If He who was without sin prayed, how much more ought sinners to pray?
-- Saint Cyprian of Carthage
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saint Gabriel Possenti
I will attempt day by day to break my will into pieces. I want to do God's Holy Will, not my own!
-- Saint Gabriel Possenti
-- Saint Gabriel Possenti
Friday, February 25, 2011
word of god
"I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Isaiah 45:5-6
-- Saint John Vianney
I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the Cross than in serving the world and its pleasures.
-- Saint John Vianney
Today's Mass reading from the Bible - Feb/25/2011
FIRST READING: Sirach 6: 5 - 17
5 A pleasant voice multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
7 When you gain a friend, gain him through testing, and do not trust him hastily.
8 For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
9 And there is a friend who changes into an enemy, and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace.
10 And there is a friend who is a table companion, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
11 In prosperity he will make himself your equal, and be bold with your servants;
12 but if you are brought low he will turn against you, and will hide himself from your presence.
13 Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure.
15 There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence.
16 A faithful friend is an elixir of life; and those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
PSALM: Psalms 119: 12, 16, 18, 27, 34 - 35
12 Blessed be thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes!
16 I will delight in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
27 Make me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy wondrous works.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of thy commandments, for I delight in it.
GOSPEL: Mark 10: 1 - 12
1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, he taught them.
2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away."
5 But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6 But from the beginning of creation, `God made them male and female.'
7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
11 And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her;
12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
5 A pleasant voice multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
7 When you gain a friend, gain him through testing, and do not trust him hastily.
8 For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
9 And there is a friend who changes into an enemy, and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace.
10 And there is a friend who is a table companion, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
11 In prosperity he will make himself your equal, and be bold with your servants;
12 but if you are brought low he will turn against you, and will hide himself from your presence.
13 Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure.
15 There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence.
16 A faithful friend is an elixir of life; and those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
PSALM: Psalms 119: 12, 16, 18, 27, 34 - 35
12 Blessed be thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes!
16 I will delight in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
27 Make me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy wondrous works.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of thy commandments, for I delight in it.
GOSPEL: Mark 10: 1 - 12
1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, he taught them.
2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away."
5 But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6 But from the beginning of creation, `God made them male and female.'
7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
11 And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her;
12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
word of god
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)
Today's Mass Reading from the Bible - Feb/24/2011
FIRST READING: Sirach 5: 1 - 8
1 Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of vengeance and darkness.
2 Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:
3 And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.
4 Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder.
5 Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin:
6 And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on the multitude of my sins.
7 For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh upon sinners.
8 Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day.
PSALM: Psalms 1: 1 - 4, 6
1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.
2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.
4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.
GOSPEL: Mark 9: 41 - 50
41 For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ: amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.
42 And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43 And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
45 And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
47And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire: and every victim shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good. But if the salt became unsavoury; wherewith will you season it? Have salt in you, and have peace among you.
1 Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of vengeance and darkness.
2 Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:
3 And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.
4 Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder.
5 Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin:
6 And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on the multitude of my sins.
7 For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh upon sinners.
8 Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day.
PSALM: Psalms 1: 1 - 4, 6
1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.
2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.
4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.
GOSPEL: Mark 9: 41 - 50
41 For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ: amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.
42 And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43 And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
45 And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
47And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire: and every victim shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good. But if the salt became unsavoury; wherewith will you season it? Have salt in you, and have peace among you.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
word of god
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 john:4
Today's Mass reading from the Bible - Feb/23/2011
<b>FIRST READING: Sirach 4: 11 - 19</b>
<hr/>
11 Wisdom exalts her sons and gives help to those who seek her.
12 Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will be filled with joy.
13 Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, and the Lord will bless the place she enters.
14 Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her.
15 He who obeys her will judge the nations, and whoever gives heed to her will dwell secure.
16 If he has faith in her he will obtain her; and his descendants will remain in possession of her.
17 For at first she will walk with him on tortuous paths, she will bring fear and cowardice upon him, and will torment him by her discipline until she trusts him, and she will test him with her ordinances.
18 Then she will come straight back to him and gladden him, and will reveal her secrets to him.
19 If he goes astray she will forsake him, and hand him over to his ruin.
<b>PSALM: Psalms 119: 165, 168, 171 - 172, 174 - 175</b>
<hr/>
165 Great peace have those who love thy law; nothing can make them stumble.
168 I keep thy precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before thee.
171 My lips will pour forth praise that thou dost teach me thy statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of thy word, for all thy commandments are right.
174 I long for thy salvation, O LORD, and thy law is my delight.
175 Let me live, that I may praise thee, and let thy ordinances help me.
<b>GOSPEL: Mark 9: 38 - 40</b>
<hr/>
38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us."
39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
40 For he that is not against us is for us.
<hr/>
11 Wisdom exalts her sons and gives help to those who seek her.
12 Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will be filled with joy.
13 Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, and the Lord will bless the place she enters.
14 Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her.
15 He who obeys her will judge the nations, and whoever gives heed to her will dwell secure.
16 If he has faith in her he will obtain her; and his descendants will remain in possession of her.
17 For at first she will walk with him on tortuous paths, she will bring fear and cowardice upon him, and will torment him by her discipline until she trusts him, and she will test him with her ordinances.
18 Then she will come straight back to him and gladden him, and will reveal her secrets to him.
19 If he goes astray she will forsake him, and hand him over to his ruin.
<b>PSALM: Psalms 119: 165, 168, 171 - 172, 174 - 175</b>
<hr/>
165 Great peace have those who love thy law; nothing can make them stumble.
168 I keep thy precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before thee.
171 My lips will pour forth praise that thou dost teach me thy statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of thy word, for all thy commandments are right.
174 I long for thy salvation, O LORD, and thy law is my delight.
175 Let me live, that I may praise thee, and let thy ordinances help me.
<b>GOSPEL: Mark 9: 38 - 40</b>
<hr/>
38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us."
39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
40 For he that is not against us is for us.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
-- Saint Polycarp of Smyrna his prayer at his own martyrdom
Lord, almighty God, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom have come to the knowledge of yourself, God of angels, of powers, of all creation, of all the race of saints who live in your sight, I bless you for judging me worthy of this day, this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ, your anointed one, and so rise again to eternal life in soul and body through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I praise you for all things, I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal priest of heaven, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Through him by glory to you, together with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
-- Saint Polycarp of Smyrna his prayer at his own martyrdom
I praise you for all things, I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal priest of heaven, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Through him by glory to you, together with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
-- Saint Polycarp of Smyrna his prayer at his own martyrdom
verse for d day
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
Proverbs 25:28
Today's Mass Reading from the Bible - Feb/22/2011
FIRST READING: 1 Peter 5: 1 - 4
1 The ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech, who am myself also an ancient, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ: as also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God: not for filthy lucre's sake, but voluntarily:
3 Neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart.
4 And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory.
PSALM: Psalms 23: 1 - 6
1 The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.
4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
GOSPEL: Matthew 16: 13 - 19
13 And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?
14 But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
1 The ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech, who am myself also an ancient, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ: as also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God: not for filthy lucre's sake, but voluntarily:
3 Neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart.
4 And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory.
PSALM: Psalms 23: 1 - 6
1 The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.
4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
GOSPEL: Matthew 16: 13 - 19
13 And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?
14 But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saint Louis de Montfort
The Our Father contains all the duties we owe to God, the acts of all the virtues and the petitions for all our spiritual and corporal needs.
-- Saint Louis de Montfort
-- Saint Louis de Montfort
Saint John Chrysostom
Grace can do nothing without the will and the will can do nothing without grace.
-- Saint John Chrysostom
-- Saint John Chrysostom
Saint Augustine of Hippo
I speak to you who have just been reborn in baptism, my little children in Christ, you who are the new offspring of the Church, gift of the Father, proof of Mother Church's fruitfulness. All of you who stand fast in the Lord are a holy seed, a new colony of bees, the very flower of our ministry and fruit of our toil, my joy and my crown. It is the words of the Apostle that I address to you: Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh and its desires, so that you may be clothed with the life of him whom you have put on in this sacrament. You have all been clothed with Christ by your baptism in him. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor freeman; there is neither male nor female; you are all one in Christ Jesus.
-- Saint Augustine of Hippo
-- Saint Augustine of Hippo
Saint John Climacus
A man who has embraced poverty offers up prayer that is pure, while a man who loves possessions prays to material images.
--Saint John Climacus
--Saint John Climacus
Today's Mass Reading from the Bible - Feb/21/2011
FIRST READING: Sirach 1: 1 - 10
1 All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever.
2 The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity -- who can count them?
3 The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom -- who can search them out?
4 Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity.
5 The root of wisdom -- to whom has it been revealed? Her clever devices -- who knows them?
6 There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne.
7 The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her, he poured her out upon all his works.
8 She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who love him.
9 The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.
10 The fear of the Lord delights the heart, and gives gladness and joy and long life.
PSALM: Psalms 93: 1 - 2, 5
1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. Yea, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
2 thy throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting.
5 Thy decrees are very sure; holiness befits thy house, O LORD, for evermore.
GOSPEL: Mark 9: 14 - 29
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them.
15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him.
16 And he asked them, "What are you discussing with them?"
17 And one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit;
18 and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able."
19 And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me."
20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21 And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood.
22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us."
23 And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again."
26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead."
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
29 And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."
1 All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever.
2 The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity -- who can count them?
3 The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom -- who can search them out?
4 Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity.
5 The root of wisdom -- to whom has it been revealed? Her clever devices -- who knows them?
6 There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne.
7 The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her, he poured her out upon all his works.
8 She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who love him.
9 The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.
10 The fear of the Lord delights the heart, and gives gladness and joy and long life.
PSALM: Psalms 93: 1 - 2, 5
1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. Yea, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
2 thy throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting.
5 Thy decrees are very sure; holiness befits thy house, O LORD, for evermore.
GOSPEL: Mark 9: 14 - 29
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them.
15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him.
16 And he asked them, "What are you discussing with them?"
17 And one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit;
18 and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able."
19 And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me."
20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21 And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood.
22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us."
23 And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again."
26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead."
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
29 And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."
Friday, February 18, 2011
Today's Mass Reading from the Bible - Feb/18/2011
FIRST READING: Genesis 11: 1 - 9
1 And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech.
2 And when they removed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.
3 And each one said to his neighbour: Come, let us make brick, and bake them with fire. And they had brick instead of stones, and slime instead of mortar.
4 And they said: Come, let us make a city and a tower, the top whereof may reach to heaven: and let us make our name famous before we be scattered abroad into all lands.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of Adam were building.
6 And he said: Behold, it is one people, and all have one tongue: and they have begun to do this, neither will they leave off from their designs, till they accomplish them in deed.
7 Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there confound their tongue, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8 And so the Lord scattered them from that place into all lands, and they ceased to build the city.
9 And therefore the name thereof was called Babel, because there the language of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of all countries.
PSALM: Psalms 33: 10 - 15
10 The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.
11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.
14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.
15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.
GOSPEL: Mark 8: 34 -- 9: 1
34 And calling the multitude together with his disciples, he said to them: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
1 And he said to them: Amen I say to you, that there are some of them that stand here, who shall not taste death, till they see the kingdom of God coming in power.
1 And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech.
2 And when they removed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.
3 And each one said to his neighbour: Come, let us make brick, and bake them with fire. And they had brick instead of stones, and slime instead of mortar.
4 And they said: Come, let us make a city and a tower, the top whereof may reach to heaven: and let us make our name famous before we be scattered abroad into all lands.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of Adam were building.
6 And he said: Behold, it is one people, and all have one tongue: and they have begun to do this, neither will they leave off from their designs, till they accomplish them in deed.
7 Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there confound their tongue, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8 And so the Lord scattered them from that place into all lands, and they ceased to build the city.
9 And therefore the name thereof was called Babel, because there the language of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of all countries.
PSALM: Psalms 33: 10 - 15
10 The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.
11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.
14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.
15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.
GOSPEL: Mark 8: 34 -- 9: 1
34 And calling the multitude together with his disciples, he said to them: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
1 And he said to them: Amen I say to you, that there are some of them that stand here, who shall not taste death, till they see the kingdom of God coming in power.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Prayer in times of Desperate Situations.
 COME, PLACE YOUR TRUST IN ME. |
JESUS HELP ME - THY SERVANT WHO WAS REDEEMED BY THY MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying - Jesus help me. Agonizing Jesus, strip me of all intemperance in the use of life's comforts and pleasures. Always, always, in joys or sorrows; in falls and shortcomings - Jesus help me, and never forsake me. |
| JESUS IS SAYING... "It is not necessary, My child, to know much in order to please Me; it is only enough that you love Me fervently. Speak here to Me then , as you would speak to your most intimate friend, to your mother, to your brother. So, you want to ask Me to do something for someone? Tell Me his name. Is it your parents, your brothers, your sisters or friends? Tell Me what you want me to do for them now. Ask much, very much; do not hesitate to ask. I love generous hearts who somehow can come to forget themselves to look after the needs of others. Speak sincerely to Me then, of the poor that you would console, of the sick that you see suffering, of the strayed that you yearn to see return to the right path, of those absent friends that you want at your side again. Say at least one word for each, the ardent word of a friend. Remind me that I have promised to listen to every petition that arises from the heart. And is not a prayer for those whom are close to your heart such a prayer? And for you , do you need a particular favour? Make a list , as it were, of your needs and come and read it in My presence. Tell me frankly that you are prone to anger, that you love sensuality and pleasure, that you are perhaps proud, variable, negligent. Ask Me to come to the help of those efforts, many or few which you undertake to free yourself from those faults. Do not be ashamed, poor soul; there are in Heaven so many saints who had these same defects; but they prayed humbly and little by little they saw themselves freed from them. Do not hesitate to ask Me for spiritual and material goods, for health, memory, success in your work, enterprises and studies, all these I can give---and I do give---as long as they do not hinder but rather assist your sanctification. Precisely today, what do you need? What can I do for you? If only you knew how much I would like to help you! Do you have, right now, some project in mind? What preoccupies you? What are you thinking? What do you want? What do you want Me to do for your parents, your brothers and sisters, your spouse and children , your superiors? What would you want to do for them. And for Me, do you feel an attraction for My glory? Do you not want to do something for those people whom you love much but who perhaps live separated from Me? Tell Me what in particular attracts your attention today, what you desire most ardently and what means you have of obtaining it? Tell Me if your plans are not working and I will tell you the causes of your difficulties. Do you not want to interest Me in your quest? My dear one, I am the Lord of hearts and I move them, without violating their freedom, to wherever I please. Are you perhaps sad, or in bad humour? Tell Me, tell Me, you inconsolable soul, tell Me your sorrows in all their details. Who wounded you? Who hurt your pride? Who has mistreated you? Come close to My Heart, and find in it a refreshing balsam for the wounds in yours. Then, you will confess that, like Me, you forgive everything, you forget everything. In appreciation, you will receive my consoling benediction. Are you perhaps afraid? Do you feel in your soul those vague stirrings of sadness which, however unjustified, can be so tearing? Throw yourself in the arms of My Providence. I am with you. I am at your side. I see everything, I hear everything. I shall not abandon you for one moment. Do you feel ignored by persons who loved you once but who now have forgotten you without cause? Pray for them and I will bring them back to you if they are not obstacles to your salvation. And don't you have, perhaps, some joy to communicate to Me? Why don't you let me share it with you, like a dear friend? Tell me what has consoled and gladdened your heart since yesterday, since you last visited Me. Perhaps you have had an agreeable surprise; perhaps you have seen grave doubts dissipated, or you have received good news - a letter, or perhaps a gesture of love. Maybe you have overcome some difficulty, or come out of a trying situation. All of this is My work. I have obtained this for you. Why not show Me your gratitude and say, like a child to its father, "Thank you, my Father, thank you". Gratitude brings forth new gifts, since benefactors, as you know, like to see themselves appreciated. Do you not have a promise to make to Me? I read, you know, the bottom of hearts. Men are easily deceived, but not God. Speak to Me, then honestly; do you have firm intentions of avoiding the occasion of sin? Of denying yourself that object that harmed your soul? Of not reading again that book which excited your imagination? Of avoiding that person who disturbed the peace of your soul? Will you be kind to that person who, because he offended you, you have regarded as an enemy? And now, my child return to your work, to your office, to your family, to your studies - but do not forget these fifteen minutes of intimate conversation we have had in the privacy of the sanctuary. Keep as much as possible, silence, resignation, modesty, charity towards your neighbours. Love and honour my Mother, And please come again tomorrow with an even more fervent heart, to unite it to mine. In it you will find, every day, new love, new gifts, new consolation. Here I await you.". |
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Today's Mass Reading from the Bible - Feb/17/2011
Genesis 9: 1 - 13
1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the air, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.
3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
4 Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
5 For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it and of man; of every man's brother I will require the life of man.
6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image.
7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, bring forth abundantly on the earth and multiply in it."
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,
9 "Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you,
10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.
11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:
13 I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Psalms 102: 16 - 21, 29, 22 - 23
16 For the LORD will build up Zion, he will appear in his glory;
17 he will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their supplication.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD:
19 that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die;
21 that men may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength in mid-course; he has shortened my days.
Mark 8: 27 - 33
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesare'a Philip'pi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"
28 And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Eli'jah; and others one of the prophets."
29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."
30 And he charged them to tell no one about him.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men."
1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the air, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.
3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
4 Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
5 For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it and of man; of every man's brother I will require the life of man.
6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image.
7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, bring forth abundantly on the earth and multiply in it."
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,
9 "Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you,
10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.
11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:
13 I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Psalms 102: 16 - 21, 29, 22 - 23
16 For the LORD will build up Zion, he will appear in his glory;
17 he will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their supplication.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD:
19 that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die;
21 that men may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength in mid-course; he has shortened my days.
Mark 8: 27 - 33
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesare'a Philip'pi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"
28 And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Eli'jah; and others one of the prophets."
29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."
30 And he charged them to tell no one about him.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men."
Today's Mass Reading from the Bible - Feb/16/2011
FIRST READING: Genesis 8: 6 - 13, 20 - 22
6 And after that forty days were passed, Noe, opening the window of the ark which he had made, sent forth a raven:
7 Which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up upon the earth.
8 He sent forth also a dove after him, to see if the waters had now ceased upon the face of the earth.
9 But she, not finding where her foot might rest, returned to him into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and caught her, and brought her into the ark.
10 And having waited yet seven other days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark.
11 And she came to him in the evening, carrying a bough of an olive tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that the waters were ceased upon the earth.
12 And he stayed yet other seven days: and he sent forth the dove, which returned not any more unto him.
13 Therefore in the six hundredth and first year, the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were lessened upon the earth, and Noe opening the covering of the ark, looked, and saw that the face of the earth was dried.
20 And Noe built an altar unto the Lord: and taking of all cattle and fowls that were clean, offered holocausts upon the altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done.
22 All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, night and day, shall not cease.
PSALM: Psalms 116: 12 - 15, 18 - 19
12 What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things he hath rendered unto me?
13 I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people:
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people:
19 In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
GOSPEL: Mark 8: 22 - 26
22 And they came to Bethsaida; and they bring to him a blind man, and they besought him that he would touch him.
23 And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him out of the town; and spitting upon his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he saw any thing.
24 And looking up, he said: I see men as it were trees, walking.
25 After that again he laid his hands upon his eyes, and he began to see, and was restored, so that he saw all things clearly.
26 And he sent him into his house, saying: Go into thy house, and if thou enter into the town, tell nobody.
6 And after that forty days were passed, Noe, opening the window of the ark which he had made, sent forth a raven:
7 Which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up upon the earth.
8 He sent forth also a dove after him, to see if the waters had now ceased upon the face of the earth.
9 But she, not finding where her foot might rest, returned to him into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and caught her, and brought her into the ark.
10 And having waited yet seven other days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark.
11 And she came to him in the evening, carrying a bough of an olive tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that the waters were ceased upon the earth.
12 And he stayed yet other seven days: and he sent forth the dove, which returned not any more unto him.
13 Therefore in the six hundredth and first year, the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were lessened upon the earth, and Noe opening the covering of the ark, looked, and saw that the face of the earth was dried.
20 And Noe built an altar unto the Lord: and taking of all cattle and fowls that were clean, offered holocausts upon the altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done.
22 All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, night and day, shall not cease.
PSALM: Psalms 116: 12 - 15, 18 - 19
12 What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things he hath rendered unto me?
13 I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people:
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people:
19 In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
GOSPEL: Mark 8: 22 - 26
22 And they came to Bethsaida; and they bring to him a blind man, and they besought him that he would touch him.
23 And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him out of the town; and spitting upon his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he saw any thing.
24 And looking up, he said: I see men as it were trees, walking.
25 After that again he laid his hands upon his eyes, and he began to see, and was restored, so that he saw all things clearly.
26 And he sent him into his house, saying: Go into thy house, and if thou enter into the town, tell nobody.
Saint Isaac Jogues
My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings.
-- Saint Isaac Jogues
-- Saint Isaac Jogues
Monday, February 14, 2011
Today's Mass reading from the Bible - Feb/15/2011
Genesis (6: 5 - 8 ) (7: 1 - 5, 10)
5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
7 So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.
2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate;
3 and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind alive upon the face of all the earth.
4 For in seven days I will send rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground."
5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.
Psalms 29: 1 - 4, 3, 9 - 10
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy array.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, upon many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
9 The voice of the LORD makes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forests bare; and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king for ever.
Mark 8: 14 - 21
14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
15 And he cautioned them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, "We have no bread."
17 And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?
19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve."
20 "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven."
21 And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
7 So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.
2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate;
3 and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind alive upon the face of all the earth.
4 For in seven days I will send rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground."
5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.
Psalms 29: 1 - 4, 3, 9 - 10
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy array.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, upon many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
9 The voice of the LORD makes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forests bare; and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king for ever.
Mark 8: 14 - 21
14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
15 And he cautioned them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, "We have no bread."
17 And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?
19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve."
20 "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven."
21 And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
Saint Jerome Emiliani
If then you remain constant in faith in the face of trial, the Lord will give you peace and rest for a time in this world, and for ever in the next.
-- Saint Jerome Emiliani
-- Saint Jerome Emiliani
Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Munoz
The heart is rich when it is content, and it is always content when its desires are fixed on God.
-- Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Munoz
-- Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Munoz
Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc
Let me live by love, let me die of love, and let my last heartbeat be an act of the most perfect love.
-- Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc
-- Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
He who does not acquire the love of God will scarcely persevere in the grace of God, for it is very difficult to renounce sin merely through fear of chastisement.
-- Saint Alphonsus Liguori
-- Saint Alphonsus Liguori
word of god
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
word of god
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
1 John 5:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green [1] pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest [2] my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. [3]Psalm 23
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
word of god
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
word of god
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him.
-- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
-- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Monday, February 7, 2011
Saint Joseph of Leonissa
Every Christian must be a living book wherein one can read the teaching of the gospel.
-- Saint Joseph of Leonissa
-- Saint Joseph of Leonissa
Saint Paul Miki
The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.
-- Saint Paul Miki
-- Saint Paul Miki
Friday, February 4, 2011
word of god
Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
John 6:35
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where the true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God himself.
-- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
-- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Thursday, February 3, 2011
word of god
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
word of god
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Remember, that the devil has only one door by which to enter the soul: the will. There are secret or hidden doors. Temptations, discouragement, and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. Remember this: if the devil makes noise, it is a sign that he is still outside and not yet within. That which must terrify us is his peace and concord within the human soul.
-- Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Saint Thomas Aquinas from his writings
If you seek the example of love: "Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends." Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.
If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because "when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth."
If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. "For just as by the disobedience of one man," namely, Adam, "many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous."
If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is "the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.
Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because "they divided my garments among themselves." Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for "weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head." Nor to anything delightful, for "in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because "when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth."
If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. "For just as by the disobedience of one man," namely, Adam, "many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous."
If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is "the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.
Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because "they divided my garments among themselves." Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for "weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head." Nor to anything delightful, for "in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
-- Saint Thomas Aquinas from his writings
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Even though you possess plenty, you are still indigent. You abound in temporal possessions, but you need things eternal. You listen to the needs of a human beggar, yet yourself are a beggar of God. What you do with those who beg from you is what God will do with His beggar. You are filled and you are empty. Fill your empty neighbor with your fullness, so that your emptiness may be filled from God's fullness.
-- Saint Augustine of Hippo
Saint John Bosco
This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized and still others to hope for God's mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart.
-- Saint John Bosco
Saint Paul of the Cross
Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy.
-- Saint Paul of the Cross
word of god
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6
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