"HE WHO TRUSTS IN HIMSELF IS LOST. HE WHO TRUSTS IN GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS." (ST ALPHONSUS LIGUORI).
August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph." I love this.
"[Jesus] said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me.” (Matthew 14: 16 - 18).
Monday 1st August 2022 of the the 18th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787). Italian. Bishop and Doctor of the Church. St Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). Trained in civil and canon law, he was a great moral theologian and sought after for his gifts as a confessor. St Alphonsus Liguori is the patron saint of moral theologians.
In our Gospel of today, Jesus fed "five thousand men, not counting women and children."
This miracle is a foreshadow of the Eucharist.
"They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full."
This action foreshadows the Mass where what remains from distributing the Eucharist is preserved in the Tabernacle and worshiped as the Blessed Sacrament.
St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, imminent Canon and Civil lawyer, writer and publisher of many books, founder of the Redemptorists was gifted exceptionally by God. He was also a very sick man most of his long life. St Alphonsus Liguori is one of my favorite patron saints. I chuckled as I think of sharing this aspect of his life. Alphonsus was the target of a great deal of clerical envy. Would you imagine your holy bishop or priest envying another priest or bishop of his God given gift? It happens a lot in the Church. The Church is human and divine at the same time. Aaron and Mariam envied Moses. In the first Reading, we note the jealousy of the Prophet Hananiah on Jeremiah. The Apostles juggled for influence and envied one another in the competition. Pray always for the Clergy. They are human beings too.
One of the most delightful contributions of St Alphonsus Liguori is his teaching on the concrete doctrine of Divine Providence. God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence governs all things. There
is no exception to
this divine law.
THE CURE FOR ENVY IS THE EUCHARIST.
Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com
St Alphonsus Liguori is one of my patron saints. I have 2 pictures of him in my study. Have you read UNIFORMITY IN GOD'S WILL? I read it over and over again. He is a great saint. Be steadfast in prayer. God will grant your heart's desire.
ReplyDelete