Saturday, October 05, 2024
Friday, October 04, 2024
THE FEAST OF THE APOSTLE OF MERCY: ST MARIA FAUSTINA.
SAINT MARIA FAUSTINA KOWALSKA, VIRGIN AND MYSTIC.
"The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
"Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.
"Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
"At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
"Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
"Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10: 17 - 24).
Saturday 5th October 2024 of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Apostle of Mercy, St Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905 - 1938). Polish. Maria was a Nun of the Blessed Sacrament.
Jesus Christ our Merciful Savior communicated with St Maria Faustina His desire to have the Divine Mercy Devotion established. Maria was not well educated but she worked very hard to accomplish this divine purpose. Before she died in 1938, she left the world a book which has since become a classic: "Diary of St Maria Faustina Kowalska." This book recounts the conversations of the mystic, Maria Faustina had with Jesus. This book is instrumental in the establishment of the Divine Mercy Devotions.
Jesus entrusted the Divine Mercy Devotion to Sister Maria Faustina. Maria did not have a theological education. No PhD. No Masters degree. Barely literate. This is the person Jesus chose to be His Secretary in the Divine Mercy project. Maria needed only one thing: Complete trust in Jesus. This is grace that No one can take from her.
"My Father’s goodness and love remain hidden from so many souls. They have not understood that I came into the world to reveal My Father who is all love, and to draw souls to Him in filial confidence and in the joy of abandonment to His goodness. Love our Father. Trust our Father. Depend upon our Father in every weakness. This revelation of God as a Father who cherishes His children, and so loves them that He sent Me, His only-begotten Son, into the world to suffer and to die, lies at the very heart of My Gospel. Love My Father and open your heart to the immensity of His love for you. Thus will you become for Him, in Me, a beloved son in whom He takes delight." (IN SINU JESU, Monday, March 21, 2011).
October is the Month of the Holy Rosary.
Why a special month for the Holy Rosary. Because the Rosary is a very powerful prayer. It is an important prayer in the life of the Church and in the life of individual Christian. You neglect the Rosary at your own peril. There will not be sexual molestation of children in the Church if the priest says the daily Rosary that is mandatory for all clergy.
A FAMILY THAT PRAYS THE ROSARY TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
Mary Queen of the Virgins, pray for us.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/09/october-devotion-to-holy-rosary.html?m=1
Thursday, October 03, 2024
HONOR THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN OCTOBER 2024.
OCTOBER 4, - FIRST IN OCTOBER 2024.
The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Jesus promised through St Margaret Mary Alacoque 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month and receive Holy Communion.
In the 10th month of the year 2024, we look at Promise #10.
#10. "I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts."
Do not think: "I am not excited by this promise. I am not a priest."
We are all priests by virtue of our Baptism. We are priest, prince and prophet.
Jesus Christ chose and ordained a tiny percentage of men to celebrate the Sacraments. The first mission of the Church is evangelization. As a Catholic Christian, you are an evangelist. Moreover, the first 3 Spiritual Works of Mercy instruct us:
#1. Instruct the ignorant.
#2. Counsel the doubtful.
#3. Admonish sinners.
Jesus promises to give you power to touch the most hardened of sinners.
Sinners are everywhere. They could be in the family. They could be friends or neighbors. Will you refuse the gift promised by the Sacred Heart of Jesus to equip you to help sinners? Moreover, you can apply the grace of this promise to any priest of your choice.
"In the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus Christ is really, truly and substantially present, with His Body and Blood, with His Soul and His Divinity.
He is personally present, not by a mere sign or image, not in a spiritual manner only.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart, as expressly declared by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, is essentially the same as devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
It honors the Divine love of our Eucharistic God which revealed itself in His Passion and Death and continually reveals itself in the Holy Eucharist.
Therefore, the Sacred Heart devotion is the most agreeable to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament."
(DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS by the Benedictine Sisters of Missouri).
Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.
For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart devotional prayers and prayer intentions click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1
October is the Month of the Holy Rosary.
Why a special month for the Holy Rosary. Because the Rosary is a very powerful prayer. It is an important prayer in the life of the Church and in the life of individual Christian. You neglect the Rosary at your own peril. There will not be sexual molestation of children in the Church if the priest says the daily Rosary that is mandatory for all clergy.
A FAMILY THAT PRAYS THE ROSARY TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
Mary Queen of the HOLY ROSARY, pray for us.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/09/october-devotion-to-holy-rosary.html?m=1
Wednesday, October 02, 2024
PRAYER, PRAYER AND PRAYER. MOST POWERFUL TOOL IN EVANGELIZATION.
WHERE ARE THE LABORERS FOR THE ABUNDANT HARVEST?
"Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.
"He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.
"Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
"Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
"Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.
"Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
"Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’
"Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.” (Luke 10: 1 - 12).
Thursday 3rd October 2024 in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time.
In our Gospel of today from Luke 10, we read:
"Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit."
Let us read our Gospel of today thus: Jesus appoints you and me to start evangelizing today.
Where? Starting from our family.
How? Being the salt and the light of your family, work place, market, church, etc.
The first step to our evangelization is this:
"So ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."
Prayer is first step and may well be the necessary and most important step.
October is the Month of the Holy Rosary.
Why a special month for the Holy Rosary. Because the Rosary is a very powerful prayer. It is an important prayer in the life of the Church and in the life of individual Christian. You neglect the Rosary at your own peril. There will not be sexual molestation of children in the Church if the priest says the daily Rosary that is mandatory for all clergy.
A FAMILY THAT PRAYS THE ROSARY TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
Mary Queen of the Angels, pray for us.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/09/october-devotion-to-holy-rosary.html?m=1
Tuesday, October 01, 2024
THE MEMORIAL OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS.
THE MEMORIAL OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS.
"The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
"He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
"Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 18: 1 - 5, 10).
Thursday 2nd October 2024, 26th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Guardian Angels.
Our Father God in His loving Providence has provided each of His children a Guardian Angel. Are you aware of this stupendous truth?
Fortunately for us, whether we are aware of our Guardian Angel that accompanies us on the journey of life or not, the Angel still performs all its duties lovingly towards us. Our Guardian Angels report to God not to us.
Here is what the Church teaches about our Guardian Angels:
"Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God." (CCC 336).
Your Guardian Angel is a friend who protects you in danger and can direct your steps when you are lost. It shepherds you away from moral dangers and situations that can imperil your soul. When you have a warm and personal relationship with your Guardian Angel, you enjoy more privileges. Saints recommend praying to your Guardian Angel when you wake up in the morning and when you are ready to go to bed at night. I have prayed to my Guardian Angel ever since I learned my first prayers. I have enjoyed few close encounters with my Guardian Angel.
As an active and adventurous boy, I know how many times my Friend and Guardian saved me from peril. Today I honor my Guardian Angel with a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Angel of God my Guardian and dear Friend, thank you for your protection. Continue to enlighten and guard me till my last breath. Amen!
"Listen to the inspiration that I give you through your guardian angel, and you will prosper in all that you do." (IN SINU JESU, Saturday, February 19, 2011).
Here is a Guardian Angel Prayer, you can use when you wake up in the morning and when you say your prayers before going to bed:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/10/guardian-angel-prayer.html?m=1
October is the Month of the Holy Rosary.
Why a special month for the Holy Rosary. Because the Rosary is a very powerful prayer. It is an important prayer in the life of the Church and in the life of individual Christian. You neglect the Rosary at your own peril. There will not be sexual molestation of children in the Church if the priest says the daily Rosary that is mandatory for all clergy.
A FAMILY THAT PRAYS THE ROSARY TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
Mary Queen of the Angels, pray for us.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/09/october-devotion-to-holy-rosary.html?m=1
Monday, September 30, 2024
THE MEMORIAL OF A PRINCESS OF THE CHURCH: ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS. VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS, VIRGIN & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
Jerusalem is our destination.
"When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.
"On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
"When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
"Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village." (Luke 9: 51 - 56).
Tuesday 1st October 2024 in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Little Flower, St Therese of the Child Jesus, also known as St Therese of Lisieux. (1873 - 1897). French. Carmelite Nun and Doctor of the Church.
St Therese is one of the most beloved saints in the Church. She is a powerful intercessor and her contribution to spirituality can be summarized thus:
#1 Utter simplicity in everything.
#2 Profound trust in Divine Providence.
St Therese you may say was chosen to be St Therese before she was born. At the age of 6, she had a profound faith in the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament. Asked one day how she was so sure of this, her response was disarming and profound: Jesus said: "This is My Body. This is My Blood." Since Jesus is God and Almighty, nothing is impossible for Him. Does this not remind us of the Blessed Virgin Mary? To the word of the Archangel Gabriel that She would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God, she replied: "Be it done to me according to Your word."
Is there a connection between faith and simplicity? Simplicity in thoughts and habits may facilitate the habit of believing.
Saints are mocked for the simplicity of their minds because of the things they believe. For example: Many well-known saints believe in the Holy House of Loreto, etc. The Lord Jesus Himself said:
"Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18: 3).
Be simple like Jesus and Therese and the saints. Dare to Believe.
From the Gospel of today, we read:
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village."
Our key Scripture for today reinforces the lesson I learned as a door to door salesman.
A good salesman does not force himself or his product on people. Make the best presentation and product demonstration you are able to. At the end, if the prospect says no, move on to the next prospect.
I have found sometimes that the next prospect might actually be very happy to make a purchase. It was a very hard lesson for me to get. I took No as a personal rejection like James and John in today's Gospel. Jesus taught His disciples that the field of Evangelization is very wide. He shares His way of winning souls below:
"My way is one of gentleness, of mercy, and of compassion. I offer My Cross to souls, but I never impose it, and when a soul begins to say “Yes” to the sweet and terrible exigencies of My love, I fit My Cross to her shoulders, and then help her to carry it step by step, increasing its weight only as that soul grows in love and in the fortitude that comes from the Holy Spirit." (IN SINU JESU, September 23, 2011, Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina).
October is the Month we honor the Holy Rosary. Why a special month for the Holy Rosary? Because the Rosary is perhaps the most powerful gift to connect us to God after the Holy Mass. It can be said by everyone: alone or in group.
Two books by two great saints help me to commit and grow in the love and commitment to the Holy Rosary for almost 30 years.
1. TRUE DEVOTION TO THE HOLY ROSARY by St Louis Marie de Monfort.
2. GLORIES OF MARY by St Alphonsus Liguori.
Both books are available at Amazon.
A FAMILY THAT PRAYS THE ROSARY TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.
Say the Holy Rosary every day this October with some special intentions and your testimonies will be amazing.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/09/october-devotion-to-holy-rosary.html?m=1
Sunday, September 29, 2024
THE MEMORIAL OF A SUPERSTAR: ST JEROME. PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
THE MEMORIAL OF ST JEROME. PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
"One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD,
“Satan also came among them.
"And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?"
“Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
"But Satan answered the LORD and said,
"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
“Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection?
“You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.
“But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
"And the LORD said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person."
"So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
"And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said,
"The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them, and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.
“They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
"While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
"While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
"While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house.
“It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
"Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair.
“He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again.
“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!"
"In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God." (Job 1: 6 - 22).
Monday 30th September 2024 of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Jerome (342 - 420).
St Jerome was born in Dalmatia in former Yugoslavia. He is a Priest, Doctor of the Church.
Jerome translated the Bible into the Latin Vulgate, which became the official version of the Bible for the Church for over 1000 years.
The Entrance Antiphon from the Mass of his feast summarizes his life and his work:
"Blessed indeed is he who ponders the law of the Lord day and night:
he will yield his fruit in due season." (Cf Psalm 1: 1 - 2. Entrance Antiphon on the Feast of St Jerome).
We choose the first Reading from Job1: 6 - 22 to chew and digest. It is a long reading but trust the Holy Spirit and the Church for offering this to us.
"He who has ears let him listen."
Here is the blessed fruit I reaped from the Book of Job:
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" (Job 1: 6).
The wisdom contained in the above Scripture has brought me peace again and again for many years. I rephrase it thus and post it all over my work station:
"JESUS GAVE ME EVERYTHING I HAVE. HE MAY TAKE ANY OR ALL WHENEVER HE WANTS."
Back to our great Saint of today:
I am delighted to share these quotes from St Jerome:
+ "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
+ "As often as the world’s vain ambition delights you, as often as you see in mundane affairs something that vaunts itself, transport yourself in your thoughts to paradise: begin to be what you shall be. And you shall hear from your Bridegroom: Put me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm."
Lord, help us to follow the example of St Jerome in reflecting on Your word day and night. May Your word prepare us to offer You a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving always and everywhere. Amen.
September 30. End of September. The Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of today September 30. May the Most Sorrowful Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary obtain for us peace and serenity and prosperity.
Amen.
Tomorrow October 1st begins the Great October Month dedicated to the Holy Rosary. October is a very popular month for Catholics worldwide because of the outpouring of grace and favors from saying the Rosary in the Month of October.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10
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