The Feast of St Louis Marie de Monfort and St Peter Chanel.

The Feast of Saints Louis Marie de Monfort and Peter Chanel.

"The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”

"Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. 

"Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.

"Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.

"Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 

"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

"These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum." (John 6: 52 - 59).

Friday April 28th 2023 in the 3rd Week in the Easter Season. 

April 28th is the feast of two French saints: St Peter Chanel and St Louis de Monfort. 

Louis de Monfort was born on the 31st of January 1673 in Monfort in France. Louis was ordained a priest in 1700. His great contribution was in fostering devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy Rosary.

In 1715, he founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary. Among his books which are still in print are: TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN; SECRET OF THE Rosary.

Louis de Monfort made the Rosary one of the most popular Catholic devotions throughout the world. Catholics everywhere are indebted to him for articulating the incredible

powers of this simple devotion.

St Peter Chanel (1803 - 1841). Priest and Martyr. St Peter Chanel died a martyr in the island of Futuna in the Oceania.

We continue with the Bread of life Discourse in the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of St John where eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Jesus is the dominant theme of this Easter Season so far.

It has been said that the best interpretation of the Gospel is the Example of the saints who are faithful and true witnesses to Jesus and His Way. Let us read below how some of the saints bore witness to the truth of the Bread of life Discourse.

"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).

"From the Eucharist comes strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others."  (Pope St John Paul II).

"Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven." (Pope St Pius X).

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." (St John Vianney).

"The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." (CCC 1324).

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

DEVOTION TO THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

EVERY THURSDAY: 

HONOR JESUS CHRIST OUR ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST AND THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS. 

JULY: MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

"They conquered the Devil by the Blood of the Lamb."

In the Blood of the Lamb." (Mary, IN SINU JESU).

"Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ, and let us know that it is precious to his Father because it was poured out for our salvation and it brought the grace of repentance to all the world." (St Clement I to the Corinthians). 

Prayer:

O precious Blood of Jesus, infinite price paid for the redemption of sinful mankind. O Divine Blood, drink and laver of our souls, standing between us and the Father pleading mercy.

With all my heart I adore You, sweet Lord, and offer reparation for the insults, outrages and ingratitude, which You continuously receive from human beings, especially those who dare blaspheme the Divine Blood You shed for us.

Bless this Blood of Infinite value. Bless the fire of Jesus’ Love who shed it to the last drop for us. Where would I be if not for this Divine Blood that redeemed me? Indeed, Lord, I have drawn it from You to the last drop. What love! Thank You for this saving balm!

May every heart, every tongue, now and forever, praise and thank this priceless balm, this saving Blood, this fountain of crimson Mercy welling up from the fountain of infinite Love. Amen

🙏🙏🙏

LITANY OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS - EVERY THURSDAY 

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

Jesus, hear us.

Jesus, graciously hear us.

 

God, the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Spirit,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, 

Have mercy on us.

 

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness.

Save us.

Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, victor over demons,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor,

Save us.

 

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

 

You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.

And made us, for our God, a kingdom.

 

Let us pray, - Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

🙏🙏🙏

7122 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

The Bread of life is Food of Immortality.

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

"I am the bread of life.

"Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;

 whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6: 44 - 51).

Thursday 27th April 2023 of the 3rd Week of Easter.

What does Jesus mean that He is the bread of life?

Jesus  gives us Himself as our nourishment. What does the Church teach about the Bread of life?

"It [Eucharist] refers directly to the Bread of Life, the Body of Christ, the "medicine of immortality," without which we have no life within us......The Eucharist is our daily bread. The power belonging to this divine food makes it a bond of union. Its effect is then understood as unity, so that, gathered into his Body and made members of him, we may become what we receive.  This also is our daily bread." (CCC 2837)

In the Eucharist, we receive who we are, the Body of Christ. 

Now we must become what we receive, the Body of Christ, St Augustine teaches.

Jesus also says in the Gospel of today:  "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6: 47).

Eternal life starts right here and right now with BELIEF in Jesus.

In the Eucharist we are challenged to exercise the highest kind of faith in human experience. The bread you see before you looks, tastes and smells like ordinary bread.

Once the words of consecration are pronounced over it, it becomes the Flesh of Jesus Christ. Same with the wine when it is consecrated, it becomes the Blood of Jesus. Can you now understand why most of His disciples abandoned Him when Jesus unveiled this doctrine.

Many protestants mock Catholics for believing in the True and Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Jesus Himself says "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6: 47).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Samaritans welcomed Philip.

The first missionary opportunity came from the heat of persecution. 

"There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,

and all were scattered

throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,

except the Apostles.

"Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

"Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;

entering house after house and dragging out men and women,

he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed the Christ to them.

"With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip

when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,

came out of many possessed people,

and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

There was great joy in that city." (Acts 8: 1 - 8).

Philip, the Deacon fled Jerusalem and landed in Samaria. What did he do? He preached the Good News in his new home and converted a large number of people to Christ the Lord. (Cf Acts 8: 5 - 8).

Necessity is the mother of invention. The mother eagle shakes out the nest so that the complacent little eaglets will learn to fly and embrace their life's mission.

Be alert. Be vigilant. Jesus may come like a thief in the night.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

St Mark, Evangelist & Author of the Gospel of According to Mark.

The Feast of St Mark the Evangelist. 

"Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

"These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

"Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 

"But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” (Mark 16: 15 - 20).

Tuesday 25th April 2023 in the 3rd Week of the Easter Season is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist.

 Mark the Evangelist lived between AD 12 - 68 AD. He was Cyerene from Libya in North Africa. He was also called John Mark. Son of Mary who provided her home as a place of meeting for the early Christian community in Jerusalem.

Mark worked with Saints Paul and Barnabas and later with St Peter the Apostle. St Mark founded the Church in Alexandria where he is honored with a beautiful Basilica.

St Mark is the patron saint of Egypt, Copts, Mainar, Venice and Barristers.

St Mark is the writer of the  Gospel according to St Mark.

The Holy Spirit commands us in today's Gospel:

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Today, this mission of universal evangelization is very urgent. Recent Popes are insistent that the Church mobilize for New Evangelization.

Why did God create the Internet and cell phone at this time? 

Probably over 50% of mankind today can be reached through social media groups, viz: WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Facebook, etc.

It is possible for most people to share the Gospel with family, friends, colleagues, etc.

Not everyone is called by God to be Mark the Evangelist. Not everyone of us can write like St Augustine. Most people receive the word of God daily from different sources. What inspires you can inspire a family member, a friend or colleague. Share it through text, email, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.

Do not be afraid. You may be surprised how much it will be appreciated. The Holy Spirit will help you.

Most of my ministry in evangelization is sharing content created by others. All I need is the help of the Holy Spirit to discern the material as the truth. It will be terrible to distribute error or untruth. I share blogs, music, photos, videos and any content that contains the truth and can help people grow their faith and relationship with God.

The word today encourages each of us to share the Gospel. Practice makes perfect.

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

The Feast of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen.

Feast of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Capuchin Priest and Martyr. 

"Rabbi, when did you get here?” 

"Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”

"So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

"Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (John 6: 22.... 29).

Monday 24th April 2023, in the 3rd Week in Easter is the feast of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577 - 1622). Priest and Martyr. 

Fidelis left his Law Practice and became  a Capuchin Franciscan priest. Born in Germany, he achieved fame as Evangelist and Catechist in Switzerland. He died at the hands of a mob while preaching in Switzerland.  Like St Stephen in the first Reading, he worsted the Calvinist heretics in debates. They instigated the mob to martyr him. 

Many people followed Jesus for food. Others with the hope of money, healing and job.  They cared very little for the agenda of Jesus.

Jesus told them: "Man does not live on bread alone. There is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4).

Jesus expands on this teaching in our key Scripture for today. He says to the crowd:

"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” (John 6: 27).

What are the food that endures for eternal life? Consider faith, hope, charity and the Word of God. No one can purchase faith, hope and love.

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

Jesus gave them an uncomplicated answer: Faith in Jesus whom God sent for the salvation of humanity. Faith is greater than gold and silver. Faith is imperishable.

Do you nurse some hope that this world will fulfill the desires of your heart with regard to health, family, job, money and social and material possessions? Forget it.

Repeat with Peter in deep faith: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com