† Saint Quote:“Let us never forget that if we wish to die like the saints we must live like them.” -St. Eugene de Mazenod Today’s Meditation"The works of her [Mary], who was to be the Mother of the God-man, were altogether and in every way most perfect, and even to understand them exceeds the capacity of all human creatures and of the angels. Her interior acts of the virtues were so precious and of such great merit and favor, that they surpass all that the seraphim can do . . . But it is my Will, that during thy pilgrimage in thy mortal body thou place most holy Mary as the beginning of thy joy, and that thou follow her through the desert of renunciation and abnegation of all that is human and visible. Follow her by a perfect imitation according to the measure of thy strength and of the light which thou receivest. Let her be thy guiding star and thy Directress: she will manifest to thee my Will and will let thee find my holy law which is written in her by the power of my right hand: meditate upon it day and night." —Jesus to Ven. Mary of Agreda, p. 87
An excerpt from The Mystical City of God Daily VerseBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. -Ephesians 1:3-6
Daily Mass Readings
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St Eugene De MazenodSt. Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861) was born in southern France to a noble family. When he was eight years of age his family was forced to flee the turmoil of the French Revolution and seek political asylum in Italy. Leaving their possessions behind, the family struggled financially as they relocated from city to city. A sympathetic priest took it upon himself to educate Eugene and stir in him a love for God. The family returned to France when Eugene was twenty. They were distressed to find a dramatically altered society, and their social status no greater than ordinary citizens. The family was also plagued with in-fighting which culminated in divorce, a rarity at the time. While Eugene's father remained in Italy, Eugene's mother fought to regain the family's former possessions. She also attempted to force Eugene to marry a wealthy heiress. St. Eugene, deeply affected by how the Revolution had decimated the Church in France, decided to enter the seminary instead. After his ordination he sought out other zealous priests and together they went as missionaries into the countryside villages, calling themselves the "Missionaries of Provence," which was later approved by the pope as the "Oblates of Mary Immaculate." St. Eugene went on to become the Bishop of Marseilles. He did much work in restoring his diocese by building and repairing churches, doubling the number of priests, and bringing in religious communities. He also worked to weaken the government's monopoly on education, and supported the rights of the Holy See. Eugene de Mazenod is the patron saint of dysfunctional families. His feast day is May 21st.
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Thursday of the Seventh Week of EasterLectionary: 300 Reading 1Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 Wishing to determine the truth
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them. Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
"My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead."
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection
or angels or spirits,
while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred,
and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party
stood up and sharply argued,
"We find nothing wrong with this man.
Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"
The dispute was so serious that the commander,
afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst
and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome." Responsorial PsalmPsalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia. AlleluiaJohn 17:21 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 17:20-26 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
"I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them."
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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: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11The Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage.” (Acts 23:11) In Paul’s latest brush with death, he stirred up an argument between the Sadducees and their rivals, the Pharisees. It became so violent that if he hadn’t appealed his case to Caesar, he might actually have been killed. This episode creates a turning point in Paul’s ministry, as the Lord revealed a mission that would take him far beyond Judaea or Asia Minor, all the way to Rome. At first blush, this development might sound wonderful. Paul’s life was spared, he placed himself under the protection of Rome, and he had the chance to bring the gospel to the very heart of the empire. But if you drill down just a bit, the picture doesn’t look quite so rosy. If preaching to the Jewish leaders was difficult, imagine how much more perilous it could have been to proclaim Jesus as “Lord” to those who used the same word to describe their emperor! If ever there was a time when Paul would need to hear the Lord telling him to “take courage,” this was it (Acts 23:11). We might picture Paul taking on this mission like an unshakable warrior for Christ, always ready to do God’s will, no matter the consequences. To be sure, Paul’s approach to evangelization was heroic. But there were also times when he was afraid or felt abandoned and vulnerable. Anyone who seeks to serve the Lord and witness to his gospel knows that there’s always the risk of rejection or failure. Just living a confident life as a believer requires a good amount of courage! So what’s the key to finding this courage? It’s twofold. First, it’s simply pressing forward even when you are still afraid—not ignoring your fear, but clinging to the Lord as you take the next nervous uncertain step. Like every other virtue, courage grows from practice. And second, courage grows through humble obedience. It comes as we place God’s will and his calling above our own will and desires. It comes as we surrender ourselves to his plan and trust in the Lord’s presence and provision. The next time you sense that the Lord is urging you to “take courage,” remember St. Paul. Then step out in faith, trusting that God is at your side! “Jesus, I believe that you are always with me, offering me your grace and courage!” Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
John 17:20-26
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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: "...... Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them." ..... ”
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From Bishop Barron:
"A Christian, I would argue, is someone who, at the most fundamental level of his or her being, is centered on the one God of Jesus Christ. This helps to explain why, on the last night of his life on earth, while sitting at supper with his disciples, the core of the Church, Jesus prayed, “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one.” end quote.
From Roberto Juarez: "Then Jesus expresses a deeply moving desire: "Father, this is my desire, that those whom you have given me may be with me." Jesus wants us to be with Him forever. The goal of our life is full communion with God.
That fellowship does not begin only after death. It begins already in faith, in the Eucharist, in the life of the Church, in love lived daily.
The Gospel ends with a beautiful phrase: "That the love with which you loved me may be in them." The Christian is called to live by the same love of God. Not only to talk about love... but to let God's love transform your whole life.
Today the Lord invites us to look at our lives and our communities: are we builders of unity? Or do we sow division? Do we really live united to Christ?
Let us ask that the Holy Spirit grant us a reconciled heart, that we learn to live in communion, and that the Church may be a visible sign of God's love in the world. And may the prayer of Jesus of Nazareth continue to come true today: "That they may all be one." So that the world, seeing our communion and our love, may discover the living presence of the Risen Christ."
Our Lord speaks to the Father, for us. He is advocate. Our Lord Jesus speaks for us, He is the Paraclete. Our Lord Jesus speaks about God's gift...of believers.
Our Lord Jesus speaks about those who believe...shall have life. And that belief is our faith. Do you believe? Martyrs die for their belief, for their witness. Do you get asked the question? It is a moment of truth.
Our Lord came, to believe, and to be a witness in His belief. And so, we are called to the same. He showed us what faith shall be...all the way to Calvary.
Now, Pentecost is coming. And the physical manifestation of Jesus as God, now, will become a Spiritual manifestation into our world. And this...changes everything. Once God our Father infused into the Virgin, pure and blessed Mother Mary, everything changed. Now...spiritual children would come to be. God's gift. Of the Holy Spirit. Children born of the Holy Spirit. We are born, the Holy Church was born on Pentecost.
Last night we studied this Pentecost Sunday readings, and it makes for an eye opening experience.
God was here. Holy Spirit.
God has come. Jesus, Holy Spirit.
God is coming again, Holy Spirit.
And the coming into your life all depends on how open you are to Him. This world is rapidly changing. We are growing. We know more than past generations as we study past generations. But does the world take it to heart and learn from the past?
What about faith? It has always been here. Beliefs.
And what about how God has revealed Himself steadily throughout the ages? And how is He revealing Himself today?
In Eucharistic Miracles. In people. Manifestations. He does not hide from those that hide themselves in Him.. that is, a deep and intimate relation.
Let us prepare our hearts for our Church Birthday. It is absolutely amazing, astounding to say the least.
Our strength comes from Him, our valor, our courage, everything we need, to make it through one more day....life itself.
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Random Bible Verse 1
Proverbs 3:5–6 " Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Word of the Lord!
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