†Saint Quote:“Know that the greatest service that man can offer to God is to help convert souls.” -St. Rose of Lima Today’s Meditation"There is another reason also why the soul has traveled safely in this obscurity; it has suffered: for the way of suffering is safer, and also more profitable, than that of rejoicing and of action. In suffering God gives strength, but in action and in joy the soul does but show its own weakness and imperfections. And in suffering, the soul practices and acquires virtue, and becomes pure, wiser, and more cautious." —St. John of the Cross, p. 149
An excerpt from Dark Night of the Soul Daily Verse"Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." -Matthew 10:32-33
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EWTN Daily Saint
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Pope St SoterPope St. Soter (c. 174-175 A.D.) was born in Fondi, Italy. Nothing is known of his early life. He served as the 12th bishop of Rome from c.167 to 175 A.D. He was praised for his fatherly tenderness in comforting, both with words and generous alms, those who suffered for their Catholic faith, especially remote Christian churches living in poverty. He is said to have written an encyclical against Montanism – a heresy which maintained that a Christian who sinned gravely could never be redeemed. Pope St. Soter also declared that marriage was only a valid sacrament when blessed by a priest. The manner of Pope St. Soter's death is uncertain; one tradition holds that he was martyred on April 22, 175 A.D., under the Christian persecution of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He was buried in Rome on the Appian Way in the catacombs of St. Callixtus. His feast day is April 22nd.
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Wednesday of the Third Week of EasterLectionary: 275 Reading 1Acts 8:1b-8 There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,
and all were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the Apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment. Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia. AlleluiaSee John 6:40 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,
and I shall raise him up on the last day, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 6:35-40 Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."
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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 6:35-40I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger. (John 6:35) We’ve heard this passage so many times, and yet we can still struggle to understand and believe what Jesus says about his being the Bread of Life. So let’s imagine a conversation we might have with Jesus about it. “Jesus, you promised, ‘Whoever comes to me will never hunger’ (John 6:35). Lord, I am hungry. There are so many things I need. I am hungry for answers, for help, even for food itself. Are you really able to give me these things? Perhaps if I work extra hard, if I promise to be good, you will answer my prayer. But Lord, I’m not good enough; I’ll never be able to stay faithful to you.” My child, I’m talking about spiritual hunger, not physical hunger. Don’t spend all your time laboring for “food that perishes” (John 6:27). I know you are hungry for me, so let me fill you. “Lord, I’m still hungry, even when I seem to have it all together—at least in the eyes of others. There is still a place deep within me that is not satisfied. I thought that since I am already baptized, I would be full from here on out. I thought that because I was already redeemed and forgiven, I would be strong enough to bring you to others. But I’m still weak and sinful.” My child, of course you are still hungry. Life in this fallen world is draining; it’s easy to lose your focus or to try to fill yourself with perishable things. That’s why I offer you my own Body and Blood every day. It’s why I offer my presence to you in prayer when you cannot receive Communion. It’s why I have given you my Spirit. Come to me, and you’ll never be hungry again! “Jesus, I believe that you are offering your very self—the gift of heavenly bread—to me. In faith I receive you, both at the altar and throughout my day. Help me to consume you at every moment. Help me to delight in knowing you. Help me to find in you the fulfillment of my longing for eternal life, with you and your Father and the Holy Spirit. This, Lord, is the food I long for. This is the only food that will satisfy my every hunger and thirst.” “Lord, give me this Bread always!” Acts 8:1-8
Psalm 66:1-7
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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: "...Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me. ... ”
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From Roberto Juarez:
"This Gospel gives us great inner security: God seeks me, God does not reject me, God wants to save me, God wants to give me eternal life. In a world full of uncertainty, this is a solid rock.
Today the Lord invites us to accept this profound truth: we are not alone, we are not abandoned, we are not destined to be lost. We are called to life.
Let us ask that trust may grow in us, that we may leave fear behind, and that we may know how to approach Jesus of Nazareth with a simple heart. To live from now on with this certainty: that God sustains us, that God keeps us, and that, no matter what happens, he does not want to lose any of us."
Our Lord said today:
"I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me. " A come back was designed from the beginning, and we should join in this Way.
Adam and Eve shows the relation of God and Man, and Jesus.
We see the fall, the departure, the casting from Heaven by an act of a will...Eve was tempted, and took Adam with her.
It is all about the "will", the "volition" as it is called in The Book of Heaven. A description: "Volition" is the power of choosing or determining, referring to the act of using one's own will. It is commonly used to describe making a conscious decision or acting on one's own initiative, rather than being forced.
Free will. Has led us astray. We are starting the book of Genesis, and it has led me to compose an Ai song about Eve and the will, the departure, and making a comeback. You may find it on my YouTube channel, it is called "Back To The Garden (The Song of Eve). and it is as if Eve is pleading from that point on, to remain in Him, always fighting to be back in the True Love she had always known, and this culminates in the realization of God's Sacrifice from Heaven...an only son. Hindsight is 20/20 they say. We should learn from our mistakes.
And our Lord had two perfect examples of desiring God's holy will...His Blessed Mother Mary, and the most chaste spouse Saint Joseph.
The world needs more couples of God's holy will. They produce saints. They produce the will of God.
And this was no accident. There was a whole community attempting to usher in the Messiah, the Essene sect of the Jews...whom are said to have brought Joseph and Mary together for that purpose alone...a purification community that has produced God's will....together, as a whole, for the greater whole.
And now...our Lord enters...our world...that He may live and act through us....to do the Holy Will of OUR HOLY FATHER.
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YouTube Video BACK TO THE GARDEN
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Click for Audio
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Random Bible Verse 1
2 Samuel 7:28
"And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant."
Word of the Lord!
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God Bless You! Peace
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