Archive for the ‘Advent’ Category

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Thursday, December 21st, 2023

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed the the fruit of your womb, Jesus!” –Cf. Luke 1:28; 42

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaded for joy! Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” –Luke 1:39-45

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings, Visit: -USCCB

The Angelus Prayer -EWTN

Today Christians Honor Blessed Pope Urban V – Please Pray For Us!

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

Pope Urban VBlessed Pope Urban V (1310-1370)

(uCatholic) Blessed Pope Urban V was born Giullaume de Grimoard in France Languedoc, he studied Canon Law and Theology in Avignon becoming a Benedictine Monk and in 1352 he was named Abbott of his Monastery , serving as a papal diplomat and was sent as an Ambassador to various locations–also serving as a Bishop around Italy and throughout Europe.

In 1362 the man elected Pope declined the office, when the Cardinal’s could not find another person among them for that important office, they turned to a relative stranger–the holy person we honor today.

Pope Urban V proved a wise choice, as a Benedictine Monk and Canon Lawyer, he was deeply spiritual and brilliant, living simply and modestly which did not always win him friends among clergymen who become used to comfort and privilege.

Still Pope Urban V pressed for reform and saw to the restoration of the Churches and Monasteries. Except for a brief period, he spent most of his 8 years as Pope living away from Rome at Avignon, seat of the papacy from 1309 until shortly after his death.

Pope Urban V came close but was not able to achieve one of his biggest goals–reuniting the Eastern and Western Churches.

Today Christians Honor Blessed Anthony Grassi, Please Pray For Us!

Monday, December 18th, 2023

Bl-Anthony-GrassiBlessed Anthony Grassi (1592-1671)

(uCatholic) Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 yrs old but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. as a schoolboy, he frequented the local Church of the Oratorian Father’s, joining the religious order when he was 17

Already a fine student, he soon gained a reputation in his religious community as a ‘walking dictionary’ who quickly grasped scripture and theology. For sometime he was tormented by scruples but they reportedly left him at the very hour he celebrated his first Mass, from that day serenity penetrated his very being.

In 1621 at the age of 29, Anthony was struck by lightning while praying in the Church of the Holy House at Loreto, he was carried paralyzed from the Church expecting to die. When he recovered in a few days, he realized that he had been cured of acute indigestion.  Anthony’s scorched clothes were donated to the Loreto Church as an offering of thanks for his new gift of life. More important, Anthony now felt that his life now belonged entirely to God and each year thereafter he made a pilgrimage to Loreto to give thanks.

Anthony also began hearing confessions and came to be regarded as an outstanding confessor. Simple and direct, he listened carefully to penitents, said a few words, giving a penance and absolution, frequently drawing on his gift of reading consciences. In 1635 he was elected ‘Superior of the Fermo Oratory, he was so well regarded, that he was reelected every three years until his death. Anthony was a quiet person and a gentle Superior, who did not know how to be severe–at the same time, he kept the Oratorian Constitutions literally, encouraging the community to do likewise.

Full biographical article here from Franciscan Media

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Sunday, December 17th, 2023

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me
to bring ‘Good News’ to the poor (humble).”
Luke 4:18(a) (Cited: Isaiah 61:1)
Image Courtesy: 1RomanCatholic@Twitter

The Good News of Deliverance

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring Good News to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion to give them them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display His glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines but you shall be called Priests of the Lord, you shall be named Ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations and in their riches you shall glory because their shame was double and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with garland and as a bride adorns herself with jewels. For as the earth brings forth from its shoots and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. –Isaiah 61:1-11

Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Song

Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is His name! His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.” –Luke 1:46-55

You May Know the Joy of Salvation,
Forgiveness of Sins
and the Assurance of Eternal Life in Heaven Today,
Through ‘The Good News’ of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent, Visit: -USCCB

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of Blessed Honoratus Kozminski – Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, December 16th, 2023

Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

Blessed Honoratus Kozminski –Image Courtesy: Debra Babin Kerner@Twitter

(Catholic Online) Blessed Honoratus Kozminski was born in Biala Podlaska (Poland, Siedice) and studied architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

When Wenceslaus was almost 16 yrs of age his father passed away. Suspected of of participating in a rebellious conspiracy, the young man was imprisoned from April 1846 until the following March. In 1848 he received the Capuchin habit and a new name–four years later he was ordained.

In 1855 he helped Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska establish the Felician Sisters.

Honoratus served as Guardian in a Warsaw friary, dedicating his energies to ministering, to giving spiritual direction and to hearing confessions, he worked tirelessly with the Secular Franciscan Order.

More here from  Franciscan Media

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Friday, December 15th, 2023

The Lord will come; Go out to meet Him!
He is the Prince of peace.

Jesus: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.” –John 8:12

The Two Ways

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers but their delight is in the Law of the Lord and on His Law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by the streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. –Psalm 1:1-6

Jesus: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.” –John 8:12

Jesus: “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;
we wailed for you and you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, ‘He has a demon;’ the Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” –Matthew 11:16-19

You May Know the Joy of Salvation,
Forgiveness of Sins
and the Assurance of Eternal Life Today,
Through ‘The Good News’ of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings, Visit: -USCCB

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Thursday, December 7th, 2023

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
call upon Him while He is near. –Isaiah 55:6
Image Courtesy: Natl Catholic Register

Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord! –Psalm 118:26(a)

O give Thanks to the Lord for He is good,
His steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever!”
Let the House of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever!”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever!”

Out of my distress, I called upon the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me.
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidences in princes.

All nations surround me;
in the Name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surround me, surrounded me on every side;
in the Name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surround me like bees,
they blazed like a fire of thorns;
in the Name of the Lord I cut them off!
I was pushed hard so that I was falling
but the Lord helped me!
The Lord is my Strength and my Might;
He has become my Salvation!

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
I shall not die but I shall live
and recount the deeds of the Lord!
The Lord has punished me severely
but He did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and Give Thanks to the Lord!

This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I Thank You that You have answered me
and have become my Salvation!
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Save us, we beseech You, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech You, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!
We bless You from the House of the Lord.
The Lord is God
and He has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the Altar.

You are my God and I will give Thanks to You!
You are my God, I will extol You!
O give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 118:1-29

Jesus: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but only the one
who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
On that day many will say to Me,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name
and cast out demons in Your name and do many
deeds of power in Your name?’
Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you,
go away from Me you evildoers.”

“Everyone then who hears these Words of mine
and acts on them will be like a wise man
who built his house on a rock.
The rain fell, the floods came and the
winds blew and beat on that house but it did not fall
because it had been founded on rock and everyone
who hears these Words of Mine and does not
act on them will be like a foolish man
who built his house on sand.
The rain fell and the floods came
and the winds blew and beat against that house
and it fell — and great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:21-27

You May Know the Joy of Salvation, Forgiveness of Sins
and the Assurance of Eternal Life in Heaven Today,
Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Visit: -USCCB

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Wednesday, December 6th, 2023

The Lord sent me to bring Good News to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to the captives. –Cf.Luke 4:18
Image Courtesy: 1RomanCatholic@Twitter

 

Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help

Here I am, Lord;
I come to do Your will!  Cf. Psalm 40:7(a)-8(a)

I waited patiently for the Lord;
He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God!
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord.

Happy are those who make
the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord, my God,
Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us.
None can compare with You!
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.

Sacrifice and offering You do not desire
but You have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
Then I said, “Here I am;
In the Scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God!
Your Law is within my heart.

I have told ‘The Glad News’ of deliverance
in the great congregation;
see I have not restrained my lips,
as You know, O Lord.
I have not hidden Your saving help within  my heart,
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation!
I have not concealed Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

Do not, O Lord, withhold Your mercy from me;
Let Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness
keep me safe forever.
For evils have encompassed me without number;
my iniquities have overtaken me
until I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head
and my heart fails me.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Let all those be put to shame and confusion
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who desire my hurt.
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha Aha!”

May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You!
May those who love Your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my Deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God! –Psalm 40:1-17

You May Know the Joy of Salvation,
Forgiveness of Sins and the Assurance
of Eternal Life in Heaven Today,
Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Nicholas, Visit: -USCCB

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Gerald

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

St GeraldSt. Gerald Bishop of Mayo
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(CNA) Born in England Northumbria, the exact date of his birth is unknown, we do know that Gerald was an English Monk, becoming Bishop of Mayo and that following the Synod of Whitby in 664 he followed St. Coleman (605-676) to Ireland and settled in Innisboffin in 668

After a period of time dissensions arose between the Irish and the English Monks and St. Coleman decided to found a separate Monastery for the 30 English Brethren, this arose the Abbey of Mayo with St. Gerald being its first Abbot in 670

St. Bede (Feast Day: 25 May) wrote: “The Monastery is to this day 731 occupied by English Monks…continues an exemplary body who gathered there form England and live by the labor of their own hands (after the manner of the early Fathers) under a rule and Canonical Abbot, leading chaste and single lives.”

Although St. Gerald was a comparatively young man, he proved to be a wise ruler and governed Mayo until 697 when it is said that he resigned in favor of St. Adamnan some scholars hold that St. Adamnan celebrated the Roman Easter at Mayo in 703 and then went to Skreen in Hy Fiachrach. — following his departure it is said the Monks prevailed on St. Gerald to resume his duties as Abbot — Mayo though merged in Tuam for a time.

St. Gerald reportedly continued to govern the Abbey and Diocese of Mayo until his death in 731

  • Today’s alternative Feast Day is of St. Sabas, Patron Saint of Generosity

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. John of Damascus

Monday, December 4th, 2023

St John DamascusSt. John of Damascus (676-749)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

Born in Syria Damascus according to SQPN John spent much of his life in the Monastery of St. Sabas near Jerusalem and all of his life under Muslim rule. Tutored in his youth by a captured Italian Monk Cosmas, together with being educated in Muslim schools, John became quite well schooled in the areas of Geometry, Literature, Logic, Writing and Speech.

St. John became famous in three areas: (1) Writings; (2) Treatise “Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” and (3) A Poet — Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1890 by Pope Leo XII

More here from Franciscan Media and here from Catholic Online

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. John of Damascus, Visit: -USCCB