Feast of the TransfigurationThe Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord takes place on August 6th, an event mentioned in all three synoptic Gospels. After revealing that he would be put to death in Jerusalem, Jesus took the three disciples of his inner circle to the summit of Mount Tabor in order to reveal his glory to them. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured before them, radiant in the fullness of his glory as he truly was, the Son of God. Next to Jesus were Moses and Elijah as witnesses to Christ’s fulfillment of the Old Testament law and prophets. St. Matthew writes of the event by saying, “He was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.”
† Saint Quote:Where there is no obedience there is no virtue, where there is no virtue there is no good, where there is no good there is no love, where there is no love, there is no God, and where there is no God there is no Paradise. Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Today's Meditation“With regard to evil thoughts, there may be a twofold delusion. God-fearing souls who have little or no gift of discernment, and are inclined to scruples, think that every wicked thought that enters their mind is a sin. This is a mistake, for it is not the wicked thoughts in themselves that are sins, but the yielding or consenting to them. The wickedness of mortal sin consists in the perverse will that deliberately yields to sin with a complete knowledge of its wickedness with full consent. And therefore St. Augustine teaches that when the consent of the will is absent, there is no sin. However much we may be tormented by temptations, the rebellion of the senses, or the inordinate motions of the inferior part of the soul, as long as there is no consent, there is no sin. For the comfort of such anxious souls, let me suggest a good rule of conduct that is taught by all masters in the spiritual life. If a person who fears God and hates sin doubts whether or not he has consented to an evil thought or not, he is not bound to confess it, because it is morally certain that he has not given consent. For had he actually committed a mortal sin, he would have no doubt about it, as mortal sin is such a monster in the eyes of one who fears God that its entrance into the heart could not take place without its being known. Others, on the contrary, whose conscience is lax and not well-informed, think that evil thoughts and desires, though consented to, are not sins provided they are not followed by sinful actions. This error is worse than the one mentioned above. What we may not do, we may not desire. Therefore an evil thought or desire to which we consent comprises in itself all the wickedness of an evil deed.”
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 142-143 Daily VerseThe mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. Psalm 37:30-31
|
EWTN Daily Saint
|
|
Saint Maria Francesca RubattoPatron Saint of: Franciscan sisters, nurses, and the poor
Feast Day: August 6 St. Maria Francesca of Jesus Rubatto (1844– 1904) was one of eight children from an Italian family. Her father died when she was four. In her teenage years she received an offer of marriage, which she declined as she had taken a vow of virginity from an early age. When she was nineteen, after the death of her mother, Maria moved to Turin and befriended a noblewoman who gave her assistance. Maria taught catechism to the woman’s children, in addition to the other children in the city. She also had a habit of visiting the sick and poor. One day a construction worker had an accident while building a convent, and Maria, who was walking nearby, helped him and gave him money so that he could recover from his injury. The sisters of the convent took notice of Maria for this act of charity and desired that she join their community. Maria accepted their invitation and was later appointed superior of this new community of Capuchin Franciscan sisters. She had a desire to serve in the overseas missions, and in 1892 left Italy and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to South America. She made this journey seven times in her work of founding Catholic missions in Uruguay and Argentina. Her feast day is August 6th. She was canonized on May 15, 2022 by Pope Francis.
|
Feast of the Transfiguration of the LordLectionary: 614 Reading 1Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 As I watched: Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw: One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9 R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. Reading 22 Peter 1:16-19 Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. AlleluiaMatthew 17:5 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelMatthew 17:1-9 Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
|
Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!
|
From Word Among Us WAU.org
|
Daily Meditation: 2 Peter 1:16-19 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven. (2 Peter 1:18) Did you notice the authority and immediacy of Peter’s testimony in today’s second reading? We were there. We saw his majesty. We heard the Father’s voice. The New Testament comes to us across two thousand years as personal historical testimony. Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father, walked, talked, ate, and drank with the disciples who accompanied him. They saw the astounding miracles he performed. They heard his teaching, which rang with authority and moved their hearts. They prayed with him. Some of them (Peter, James, and John) were even with him on the Mount of Transfiguration when he manifested his glory and the Father spoke from heaven. But the power of Peter’s declaration doesn’t come simply from one man’s experience of the glory of the Lord. It comes from the power of the Holy Spirit, both guiding Peter’s testimony and enabling us to hear it as God’s word. When we read these words, we are hearing the Father himself speaking to us. As the Second Vatican Council taught, “In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets his children with great love and speaks with them” (Dei Verbum, 21). As you read or hear the Gospel for today’s feast of the Transfiguration, know that God himself is speaking to you, as he spoke to Peter, James, and John on the mountain: “This is my beloved Son . . . ; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). He wants you to see the majesty of his Son, Jesus. He wants you to hear his voice. What might the Spirit want to say to you through these readings? He may want to teach you something new or remind you of something you already know but may have lost sight of. Perhaps, as he did for Peter, he wants to show you his glory in the face of his Son. Or he may want to reassure you that you can hear him. The same Holy Spirit who inspired Peter lives in you! You can ask him to open the eyes and ears of your heart—today, tomorrow, and every day after. “Lord, let your word come alive in me today.” Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
Matthew 17:1-9
|
Reflections with Brother Adrian:
|
Click to hear 2cents
|
From today's Holy Gospel: "....While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
|
From Bishop Barron: "...Christ came not just to make us nice people or morally upright folks, but rather to give us a share in his divine life, to make us denizens of heaven, people capable of living in that new environment.
What gave the first Christians this conviction? The answer is the resurrection—and the great anticipation of the resurrection, which is the transfiguration. This ordinary Jesus somehow became transformed, elevated, enhanced in his manner of being.
The first thing we notice is that his appearance becomes more beautiful. These somewhat grubby bodies of ours are destined for a transfigured, elevated beauty.
Secondly, in his transfigured state, Jesus transcends space and time, since he is talking with Moses and Elijah. In this world, we are caught in one moment of space and time, but in heaven, we will live in the eternal now of God’s life.
Have you ever noticed that even as we appreciate all that is wonderful about this life, we are never really at home? There is a permanent restlessness about human life. But a higher, richer, more beautiful and spiritually fulfilling life awaits us.” End quote.
From Roberto Juarez: " Today's feast does not speak only of Jesus. It also talks about us. St. Paul will say that we are called to be transformed according to the image of Christ. That process begins here. Every act of love, every forgiveness, every prayer, every Eucharist, every work of mercy, gradually transforms our hearts. Holiness is not about doing extraordinary things. It consists of letting Christ transform our lives from within.
The feast of the Transfiguration leaves us with three great lessons. The first: Jesus is truly the Son of God, the Lord of glory, even if he often manifests himself in humility. The second: the voice of the Father invites us to listen to Christ above any other voice. And the third: glory always passes through the cross. There is no Resurrection without Good Friday, but neither is there a cross that is not called to the victory of Easter. As we approach the altar today, let us go up spiritually with Peter, James, and John to the holy mountain. Let us contemplate Christ. Let us listen to His Word. Let us allow ourselves to be touched by his mercy.
Let us go down to the valley of our daily life carrying in our hearts the certainty that the Lord walks with us. When the evidence comes, let us remember Tabor. When suffering darkens the horizon, let us remember that Christ's face continues to shine. And when we feel afraid, let us listen again to his words full of tenderness: "Arise, do not be afraid."
May the Virgin Mary, who contemplated the glory of her Son in the Resurrection after accompanying him at the foot of the Cross, teach us to live with hope always placed in Christ's definitive victory....." end quote.
From Brother Adrian: The transfiguration is a phenomenal day to remember. Chris Stefanick in his daily emails said that at Mount Tabor, his favorite place to be at, is where this happened, and it could have been at the feast of booths, and it could explain why Saint Peter and the other two were asking our Lord in their amazement "Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here".
Interesting, they must have had some tent material with them ready!
Are you ready for the transfiguration?
Say WHAT?
Yes. One time I had a thought that has forever pervaded me. What if you go into the next life, into a light, that you can never go back from it. Like, becoming one with that light! It was scary, because it meant that you would have to lose yourself...forever.
Yet...this is what Christ has done. His will meshed completely with Our Father's will.
Right now, we can not tell why things are going the way they are. The Apostles were scared when they heard the voice of God exclaiming: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
What in the world would make grown men, and faithful followers, be afraid of ?
Yet, one other time, grown men were frightened at the voice of God...when Saint Paul was Saul and was knocked off his horse in a blinding light. It literally blinded Saul and the other men could not see who was talking. But only Saul saw the light...and was transformed. You see what this light can do? Many things at once.
Back to you.
Are you ready to be transformed? It can happen all at once like Saul and became Paul.
Or gradually.
It would be better to decide though....once and for all...for to look back at the plow, could turn one into a pillar of salt...into dust.
What gives me the right to speak like this?
I joked the other day in catechist class when they said to answer a child question: "what do you tell your parents that won't take you to Mass?".
I joked saying what an older retired catechist said once and sen them crying home: "Tell your parents you all could go to hell for this".
Did this cold hard bucket of water work? I don't know. But it can put people off, those that are not ready for the cold hard truth!
Everyone laughed, but the truth is there. It is not a joke when God speaks.
How big is God?
Let me give you an inkling, an idea. He is so big, that He is everywhere at once. Can you fathom that thought?
Therefore, His voice resonates every fiber, every atom in a metaphysical soul. It shakes one to the core. It literally changes a person, to have heard His voice. That's how powerful His voice is. That is why when our Lord Jesus spoke, demons, thousands at a time would leap out of a person at once.
So...again...are you ready to transform?
Then...help Him transform the world! One soul at a time.... Pray for us men going into a Cursillo, for the next 3 days, we will work many men, for this transfiguration to occur...
|
Click for Audio
|
Random Bible Verse 1
Matthew 7:7–8 [Matthew 7]
Ask, and It Will Be Given 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Word of the Lord!
|
If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace
|
|
|
