragement after Jesus’ rebuke of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum in yesterday’s reading. Those towns couldn’t seem to recognize him and respond to his mighty deeds with repentance. But today, in stark contrast, Jesus praises the Father that “although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike” (Matthew 11:25). What was the difference between the people of these towns and the people who received God’s revelation? A “childlike” disposition. So let’s look at two qualities that help form this disposition—both in the disciples and in us. Humility: When we’re humble, we see that we are completely dependent on God. The disciples were humble enough to understand that they didn’t have all the answers. Even though they didn’t always understand Jesus’ words, they knew that he was their teacher. They approached him with a genuine desire to know the Father and trusted Jesus’ ability to reveal him. Openness: A humble attitude helps us to be open—to be ready to hear and embrace God’s word. It enables us to be docile and teachable. The disciples were willing to listen to Jesus, even when his words challenged their long-held ideas. They were ready to change their minds about who God was and to accept the way Jesus revealed him to them. Like any good father, our heavenly Father wants us to know him and to feel free enough to draw near to him so that he can teach us. We know that the Father sent his only Son—the second Person of the Trinity, the One who has intimate knowledge of him and calls him Abba—to reveal himself to the world. All he’s looking for are humble, open hearts. So let’s come to our Father today with a childlike attitude. Let’s come with humility, knowing that we don’t have all the answers. And let’s come with openness, willing to be taught and to allow our ideas to be challenged and reshaped. “Father, give me the grace to become like a child before you.” Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16
Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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From today's Holy Gospel: "... At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. .... ”
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From Bishop Barron:
"There is something absolutely remarkable and peculiar about Jesus. Like Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and David, he is sent by God. So far, so ordinary. However, this sent one is, at the same time, God. For he speaks and acts consistently in the very person of God: “Unless you love me . . .” “My son, your sins are forgiven . . .” “You have heard it said, but I say . . .” “Heaven and earth shall pass away . . .” There seems to be one who is, in one sense, other than the one who sent him and, in another sense, the same as the one who sent him. This one comes forth from the Father not as a creature but as an image and perfect reflection, the Logos or Word by which the Father understands himself. These two “persons,” the Father and the Son, look at one another from all eternity and sigh forth their love for one another. This mutual breathing-forth is the Holy Spirit.
" end quote.
From Roberto Juarez: "This Gospel is extremely timely. We live in the information age. We have never had access to so much knowledge. However, many people feel a huge inner emptiness. Because information is not enough. The human heart needs wisdom. And wisdom begins when we recognize that we are not the center of the universe. When we make room for God, when we learn to listen. Faith does not diminish our intelligence. It illuminates it.
We may ask ourselves how to live this littleness of which Jesus speaks. We can think of some very specific paths: The first is prayer. Those who pray recognize that they need God. The second is listening. The humble always have something to learn. The third is gratitude. Only those who recognize that everything is a gift know how to give thanks. The fourth is trust. The little ones live like children who know they are in the hands of their father. If we are looking for a perfect example of this attitude, we need only look at the Virgin Mary. When he sings the Magnificat he says: "He has looked at the humility of his handmaid." Precisely because she was humble, was able to fully accept God's plan. She did not rely on his merits. She relied solely on grace. That is why the Church recognizes her as the perfect model of the disciple. She teaches us that true greatness consists in letting God act. Today's Gospel invites us to review the place from which we live our faith. Do we approach God believing that we already know everything? Or do we approach it with the simple heart of someone who is willing to be taught? Jesus reminds us that the mysteries of the Kingdom are not conquered by the pride of those who seek to dominate God. They are received with the humility of someone who opens his hands to receive a gift. Let us ask the Lord today for a small heart. A heart that knows how to admire itself. That you do not lose the ability to listen. May he live gratefully. And may she discover every day, through Jesus Christ, the loving face of the Father. May the Virgin Mary, the humble handmaid of the Lord, teach us to live that littleness that opens wide the doors of the Kingdom of God.
" end of Roberto quote.
Your brother Adrian: Our Lord said in Matthew: "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” And He said: " Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven… " Luke 6:35
"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." Wow. Is it hard to give to those who hate you? To do good to them even though they do nothing good back?
Where is our giving spirit...of being "little".
So many times I hear "I will apologize and forgive, once THEY COME TO ME first". Eek. If they come first, then they are the ones that became little! NOT YOU!
The first to humble...those are the ones God wants.
Mother Mary, first to humility.
Saint Joseph, prime humility.
And our Lord is born from these.
To show us who is after God's own heart.
Selfless love, all the way to the cross.
Such is an innocent child...of God.
Of these, that are true, there are very few.
Sure, there may be many bodies in Church.
Sure, very few are active in ministry.
But of these, even fewer are willing to do what God is asking. What is that? To be HIS.
His holiness on earth.
His purity on earth.
His Holy Will on earth.
His Holy BODY.
His Holy Blood.
To be all His, as Holy Saint Joseph and Mary.
Such is evident and revealed in the Holy Eucharist. Thus our Lord reiterates to us today: "...you have revealed them to the childlike."
His disciples had to become like children.
And they grew in the maturity of Christ..."when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
And they were led to die for Christ.
Last night we spoke about martyrs and martyrdom.
Those who have died and are still dying for their faith...in Christ.
These are the ones who are honored to lay down their lives for the faith.
How very few do this truly, day in and day out.
We don't sacrifice our time daily.
We don't sacrifice our finances daily.
We don't sacrifice our talents daily for His Kingdom.
Yet, we want to be known as His child? Blessed are those who have not seen...but believe, with all their heart, mind, body...and soul. This is love. Love is faith and we see faith in God on the cross. Truth.
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Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 33:6 "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host."
Word of the Lord!
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