"Only love can enlarge my heart."'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Pius V, Pope, O.P. (1504-1572; A.K.A. Antonio Ghislieri, Michele Ghislieri), two hundred twenty-fifth (CCXXV) Bishop of Rome; who implemented the reforms of the Council of Trent; organized the Holy League that won the Battle of Lepanto, which he celebrated by instituting the Feast of Our Lady of Victory; & excommunicated the English queen Elizabeth I through the papal bull Regnans in Excelsis: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff; Wikipedia-link Council; Wikipedia-link League, Wikipedia-link Lepanto, & Wikipedia-link Madonna of Victory; & Wikipedia-link Regnans in Excelsis.
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
Pope Saint Pius V, born Antonio Ghislieri, was head of the Catholic Church & ruler of the Papal States. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, & the standardization of the Roman Rite within the Latin Church.'Tis also the festival of Blessed William Southerne, Priest & Martyr (circa 1569-1618), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king James VI & I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to inspire, strengthen, and defend his followers. Speaking to his disciples the night before he dies, Jesus tells them that he and his Father will send another Parakletos. The word, from kaleo (to call) and para (for, or on behalf of) designates something like an advocate or a lawyer, someone who would plead on behalf of another, offering support and encouragement.Video reflection by Msgr. Jams Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Jesus will depart physically from the scene, but he and his Father will send the Spirit as a friend. This is the supporter, the Advocate who will inspire Christians up and down the ages.
When the martyrs went to their deaths, it was with the help of the Holy Spirit; when the missionaries went to proclaim the faith in hostile lands, it was the Holy Spirit who pleaded on their behalf; when Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling, it was the Holy Spirit who lifted him up; and when Thomas Aquinas wrote his theological masterpieces, it was at the prompting of the Advocate.
What is the Advocate prompting you to do today?
"[The Virgin Mary] by her seed has crushed the head of the twisted serpent, & has alone destroyed all heresies, & by the blessed fruit of her womb has saved a world condemned by the fall of our first parent. From her, without human hand, was that stone cut, which, struck by wood, poured forth the abundantly flowing waters of graces."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572, feast day: 30 April)
"Christians, instead of arming themselves with swords, extend their hands in prayer."
—St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church (296-373, feast day: 2 May)
Friends, our passage today is from the beautiful, evocative, and challenging fifteenth chapter of John’s Gospel. Jesus declares that he is the vine and we are the branches. He is the power and energy source in which we live. This vine and branches image is closely related, therefore, to Paul’s metaphor of the Body of Christ.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The point is that we live in him and he in us. Jesus is the source of supernatural life in us, and without him we would have none of it. If you are separated from the vine, you will die spiritually; if you are connected to it, you will live a supernatural life.
What does this mean concretely? It means a steady immersion in the prayer of the Church and steady communion with God, and speaking to him on a regular basis. It means an immersion in the Scriptures and soaking in the truth of the Bible. It means engaging in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
And you must participate in the sacraments—especially confession and the Eucharist. By the sacraments, we stay close to the Christ who forgives our sins and enlivens our spirits.
G. K. Chesterton wrote, "Christianity has not been tried & found wanting; it has been found difficult & not tried." This is particularly true of Catholicism. Of all the many people I know who have rejected Catholicism, or who are critical of it, I do not know a single person who has truly explored & embraced the Catholic lifestyle. If you humbly open your heart, mind, & soul to the genius of Catholicism, you will not find it wanting.†
"With Catherine of Siena & so many other 'Saints of the Cross' let us hold on tightly to our most sweet & merciful Redeemer, Whom Catherine called Christ-Love. In His pierced Heart is our hope."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
"Where do these desires to make known the secrets of Your Love come from? You alone can have taught them to me. You alone can reveal them to others."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"The power of obedience! The lake of Gennesareth had denied its fishes to Peter's nets. A whole night in vain. Then, obedient, he lowered his net again to the water & they caught 'a huge number of fish.' Believe me: the miracle is repeated each day."
—St. Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975, feast day: 26 June)
"When I think of how I'm feeling right now,I hope & trust one & all enjoyed this eighth edition of SKApril. Remember, ska is dead; so, don't stop skanking! "Ska, ska ska!"
Somehow I still remember how I felt four years ago,
And when I think of how things are right now,
The same old stuff from years ago…"
"She's cute, she's cool, she's totally rad,
Her swing and her smile, it's driving me mad,
She's coming to the show tonight,
But if she won't dance with me that's alright.
"She's cute, she's cool, she's totally rad,
Her swing and her smile, it's driving me mad,
She came out to the show tonight,
And then we danced all through the whole night."
St. Peter was a Catholic priest, missionary, & martyr. His zeal was widely respected, & his care, particularly of those in the parish [who] were sick.'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, Priest, T.O.S.D. (1673-1716), founder of the Company of Mary, the Daughters of Wisdom, & the Gabrielite Brothers, formally the Brothers of Christian Instruction of Saint Gabriel; also author of the spiritual classics Secret of Mary, Secret of the Rosary, & True Devotion to Mary: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Company, Wikipedia-link Daughters, & Wikipedia-link Brothers; & Wikipedia-link Secret of Mary, Wikipedia-link Secret of the Rosary, & Wikipedia-link True Devotion to Mary.
St. Louis was a French Roman Catholic priest & confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher & was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI. Montfort is known for his particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary & the practice of praying the Rosary.'Tis also the festival of Blessed Marie-Louise of Jesus, Religious (1684-1759, A.K.A. Marie-Louise Trichet), co-foundress of the Daughters of Wisdom: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Daughters.
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares his mutual indwelling with God: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”Video reflection by Deacon Bernard Nojadera: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Charles Williams, a friend of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, stated that the master idea of Christianity is “coinherence,” what he described as mutual indwelling.
But we sometimes forget that we are all interconnected. How do we often identify ourselves? Almost exclusively through the naming of relationships: we are sons, brothers, daughters, mothers, fathers, members of organizations, or members of the Church.
Yet read the Gospel today and see how Jesus identifies himself. Jesus reveals the coinherence that obtains within the very existence of God. “Lord,” Philip said to him, “show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus replied, “Philip, after I have been with you all this time, you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
How can this be true, unless the Father and the Son coinhere in each other? Though Father and Son are really distinct, they are utterly implicated in each other by a mutual act of love. As Jesus says, “It is the Father who lives in me accomplishing his works.”
"Wherever there is a heart that overcomes selfishness, violence, & hatred—wherever there is a heart that reaches out to someone in need—Christ is risen from the dead, risen today… May the whole world rise in Him. Alleluia."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
"Nothing is sweeter than to think well of others."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Sometimes I think how about just how crazy you must be
To be driven by the streams of popularity,
You try to suck me in, but, no, I won't go!
"Why do you chase me? I'll just never know,
I'm tired of this game, it's all just for show
You're dyin' by tryin', so please let me go…"
"Paulina (Paulina), you know this isn't me (Paulina),
I've been dishonest, now it's time to come clean,
I said, Paulina (Paulina), I'm the one for you, you'll see (Paulina),
Just as soon as you see me,
Just as soon as you see me,
Just as soon as you see me,
Just as soon as you see me!"
"You think I'm square,
Don't like the clothes I wear,
The way I comb my hair,
The way I sit and stare at you,
It's just a game to take the spotlight off of me,
I'm just afraid of what you might think.
"Sing another stupid song
About everything's wrong,
Girls and other surface things
Do mean a lot to me, but I,
I cannot let you in, let you in too deep,
I'm just afraid of what you might think.
"Paulina, you know this isn't me,
I've been dishonest, now it's time to come clean,
I said, Paulina, I'm the one for you, you'll see,
Just as soon as you see me!
"Don't walk away from me,
Listen to what I say,
Alright, I'm sorry,
I never wanted it this way,
I took it, I took it too far with my insecurities,
I'm just afraid of what you might think,
I'm just afraid of what you might think.
"Paulina, you know this isn't me,
I've been dishonest, now it's time to come clean,
I said, Paulina, I'm the one for you, you'll see,
Just as soon as you see me!…"
Friends, in today’s familiar and majestic passage, Jesus exhorts us to trust him: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.”Video reflection by Father Praveen Lakkisetti: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
So much depends on the spiritual meaning of the little word “trust.” Jeremiah the prophet laid it out as starkly and simply as possible: “Cursed be the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” And conversely, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord.”
What does it mean to trust, to have hope, to turn one’s heart to God? It means to root the whole of one’s life in God, and not to ground our concerns in the things of this world: wealth, power, pleasure, and honor.
Ask yourself: “What is the center of gravity in my life?” The Bible consistently proposes this question. For example, read the book of Joshua, when Joshua lays it on the line for the people of Israel: “Do you serve the Lord or some other gods?” That’s the question being asked of you today.
"Every believer ought to be an active member of the Church. Every Catholic lay person is invested with the right & has a duty to work in order to testify to & spread the Kingdom of God."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)
"Love will consume us only in the measure of our self-surrender."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"There is no doubt that God will never be wanting to us, provided that He finds in us that humility which makes us worthy of His gifts, the desire of possessing them, & the promptitude to cooperate industriously with the graces He gives us."
—St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556, feast day: 31 July)
"Let's go!
"Lost sight of all you ever dreamed of,
The force that swept you away,
The leaves were changing and the tree was rearranging,
The season had swallowed the day.
"You want everything,
Unfair it may seem,
Your eyes have been closed for so long.
We tried to make the break,
What about give and take?
Some times will come when you are wrong.
"I sense the new day has fallen,
I see the trouble in your eyes,
The tree will fall, I'm not crying at all,
It's no surprise, your jaded eyes!
I hope you found the road you wanted,
I could not find the words to say,
The lies were spoken and the promises broken
A wave of illusion, dismay.
"You want everything,
Unfair it may seem,
Your will has been gone for so long.
We tried to make a break,
What about give & take?
The rights not outweighing the wrong?
"I sense the new day has fallen…"
"The future starts today, not tomorrow."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
Friends, in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus pointedly calls us to humble behavior. “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”Video reflection by Fr. Roger Lopez, O.F.M. (Franciscan Media): U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
St. Catherine of Siena once heard the Lord say to her, “Remember that I am and you are not.” And St. Paul said, “What do you have that you have not received? So why do you boast?”
To believe in God is to know these truths. To live them out is to live in the attitude of humility. Thomas Aquinas said that humility is truth. It is living out the deepest truth of things: God is God, and we are not.
Now all of this sounds very clear when it’s stated in this abstract manner, but we know how hard it is to live out! In our fallen world, we forget so readily that we are creatures, that we have been made from nothing. Then our egos begin to inflate: “I am. I want. I expect. I demand.” The ego becomes a massive monkey on our backs, and it has to be fed and pampered constantly.
That’s why today’s Gospel is so important. We are only messengers, not greater than the Master.
"Whenever we do something together, something good, something beautiful, everyone changes. All of us change in some way & this does us good."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis (born 1936, incumbent since 2013)
"You are wrong to find fault with this thing & with that, or to try & make everyone see things as you see them. We desire to be as little children & little children do not know what is best: to them all seems right."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
St. Mark is the traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark. Mark is said to have founded the Church of Alexandria, one of the most important episcopal sees of early Christianity.Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
The feast of St. Mark the Evangelist is April 25. he was probably the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt & the founder of the Church of Alexandria.Wikipedia-link Basilica di San Marco.
There is an interesting story about the relics of St. Mark, which are enshrined in the beautiful cathedral (St. Mark's) in Venice. According to legend, priests feared Saint Mark's relics might be damaged or destroyed by the Muslims during the persecution of the Catholic community in Alexandria. Merchants convinced the priests to allow them to return to Venice with the relics of Saint Mark. The relics were then placed in a chest covered by a layer of pork & cabbage. When the Muslim officials asked to inspect the chest, they cried out, "O horror!" at the sight & smell of the pork (according to their custom they are not allowed to touch/eat pork). Thus the evangelist was safely conveyed to Venice, but not before a number of miracles eased his passage across the Mediterranean.
Friends, in today’s reading Jesus commissions his disciples (and us) to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world. Then he is taken up to heaven, where he takes his place at God’s right hand, and the disciples go forth and preach everywhere.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Ascension of Jesus signals the beginning of the era of the Church. As Jesus leaves the scene (at least in the most obvious sense), he opens the stage for us. What if Caesar, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Churchill were still striding the world stage? No one would have the courage to enter the game. So, Jesus leaves, that we might act in his name and in accord with his spirit.
And it is precisely those who are most focused on the things of heaven that do the most good here below—Gandhi, King, Dorothy Day, John Paul II. Those who pray most intently are most effective in the practical realm. This too is opened up by the Ascension.
"Christians are born for combat."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)
"Do all in your power to detach your heart from earthly cares… then be assured Our Lord will do the rest."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could."
—St. Gregory Nazianzen, Doctor of the Church (329-390, feast day: 2 January)
"I never knew why
You started to cry,
(Started to cry!)
Never ever knew that old sadness inside ya
Was just a lie.
"You left me today
To find your own way
(Find your own way!)…
"Don't go away,
Don'tcha go away,
Don'tcha go away from me!
You're everything,
You're everything,
Everything a girl should be!…"
Friends, today’s Gospel is from the bread of life discourse: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” What God has wanted from the beginning is to sit down with his creatures in a fellowship banquet, sharing life and laughter, giving, receiving, and giving back again.Video reflection by Father Conrad Stachowiak: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
This is the loop of grace. The more we receive the divine life, the more we should give it away and thereby get more of it.
Throughout the Old Testament, we find images of the holy banquet. On God’s holy mountain, Isaiah says there will be good meats and pure choice wines. And throughout his ministry, Jesus hosts meals to which all are invited. God wants to share his life with us.
This comes to fullest expression at the Eucharist, where Jesus identifies himself so radically with the bread and the wine that they change into his Body and Blood, and then invites all of us around this table to feast and share life, to give and to receive and to give again.
"As Christians we should offer our memories to the Lord. Thinking about the past will not alter the reality of your sufferings or disappointments, but it can change the way you look at them."Little Flower Quote o' That Day
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
"Be not afraid… He is here at hand. He is watching."Saint Quote o' That Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"There is no doubt about it: a person who loves pleasure, who seeks comfort, who flies from anything that might spell suffering, who is over-anxious, who complains, who blames, & who becomes impatient at the least little thing who does not go his way—a person like that is a Christian only in name; he is only a dishonor to his religion, for Jesus Christ has said so: 'Anyone who wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself & take up his cross every day of his life, & follow Me.'"
—St. John Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that we must be “born from above.” He says: “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”Video reflection by Deacon Miguel Santos: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Holy Spirit is the love shared by the Father and the Son; he is, in the lovely image proposed by Fulton Sheen, the sign of affection that goes up when the Father looks at the Son and the Son looks back at the Father.
We have access to this holy heart of God because the Father sent the Son into the world, into our dysfunction, even to the limits of godforsakenness—and thereby gathered all of the world into the dynamism of the divine life. Those who live in Christ are not outside of God as petitioners or supplicants; rather they are in God as friends, sharers in the Spirit.
"Pray also for your brothers & sisters & for all the children of the world, especially those whoa re poor & hungry. Pray for those who do not know Jesus, for those who are alone & sad."Little Flower Quote o' That Day
—Pope John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
"You alone are true joy, my hope & my crown, my gladness & my honor, my Lord!"Saint Quote o' That Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"I can't stop praying for poor sinners who are on the road to hell. If they come to die in that state, they will be lost for all eternity. What a pity! We have to pray for sinners! Praying for sinners is the most beautiful & useful of prayers because the just are on the way to heaven, the souls of purgatory are sure to enter there, but the poor sinners will be lost forever. All devotions are good, but there is no better one than such prayer for sinners."
—St. John Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)
A Capuchin friar who was a major figure in the Counter-Reformation, & was murdered by his opponents at Seewis im Prättigau, now part of Switzerland.'Tis also the festival of Saint Mary Salome (floruit 33): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus explains why his sheep listen to him and follow him. They do so because he is leading them to eternal life.Video reflection by Father Jack Ledwon: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
He says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” The life of heaven, where we “shall never perish,” is that place where death and sickness have no power over us, where we see God face to face.
Heaven and earth are always connected in the biblical imagination; that’s true. But heaven should never be reduced to earth, as though religion is just about this-worldly ethics, social justice, or psychological well-being. No; the Christian faith is about a journey beyond this world to the heavenly Jerusalem.
Everything in the Christian life—from our ethical behavior, to prayer, to the liturgy, to works of justice—all of it is meant to conduce to that end. So listen to the voice of the shepherd and follow him wherever he goes.
"The only ones who win when Christians stay quiet are the enemies of truth. The silence of Catholics is particularly disturbing because frequently a few bold words would have vanquished the false ideas."Little Flower Quote o' This Day
—Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)
"You came into this land of exile, willing to suffer & to die, in order to carry away every single soul & plunge it into the very heart of the Trinity—love's eternal home."Saint Quote o' This Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Woe to me if I should prove myself but a half-hearted soldier in the service of my thorn-crowned Captain!"
—St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577-1622, feast day: 24 April)
"Mirror in the bathroom, recompense
For all my crimes of self-defense,
Cures, you whisper, make no sense,
Drift gently into mental illness…"
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the crowd, which he just fed, to believe in him and relate to him personally. Why is this so hard? Well, it is intellectually counter-intuitive. Why would this one figure, this Jesus, be the one and only? Why should I choose to relate to him and not the numerous other religious leaders and philosophers? Are all other religious people just lost or misguided? Wouldn’t it just be easier to relate to Jesus’ ideas and principles, to imitate his style of life? Yes, indeed it would, but that’s not what he says.Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Perhaps we could look at it from Jesus’ side. Jesus wants to be friends: “‘I no longer call you servants, but friends,’ says the Lord.” What if there were someone who wanted to be friends with you, and you were to say, “Oh sure! I admire you and would like to imitate your form of life, but I don’t want to spend a lot of time with you.” How would that strike your prospective friend?
What is unique to Christianity is that God is offering us friendship. You don’t mess around with friendship; you don’t turn it into something abstract; you don’t compromise with it. You enter into it fully.
"The Church reaffirms the religious & supernatural values of penitence. She invites everyone to accompany the inner conversion of the spirit with the voluntary exercise of external acts of penitence."Little Flower Quote o' That Day
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)
"Yes, all is well when we seek only the will of Jesus."Saint Quote o' That Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Do not just be a channel for grace, but a reservoir, an overflowing reservoir. No sooner has a channel received grace than it pours it out. A reservoir waits to be filled up & then offers grace to those who come to draw from its superabundance."
—St. Bernadette of Lourdes (1844-1879, feast day: 16 April)
The feast of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the angel Gabriel's appearance to the Virgin Mary (Luke, 1:26-38), his announcement that the Blessed Virgin had been chosen to be the mother of Our Lord, & Mary'sfiat—her willing acceptance of God's holy plan.Scripture of That Day
Friends, in today’s Gospel of Luke, we find the Annunciation to Mary. Here is what Gabriel said to the Virgin: “Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus….The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
No first-century Israelite would have missed the meaning here: this child shall be the fulfillment of the promise made to King David.
And this means that the child is, in fact, the king of the world, the one who would bring unity and peace to the nations. The conviction grew upon Israel that this mysterious descendant of David would be king, not just for a time and not just in an earthly sense, but would rule forever and for all nations. This definitive king of the Jews would be king of the world. He would be our king, as well.
"The Divine is united to the human. The invisible has become visible."Little Flower Quote o' That Day
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
"We who run in the way of love shouldn't be thinking of sufferings that can take place in the future: it's a lack of confidence, it's like meddling in the work of creation."Saint Quote o' That Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Prayer is, beyond doubt, the most powerful weapon the Lord gives us to conquer evil… but we must really put ourselves into the prayer, it is not enough just to say the words, it must come from the heart. And also prayer needs to be continuous, we must pray no matter what kind of situation we find ourselves in: the warfare we are engaged in is ongoing, so our prayer must be on-going also."
—St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Doctor of the Church (1696-1787, feast day: 1 August)
St. George was a Roman soldier of Greek & Palestinian origin & officer in the [Praetorian] Guard of Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. As a Christian martyr, he became one of the most venerated saints in Christianity, especially venerated by the Crusaders.'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Adalbert, Bishop & Martyr, O.S.B. (circa 956-997, of Prague; A.K.A. Vojtěch), martyred by pagan priests of the Old Prussians: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
St. Adalbert was the Bishop of Prague & a missionary to the Hungarians, Poles, & Prussians whow as martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians to Christianity.'Tis also the festival of Blessed Adalbert III of Salzburg, Bishop (1145-1200, A.K.A. Vojtěch, of Bohemia): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Friends, today’s Gospel builds on the enduring and endearing image of Jesus as the good shepherd. Jesus says: "The sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
How wonderful and strange that Christianity is not a set of ideas. It’s not a philosophy or an ideology. It’s a relationship with someone who has a voice. The first disciples were privileged to hear the voice of the historical Jesus. They heard its very particular tone and texture.
But we hear his voice too, in our own way, especially when we hear the Scriptures proclaimed at Mass. Mind you, we don’t just read the Bible; we hear the Bible. We also hear the voice of Jesus when the bishops and the popes speak; we hear it in our conscience, which Newman called "the aboriginal vicar of Christ in the soul"; and we hear it in good spiritual friends, those people who comfort us and challenge us and keep calling us to higher ideals and encourage us when we fall.
We listen to the voice of Jesus because he is leading us to a renewed and transformed life with God.
"To recoil before an enemy, or to keep silence when from all sides such clamors are raised against truth, is the part of a man either devoid of character or who entertains doubt as to the truth of what he professes to believe."Little Flower Quote o' This Day
—Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)
"I would like to love Jesus so much… to love Him more than He has ever been loved! My only desire is to always do the will of Jesus!"Saint Quote o' This Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Obedience is the yardstick of love."
—Bl. Charles de Foucald (1858-1916, feast day: 1 December)
