† Saint Quote
If you become Christ's you will stumble upon wonder upon wonder, and every one of them true.
- St. Brendan
Today's Meditation
“Thus, brethren, God has loved you from eternity, and through pure love, he has selected you from among so many men whom he could have created in place of you; but he has left them in their nothingness, and has brought you into existence, and placed you in the world. For the love of you, he has made so many other beautiful creatures, that they might serve you, and that they might remind you of the love which he has borne to you, and of the gratitude which you owe to him.”
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 218
Daily Verse †
You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised. 'For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; he shall not delay. But my just one shall live by faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him.' We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.
-Hebrews 10:36-39
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St. Benignus
Patron Saint of: Dijon, Burgundy, and martyrs
Feast Day: November 9
St. Benignus of Armagh (d. 467 A.D.) was the son of a pagan Irish chieftain in what is now County Meath in Ireland. He was baptized by St. Patrick and became his loyal follower in the saint’s ministry across Ireland. In 450 A.D. Benignus became coadjutor with St. Patrick in the Diocese of Armagh, and also became the first rector of the Catholic school there. St. Benignus was a talented singer and worked to form choral groups wherever they traveled for their missionary work; for this he was called “Patrick’s Psalmist.” He also assisted with the compilation of the Senchus Mor, the Irish Code of Law, and sat on a number of commissions, councils, and synods that helped further establish the Catholic faith across Ireland. His feast day is November 9th.
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Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Lectionary: 671
Reading 1
Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
The angel brought me
back to the entrance of the temple,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar.
He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the southern side.
He said to me,
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
Reading 2
1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
Brothers and sisters:
You are God's building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.
But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
Alleluia
2 Chronicles 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord,
that my name may be there forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 2:13-22
Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
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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: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17
You are God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)
Today, on the feast of the Lateran Basilica, we celebrate the privilege of coming together publicly to worship God and to receive him in the word and in the Eucharist. Before this basilica was dedicated in AD 324 by the emperor Constantine, Christianity was largely an underground religion. After nearly three hundred years of hiding, Christians could now gather publicly to celebrate Mass. So it’s no surprise that the Lateran Basilica—the pope’s own cathedral—has since been considered the mother church of all cathedrals.
Over the years, the basilica was destroyed several times by fires, earthquakes, and invasions. And each time, it was rebuilt and restored. Similarly, we can find our lives shaken and our hearts wounded by trials of many kinds. Maybe a child becomes caught up in addiction, a spouse struggles with unemployment, or a natural disaster brings sudden and unexpected loss. But just as this ancient church was restored, so, too, the Lord can rebuild and redeem our lives.
Today’s feast also reminds us that the Church is more than a building that can be destroyed and rebuilt. It is made up of the people of God. As St. Paul says in today’s second reading, together we are “God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). We are all “the temple of God” in whom “the Spirit of God dwells” (3:16). We, the people of God, are also called to be set apart, like the Lateran Basilica, as a place for God to dwell.
The next time you pass through the doors of your own church, thank God for all the ways in which he has brought restoration from the “fires, earthquakes, and invasions” in your life. Thank him also for the privilege of gathering with your fellow believers publicly. Look around, and marvel that together you are God’s very own building and temple, with Jesus Christ as the foundation.
“Lord, thank you for restoring me and making me a part of your holy temple!”
Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
John 2:13-22
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
Audio Link
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From today's Holy Gospel:
"Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.”
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From Roberto Juarez:
"The feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica invites us to rediscover our identity as Church. We give thanks for the temples that allow us to come together, for the parishes that keep the faith alive, and for so many people who, down the centuries, have worked to build and care for Christian communities. But above all, we want to renew our commitment to be living stones of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Let us ask the Lord to purify our hearts, to help us overcome everything that distances us from Him and to make our communities places where everyone can experience God's closeness. May our parishes be open houses, communities that welcome, listen, forgive and accompany. May those who come to us be able to discover, not only a building or an organization, but a family that lives by faith in Jesus Christ. Because the Lord does not want to dwell only in stone temples. He wants to dwell in our hearts and be present in the midst of the world through our lives." end quote.
Your Brother Adrian.
What is Church? Isn't it a place?
Today's Gospel, speaks about such things. The Jews made a temple for God, but not for God's son. So God our Father, made an even better temple…in His chosen…in your body…thus is the revelation of the magnificence of the Holy Eucharist…the Body of Christ, whereupon a new worship, a new sacrifice, an eternal and continuous action that is taking place all over the world as we speak.
Our Lord God, lashes out in the temple, and is the only time we hear about "righteous anger". He said "you have made this a den of thieves!".
What? People were making transactions, pocketing the money, taking what belongs to God on the Sabbath. But it was more about the money…but about matters of the heart…where He was aiming at….for all eternity.
Wow. But it gets deep in so many dimensions.
He not only is talking to the people at that time, but forever.
His message is forever.
Am I a robber? Do I rob the Lord of what is due to Him? Money? Time? Talents?
Today, we celebrate the " Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome".
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome was founded around AD 313–314 and consecrated on November 9, AD 324, by Pope Sylvester I.
Original Construction: Built under Roman Emperor Constantine I on land once owned by the Laterani family, it became the first official Christian basilica in Rome.
It is kind of a big deal. It has endured many hardships. The Church. The body of Christ still endures hardships.
But it is rebuilt…with love. And Love is what makes it eternal…how? Because, God is love.
Rome was defeated, it took over 300 years of Popes and Christians being killed in all sorts of ways in Rome, but the meek inherited the land.
You see, we see darkness, but God sees the end.
We see hardships, but God sees the fruit.
What is the driver? Faith. And faith is something I equate often with love. Love is a choice. The Catholic definition of love is "willing the good of the other".
And this is what lasts, and lasts, endures and stands through the tests of time.
The Lateran Basilica (officially the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran) is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome and the official seat of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, making it the "Mother and Head of All Churches" in the city and the world.
If you see pictures of the interior, it is a long empty space, with beautiful art everywhere…for those that come inside. The heart of the church for GOD is you and me, the love of His life, to which He gives His very Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, every single day on every single Altar.
This means something….it means EVERYTHING!
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Random Bible Verse 1
Ephesians 4:29
" Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. "
Word of the Lord!
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God Bless You! Peace
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