THE FEAST OF ST RAYMOND PENAFORT, OP. PRIEST.

THE FEAST OF ST RAYMOND PENAFORT, OP. PRIEST. 

THE GOSPEL:

"When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

"By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

"He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.”

"But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?”

"He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

"And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”

"So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.

"Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.

"They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men." (Mark 6: 34 - 44).

Tuesday January 7th 2025, in the Season of Christmas is  the feast of St Raymond Peñafort.  (1175 - 1275). Spanish Dominican Priest. Raymond was very erudite and he advanced the knowledge of Canon Law. St Raymond was a contemporary of the great St Thomas Aquinas also a Dominican priest. He studied Arabic in order to study the Koran so that he could evangelize the Moslems. 

St Raymond Peñafort did a great deal to secure the freedom of Christians during the Crusade. He died at the age of 100.

Raymond is known in history for two key contributions: Like the Curé of Ars, he had an extraordinary charism in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Ask Jesus to lead you to such a priest. One confession is all you need to turn around your life. Raymond wrote volumes which are part of the Canon Law.

Our Scripture for today proclaims: "They all ate and were satisfied." (Mark 6: 42). What does this mean?

This points to the immense generosity of God.  Jesus fed 5000 men and there were 12 baskets of leftover.

Remember the story of the manna in the desert where a whole nation ate of the heavenly food for years. Both the manna and today's incident of the Multiplication of loaves point to the Eucharist.

The Eucharist today is a daily food. Food for our journey to Heaven. Day after day, millions are fed all over the world. "They all ate and were satisfied." (Mark 6: 42).

The Multiplication of Loaves is such an important incident that it appears in all four Gospels. 

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

Jesus, Son of the living God

have mercy on us

Jesus, splendor of the Father

have mercy on us

Jesus, brightness of everlasting light

have mercy on us

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

FEAST OF ST ANDRÉ BESSETTE: MIRACLE WORKER.

ST ANDRÉ BESSETTE, RELIGIOUS. 

Jesus went about "curing every disease and illness among the people."

THE GOSPEL:

"When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.

"From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

"He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him." (Matthew 4: 12 - 17, 23 - 25).

Monday 6th January 2025 in the Season of Christmas is the feast of St André Bessette, popularly known as Brother André. (1845 - 1937). Canadian. Religious Brother of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Miracle worker when alive. More miracles now from Heaven.

My favorite St André Bessette quotes:

1. "Only a tool in the hands of providence; a lowly instrument at the service of St. Joseph” 

2. “Put yourself in God's hands; He abandons no one.”

3. "Do not ask God for your trials to be taken away. Rather ask God to give you the grace to endure your trials." (Brother André).

This last quote of André touched me deeply. My prayers seem to be: "O Lord, take away this trial. Take away that trial. Please take away all trials. Do it quickly O Lord." 

Frankly, I am ashamed of myself. But I am learning. St André Bessette pray for us. 

St André Bessette believes profoundly in Divine Providence. In fact, it would seem that every saint believes in Divine Providence. 

If you believe in Divine Providence which is the sweetest doctrine in the Bible and in the Deposit of Faith, then it could be a sign of predestination. You are predestined to go far in spiritual life. 

The highlight of our Gospel of today for me is:

"Jesus went about "curing every disease and illness among the people."

I like a lot stories of healing in the Bible and testimonies of healing by ordinary people. I myself have benefitted from many healings in my life. I pray for healing every day. I believe too in Divine Providence. I believe that certain physical, mental or bodily conditions are there for a purpose. Talk to God and find out what is part of your DNA and what is not. 

Ask for healing in the Mighty Name of Jesus. A Name we honor every single day in the Month of January. 

I believe in Prayer. 

I believe in the Word of God. 

I believe in Medicine. 

I believe in Miracle. 

I surrender everything to God. 

The Name of Jesus is a Promise. The Name of Jesus is full Prayer. The Name of Jesus is Power. 

Honor the Name of Jesus in January. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1