February 1st- Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch

Posted on February 1, 2017 by mikatsa6
Martyrdom_of_St_Ignatius_of_Antioch1.jpg

“I am a kernel of wheat for Christ. I must be ground by the teeth of beasts to be found bread(of Christ) wholly pure.”

St. Ignatius is one of the great bishops of the early Church. He was the successor of St. Peter as Bishop of Antioch. He was condemned to death by wild beasts during the Emperor Trajan’s persecution. On his way to Rome, he wrote seven magnificent letters, which we still have today, concerning the Person of Christ, his love for Christ, his desire for martyrdom and on the constitution of the Church and Christian life. His sentiments before his approaching martyrdom are summed in his word in the Communion antiphon, “I am the wheat of Christ, ground by the teeth of beasts to become pure bread.”

 

He died a Martyrs death in Rome, devoured by two lions in one of the cruel demonstrations of Roman excess and animosity toward the true faith. But he believed that being torn apart by lions in the coliseum was a victory for Christ.

Just as Christ offered his body and blood on the cross and in the Eucharist, Ignatius prayed to become like the Master. He saw that to suffer like Christ, to become like Christ particularly in the Passion.

“Come fire and cross, gashes and rending, breaking of bones and mangling of limbs, the shattering in pieces of my whole body; come all the wicked torments of the Devil upon me, if I may but attain unto Jesus Christ.”

 

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Gospel According to Mark 5:21-43 Praying in Faith

Posted on January 31, 2017 by mikatsa6
Lesson About Hope (Mark 5:21-43) | Grace Communion International

For she said, “If I touch even His garments, I shall be made well.”

Gospel Reading Mark 5:21-43

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea.
22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Ja’irus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,
23 and besought him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”
24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years,
26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
27 She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.
28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.”
29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?”
31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, `Who touched me?'”
32 And he looked around to see who had done it.
33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.
34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
38 When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly.
39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.”
40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.
41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Tal’itha cu’mi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
42 And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Miracle of Jesus – Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman with Hemorrhage ...

Taking her by the hand he said to, “Tal’ita cu’mi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

In today’s Gospel we hear two stories of miracles and faith  that Mark has intertwined. One story is that of the healing of a long suffering woman and the other, is of the resuscitation of a young girl who has died. Both stories show how faith plays a vital role in Jesus’ saving actions.

“Take heart daughter, your faith has made you well.”

The first woman we encounter is a woman who has been hemorrhaging for many years. Because of her condition she was considered unclean according to religious customs, and just by her touch, others would have been deemed unclean as well. Because she suffered  for many years, she was probably cut off from society. She would not have been welcome into the homes of others, because everything she touched would be considered unclean. She would even have been unable to worship at the temple. By the time she sets out to follow Jesus in the large crowd, she was desperate for a cure, she was desperate for a  miracle. She had followed Him that day and reached out to touch the hem of His garment, saying to herself “If I only touch His garment, I shall be made well.” Jesus immediately felt the healing power that had left Him and healed her. Turning towards her He said “Take heart daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Jesus could have continued on without stopping to reproach the woman, but He wanted to make sure that the woman was aware that the power to heal had come from Him and not His garment. It should also be noted that during this time period, many people held onto a superstitious belief that the garments of royalty held special healing powers. Jesus wants to clarify this and does so by stopping to have an exchange with the woman. And even though she may have had a flawed sense of faith, Jesus was able to use the faith she had and cure her. Mark wants to stress this point to us, so that we know, that we understand, it is the faith that healed, even an inadequate faith, and not the fabric that healed.

13 th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 5:21-43

The second part of this gospel tells of Jairus, a ruler, who sought after Jesus for the healing of his daughter.Even though he is a prominent Jewish leader, he does not care what others think, he humbles himself before Jesus, kneeling before Him, he pleads with Him for all to see. When they arrive at Jairus’ house, Jesus tells them  “depart, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping” and they laugh at Him.

This raising of the dead, proves that indeed Jesus is the Messiah, the resurrection and the life. It is precisely because of Jesus, that we are guaranteed our own resurrection from the dead. It is Jesus who turns death into a sleep from which we all can awake.

These two stories show us how powerful our faith can be. We must pray to Jesus so that our own hearts learn to pray in faith. Faith allows us to be true sons and daughters of God. It is possible because God sent His beloved Son to us so we could have the same access to God as our own Father. “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will” (Mk 11:24). Such is the power of prayer and of the faith that does not doubt: “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk 9:23; cf. Mt21:22).

I ask you then, to have faith in God who “wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:3-4)From the bible we know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In John 3:17 we learn that God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him, and “that we might have life to the full” (John 10:10).  Remember, apart from God, you can do nothing, so pray without ceasing and never lose heart, giving thanks to the Lord for all things.

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St. John Bosco – Father and Teacher of the Youth – January 31

Posted on January 31, 2017 by mikatsa6

... Wife & Mother: Keeping the Company of the Saints: St. John Bosco

It has been said that God will send saints to the world when they are needed most. Not just holy men and women, but saints with a specific desire in their heart to serve a particular will of God. Saint John Bosco was one such saint. He was born in 1865 in a small scrubby cottage on the hills of Becchi at the foot of the Italian Alps. While still a young child has father passed away leaving his mother to care for and raise three sons on her own.  She was a kind woman of good character and tenderness. She taught her sons to work hard on their farm, but treated each with tenderness, not in a coddling way but with the firm love of a godly mother. She wanted to raise strong men who loved and feared the Lord.

While still a boy, John felt his calling to the priesthood, and once told his mother that he was going to be a priest and that he would devote his time to caring for boys. He knew that most boys his age were really good boys, but that they did not have the benefit of such a mother as he had, and he wanted to make sure that boys all over knew they had a Father and Mother in heaven who loved them.

Prayer of Saint John Bosco to Mary | Team Orthodoxy

Priest, Confessor, Teacher of Youth

In 1841 he was ordained to the priesthood in Turin. He was a very gifted man and often had dreams of a beautiful woman( the Blessed Mother!) who would show him what God desired of him. He knew that he was to work with the youth and seeing so many of these young boys suffering from poverty on the streets in Turin he created what came to be called ‘The Oratory’. He would meet with a large group of boys in different places throughout the city. They would pray the rosary and he would teach them about the faith. They also played. He felt it necessary to allow the youngsters to have a hard play so as their minds and hearts would be open to God.

There really is so much that Saint John Bosco did for the youth during his life. He opened an orphanage, a trade school and he developed a system of teaching which he called “preventive system.” Which is a means of teaching a young boy in a way that prevents him from becoming bad. It is based on Christian charity, with a double foundation of reason and religion.With Our Lady’s guidance he even developed  a religious order, the Salesians.

Saint John Bosco, Confessor

Saint John Bosco accomplished much during his life.He did whatever the Blessed Mother asked of him, and worked tirelessly until his death in January 1888. He never stopped working for the Lord. He once said “I have been an instrument in the hands of Mary. She has done everything. Had I been a worthier instrument, I would have accomplished a great  deal more.”

St. John Bosco ~ Our Lady | St. John Bosco | Pinterest

What an awesome saint for us today, when we tire so quickly and get so distracted from  our vocational work for the Lord. Reading about St. John Bosco, I realized how soft I have become in  my zeal for the Lord and this wonderful Faith. It would be a good practice for each of us who desire to one day stand at the gates of Heaven, to ask for this humble saint’s intercession in our day to day works for the Lord.

Favorite Quotes of St. John Bosco

Saint John Bosco, Apostle of Youth,
Friend of the destitute,
Teacher in the ways of God,
Your dedication to empowering the needy,
and enlightening the ignorant inspires us still.
Help me to work for a better world,
where the young are given the chance to flourish,
where the poor’s dream for justice can come true,
and where God’s compassion is shown to be real.
Intercede for me as I bring my needs to you and to
Our heavenly Mother, the Help of Christians. Amen.

O God, who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco as a father and teacher of the young, grant we pray, that, aflame with the same fire of love, we may seek out souls and serve you alone. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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The Beatitudes

Posted on January 30, 2017 by mikatsa6
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

The Sermon on The Mount

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5: 1-12

5″Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sermon+on+the+Mount+Matthew+Beatitudes.jpeg

In Matthew’s Gospel 5: 1-12, we see  Jesus as the New Lawgiver who has come to replace the old Lawgiver, Moses. But unlike Moses, Jesus speaks with the actual mouth of God. He is not just a prophet of old, He is the actual living, breathing, Word of God. He has come to bring a message of comfort to the ‘anawim,'( the poor and marginalized people of the time.)  During this time period, there was a mindset among those in religious power, that the poor and suffering , were suffering due to their sinfulness, due to their uncleanliness and their separation from God. Jesus came to tell the people that this was not so. He came to tell all that we are to seek a spiritual happiness that can only be attained upon leaving this world. He came to share the Blessings, or Beatitudes of God with us.

The phrases that Jesus used are familiar to the Old Testament, but the way He used them in the Sermon elevated them to a new level of teaching.  In the Beatitudes He presented a new set of ideals that we are to strive for. Ideals that focus on love and humility instead of force and extortion. The Beatitudes teach us about compassion. They are the acts that result from a grace filled soul. They lead us to heaven.

The Beatitudes

The excellence of the Beatitudes is explained by Saint Thomas in these words: “[T]hose things which are set down as merits in the beatitudes are a kind of preparation for, or disposition to, happiness, either perfect or inchoate: while those that are assigned as rewards may be either perfect happiness, so as to refer to the future life, or some beginning of happiness, such as is found in those who have attained perfection, in which case they refer to the present life. Because, when a man begins to make progress in the acts of the virtues and gifts, it is to be hoped that he will arrive at perfection, both as a wayfarer, and as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom.”

If we view the Beatitudes as a guide to living, as we do the Ten Commandments…if we try to live with meekness and mercy in our hearts, our temporal end will bring no great surprise. We should be living with a grace filled soul here on earth, so death would be little more than a lifting of the veil that separates us from the Beatific Vision. But, in the history of man,only a few rare souls have been able to do this. More often than not, we shut out these graces; these means of attaining perfection. Because we are so busy viewing them with worldly glasses, we fail to look at them with the ‘rose-colored‘ glasses that a graced filled heart would provide; that a glimpse of heaven would provide.  And so we die, not perfect; yet still in a state of grace; but faced with time in Purgatory…a sort of remedial school for God’s ill prepared saints.

As we face our day to day struggles on this earth, with throngs of people shouting and screaming about human rights and earthly desires, that seem hell bent of robbing us of our divine inheritance, stand firm. Remember, their efforts will be fruitless. Keep your hearts and souls focused on God… Do not let the secular crowds of this world drag you down! We have learned from the martyrs; and all those persecuted saints before us; that persecution serves as a means of strengthening the Church. Remember, the blood of martyrs blossoms new growth in the True Church. As we prepare ourselves for the upcoming Lenten season and the turmoil that is rift throughout the lands…let the message of the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount help prepare us for what lies ahead. Both Temporally and Spiritually.

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Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas-Doctor of the Church

Posted on January 28, 2017 by mikatsa6

patron saints | Another Espresso, Please

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance.

Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion.

This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever.- St. Thomas Aquinas

Ikon – An Hour with Aquinas Report :

“For those with faith, no evidence is necessary; for those without it, no evidence will suffice.”
― Thomas Aquinas

1000+ images about Saints on Pinterest | John vianney, October and The ...

“The soul is like an uninhabited world
that comes to life only when
God lays His head
against us.”
― Thomas Aquinas

JANUARY 28 - St. Thomas Aquinas

“Obedience unites us so closely to God that it in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His.
If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”
― Thomas Aquinas

... church morning at school! Saint Thomas Aquinas Feast Day: January 28

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Gospel Reading January 27, 2017

Posted on January 27, 2017 by mikatsa6

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings on Genesis chapter 41 ...

Gospel, Mark 4:26-34

26 He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the land.

27 Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know.

28 Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29 And when the crop is ready, at once he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’

30 He also said, ‘What can we say that the kingdom is like? What parable can we find for it?

31 It is like a mustard seed which, at the time of its sowing, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.

32 Yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’

33 Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it.

34 He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were by themselves.

This parable is found only in the Gospel of Mark. Through Jesus Christ’s ministry it is revealed to man that God’s sovereign rule will be over each of them and that it will spread far over all the lands. It will start from the smallest of seeds and manifest itself throughout the world, lasting as long as God desires it to exist.

God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed. Starting from the smallest flicker of love placed within the hearts of man by God’s Holy word. We must be receptive to this flicker of Light, and allow the Holy Spirit to change us. For we cannot change on our own. We must allow God to transform us with the power of the Holy Spirit. We must submit our will to His will for us. Just as the Holy Spirit lit a fire in each of the apostles and Mary during the Pentecost, we must allow our love for God to be fanned into a flame that will spread to those around us. When we yield to Jesus Christ, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. And it is ultimately  because of the power of the Holy Spirit that grows God’s kingdom. Just as in the parable, man can aide in the scattering of the seeds, but only God can grow them. That is the Triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

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Our Talents Are Gifts From God

Posted on January 26, 2017 by mikatsa6

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God has given each of us talents and gifts…in fact, our very being and breaths are gifts. But I am talking about the unique talents that the Lord has blessed each of us with that make us who we are.

As a girl I wasn’t sure of what talent I had and wasn’t even aware of these gifts from God, per say. I mean I was aware of God and His love but sometimes He seemed so distant,so far away… like in this whole big world of everybody else, I was just this tiny speck, not famous or gifted, I was just me. But as a mother I can see the talents of my children…what gifts God has blessed them with…and I try to remind them about using what God has given each of them. That we are to use our talents and gifts to be a light of Christ in this world that prefers darkness. It is hard at times. It will take courage. Sometimes it is easier to just slide that light under a basket and hide it…but we have to try. God wants us to use the gifts He has given us….every last bit of them.

We are to love the Lord with all of our thoughts, all of our words, all of our deeds. Everything He has given us, we should give back to Him. Everything. And that means carrying your light for all to see. Finding the gift that God has stirred in you and using it to bring  Christ to everyone you meet. He has given us much…and He expects more in return. Believe me, our reward in heaven will be beyond measure!

So let us pray.

Dear Lord,  First, I am sorry that I sometimes  fail to see all the gifts you have given me throughout my life, I know that I am nothing without You.  But I do thank you for everything. For making me who I am . For loving me and guiding me. For placing this flickering light within my soul. Please continue to guide me so that I may be a light in this world and always strive to share Your love with others. As always, I ask this in Your Name. Amen.

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Gospel Reading January 26, 2017

Posted on January 26, 2017 by mikatsa6

... Minute with Fr Sam: The Light of Tabor and Calvary Under a Bushel

Gospel Mk 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lamp stand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

When we hear the words of God, actually presented to us from the Holy Bible, we have an obligation to the Lord to not just carry His message hidden away inside of us,to not hide it under a bushel basket or under a bed. We are called to be true disciples of Christ and go out and spread the Gospel to all the nations. We are to take this light that has been revealed to us, by Jesus Himself, and go tell the world about God. Go forth and shine His message throughout the lands.

As Catholics, we have the benefit of the teaching of the Church and the Tradition that has been handed down through the ages. We don’t have to flounder about on our own, relying on our own strength; we are blessed; we have the gentle guidance of a loving Mother in the Holy Catholic Church to help us decipher the Truth that Jesus came to reveal to the world. It really is pretty amazing that God loves us so much that He created the Church to help us with our daily struggles, our day to day battles with striving to achieve holiness and carry His light to all the world.

God has called each one of us who have heard His words, and listened to His voice, to spread His message to everyone we meet. We will encounter difficult moments, and I am sure at other times it will seem almost impossible to be His voice, but we must have courage, and trust, that  if we submit ourselves to the Will of God, He will take care of us.

 

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The Conversion of St. Paul-January 25th

Posted on January 25, 2017 by mikatsa6

images-duckduckgo-com-st-paul

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

— Acts 9:3–9, NIV
Saul was born into a strict Jewish family descended from the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Roman citizen. Before his conversion he was a zealous Pharisee, who intensely persecuted  the followers of Christ. He took part in the stoning of Saint Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, and the terrible Christian persecutions that followed.
Then one day on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus, he was struck off his horse by a powerful light coming down from heaven. As he fell to the ground he heard a loud voice speak to him.

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” It was the voice of Jesus.

An immediate transformation was made by Saul and he converted to the Christian faith and changed his name to Paul at his baptism. He then continued to travel around preaching the Faith until he was martyred in Rome in 65 AD.

St. Paul and his conversion are a great witness to the love our Lord has for each one of us. Saints and sinners alike. We are shown by this conversion, that each one of us…with all of our sins and damages are loved by God. He is constantly seeking us out of our sinfulness. But most of the time we do not listen. We fill our minds and hearts with worldly things. We fall into the snares of the devil, thinking that maybe God does  love everyone, but not me...I’ve done things…said things…thought things…that no God could love. But that is not the case! How easy it is to convince ourselves that we are out of reach of His love, His mercy. And when we are trapped with these feelings of sinfulness; whether we want to admit it or not; it keeps us separate from our Holy Mother; the Church. It keeps us separate from the true greatness that God intends for each one of us! We are all called to greatness! How awesome is that thought…(gives me goosebumps.)..God created each of us to do great things. Maybe not big GREAT things but great things nonetheless.

So whatever your state in life at this particular moment, remember how Jesus sought after Saul, a most terrible sinner, and brought him to the Faith. And if God can convert a murderer, just imagine what He can do with each one of us; sins and all! Each of us has a capacity to attain sainthood. Of course we must repent and open our hearts to God and His grace…but then; just imagine the possibilities! They are really out of this world.

“O God, who taught the whole world through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul, draw us, we pray, nearer to you through the example of him whose conversion we celebrate today, and so make us witnesses to your truth in the world. Through Christ Our Lord.”Amen

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St. Francis de Sales- Patron of writers

Posted on January 24, 2017 by mikatsa6

St. Francis de Sales | Defending the Beanfield

                         Confidence in God

It is good to mistrust ourselves, but how would that advantage us were we not to throw all our confidence on God, and to wait on His mercy? If you feel no such confidence, cease not on that account from making these acts and from saying to Our Lord: “Yet, O Lord, though I have no feeling of confidence in You, nevertheless, I know that You are my God, that I am all Yours, and that I have no hope but in Your goodness; so, I abandon myself entirely into Your Hands.” It is always in our power to make these acts; although we have difficulty in performing them, still there is no impossibility. Thus we testify faithfulness to our Lord.- St. Frances de Sales Prayer

St Francis de Sales

If then you listen faithfully to the Most Holy Virgin, you will hear in your heart those very words addressed to you:’Do whatever My Son tells you.’ – St. Francis de Sales

Your Cross

The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.- St. Francis de Sales
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