tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69088102010822241582024-02-20T04:58:11.671-05:00Rooted in faith; Living in Franciscan Joy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-4743372770761218862014-11-30T09:23:00.002-05:002014-11-30T09:24:07.037-05:00ADVENT 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2us6s6Apy4mg-3hIzec_bDdHHaJa-NSycG5yECeTs2Fa_B86GuG8NPmQyHneBU1mII_mGtz5S5jXLhCYmnZy_KsRB2fRQFGVWdjHf2bRJdO8ZjNYB6osLuJO6qOUlOG8uB8LbeAdgv0/s1600/1409816381812.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2us6s6Apy4mg-3hIzec_bDdHHaJa-NSycG5yECeTs2Fa_B86GuG8NPmQyHneBU1mII_mGtz5S5jXLhCYmnZy_KsRB2fRQFGVWdjHf2bRJdO8ZjNYB6osLuJO6qOUlOG8uB8LbeAdgv0/s1600/1409816381812.jpeg" height="320" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.catholicbishops.ie/advent-calendar/" target="_blank">Advent Calendar with meditations</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-10830561076023223352014-08-26T07:54:00.002-04:002014-08-26T07:54:46.326-04:00Jesus-Maria-Anna" From The Colettines Sisters<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXm4Bcs0Bqi9L3q3bDPSbic3PXXntNMvJZW4ZDZRlUtGPp_5eIxxyH8cSnxi9_mjJOKRzbTCAnjthNveMl01hFXG5hXcuchzc2LbQr89K6PjMQq75fAYx6S6E2j_Rg7mG-tu_oqrTJxY/s1600/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXm4Bcs0Bqi9L3q3bDPSbic3PXXntNMvJZW4ZDZRlUtGPp_5eIxxyH8cSnxi9_mjJOKRzbTCAnjthNveMl01hFXG5hXcuchzc2LbQr89K6PjMQq75fAYx6S6E2j_Rg7mG-tu_oqrTJxY/s1600/image002.jpg" /></a><b><i><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi', sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">"</span></u></i></b><b><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi', sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">Jesus-Maria-Anna"</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi', sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">I pray that the Blessed Holy Spirit will always keep you in his holy grace and lead you at last to eternal glory. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />May the Father in his Mercy,<br />the Son, by his holy Passion,<br />and the Holy Spirit, the fountain of peace, sweetness, love and all consolation </span></b><b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">come down upon you and remain with you always."</span></b><b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;"><br />(The Blessing of St Colette)</span></b><b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">.............</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">Dear Little hearts,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">Every family home, monastery, and long established community has a potential awareness of not only those who are living, residing now, but of those who have already passed from this life into God....</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">In a family home their are memories of parents, grandparents, relatives, in a community memories of sisters who have lived the life before us.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">In addition each family, community has ‘memory’ of their founder, foundreseses. In the garden, and within the monastery itself we are so aware of the spirit of Our Holy Mothers Clare and Colette, in some way they too are always with us.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">As Poor Clare Colettines our community has a great love and devotion to Saint Colette so let us share together something of her life and spirit.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">Saint Colette was a great letter writer she wrote to persons in every position and state in life, both low and high. Her letters and documents were sealed with wax , as was the custom of the time. This is a picture of her seal..it carries a powerful message, and one wonders what some of the recipients felt, or how many graces touched them through this short exhortation.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">“Remember Death”.</span></b><b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">...This reveals a whole attitude towards human existence, a living just not for the things and times of this world but looking to the world beyond.It is not a morbid focus amidst life, but it is facing the truth that it is a door that ultimately we must all pass through. Our whole life should be a prepration for death, and this means in our daily life surrending to the little deaths that circumstances bring us, they may seem small in themselves but they form us and prepare us.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">May Our Holy Mother Saint Colette bless you all.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;">On the humble Seal that she used for her correspondence are inscribed the words My Sisters, remember death.</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-K3RJDkIrNwfi788AFbz3ImQ8mdros65oIBzIWvq4HjlSGzqLmvX03WWgyA8KpdWmTPOjpK6fOFkLckRyAnGNs55b7yZMaSbF4PG2lyj-L9QkGoIZquqgNdKch18JSYjvxq65wgRNyM/s1600/image007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-K3RJDkIrNwfi788AFbz3ImQ8mdros65oIBzIWvq4HjlSGzqLmvX03WWgyA8KpdWmTPOjpK6fOFkLckRyAnGNs55b7yZMaSbF4PG2lyj-L9QkGoIZquqgNdKch18JSYjvxq65wgRNyM/s1600/image007.jpg" /></a></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">The relics of St Colette are in the monastery of Poligny in France</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-84564139954121951242014-07-29T07:12:00.001-04:002014-07-29T07:14:03.491-04:00St. Martha<img alt="" src="http://faith.nd.edu/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/saint_of_the_day/07july/29/martha__basilica_window_.jpg" style="border: 0px solid; width: 250px; height: 628px; float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Gospel of John tells us that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (11:5)—these three siblings were close friends of Jesus and he relied on them for support.<br><br>They lived in Bethany, a small town two miles outside of Jerusalem. When Jesus began preaching throughout Judea, he would stop at their house for rest during his travels. Scripture mentions Jesus stopping at their house in three different accounts.<br><br>Martha was oldest of these three siblings, and appears to have been in charge of the household. She is the main character in the famous story of Jesus’ visit when Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to him teach, while Martha works away in the kitchen. Martha gets exasperated that she’s the only one attending to the household work and complains to Jesus. <br><br>“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me,” Martha says. He comforts her and encourages patience, saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Lk 10:38-42).<br><br>Later, we see how well Martha learned this lesson from Jesus—that the only important thing is to cling to the Lord. When her brother, Lazarus died, she placed her trust in Jesus.<br><br></span><img alt="" src="http://faith.nd.edu/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/saint_of_the_day/07july/29/martha_detail__basilica_window_.jpg" style="border: 0px solid; width: 250px; height: 264px; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, he told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world” (John 11).<br><br>Martha is depicted in these stained glass windows from the Basilica, where she holds a cooking pot, and offers hospitality to Jesus. She is patron saint of cooks and kitchen staff, and her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica. <br><br>St. Martha, patron saint of cooks, and the hospitable friend of Jesus who was busy about many things, pray for us!</span></div><div><br></div><div>Norte Dame College</div><div><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=106676&eid=814387">http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=106676&eid=814387</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-21339284869418522582014-07-24T08:53:00.001-04:002014-07-24T08:56:19.188-04:00From the Poor Clare Colettines TMD<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>From the monastery garden (18)</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">( 1 Peter)<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr72QdEzA9tv1GRwKme02c2updif20bPsGHSsbZdE3cJvoa-0VUSAZbwKL95wuspAYr9BPct9EtihBHrCQhfsfP3ddy9gMs4V9dDDsOh5RVmKXViUm1Q0KPxaSFMrk1ERV8pnT-2IsRk4/s640/blogger-image-466361698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr72QdEzA9tv1GRwKme02c2updif20bPsGHSsbZdE3cJvoa-0VUSAZbwKL95wuspAYr9BPct9EtihBHrCQhfsfP3ddy9gMs4V9dDDsOh5RVmKXViUm1Q0KPxaSFMrk1ERV8pnT-2IsRk4/s640/blogger-image-466361698.jpg"></a></b></div><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b><p></p><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear Little hearts,</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What a precious, blessed gift of God is our faith. As you contemplate the beauty of creation, let the various colours yield <i>their message to you.</i><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Gold of these herbs brought to mind the verse from 1 Peter, and yes our faith will be and is tried in so many ways. We may or may not be called upon to suffer martyrdom, in these difficult time, who can say, but we may well know through intimidation, abuse of others a bloodless martyrdom. Yes, our faith will be tested, through the circumstances, persons in our lives, through suffering and death. It is a testing, have courage and remain faithful to Him who created you and loves you.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gold can buy things, faith can attain far, far more, Faith is the Victory that overcomes this world, seek the gold of His Love, and offer Him the gold of obedience.... He is worth it all.</b></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-87149454268864226082014-07-14T07:10:00.001-04:002014-07-14T07:21:09.663-04:00Kateri Tekakwitha, “ The Lily of the Mohawks”.<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy8ncg6WdeLAU7j4u0rmVAnqhOBjMwrNgjdKFAaApinlpCmNblS3_9QtRlxOeUDan105gDQuXUFeilXPvijTL-CpwdD4RJOvPBv24BgG2mFTknHH6UctTxptfOqK75aF3pC2faytcETk/s640/blogger-image-1143840163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy8ncg6WdeLAU7j4u0rmVAnqhOBjMwrNgjdKFAaApinlpCmNblS3_9QtRlxOeUDan105gDQuXUFeilXPvijTL-CpwdD4RJOvPBv24BgG2mFTknHH6UctTxptfOqK75aF3pC2faytcETk/s640/blogger-image-1143840163.jpg"></a></b></div><b><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></div><div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin, was canonized on 10/21/2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kateri was born near the town of Auriesville, New York, in the year 1656, the daughter of a Mohawk warrior. She was four years old when her mother died of smallpox. The disease also attacked Kateri and transfigured her face. She was adopted by her two aunts and an uncle. Kateri became converted as a teenager. She was baptized at the age of twenty and incurred the great hostility of her tribe. Although she had to suffer greatly for her Faith, she remained firm in it. Kateri went to the new <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2927" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Christian</a> colony of Indians in Canada. Here she lived a <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">life</a> dedicated to prayer, penitential practices, and care for the sick and aged. Every morning, even in bitterest winter, she stood before the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2799" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">chapel</a> door until it opened at four and remained there until after the last Mass. She was devoted to the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php?id=2" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Eucharist</a> and to <a href="http://www.catholic.org/clife/jesus" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Jesus</a> Crucified. She died on April 17, 1680 at the age of twenty-four. She is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks". Devotion to Kateri is responsible for establishing Native American ministries in <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2678" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Catholic</a> Churches all over the United States and Canada. Kateri was declared venerable by the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2678" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Catholic</a> Church in 1943 and she was Beatified in 1980. Hundreds of thousands have visited shrines to Kateri erected at both <a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=423" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">St. Francis Xavier</a> and <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2690" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Caughnawaga</a> and at her birth place at Auriesville, New York. <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9360" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Pilgrimages</a> at these sites continue today. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Catholic online) Carholic.org</span></p></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDJF4L2qoeB23DoCu_b-guU-U7mvHmpRRLL6Md5rUFEnQv5CmUUH9XTPyVOi2O-uHJ7w795E5qVXuvPS2DTzsq2O6MD-fY739Z7oNn2IceoGDCPLHE2LysyoqSS57P8DPVz-T_pAs8yg/s640/blogger-image-2071320748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDJF4L2qoeB23DoCu_b-guU-U7mvHmpRRLL6Md5rUFEnQv5CmUUH9XTPyVOi2O-uHJ7w795E5qVXuvPS2DTzsq2O6MD-fY739Z7oNn2IceoGDCPLHE2LysyoqSS57P8DPVz-T_pAs8yg/s640/blogger-image-2071320748.jpg"></a></div><br></b></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today the </span></b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Poor Clare Colettines TMD</b><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> are sharing the beautiful, meaningful chaplet of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha,</span></b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Blessed Kateri has been made the Patron of Ecology and of course of the American native Indians.</b><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Blessed Kateri’s chaplet is beautiful to pray, it consists of 24 beads ( the number of years of her life), the beads are one decade brown, one red, and one white or crystal. First you will find the text that explains how it is normally prayed after I will give you an alternative suggestion, both are potentially fruitful and worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">CHAPLET OF KATERI TEKAKWITHA<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Kiss the Cross and make the Sign of the Cross with it, saying, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." .<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2. Recite an Our Father on each of the 8 Brown Beads; a Hail Mary on each of the 8 Red Beads; and a Glory Be on each of the 8 Crystal Beads.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. Make the Sign of the Cross as above.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">EXPLANATION AND MEANING OF THIS CHAPLET<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE CROSS<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The cross is of Sturolite, nature's amazing wonder mineral found in the shape of tiny crosses in the Blue ridge Mountains of Virginia, North Carolina, and New Mexico.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE 24 BEADS<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kateri, whose name means, "Putting things in order" and "moving all things before her," was 24 when she departed from this world; the beads symbolize her 24 short but fruitful years on earth.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">BROWN BEADS<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Earth colors are popular with Indians and brown is the predominantly color of earth. Kateri's moccasins in which she walked the woods distributing her handmade crosses, were brown also.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">RED BEADS<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Red [Moonstone red] is the traditional color for love, symbolizing God's love for this sweet Saint and the love she bore Him in the Eucharist and for His Blessed Mother.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ask Kateri's intercession to Mary to form this love in all our hearts and to lead us back to Christ when we fall away.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">CRYSTAL BEADS.Represent the rivers and waters so loved of the indians<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is an Indian legend that on the day that Christ died on the Cross, the woodland animals wept, their tiny tears falling upon the earth and crystallizing into these tiny crosses.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kateri’s Chaplet in Simplicity and Peace<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Prayed in the company of Blessed Kateri, ex corde-from the heart.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Brown Beads focus upon God as Creator and Father, giving thanks for the wonders of his hands, and thanking him for having created me, for loving me. On each bead I offer some ejaculation of love.... or even just Father, My Father.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Red Beads, I focus upon Jesus and his supreme offering upon the Cross for me, for his tremendous love.... I recall the precious blood and his abiding presence in the Eucharist. On each bead I whisper his name, or offer some simple prayer from the heart.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The White or crystal beads, I focus upon the Great White Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the fount of living water, the light of life, and pray upon the beads, Come sweet Spirit of grace....<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At the End I adore the Trinity and spend sometime in union with the Three.</b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><br></p><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-76316701499939047162014-07-13T08:24:00.001-04:002014-07-13T08:35:50.693-04:00Sowing the seeds of Faith<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpmYIMCeXpZw__6a73jA1Y9xdjlsmlPxVOKPLwNgc5i953DWyTNpl4JpgaOJ0vOBoSn5nAKmR0l_Tiqe90CmjIujym1JReLyZ8Q6lK1oA2YkHZcQ2kngV5nhf0d6bm83IvGTCjnka7kY/s640/blogger-image--181783234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpmYIMCeXpZw__6a73jA1Y9xdjlsmlPxVOKPLwNgc5i953DWyTNpl4JpgaOJ0vOBoSn5nAKmR0l_Tiqe90CmjIujym1JReLyZ8Q6lK1oA2YkHZcQ2kngV5nhf0d6bm83IvGTCjnka7kY/s640/blogger-image--181783234.jpg"></a></div><br></span><h4 style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: gray; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 475px; margin-bottom: 8px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; font-weight: bold !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gospel </span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13:1" style="border-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; margin: 1px 0px 0px; padding: 1px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; float: right;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">MT 13:1-23</span></font></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></h4><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.<br>Such large crowds gathered around him<br>that he got into a boat and sat down,<br>and the whole crowd stood along the shore. <br>And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:<br>“A sower went out to sow. <br>And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,<br>and birds came and ate it up. <br>Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. <br>It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,<br>and when the sun rose it was scorched,<br>and it withered for lack of roots. <br>Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. <br>But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,<br>a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. <br>Whoever has ears ought to hear.”<br><br>The disciples approached him and said,<br>“Why do you speak to them in parables?” <br>He said to them in reply,<br>“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven<br>has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. <br>To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;<br>from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. <br>This is why I speak to them in parables, because<br><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand</em>. <br>Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:<br><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You shall indeed hear but not understand,<br>you shall indeed look but never see.<br>Gross is the heart of this people,<br>they will hardly hear with their ears,<br>they have closed their eyes,<br>lest they see with their eyes<br>and hear with their ears<br>and understand with their hearts and be converted,<br>and I heal them</em>. <br><br>“But blessed are your eyes, because they see,<br>and your ears, because they hear. <br>Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people<br>longed to see what you see but did not see it,<br>and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.<br><br>“Hear then the parable of the sower.<br>The seed sown on the path is the one<br>who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it,<br>and the evil one comes and steals away<br>what was sown in his heart.<br>The seed sown on rocky ground<br>is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. <br>But he has no root and lasts only for a time. <br>When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,<br>he immediately falls away. <br>The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,<br>but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word<br>and it bears no fruit. <br>But the seed sown on rich soil<br>is the one who hears the word and understands it,<br>who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”</span><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Usccb.org</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Prayer</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i>Dear Jesus,</i></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i><br></i></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i>I pray that all your words fall in the good soil of my heart,</i></b></span></div><div><b><i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">so it can manifest itself and bear fruit, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">that through your goodness, I too, can plant the seeds of faith in others and they too may be fruitful and multiply.</span></i></b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-63418960480663571922014-07-07T06:50:00.001-04:002014-07-07T06:50:57.373-04:00Love will find a way, where there seems to be no way<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Love will find a way, where there seems to be no way<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b> From the Poor Clare Colettines TMD</b></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKdMLlBphXddQG2XB7IlJkhnwoiO83EZFsVur8mkyIZWWnh8Gd6LUYJJuEl5vhYtichCDEwjCzC7ZBr3Nq1pwjg1e0Caz8EYC7TkrDYw1W1kBm5MoqAb7jhO77nJ4s-ckqdQ04zXOYpM/s640/blogger-image-465590667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKdMLlBphXddQG2XB7IlJkhnwoiO83EZFsVur8mkyIZWWnh8Gd6LUYJJuEl5vhYtichCDEwjCzC7ZBr3Nq1pwjg1e0Caz8EYC7TkrDYw1W1kBm5MoqAb7jhO77nJ4s-ckqdQ04zXOYpM/s640/blogger-image-465590667.jpg"></a></div><br></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear Little hearts,<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Walking through the Garden of God, not only the plants, trees & flowers hold an inspiration a message but the even the very way a garden is laid out. In parts where it is overgrown and aged one sees a path, a narrow path through the foliage, this all has a message... That with God, with His grace, somehow there is always a way through every situation. Love will find a way... because the heart will not give up seeking the good.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">God is with us, present in our lives... live totally in the present moment... be present to the Lord as He is present to you... and trust him, he will lead you through the ‘woods’ of all your lives.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pope Francis: not working on Sunday is good for everyone<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dan Bergin<br>Posted: Monday, July 7, 2014 4:15 am<o:p></o:p></b></p><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0cm;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width: 188px;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 2.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><img width="180" height="135" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image004.jpg@01CF99A5.5142A750" alt=" Pope Francis: not working on Sunday is good for everyone | Molise , Sunday working, Pope Francis, Campobassoone"></b><b><br><img width="4" height="4" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image007.png@01CF99A5.B2495E40" alt="http://www.indcatholicnews.com/art/null.gif"><br>Campobasso<o:p></o:p></b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pope Francis lamented the introduction of Sunday working, saying it has a negative impact on families and friendships. Speaking during a day-long visit to Molise an agricultural region in southern Italy where unemployment is very high, he said poor people need jobs to have dignity, but opening businesses and stores on a Sunday as a way to create jobs wasn't beneficial to society. He said the priority should be "human not economic" and the stress should be on families and friendships, not commercial relationships. "Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves if working on Sundays is true freedom," he said. Spending Sundays with family and friends is "an ethical choice" for faithful and non-faithful alike.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pope Francis arrived by helicopter and during his stay, visited a prison and had lunch with a group of poor people. He was full of energy and spoke off the cuff with people in the crowds. Last week Pope Francis cancelled a few appointments, citing a minor health problem. On Saturday he appeared back on form.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thousands of people gathered for the outdoor Mass in the city of Campobasso. In his homily Pope Francis emphasized the dignity of the human person in the realm of work and the call of all members of the Church to service, both to God and to others,<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The Church is a people who serves God; the Church is a people who lives in the freedom that he gives,” he told the assembly. And this service, he continued, is realized through prayer, adoration, the proclamation of the Gospel and charity in the ordinary of everyday life.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is much need for commitment in the service of others “in the face of situations of material and spiritual precariousness, especially in the face of unemployment, a plague that requires every effort and much courage on everyone’s part,” he said.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The challenges of work, he said, calls upon the particular responsibility of institutions and of the business and financial world.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is necessary to place the dignity of the human person at the centre of every prospect and every action. Other interests, even if legitimate, are secondary,” he said to applause. “At the centre is the dignity of the human person. Why? Because the human person is in the image of God, he was created in the image of God and we are all in the image of God!<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i>The Vatican Radio translation of Pope Francis’ homily follows below:</i></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The first reading reminded us of the characteristics of divine wisdom, which liberates from evil and oppression those who place themselves at the service of the Lord. In fact, he is not neutral, but in his wisdom he is close to people who are fragile, discriminated against and oppressed, who abandon themselves in trust to him. This experience of Jacob and Joseph, recounted in the Old Testament, reveals two essential aspects of the life of the Church. The Church is a people who serves God; the Church is a people who lives in the freedom that he gives.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First of all, we are a people who serves God. Service to God is realized in different ways, in particular in prayer, in adoration, in the proclamation of the Gospel and in the witness of charity. And always, the icon of the Church is the Virgin Mary, the “handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1,38; cfr 1,48). Immediately after having received the message from the Angel and having conceived Jesus, Mary leaves in a hurry to go to help her elderly relative Elizabeth. And, in this way, she showed that the preferred way to serve God is to serve our brothers and sisters who are in need.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At the school of the Mother, the Church learns to become every day “handmaid of the Lord”, to be ready to go to encounter situations of greatest need, to be caring toward the small and the excluded. But we are all called to live the service of charity in ordinary life, that is, in the family, in the parish, at work, with neighbours. It is the charity of everyday, ordinary charity.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The witness of charity is the main path of evangelization. In this, the Church has always been “on the front line”, a maternal and fraternal presence, which shares the difficulties and frailties of the people. In this way, the Christian community seeks to instil in society that “supplement of the soul”, which allows you to look beyond and to hope.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's what you also, dear brothers and sisters of this Diocese, are doing with generosity sustained by the pastoral zeal of your Bishop. I encourage you all, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful, to persevere on this path, serving God in the service of others and spreading everywhere the culture of solidarity. There is much need for this commitment, in the face of situations of material and spiritual precariousness, especially in the face of unemployment, a plague that requires every effort and much courage on everyone’s part. Because this challenge of work calls upon, in a particular way, the responsibility of institutions, of the business and financial world. It is necessary to place the dignity of the human person at the centre of every prospect and every action. Other interests, even if legitimate, are secondary. At the centre is the dignity of the human person. Why? Because the human person is in the image of God, he was created in the image of God and we are all in the image of God!<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Therefore, the Church is the people who serve the Lord. For this, it is the people who experiences his freedom and lives in this freedom that He gives. The Lord always give true freedom. First of all, the freedom from sin, from selfishness in all its forms: the freedom to give of oneself and to do so with joy, like the Virgin of Nazareth, who is free from herself, she does not close in on herself in her condition – and she would have had reason! – but thinks of those who, in that moment, has greater need. She is free in the freedom of God, which is realized in love. And this is the freedom that God has given us and we must not lose it: the freedom to adore God, to serve God and to serve him even in our brothers and sisters.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is the freedom that, by the grace of God, we experience in the Christian community, when we put ourselves at each other’s service, without jealousy, without taking sides, without chatter… Serving one another. Serving! Then the Lord frees us from ambition and rivalry, which undermine unity and communion. He frees us from distrust, sadness — look, this sadness is dangerous because it casts us down. It casts us down. It’s dangerous. Be careful. He frees us from fear, internal emptiness, isolation, regret, and complaints. Even in our communities, in fact, there is no shortage of negative attitudes that make people self-referential, more concerned with defending themselves than with giving of themselves. But Christ frees us from this existential greyness, as we proclaimed in the Responsorial Psalm, “You are my help and my deliverer”. For this reason, we disciples of the Lord, though still always weak and sinners – we are all so – still weak and sinners, we are called to live our faith with joy and courage, communion with God and with our brothers, adoration of God, and to face with strength the labours and trials of life.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Virgin, who you venerate in particular with the title of “Madonna della Libera”, attain for you the joy of serving the Lord and of walking in the freedom that He has given us, the freedom for adoration... May Mary help you to be a maternal Church, welcoming and caring towards everyone. May she always be beside you, your sick, your elderly, who are the wisdom of the people, and your youth. For all your people, may she be a sign of consolation and sure hope. May the Madonna della Libera accompany us, help us, console us and give us peace and joy.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i> Source: ICN/Vatican Radio</i></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-41612689438477349822014-07-03T22:29:00.001-04:002014-07-03T22:29:08.685-04:00Prayer for Independence Day<br><div><div><img src="webkit-fake-url://66AEA55D-7F58-4060-B4F1-D2B55D3C53B5/imagejpeg"></div><div><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" tabindex="0" aria-live="polite" style="outline: none; display: inline; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" tabindex="0" aria-live="polite" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="outline: none; display: inline; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><div id="id_53b61016502609503893329" class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br><br><b>Prayer for America</b></div></span></div><div><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" tabindex="0" aria-live="polite" style="outline: none; display: inline; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><b><br></b>"God of our Fathers, Shepherd of Thy people, Lord of free men's souls, <br>bless Thou our nation with a valiant, Godly spirit, with a vision to see, with the courage to try,<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br>with the power to achieve, that, marching behind Thee, Thy people shall not perish.<br>God, bless our America! Hear our prayer for our united peoples, grant guidance to our leaders,<br>protection to our sons, and teach each of us Thy way of life in good will and peace. Amen." </span></div></span></div><div><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" tabindex="0" aria-live="polite" style="outline: none; display: inline; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br></span></div></span></div><div><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" tabindex="0" aria-live="polite" style="outline: none; display: inline; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> <b><i> by Cardinal Francis Spellman</i></b></span></div></span><div class="fbPhotoPagesTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftPagesTagList"></div><div class="pts fbPhotoLegacyTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftLegacyTagList" style="padding-top: 5px;"><div></div></div><div class="mvm fbPhotosPhotoOwnerButtons stat_elem" id="fbPhotoSnowliftOwnerButtons" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px;"></div></div><div class="fbPhotosSnowliftFeedback" id="fbPhotoSnowliftFeedback" style="margin-top: 8px;"><div id="fbPhotoUndoSpamReport" style="color: rgb(20, 24, 35); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></div><span class="UIActionLinks UIActionLinks_bottom" data-ft="{"tn":"=","type":20}" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span data-reactid=".3d"></span></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-69859185612044950452014-06-24T08:08:00.001-04:002014-06-24T08:09:56.319-04:00Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist<div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAMXfjw3h3sa231tRCwPCcsuy8fQliUhd2yLjDulr2PpVQKj2eFx3XzeJ7t9z2vLN3jaZBV-V6E4vbRT-WyPE6NMqlCZM5sUinU-xGyk4VxogzZTyx1Hm60feg5M7gB3cDchwQjiLHUE/s640/blogger-image-448607952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAMXfjw3h3sa231tRCwPCcsuy8fQliUhd2yLjDulr2PpVQKj2eFx3XzeJ7t9z2vLN3jaZBV-V6E4vbRT-WyPE6NMqlCZM5sUinU-xGyk4VxogzZTyx1Hm60feg5M7gB3cDchwQjiLHUE/s640/blogger-image-448607952.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div id="cs_control_3683" class="cs_control CS_Element_Textblock" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="CS_Textblock_Text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="border: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px !important; padding-right: 10px !important;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist<br>Mass during the Day<br>Lectionary: 587</span></h3></div></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a name="ReadingComponents" id="ReadingComponents" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"></a><a name="CP_JUMP_3684" id="CP_JUMP_3684" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"></a></span><div id="cs_control_3684" class="cs_control CS_Element_Textblock" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="CS_Textblock_Text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="bibleReadingsWrapper" style="border: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 475px; margin-top: 8px !important;"><h4 style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: gray; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 475px; margin-bottom: 8px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; font-weight: bold !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Reading 1</span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49:1" style="border-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; margin: 1px 0px 0px; padding: 1px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; float: right;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">IS 49:1-6</span></font></a></h4><div class="poetry" style="border: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 475px; margin-top: 8px !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hear me, O coastlands,<br>listen, O distant peoples.<br>The LORD called me from birth,<br>from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.<br>He made of me a sharp-edged sword<br>and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.<br>He made me a polished arrow,<br>in his quiver he hid me.<br>You are my servant, he said to me,<br>Israel, through whom I show my glory.<br><br>Though I thought I had toiled in vain,<br>and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,<br>yet my reward is with the LORD,<br>my recompense is with my God.<br>For now the LORD has spoken<br>who formed me as his servant from the womb,<br>that Jacob may be brought back to him<br>and Israel gathered to him;<br>and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,<br>and my God is now my strength!<br>It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,<br>to raise up the tribes of Jacob,<br>and restore the survivors of Israel;<br>I will make you a light to the nations,<br>that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.<br></span></div></div><div class="bibleReadingsWrapper" style="border: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 475px; margin-top: 8px !important;"><h4 style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: gray; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 475px; margin-bottom: 8px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; font-weight: bold !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Responsorial Psalm </span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/139:1" style="border-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; margin: 1px 0px 0px; padding: 1px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; float: right;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">PS 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 14C-15</span></font></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></h4><div class="poetry" style="border: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 475px; margin-top: 8px !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">R. (14) <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 700 !important;">I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.</span><br>O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:<br>you know when I sit and when I stand;<br>you understand my thoughts from afar.<br>My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,<br>with all my ways you are familiar.<br>R. <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 700 !important;">I praise you for I am wonderfully made.</span><br>Truly you have formed my inmost being;<br>you knit me in my mother’s womb.<br>I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;<br>wonderful are your works.<br>R. <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 700 !important;">I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.</span><br>My soul also you knew full well;<br>nor was my frame unknown to you<br>When I was made in secret,<br>when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.<br>R. <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 700 !important;">I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.</span><br></span><h4 style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: gray; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 475px; margin-bottom: 8px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; font-weight: bold !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Reading 2</span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/13:22" style="border-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; margin: 1px 0px 0px; padding: 1px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; float: right;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ACTS 13:22-26</span></font></a></h4><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In those days, Paul said:<br>“God raised up David as king; <br>of him God testified,<br><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;<br>he will carry out my every wish</em>.<br>From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,<br>has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.<br>John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance<br>to all the people of Israel;<br>and as John was completing his course, he would say,<br>‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.<br>Behold, one is coming after me;<br>I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’<br><br>“My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham,<br>and those others among you who are God-fearing,<br>to us this word of salvation has been sent.”<br></span></div></div><div class="bibleReadingsWrapper" style="border: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 475px; margin-top: 8px !important;"><h4 style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: gray; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 475px; margin-bottom: 8px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; font-weight: bold !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gospel </span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/1:57" style="border-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; margin: 1px 0px 0px; padding: 1px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; float: right;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">LK 1:57-66, 80</span></font></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></h4><div class="poetry" style="border: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 475px; margin-top: 8px !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child<br>she gave birth to a son.<br>Her neighbors and relatives heard<br>that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,<br>and they rejoiced with her.<br>When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,<br>they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,<br>but his mother said in reply,<br>“No. He will be called John.”<br>But they answered her,<br>“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”<br>So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.<br>He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”<br>and all were amazed.<br>Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,<br>and he spoke blessing God.<br>Then fear came upon all their neighbors,<br>and all these matters were discussed<br>throughout the hill country of Judea.<br>All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,<br>“What, then, will this child be?”<br>For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.<br>The child grew and became strong in spirit, <br>and he was in the desert until the day<br>of his manifestation to Israel.</span></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-79828371424472480962014-06-19T07:55:00.001-04:002014-06-19T07:57:00.175-04:00Novena of the Sacred Heart<table dir="ltr" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><img src="http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/sacred_heart.jpg" width="349" height="184"></span></p><div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellspacing="1" width="600"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/Sacred.jpg" width="342" height="473"><br><br><u>Padre Pio recited this novena every day for all those who requested his prayers.</u></span></td><td><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus<br><br><br><strong>I.</strong> O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...... <em>(here name your request)</em><br>Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father....<strong>Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you</strong>. <br><br><br><strong>II.</strong> O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of.......<em>(here name your request)</em> Our Father...Hail Mary....Glory Be To the Father....<strong>Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you</strong>. <br><br><strong>III</strong>. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of.....<em>(here name your request)</em> Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father...<strong>Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you</strong>. <br><br>O <strong>Sacred Heart of Jesus</strong>, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours. <br>Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. <br>-- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque</span><p><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></center></div><p align="center"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/index.htm">Return to Sacred Heart Page</a><br><br></span></font></p></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Read more:</span><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/sh_novena.htm#ixzz355LiJAny" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/sh_novena.htm#ixzz355LiJAny</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-47176483452672546682014-06-15T07:22:00.001-04:002014-06-15T07:22:53.053-04:00Happy Father's Day<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRze4y508O4SwmGGEWdO-CgJigddeKYfsn3sDad-4iIuq6Aq1FkZbbpvAIoNksv1MzO-5tkOV5GwOnWLHemVjn7wZ6lSqNAHwluJg54NMpAvsZzS3e75oXKNnuxZExAejy-PJnV_ers0U/s640/blogger-image--1050575986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRze4y508O4SwmGGEWdO-CgJigddeKYfsn3sDad-4iIuq6Aq1FkZbbpvAIoNksv1MzO-5tkOV5GwOnWLHemVjn7wZ6lSqNAHwluJg54NMpAvsZzS3e75oXKNnuxZExAejy-PJnV_ers0U/s640/blogger-image--1050575986.jpg"></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-83114582616810173662014-06-13T08:04:00.001-04:002014-06-13T08:05:29.687-04:00Happy Feast of St. Anthony<h1 style="margin: 18px 0px 2px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclMpmX2yfjF0Oy2edQsN5eg7909hHvxCaKYYylguqIn-alJZKlOvSIM1ne_URyumSBUhWKqdCm8xdfqZVXtphxHN9R1AmKEKSGZeoswwF1xuw2auTUP42gJ1mAO18u9OJb92gAwvzPdM/s640/blogger-image--2131035044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclMpmX2yfjF0Oy2edQsN5eg7909hHvxCaKYYylguqIn-alJZKlOvSIM1ne_URyumSBUhWKqdCm8xdfqZVXtphxHN9R1AmKEKSGZeoswwF1xuw2auTUP42gJ1mAO18u9OJb92gAwvzPdM/s640/blogger-image--2131035044.jpg"></a></div>June 13, St. Anthony of Padua <span class="article-subtitle" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal;">I long to see your face, O Lord. — Psalm 27:8</span> <span class="articleAuthor" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.osv.com/Magazines/MyDailyVisitor/TabId/538/PID/12026/authorid/1283/AuthorName/MyDailyVisitor/Default.aspx" style="margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; text-decoration: none;">My Daily Visitor</a></span></span></h1><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></h3><span class="articleTimeStamp" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; display: block;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6/13/2014</span></span><div class="main_content article-body" style="margin: 15px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mass Readings: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061314.cfm" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;">1 Kings 19:9a,11-16/Matthew 5:27-32</strong></a><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;"></strong></span></p><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Recognizing the Lord</span></h3><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Where do we look for God? Most can find God in a church or a sacred space, a holy person, or the word of God. Generally we expect to find the Lord in obvious places, but this view is far too limiting. Elijah, I suppose, expected to find God in the strong wind, the earthquake, or the fire. But God was present in the soft whispering sound.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As St. Anthony discovered the presence of God in the poor, so must we seek to find God in every aspect of our life, not simply where we anticipate His presence. God is present in the great and powerful, but the Lord is equally found in the routine and the mundane, in the people and tasks of life we encounter each day. May we recognize God’s presence today.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;">Prayer: </strong>Lord, help me to find You in the people, events, and challenges of this day.</span></p></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-78977697038283871002014-06-09T11:29:00.001-04:002014-06-09T11:29:14.833-04:00St. EphremFrom Catholic Online<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX0xP-GZr0JryzMKMwzKWnF2UkN0Y7edyvyzWYjTPItQMeCU9vkJHJ-aytrtIePt9sttC8Gr7GC_TI6Rhng1U7JinumR6WMvz-DSv4Ext-JywZlt4mp90gSNnThrYwKx_MbjFSp7g-5k/s1600/ephrem-the-syrian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX0xP-GZr0JryzMKMwzKWnF2UkN0Y7edyvyzWYjTPItQMeCU9vkJHJ-aytrtIePt9sttC8Gr7GC_TI6Rhng1U7JinumR6WMvz-DSv4Ext-JywZlt4mp90gSNnThrYwKx_MbjFSp7g-5k/s1600/ephrem-the-syrian.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
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"I was born in the way of truth: though my childhood was unaware of the greatness of the benefit, I knew it when trial came."</div>
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Ephrem (or Eprhaim) the Syrian left us hundreds of hymns and poems on the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4554" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">faith</a> that inflamed and inspired the whole Church, but few facts about his own inspiring life.</div>
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Most historians infer from the lines quoted above that Ephrem was born into a <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2927" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Christian</a> <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4568" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">family</a> -- although not baptized until an adult (the trial or furnace), which was common at the time. Other than that little is known about his birth and youth although many guess he was born in the early fourth century in Mesopotamia, possibly in <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8503" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Nisibis</a> where he spent most of his adult life.</div>
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"He Who created two great lights, chose for Himself these three Lights, and set them in the three dark seasons of siege that have been."</div>
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Ephrem served as teacher, and possibly deacon, under four <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">bishops</a> of Nisibis, Jacob, Babu, Vologeses, and Abraham. The first three he describes in the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5998" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">hymn</a> quoted above written while Vologeses was still alive. As the verse states, Ephrem did not live in easy times in Nisibis.</div>
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"I have chanced upon weeds, my brothers, That wear the color of wheat, To choke the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5257" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">good</a> seed."</div>
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According to tradition, Ephrem began to write hymns in order to counteract the heresies that were rampant at that time. For those who think of hymns simply as the song at the end of <a href="http://www.catholic.org/prayers/mass.php" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Mass</a> that keeps us from leaving the church early, it may come as a surprise that Ephrem and others recognized and developed the power of music to get their points across. Tradition tells us that Ephrem heard the heretical ideas put into song first and in order to counteract them made up his own hymns. In the one below, his target is a Syrian heretic Bardesan who denied the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11728" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">truth</a> of the Resurrection:</div>
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"How he blasphemes justice, And <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5305" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">grace</a> her fellow-worker. For if the body was not raised, This is a great insult against grace, To say <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5305" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">grace</a> created the body for decay; And this is <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=10884" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">slander</a> against justice, to say<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6550" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">justice</a> sends the body to destruction."</div>
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The originality, imagery, and skill of his hymns captured the hearts of the Christians so well, that Ephrem is given credit for awakening the Church to the important of music and poetry in spreading and fortifying the faith.</div>
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Ephrem's home was in physical as well as spiritual danger. Nisibis, a target of Shapur II, the King of Persia, was besieged by him three times. During the third siege in in 350, Shapur's engineers turned the river out of its course in order to flood the city as Ephrem describes (speaking as Nisibis):</div>
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"All kinds of storms trouble me -- and you have been kinder to the Ark: only waves surrounded it, but ramps and weapons and waves surround me... O Helmsman of the Ark, be my pilot on dry land! You gave the Ark rest on the haven of a mountain, give me rest in the haven of my walls."</div>
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The flood, however, turned the tide against Shapur. When he tried to invade he found his army obstructed by the very waters and ruin he had caused. The defenders of the city, including Ephrem, took advantage of the chaos to ambush the invaders and drive them out.</div>
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"He has saved us without wall, and taught us that He is our wall: He has saved us without king and made us know that is our king: He has saved us, in each and all, and showed us that He is All."</div>
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In the end, however, <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8503" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Nisibis</a> lost. When Shapur defeated the Roman emperor Jovian, he demanded the city as part of the treaty. Jovian not only gave him the city but agreed to force the Christians to leave Nisibis. Probably in his fifties or sixties at that time, Ephrem was one of the refugees who fled the city in 363.</div>
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Sometime in 364 he settled as a solitary ascetic on Mount Edessa, at <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4161" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Edessa</a> (what is now Urfa) 100 miles east of his home.</div>
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"The <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=10963" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">soul</a> is your bride, the body is your bridal chamber..."</div>
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In the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11571" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">time</a> before monks and monasteries, many devout Christians drawn to a religious <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">life</a> dedicated themselves as ihidaya (single and single-minded followers of Christ). As one of these Eprhem lived an ascetic, celibate <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">life</a> for his last years.</div>
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Heresy and danger followed him to Edessa. The Arian Emperor Valens camped outside of <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4161" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Edessa</a>threatening to kill all the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2927" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Christian</a> inhabitants if they did not submit. But Valens was the one forced to give up in the face of the courage and steadfastness of the Edessans (fortified by Ephrem's hymns):</div>
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"The doors of her <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5867" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">homes</a> <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4161" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Edessa</a> Left open when she went forth With the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9041" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">pastor</a> to the grave, to die, And not depart from her faith. Let the city and fort and building And houses be yielded to the king; Our goods and our gold let us leave; So we part not from our faith!"</div>
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Tradition tells us that during the famine that hit <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4161" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">Edessa</a> in 372, Ephrem was horrified to learn that some citizens were hoarding food. When he confronted them, he received the age-old excuse that they couldn't find a fair way or honest <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9193" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">person</a> to distribute the food. Ephrem immediately volunteered himself and it is a sign of how respected he was that no one was able to argue with this choice. He and his helpers worked diligently to get food to the needy in the city and the surrounding area.</div>
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The famine ended in a year of abundant harvest the following year and Ephrem died shortly thereafter, as we are told, at an advanced age. We do not know the exact date or year of his death but June 9, 373 is accepted by many. Ephrem relates in his dying testament a childhood vision of his <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">life</a> that he gloriousl fulfilled:</div>
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"There grew a vine-shoot on my tongue: and increased and reached unto heaven, And it yielded fruit without measure: leaves likewise without number. It spread, it stretched wide, it bore fruit: all <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3475" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">creation</a>drew near, And the more they were that gathered: the more its clusters abounded. These clusters were the Homilies; and these leaves the Hymns. <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5217" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">God</a> was the giver of them: <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5201" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">glory</a> to Him for His grace! For He gave to me of His <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5257" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">good</a> pleasure: from the storehouse of His treasures."</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">In His Footsteps:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
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Has a song ever moved you so much that it changed or challenged your <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4554" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">faith</a> or lifestyle -- for <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5257" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">good</a> or bad? How do you feel about the music you sing during liturgy? Put your whole heart and <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=10963" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease;">soul</a> into the hymns you sing next. Listen to the words and let them speak to you.</div>
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Prayer:</div>
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Lord Jesus Christ, you have power over life and death. You know what is uncertain and obscure, and our thoughts and feelings are no secret from you.</div>
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Cleanse me from my hidden faults, for I have done evil and you have seen it. You Know how frail I am, in soul and in body.</div>
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Give me strength, Lord, in my weakness, and uphold me in my sufferings. Amen.</div>
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St. Ephrem the Syrian</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-6746368527896694982014-05-30T08:19:00.001-04:002014-05-30T08:19:52.670-04:00St. Joan of Arc - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online<a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=295#.U4h3Tjjh3jU.blogger">St. Joan of Arc - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-77998686893819357452014-05-29T10:16:00.001-04:002014-05-29T10:16:21.700-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_ohTPTqo-Zhb4JLfd1cYvN-uvZmBcEMVoFKgmzraYUpXAm2cW0h3y5TJCxk95WkXjEihBeL6ZLXiBsBM7EW2Yo9opVPjLo296wgp8MnMJbuTCGurKIC8i6fqhsdM2b8S3QvoRjfpy8w/s1600/quotepope.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_ohTPTqo-Zhb4JLfd1cYvN-uvZmBcEMVoFKgmzraYUpXAm2cW0h3y5TJCxk95WkXjEihBeL6ZLXiBsBM7EW2Yo9opVPjLo296wgp8MnMJbuTCGurKIC8i6fqhsdM2b8S3QvoRjfpy8w/s1600/quotepope.jpeg" height="306" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-20995033907881751642014-05-28T08:00:00.001-04:002014-05-28T08:05:29.892-04:00Join me in praying the Pentecost Novena<div><b><b><b><b><b><b><h3 align="center" style="display: inline !important;"><font style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></font></h3></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><b><b><b><b><b><b><h1 style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are invited...</font></h1><h3 align="center" style="display: inline !important;"><font><div><p style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Often, people wonder how to mark the Feast of Pentecost, where Christians celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our Church. This year, Pentecost is taking place on Sunday the 8th of June, and you are invited to join others around the world in prayer to mark the nine days between Ascension (2nd June) and the Pentecost Vigil.</span></p></div><div style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><b><b><b><b><b><h3 align="center" style="display: inline !important;"><font style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></font></h3></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><b><b><b><b><b><h3 align="center" style="display: inline !important;"><font style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuETdszesHzwKHBl2gIs1d9ShjwbONJO1TXzESuWAQl7mcxevfId8CYoPNVUMGzsPD1aSTkF42gsyYJT_2gTXC-ar8Uas72EKHxI4k433jYyyseQifDnTgOIHHr35HlT_XNAVrM3jBGg/s640/blogger-image-1374970634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuETdszesHzwKHBl2gIs1d9ShjwbONJO1TXzESuWAQl7mcxevfId8CYoPNVUMGzsPD1aSTkF42gsyYJT_2gTXC-ar8Uas72EKHxI4k433jYyyseQifDnTgOIHHr35HlT_XNAVrM3jBGg/s640/blogger-image-1374970634.jpg"></a></div><br></font></h3></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><b><b><b><b><b><h3 align="center" style="display: inline !important;"><font style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></font></h3></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">PENTECOST NOVENA</span></font></h3><h3 align="center"><div style="text-align: start;"><b><b><b><b><b style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b><b><b><b><b style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></h3><h3 align="center" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(9 days leading to Pentecost.)</h3><b><pre><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Holy Spirit, third Person of the Blessed Trinity,
Spirit of truth, love, and holiness,
proceeding from the Father and the Son,
and equal to Them in all things,
I adore You with all my heart.
Holy Spirit, confiding in Your deep,
personal love for me,
I am making this novena for the following request,
if it should be Your holy Will to grant it:
(State Your request here...)
Teach me, Divine Spirit,
to know and seek my last end;
grant me the holy fear of God;
grant me true contrition and patience.
Do not let me fall into sin.
Give me an increase of faith, hope, and charity,
and bring forth in my soul
all the virtues proper to my state of life.
Make me a faithful disciple of Jesus
and an obedient child of the Church.
Give me efficacious grace
sufficient to keep the Commandments
and to receive the Sacraments worthily.
Give me the four Cardinal Virtues,
Your Seven Gifts,
Your Twelve Fruits.
Raise me to perfection in the state of life
to which you have called me
and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Holy Spirit, Divine Spirit of light and love,
I consecrate to you my understanding,
heart, and will, my whole being,
for time and for eternity.
May my understanding be always submissive
to Your heavenly inspirations
and to the teaching of the Catholic Church,
of which You are the infallible Guide.
May my heart be ever inflamed with the love of God
and of my neighbour.
May my will be ever conformed to the Divine Will.
May my whole life be faithful
to the imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
to Whom with the Father and You
be honour and glory forever.
God, Holy Spirit, Infinite Love of the Father and the Son,
through the pure hands of Mary,
Your Immaculate Spouse,
I place myself this day,
and all the days of my life,
upon Your chosen altar,
the Divine Heart of Jesus,
as a sacrifice to You, consuming fire,
being firmly resolved now more than ever
to hear Your voice
and to do in all things Your most holy and adorable Will. </span></font></pre><pre><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><u>For the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit</u>
Blessed Spirit of Wisdom,
help me to seek God.
Make Him the centre of my life and order my life to Him,
so that love and harmony may reign in my soul.
Blessed Spirit of Understanding,
enlighten my mind,
that I may know and love the truths of faith
and make them truly my own.
Blessed Spirit of Counsel,
enlighten and guide me in all my ways,
that I may always know and do Your holy Will.
Make me prudent and courageous.
Blessed Spirit of Fortitude,
uphold my soul in every time of trouble or adversity.
Make me loyal and confident.
Blessed Spirit of Knowledge,
help me to know good from evil.
Teach me to do what is right in the sight of God.
Give me clear vision and firmness in decision.
Blessed Spirit of Piety,
possess my heart,
incline it to a true faith in You,
to a holy love of You, my God,
that with my whole soul I may seek You,
Who are my Father, and find You,
my best, my truest joy.
Blessed Spirit of Holy Fear,
penetrate my inmost heart
that I may ever be mindful of Your presence.
Make me fly from sin,
and give me intense reverence for God
and for my fellow men who are made in God’s image.
<u>Prayer</u>
Grant, we beg of You, Almighty God,
that we may so please Your Holy Spirit by our earnest prayers,
that we may, by His grace,
be freed from all temptations and merit
to receive the forgiveness of our sins.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Say 1 <a href="http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english/p04400.htm">Our Father...</a> </span></font></pre><pre><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Say 1 <a href="http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english/p03200.htm">Hail Mary...</a> </span></font></pre><pre><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and
Say 1 <a href="http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english/p02800.htm">Glory Be...</a> </span></font></pre><pre><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
enkindle in them the fire of Thy Love.
Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created,
and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, You have taught the hearts of Your faithful people
by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit.
Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things
and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.</span></font><font color="#000080" face="Times" size="3"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
</span></font></pre><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Times; font-size: medium; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-23338474499528581502014-05-22T13:37:00.001-04:002014-05-22T13:37:48.512-04:00Prayer<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<i>As a Secular Franciscan and all through my life, prayer has been a center part of my life.</i></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha49vZxRrQJI0HftcRVxXjy5IKOnvQDifWSmPmS4Fs9YTNPZlzpEQcr1IYKTA_kQM2T9VLsXZA9sXpRcesCHf7nHvGlKSCJn36XpzJV1vN0R6wCAM1l2Q7cQhAtKInCCtCm9V0pibjL4/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha49vZxRrQJI0HftcRVxXjy5IKOnvQDifWSmPmS4Fs9YTNPZlzpEQcr1IYKTA_kQM2T9VLsXZA9sXpRcesCHf7nHvGlKSCJn36XpzJV1vN0R6wCAM1l2Q7cQhAtKInCCtCm9V0pibjL4/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I pray all the time in many different places and times of day. Some of my prayer time is in silence and most of the time is in contemplation. Whether using books or reading the Gospel of the day, there are so many ways we can engage ourselves in conversation with God. For some, spontaneous prayer is difficult. That is ok. Start slowly use books and novenas etc. It will help guide you. I can think of no better way to begin the day and there is no other way to end it than with prayer! I am reading a book by Matthew Kelly. He gives a prayer Process which I find useful and wanted to share.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<i>The Prayer Process</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
1. Gratitude: Begin by thanking God in a personal dialogue for</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
whatever you are most grateful for today.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
2. Awareness: Revisit the times in the past twenty-four hours</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
when you were and were not the-best-version-of-yourself. Talk</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><i>~o </i></span>God about these situations and what you learned from them.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
3. Significant Moments: Identify something you experienced</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
today and explore what God might be trying to say to you</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
through that event (or person).</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
4. Peace: Ask God to forgive you for any wrong you have committed</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
(against yourself, another person, or him) and to fill you</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
with a deep and abiding peace.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
5. Freedom: Speak with God about how he is inviting you to</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
change your life, so that you can experience the freedom to be</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
the-best-version-of-yourself.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
6. Others: Lift up to God anyone you feel called to pray for today,</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
asking God to bless and guide them.</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
7. Finish by praying the Our Father.<br />
<br />
Having a prayerful life keeps us focused on God all day and everyday. It does not matter what the conversation is about or how long, God wants us and invites us to converse with Him. Jesus went off often to pray and most of the time He went off by himself. We all need a daily dose of solitude. A time to focus, to recenter our energies to what is really important.<br />
So , If you are not a prayerful person, try it.<br />
<br />
I guarantee, it will change your life and make you more joyful not to mention spiritual.<br />
Peace and Good<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-23554210279321659252014-05-21T08:16:00.001-04:002014-05-21T08:16:14.279-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="padding: 20px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 600px; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102);"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 600px;"><img src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/header.jpg" display="block" height="149" width="600" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"><div><div align="center"><div align="center"></div><table class="" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; height: 30px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a toddler learns to say "sorry," her father reflects on finding hope for forgiveness. <br>Read the post <strong><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99780&eid=814387">here</a></strong>.<br><br>Not registered to receive daily? <a class="nounder" href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99779&eid=814387" style="text-decoration: none;"> Signup </a><br></span></p></td></tr><tr><td class="" style="border: 0px; height: 30px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-style: italic;"><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>A component of </em><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99778&eid=814387"><strong>FaithND</strong></a><em>, an initiative of the Notre Dame Alumni Association.</em></span></p></td></tr><tr><td class="" style="border: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-style: italic;"><div align="center"><h2><em style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5/21/2014</em></h2></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div><img longdesc="x-apple-msg-load://6A006F0D-E110-4A7A-92F4-7FE6117B696C/Gospel%20Reading" alt="Gospel Reading" src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/gospel.jpg" height="60" width="600" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; width: 60px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></td><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 480px;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99777&eid=814387">Gospel - May 21, 2014</a><br><em>Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter<br><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99776&eid=814387">JN 15:1-8</a></em><br><br>Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. <br><br>“You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. <br><br>“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”<br><br><em>New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.<a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99775&eid=814387">Approved</a> by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. </em><br><br><br></span></font></td><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><img src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/hr.jpg" height="85" width="600" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"></div><div><img src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/reflection.jpg" height="55" width="600" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; width: 60px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></td><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 480px;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99774&eid=814387">Reflection - May 21, 2014</a><br>There is a great myth that is popular among many young people. I have heard some say that they are "spiritual but not religious." It seems to me that a person who is spiritual is also religious by necessity. In other words, no one can be spiritual in a vacuum; one needs some kind of expression of that spirituality, some concrete way to make that spirituality real. That is what religion does—it connects us to God through a community, and through ritual and prayer and song. These things make real what we believe. And we need those kinds of connections; we need to connect with God through habits and fellowship.<br><br>Today's Gospel is focused on the seventh (of seven) "I am" statements in the Gospel of John. Over and over again, Jesus is essentially saying, "Whatever you need, I AM. Are you hungry? I am the Bread of Life. Are you in the dark? I am the Light of the World. Are you lost? I am the Gate and I am Good Shepherd, who will seek and find you and call you by name. Are you caught up in death? I am the Resurrection and the Life, and I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." <br><br>Today Jesus says to us, "Are you disconnected? I am the Vine, you are the branches, and my Father is the vinegrower." In other words, we all fit together in God's world—this is where we belong and are connected, where we live and abide. Apart from that source, apart from that energy, eventually we cease to exist. <br><br>"Abide in me," Jesus says, "as I abide in you." The word "abide" appears eight times in these few verses, so it is obviously an important concept in this Gospel. The original word is also translated as "stay" or "remain," and this is what prayer is all about. The challenge of prayer is to "stay" with God, to connect and remain connected. To rephrase an old dictum, "Don't just do something, sit there!" <br><br>Often we find ourselves busy about many things when we are called to stop all of our activity and simply "abide" with God. In the end, as Jesus keeps telling us over and over again, all we really need is God.<br><br><em>Father Ed Shea, O.F.M, ‘78<br></em><br><br></span></font></td><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><img src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/hr.jpg" height="85" width="600" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"></div><div><img longdesc="x-apple-msg-load://6A006F0D-E110-4A7A-92F4-7FE6117B696C/Today's%20Prayer" alt="Today's Prayer" src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/prayer.jpg" width="600" height="52" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; width: 60px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></td><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 480px;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99773&eid=814387">Prayer - May 21, 2014</a><br>Lord, you made us your disciples through Baptism and you continue to confirm us in our faith through Word and Sacrament. Draw us closer to yourself, as branches to the vine, by every measure of grace and in every moment of our days. As always, we ask that you help us to trust in the presence of your Spirit and the mystery of the cross, our only hope. We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! <br><br><em>Father Michael Belinsky, C.S.C.<br></em><br><br></span></font></td><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><img src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/hr.jpg" height="85" width="600" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"></div><div><img src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/saintoftheday.jpg" height="52" width="600" style="border: 0px solid; display: block;"></div><table><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; width: 60px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></td><td style="border: 0px; width: 480px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">St. Constantine the Great, who ended the persecution of Christians and beheld a saving vision of the cross, pray for us! <a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99772&eid=814387">Read more...</a><br></span></td><td style="border: 0px; 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-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>my</em><span style="font-style: normal;">NotreDame Help Desk Phone:</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><a href="tel:574-631-1579" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="9/1" style="font-style: normal;">574-631-1579</a><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Email:</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><a class="ApplyClass" href="mailto:onlinehelp@alumni.nd.edu" style="font-style: normal;">onlinehelp@alumni.nd.edu</a></div></em><p></p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://mynotredame.nd.edu/em_open.aspx?seid=15431&mid=814387&eiid=9268" width="1" height="1" border="0" style="text-align: center;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-767329645869482232014-05-20T08:24:00.001-04:002014-05-20T08:24:12.927-04:00St. Bernardine and the Holy Name<div class="BlogPBody" style="float: left; width: 563px; padding: 10px 15px; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><img src="https://wordonfire.org/getmedia/d9e7c062-9f87-44b8-b3d2-da71d2301e7d/!-Header-HolyName.aspx" width="560" height="292" vspace="3" alt="" style="border: none;"><br><br>Today is the feast day of St. Bernardine of Siena, a 14th-century Italian priest and missionary. Fr. Steve Grunow shares his insights on the saint, reminding us to shake off the trappings of title and comfort in order to better understand the way of Christ.</em> <br><br><br>There is a remarkable portrait of the saint the Church celebrates today, Bernardine of Siena, by the Spanish master El Greco. <br><br>The portrait shows the saint as thin, ascetic and draped in his gray, Franciscan habit. In one hand he holds a staff, on which are emblazoned the letters "IHS" — an acronym for the name of Jesus. In his other hand is a Book of Gospels, for the saint was a renowned preacher. <br><br>One bare foot is visible beneath the hem of his habit, a sign of the saint's heroic willingness to eschew luxury and comfort in the face of a world enamored by such things. There is a story told that some old friends of the saint were taken aback by the saint's gaunt appearance, to which he remarked, "I am dying, you know. Each day I die to myself that Christ might live in me." <br><br>Also laid out at the saint's feet are three miters, the pointed hats worn by bishops as a symbol of their office. St. Bernardine was offered the office of bishop three times during his lifetime, and each time, out of humility, he simply refused. <br><br>St. Bernardine was an eloquent preacher, and much of his life was spent giving testimony to the power of Jesus Christ to redeem and save. He was also fearless in naming many of the social injustices of the time. There was no separation of one's faith from one's public responsibilities for St. Bernardine, and the saint was not afraid to let both civil and religious authorities know this. <br><br>The great theme of his preaching was the Holy Name of Jesus, for he believed that all our acts of selfishness, all our sins, come from a forgetting of who Jesus is. By recalling his name, we are reminded of the Lord, and our responsiblity before him. <br><br>St. Bernardine's emphasis on the Holy Name of Jesus is also a reminder to us that the source and center of the Church's proclamation is the Lord Jesus, not the personality or idiosyncratic interests of the preacher, or the pleasure and entertainment of the assembly. <br><br>True preaching is given over to the Lord, wholly and completely, and serves to draw the Church into relationship with her Lord and Savior. <br><br>May St. Bernardine intercede for us, and raise up out of the Church her preachers and teachers whose eloquence and wisdom will draw the world into communion with Christ in his Church. <br><br><em><br>Father Steve Grunow is the CEO of Word On Fire Catholic Ministries</em><em>.<br></em><br><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;"></span><div style="text-align: start;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://facebook.com/wordonfire"><img width="200" vspace="3" hspace="10" height="79" align="middle" src="https://wordonfire.org/getmedia/a8733ba0-40ac-4c23-be28-568c4f1cc533/%21%21%21%21facebook-blog.aspx" alt="" style="border: none;"></a><a href="http://twitter.com/WordOnFire"><img width="200" vspace="3" hspace="10" height="79" align="middle" src="https://wordonfire.org/getmedia/09aab3be-5a44-4ecb-96a8-ee3e62bdbcc7/%21%21%21%21twitter-blog.aspx" alt="" style="border: none;"></a></span></font></div><br></div><span style="color: rgb(61, 61, 61); font-family: Arial, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222);"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-73128968586386349092014-05-19T08:03:00.001-04:002014-05-19T08:07:08.040-04:00Gospel - May 19, 2014<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOsrQR2svslt9IyRdokLFWZT1nDebIADVgq4MkpPzjSshlkpx8Y0YC9OcZqvFbrO_ssAP-UgQVzw3tkEsvhozxT2OGlDNF6GTgasX-XNCZPlQVEDeu2j1117d77eATa2ShSSbHkwrs4M/s640/blogger-image-174856252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOsrQR2svslt9IyRdokLFWZT1nDebIADVgq4MkpPzjSshlkpx8Y0YC9OcZqvFbrO_ssAP-UgQVzw3tkEsvhozxT2OGlDNF6GTgasX-XNCZPlQVEDeu2j1117d77eATa2ShSSbHkwrs4M/s640/blogger-image-174856252.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> Today we reflect on the Gospel. Jesus promises us the gift of the Holy Spirit</div><div>and what a great gift it is! We are given the gift of faithfulness that resides inside of us. Jesus is always with us. We are never alone! We must be faithful and work in his name.</div><div>Let him guide you, let him in and work through you so that you can build the kingdom of God today and always!</div><div><br></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 480px;"><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 17px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><em>Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter<br><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99514&eid=814387">JN 14:21-26</a><br></em><br>Jesus said to his disciples, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” <br><br>Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.<br><br>“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”<br><br><em>New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. <a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99512&eid=814387">Approved</a> by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops</em></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 480px;"><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 17px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=99508&eid=814387">Prayer - May 19, 2014</a><br>Dear Jesus, you promise to be with us through the your Spirit, our Advocate. Bless us with your presence and the gift of your guidance. May our efforts bring you glory. Amen! <br><br><em>Father Michael Belinsky, C.S.C</em></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-37819476862851936762014-05-16T08:42:00.001-04:002014-05-16T08:42:47.505-04:00Can you answer the call?<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2LR-uOZxJRsrhE6x3kQikVqsJ3uAje7ElQ6FeVKRro3kx85sgnohvSeSIfyDgyMKxQt8LCKJdSFooHe6x6Ksqh2tPUS6gX_hyphenhyphenlinpL85bxUsRCowADDBJvwBwi83WUG1X7gr2cmkRPI/s640/blogger-image-1440852645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2LR-uOZxJRsrhE6x3kQikVqsJ3uAje7ElQ6FeVKRro3kx85sgnohvSeSIfyDgyMKxQt8LCKJdSFooHe6x6Ksqh2tPUS6gX_hyphenhyphenlinpL85bxUsRCowADDBJvwBwi83WUG1X7gr2cmkRPI/s640/blogger-image-1440852645.jpg"></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-79554674624165912192014-05-15T07:48:00.001-04:002014-05-15T07:51:12.533-04:00Abandonment to Divine Providence<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>From the Colettine Sisters</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Abandonment to Divine Providence</b></span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(The Sacrament of the Present Moment)<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b> </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qyMwlkJZKAiUQcgLm7YM9H522-MYADDKtxxbOPn4QBNqUvFSAi1p5jJCdk4Ky7WJYssb_WFDySUJJOhkxAX3r4-Ekxn55nc0u8r9aICwL7znkoEt4t1R8Nej6unH_RPeG5qZfxUB50M/s640/blogger-image-184480583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qyMwlkJZKAiUQcgLm7YM9H522-MYADDKtxxbOPn4QBNqUvFSAi1p5jJCdk4Ky7WJYssb_WFDySUJJOhkxAX3r4-Ekxn55nc0u8r9aICwL7znkoEt4t1R8Nej6unH_RPeG5qZfxUB50M/s640/blogger-image-184480583.jpg"></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: start; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“ In reality, holiness consists of one thing only: complete loyalty to God’s will “<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear Little hearts,<o:p></o:p></b></p><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="95%" style="width: 618px; border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr style="height: 3pt;"><td width="12" style="width: 7.1pt; padding: 1.8pt; height: 3pt;"></td><td width="925" valign="top" style="width: 554.9pt; padding: 1.8pt; height: 3pt;"></td></tr><tr style="height: 7.8pt;"><td width="12" style="width: 7.1pt; padding: 1.8pt; height: 7.8pt;"></td><td width="925" valign="top" style="width: 554.9pt; padding: 1.8pt; height: 7.8pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">May the Holy Spirit be with us to guide us and give us light and insights into this work that he created through Jean-Pierre<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First is an extract from the actual book and after, a few simple thoughts from sister ex corde.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><u>Section 1.Abandonment to Divine Providence.</u><br><br>God continues to speak to-day as He spoke in former times to our fathers when there were no directors as at present, nor any regular method of direction. Then all spirituality was comprised in fidelity to the designs of God, for there was no regular system of guidance in the spiritual life to explain it in detail, nor so many instructions, precepts and examples as there are now.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Doubtless our present difficulties render this necessary, but it was not so in the first ages when souls were more simple and straightforward. Then, for those who led a spiritual life, each moment brought some duty to be faithfully accomplished. Their whole attention was thus concentrated consecutively like a hand that marks the hours which, at each moment, traverses the space allotted to it. Their minds, incessantly animated by the impulsion of divine grace, turned imperceptibly to each new duty that presented itself by the permission of God at different hours of the day.<o:p></o:p></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From the heart to you.<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The practise of our Christian faith has to be practical, it must apply, be lived out in the lives we live. Simplicity is a beautiful virtue and one we can learn, the modern spiritual pilgrim often takes an all too sophisticated path, accumulating a great many books, seminars, workshops, digital appliances, internet, etc etc.,.... these things are all good and have value, but in times past man simply put, ot tried to put the word of God into practise, trusted in. In many ways we can no longer see the wood for the trees.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The brilliance of Jean- Pierre is the ability to see and understand that God comes to us in the very ordinary , daily things of life.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you follow this path that Jean-Pierre offers you it will lead to inner peace and happiness. ( to be cont)<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">..................................................................................<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To listen to clear well presented chapter by chapter readings of,<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“ Abandonment to Divine Providence”- Jean Paul de Cassuade please go to the Boston Journal at the following link. A free printable download and also directions to load onto a disc if so required.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.boston-catholic-journal.com/abandonment-to-divine-providence-free-audio-book.htm">http://www.boston-catholic-journal.com/abandonment-to-divine-providence-free-audio-book.htm</a><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">FROM THE POPE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="EN"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear brothers and sisters !<br>In recent catechesis, we examined the first three gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding and counsel. Today we think about what the Lord does, He always comes to support us in our weakness with a special gift, the gift of fortitude .<br>1. There is a parable told by Jesus, which helps us to grasp the importance of this gift. A sower goes out to sow; not all the seed he sows, however, bears fruit. What ends up on the street is eaten by birds; what falls on stony ground or among thorns sprouting, but is soon dried by the sun or choked by the thorns. Only what ends up on the good soil can grow and bear fruit (cf. Mk 4.3 to 9 / / Mt 13:3-9 / / Luke 8.4 to 8 ) . As Jesus himself said to his disciples, the Father is the sower, who sows the seed of His Word abundantly. The seed, however, often clashes with the aridness of our hearts and, even when welcomed, is likely to remain sterile. Instead with the gift of fortitude the Holy Spirit frees the soil of our heart from torpor, uncertainties and all the fears that can stop it, so that the Word of God can be put into practice, in an authentic and joyful way. This is a real help, this gift of fortitude it gives us strength and frees us from many obstacles.<br>2 . There are difficult moments and extreme situations in which the gift of fortitude is manifested in an extraordinary, exemplary way. This is the case of those who are facing particularly harsh and painful experiences, that disrupt their lives and those of their loved ones. The Church shines with the testimony of so many brothers and sisters who have not hesitated to give their lives, in order to remain faithful to the Lord and His Gospel . Even today there are numerous Christians in many parts of the world who continue to celebrate and witness to their faith with deep conviction and serenity, and resist even when they know that this can result in them paying a very high price. All of us know people, people who have experienced difficult situations, so much pain, let us think of those men and women who have a difficult life, who fight for the survival of their family, educate their children. They do this because the Spirit of fortitude helps them. How many, many men and women - whose names we do not know – honor our people, honor our Church because they are strong in carrying forward their lives, their work, their family, their faith – these our brothers and sisters are saints! Every day saints! Hidden saints among us! They have the gift of fortitude in carrying on in their duty as people, mother, father, brother, sister citizen. We have so many so many. Let us thank the Lord for these Christians who are the hidden saints among us. But is the Spirti within who carry them forward and it would do us good to think of these people. If they do this, if they can do this then why not me and we ask the Lord to give us the gift of fortitude.<br><br>3 . With this, we must not think that the gift of fortitude is only necessary on some occasions or in certain situations. This gift must be the base note of our being Christians, in our ordinary everyday lives. As I said we must have fortitude in our everyday life as Christians we need this fortitude to carry on in our lives, our families our faith. Paul, the Apostle Paul, said something that it would do us all good to hear: "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me" (Phil. <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://4" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4">4:13</a>).<br><br>In our everyday life, in difficult times it would do us good to say this "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me”. The Lord always gives us strength, Lord never gives us more than we can handle, "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me”.<br><br>Dear friends, sometimes we may be tempted to allow ourselves be overtaken by laziness or despondency, especially when faced with the hardships and trials of life. In these cases, do not lose heart, but invoke the Holy Spirit, so that with the gift of fortitude He can lift our hearts and communicate new vigor and enthusiasm to our lives and our following Jesus.<br><br></span><br></span></b></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-39544669378050530702014-05-11T14:50:00.001-04:002014-05-13T14:15:41.919-04:00The Colettine Sisters<p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8TvHS5ZGHgxI_O8wkJ5JlFIOCFLeVDM0wUgrtqYMS3SbwHAsq_cBcZBylRsSzl7FrbZyv3IriLlXd4EPSmmsIWpGlEGhrhKbp1zQJxRbbDt7s6ngdKMLP-QPUQdOrKyVHmA07D36a7Q/s640/blogger-image--236488361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8TvHS5ZGHgxI_O8wkJ5JlFIOCFLeVDM0wUgrtqYMS3SbwHAsq_cBcZBylRsSzl7FrbZyv3IriLlXd4EPSmmsIWpGlEGhrhKbp1zQJxRbbDt7s6ngdKMLP-QPUQdOrKyVHmA07D36a7Q/s640/blogger-image--236488361.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Abandonment & Surrender of love.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><br></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear Little hearts,<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The word abandonment has a variety of definitions, but to begin with let us focus upon abandonment as a total and utter surrender to God. To learn to be able to abandon oneself to God is a life long journey, and it means letting go of everything, our fears, our perception as to how things should be, how a situation or person , should be, and how it and they actually are.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But the way of abandonment it is way so pleasing to God. Above all it asks trust of us, and because we are often so wounded by life and others this is anything but easy, BUT by His grace we can do all things. This challenging prayer from the heart of Charles de Foucauld was the fruit of a life that underwent a deep conversion and transformation. It is not an easy prayer to pray if we really assent to all it says, but it is an ideal to pray and work towards.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over the next few days let us look at this prayer more closely and see what it will say to each of us.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: start;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Father,</b></div><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="text-align: start;"><b>I abandon myself into your hands;</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>do with me what you will.</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>Whatever you may do, I thank you:</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>I am ready for all, I accept all.</b></div><o:p></o:p></b><p></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First of all and above all it is addressed to our Heavenly Father, the God and Father who loves me. It is a prayer in relationship to a Father.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is a trust that underneath all life’s circumstances are the everlasting arms, that we can lean on and be held by.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The prayer reveals the total confidence and trust by the one who composed it that whatever happens God knows what He is doing and that He knows best even if we are in total perplexity. I can only be ready, if I prepare my heart and soul to surrender in the ordinary, daily duties that my state of life asks of me. If I make the effort to live in his will<o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(To be cont)<br><br><o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Prayer of Abandonment<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: start;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Father,</b></div><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="text-align: start;"><b>I abandon myself into your hands;</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>do with me what you will.</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>Whatever you may do, I thank you:</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>I am ready for all, I accept all.</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><br></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>Let only your will be done in me,</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>and in all your creatures -</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>I wish no more than this, O Lord.</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><br></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>Into your hands I commend my soul:</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>and with boundless confidence,</b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b>for you are my Father.</b></div></b><p></p><p align="center" style="text-align: start; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;"><b><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Charles de Foucauld</i></b></p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-20657682331535353782014-05-09T07:57:00.001-04:002014-05-09T07:58:10.164-04:00Sharing a great Blog!<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://wordonfire.org/App_Themes/CorporateSite/Images/blogHeader.jpg" alt="The Word On Fire Blog" width="576" height="120" style="padding: 0px 0px 20px;"></span><div class="interGenLeftInt" style="float: left; width: 595px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="float: left; width: 600px; height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><h1 class="wofBlog_DetailH1" style="float: left; width: 570px; padding: 0px 0px 7px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A Leper for Christ: St. Damien of Molokai and Solidarity</span></h1></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><br></span><div class="BlogPBody" style="float: left; width: 563px; padding: 10px 15px; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><img src="https://wordonfire.org/getmedia/5aa4b1ef-7f6b-47db-b755-a4a5c6cb4383/!-Header-lepers.aspx" width="560" height="292" vspace="3" alt="" style="border: none;"><br><br>When St. Damien of Molokai contracted leprosy in 1884, he wasn't angered by the disease. He appeared poised and resolute to friends. As Brandon Vogt demonstrates today, in this excerpt from his forthcoming book, </em><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saints-Social-Justice-Guide-Changing/dp/1612786901/?tag=ththve-20">"Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World"</a></em><em>, St. Damien considered his suffering the ultimate act of solidarity.</em> <br><br><br>When Damien de Veuster arrived in Hawaii in 1864, he found an island-community beset by infections. Over the years, travelers and seamen had introduced diseases like influenza and syphilis. Yet none were as bad as Hansen’s Disease, more commonly known as leprosy. First reported in Hawaii in 1840, leprosy devastated people in many ways. First, because the disease was highly contagious and untreatable until the 1930s, people contracting it had no hope of recovery. This often led to deep depression among its sufferers. Second, leprosy caused a progressive degeneration of their skin, eyes, and limbs. It thus disfigured people and eventually immobilized them. Finally, few diseases isolated people from their communities as much as leprosy. Sufferers were seen as outcasts and cautioned to stay away from everyone else. <br><br>In 1866, to curb the spread of the disease, Hawaiian authorities decided to consign lepers to an isolated community on the island of Molokai. On three sides, the colony, called Kalaupapa, bordered the Pacific Ocean, and the fourth side featured massive, 1,600-foot cliffs. Once the lepers were out of sight and no longer a threat to the general population, the government turned a blind eye to their basic needs. Shipments of food and supplies slowed down, and the government removed most of its personnel. The result was a highly dysfunctional community marked by poverty, alcoholism, violence, and promiscuity. <br><br>Puritan missionaries became convinced that leprosy stemmed from the people’s licentiousness. But Damien knew that wasn’t true. He believed the people on Molokai were basically good, not corrupt, and that sin did not cause the spread of the disease. <br><br>In time, Damien came to see the neglected colony as the answer to his boyhood longings for adventurous missionary work. He asked the local bishop for permission to go to Molokai, and the bishop not only granted approval, but personally accompanied Damien to the island. He introduced Damien to the 816 community members as “one who will be a father to you and who loves you so much that he does not hesitate to become one of you, to live and die with you". <br><br>This introduction didn’t surprise Damien, who had no illusions about what his mission would entail. He knew working in the disease-ridden colony virtually guaranteed that he would become infected, too. Yet he never wavered in his commitment. <br><br>At first, the conditions around the lepers proved overwhelming. Damien often felt as if he had opened a door to hell. Victims wandered about, their bodies in ruin and their constant coughing the island’s most familiar sound. Damien could hardly bear the stench: <br><br></span><blockquote><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Many a time in fulfilling my priestly duties at the lepers' homes, I have been obliged, not only to close my nostrils, but to remain outside to breathe fresh air. To counteract the bad smell, I got myself accustomed to the use of tobacco. The smell of the pipe preserved me somewhat from carrying in my clothes the obnoxious odor of our lepers."</span></blockquote><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>Eventually Damien overcame the distressing sights and smells. His superiors had given him strict advice: “Do not touch them. Do not allow them to touch you. Do not eat with them.” But Damien made the decision to transcend his fear of contagion and enter into solidarity with the Molokai lepers. He committed to visit every leper on the island and to inquire of their needs. <br><br>One early realization was that to show the lepers the value of their lives, he had to first demonstrate the value of their deaths. So he built a fence around the local cemetery, which pigs and dogs regularly scavenged. He also constructed coffins and dug graves, committing that each leper, even if marginalized throughout his life, would receive a decent burial upon death. This had a remarkably uplifting effect on the community. <br><br>Damien also devoted his attention to the sick. He brought the sacraments to bedridden lepers. He washed their bodies and bandaged their wounds. He tidied their rooms and did all he could to make them as comfortable as possible. <br><br>What surprised the lepers most was that Damien touched them. Other missionaries and doctors shrank from the lepers. In fact, one local doctor only changed bandages with his cane. But Damien not only touched the lepers, he also embraced them, he dined with them, he put his thumb on their forehead to anoint them, and he placed the Eucharist on their tongues. All of these actions spoke volumes to the dejected lepers. They showed that Damien didn’t want to serve them from afar; he wanted to become one of them. <br><br>Damien was careful never to present himself as a messianic figure. soaring in from a higher, more privileged position. He invited lepers to join in the work, turning his service to the community into an act of solidarity. He had them help build everything from coffins to cottages. When the colony expanded along the island’s peninsula, his leper friends helped construct a new road. Under his supervision, the lepers even blasted away rocks on the shoreline to create a new docking facility. Damien also taught the lepers to farm, raise animals, play musical instruments, and sing. Although the lepers were used to being patronized or bullied, Damien spread among them a new cheer and sense of worth. <br><br>This refreshing spirit impressed visitors to the island. "I had gone to Molokai expecting to find it scarcely less dreadful than hell itself," wrote Englishman Edward Clifford in 1888, "and the cheerful people, the lovely landscapes, and comparatively painless life were all surprises. These poor people seemed singularly happy." <br><br>Despite the idyllic community Damien had built through a decade of work, the moment he feared finally arrived in December 1884. One day, while soaking his feet in extremely hot water, Damien experienced no sensation of heat or pain—a tell-tale sign that he had contracted leprosy. The disease quickly developed, causing Damien to write to his bishop with the news: “Its marks are seen on my left cheek and ear, and my eyebrows are beginning to fall. I shall soon be completely disfigured. I have no doubt whatever of the nature of my illness, but I am calm and resigned and very happy in the midst of my people. The good God knows what is best for my sanctification. I daily repeat from my heart, ‘Thy will be done.’” <br><br>Soon, he also wrote home to his brother: “I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.” <br><br>Even before contracting the disease, Damien spoke of himself and the people of Molokai as “we lepers.” He identified closely with those he came to serve and thus, before and after the disease, offered a powerful, concrete expression of solidarity. And it was for that reason he become known not by his homeland, but by the island community he served—St. Damien of Molokai, patron of lepers. <br><br><br><br><em>Brandon Vogt is the Content Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. His forthcoming book, </em><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saints-Social-Justice-Guide-Changing/dp/1612786901/?tag=ththve-20"><em>Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World</em></a>, debuts later this month</em><em>.<br></em><br><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;"></span><font><div style="text-align: start;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://facebook.com/wordonfire"><img width="200" vspace="3" hspace="10" height="79" align="middle" src="https://wordonfire.org/getmedia/a8733ba0-40ac-4c23-be28-568c4f1cc533/%21%21%21%21facebook-blog.aspx" alt="" style="border: none;"></a><a href="http://twitter.com/WordOnFire"><img width="200" vspace="3" hspace="10" height="79" align="middle" src="https://wordonfire.org/getmedia/09aab3be-5a44-4ecb-96a8-ee3e62bdbcc7/%21%21%21%21twitter-blog.aspx" alt="" style="border: none;"></a></span></font></div><div><br></div></font></div><font color="#3d3d3d" face="Arial, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); font-size: 11px;"></span></font></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831827059133620910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908810201082224158.post-2297197837136892152014-05-06T13:00:00.001-04:002014-05-06T13:00:49.186-04:00<img height="149" src="http://imodroot.imodulescontent.com/s/1210/images/gid609/editor/dailyprayer/header/header.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" width="600" /><br />
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<em>A component of </em><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=97560&eid=814387" style="color: #777777;"><strong>FaithND</strong></a><em>, an initiative of the Notre Dame Alumni Association.</em></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 60px;"> </td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; width: 480px;"><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=97559&eid=814387" style="color: #777777;">Gospel - May 6, 2014</a><br /><em>Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter<br /><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=97557&eid=814387" style="color: #777777;">JN 6:30-35</a></em><br /><br />The crowd said to Jesus, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”<br /><br />Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”<br /><br />Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”<br /><br /><em>New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. <a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=97555&eid=814387" style="color: #777777;">Approved</a> by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. </em><br /><br /></td><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 60px;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 60px;"> </td><td style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; width: 480px;"><a href="http://faith.nd.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=97553&eid=814387" style="color: #777777;">Reflection - May 6, 2014</a><br />I’m not sure what classic movies play in your house around the Christmas season but we always watch “The Santa Clause.” One of my favorite moments is when little 6-year old Charlie turns to his step-father, a well-trained psychiatrist, and says, “Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”<br /><br />In today’s reading, people ask for a sign so they can believe. They know the story of their ancestors receiving manna, so they are searching for some source of outward proof in order to establish their belief. Instead of a sign, Jesus tells them to turn inward: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”<br /><br />We claim to have faith. We claim to believe in Jesus. But how many of us can truly say we approach Jesus as our bread of life? He invites us to completely and fully come to him. To do so, we must leave other attachments, but we will find that Jesus nourishes us deeply.<br /><br />What do we hunger for? New shoes? A fancy car? Signs or symbols? A miracle? Imagine not hungering for anything. What a sense of fulfillment and peace this would bring!<br /><br />Today, let us feed the spirit. Let us contemplate that for which we hunger and give God the chance to fulfill our deepest longings.<br /><br /><em>Stephanie Felicetti ‘09<br />Director, Student Athlete Career Program</em></td></tr>
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