A new day!

Good Morning!

By saying "YES" to Jesus, we enter the gateway to a "NEW LIFE". Peace.

Jesus will help you STEP by STEP!

8-20-13

Feast: St. Bernard Abbot and Doctor of the Church (1090-1153)

Born near Dijon, France, at 22 he entered the Benedictine abbey of Citeaux, know for its strict observance. After three years, he was sent as abbot with twelve monks to establish a new monastery in a valley known as clairvaux (the Valley of Light). From the time he became abbot until his death, Bernard dominated the religious and political life of Western Europe. His mystical and theological writings, sermons, letters, treatises, and biblical commentaries have had a profound and lasting influence on Catholic spirituality. When he died, all of Europe mourned. He was declared a doctor of the Church in 1830. May we learn from him that "real happiness will come, not in gratifying our desires or in gaining passing pleasures, but in accomplishing God's will for us."

Gospels: Both Yesterday's----- Mathew 19:16-22  and today's ----Matthew 19:23-30  Talk about selling what you have and you will get your treasure in heaven. Or It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

From Sacred Space:

In both cases he is highlighting a TRUTH about wealth---- it can ruin us. Wealth can leave us mistrustful of others or mean; is can also be the basis for service and generosity. To give away money or possessions regularly is a way to ensure wealth NEVER ensnares us.

The things to which I am most attached can slow me down.

Paul told the people of Philippi that nothing matters more than knowing Christ (Phil 3:8). I think of what really matters to me, WHAT MAKES ME TRULY RICH, and ask God's help to LET EVERYTHING ELSE GO.

From Living With Christ:

Today, few are asked to sell everything in order to follow Jesus. But we are expected to use our time, talents and energy to help build up the Kingdom of God.

from The Word Among Us:

Sometimes possessions hold us back. For someone else, it may be status or resentment or an sinful relationship. In reality, it could be ANYTHING that takes our focus off of Jesus and his call to eternal life. Instead ask Jesus to help you STEP BY STEP. HE WILL! So take up Jesus' offer, and choose to follow him JUST AS YOU ARE.  Jesus, help me to turn my eyes to you, and to follow you WHEVER YOU LEAD."  "Show me WHO I REALLY AM! FILL me with CONFIDENCE, COURAGE, and the ZEAL to serve you with all my heart.

Notes: If you look at all at some of the books I listed in my profile, you will notice that quite a few of the have to do with the Monastic Life. The picture above is of a Benedictine Monastery in Rome.
If I had a previous life I was probably a monk about the same time of St. Bernard -- say 900 years ago-- If I wasn't a Benedictine, I was a Trappist, Cistercian, or Carthusion.

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About this time yesterday, I was finishing up what I thought was a very well thought out blog. Suddenly the whole this disappeared into thin air---- never to be found again. The only thing left was the Title: Jesus will help you STEP by STEP!  I went to bed last night feeling a bit down---- BUT TODAY WAS A NEW BALLGAME--- as always. I think He's asking me to take smaller steps.

Like:   "Rome wasn't built in a day"
            "You learn something everyday"
            "You don't know what you don't know"
            "One day at a time"
            "Let go! Let God!"
            "One door closes another opens"
           
"Today I tried to follow Jesus step by step------- at the end of the day I'm ONE DAY CLOSER to God on my JOURNEY!

Amen.

Year of Faith

Peace

grandpazach@yahoo.com
 

Only Jesus truly SATISFIES!!

Rome, Italy

If earthly wealth will not satisfy, Jesus will.
Only Jesus Truly Satisfies!

Hebrews 12:1----- Persevere in running the race.

From "The Word Among Us"

Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter who holds the record as the fastest person ever. Nicknamed the "Lightning Bolt," he has won many Olympic gold medals and World Championships. Like Bolt, many top athletes in the world dedicate countless hours to working out, training, and eating right
to obtain their dreams. They make many sacrifices in their time and activities so that they can stay
focused on the prize.

Do you consider yourself a Christian athlete running the GREATEST RACE of your life? Well, that's what you are. Right now, countless angels and saints, along with Jesus and your heavenly Father, are cheering you on. THEY WANT TO SEE YOU WIN. They have FAITH and HOPE that you can do it, too! What's more, you're not alone. A HUGE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS IS RUNNING WITH YOU, all reaching for the prize together.

During the race, Jesus wants you to know him not only as the Savior and Messiah but as your best FRIEND AND TRAINER! And to help you run, he wants you to receive his own STRENGTH and POWER, his own encouragement and excitement. He also wants to see you strengthen your spiritual muscles as you lend a helping hand, encourage someone who is downcast, and reach out to share God's word along the way. He wants to help you be free from the self-righteousness, moodiness,and impatience that can bog you down so that you can SOAR WITH EAGLES' WINGS!

Just remember one thing: This is a marathon, not a sprint! So pace yourself.

" I am here to win the race Lord! Crown me with your glory!"
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From "Living With Christ"

As we run the race of life that lies before us, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. His TEACHING and EXAMPLE will not betray us.

WHEN WE GIVE OURSELVES TO THE SERVICE OF THE LEAST AMONG US, OUR LIVES WILL HAVE MEANING. When we work to build Christ's kingdom of justice and peace, we will find fulfillment that flows from his love.

Success in life depends on the GOAL we make our own. THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO SEE THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN WILL FIND JOY ON EARTH. Those who keep their eyes fixed on Jesus will cross the finish line not in disaster, but in victory.

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Notes: A couple of reasons I wanted to send a "Post" out today:
1. My wife Linda and I lector together and we did one of the Masses today.  As part of being a Lector we study the readings and practice before hand, so we have a pretty good "feel" about Mass we are about to attend. There's a publication that's offered every year for families titled "At Home with the Word"---- Put out by Liturgy Training Publications. It's inexpensive and truly gives you a better understanding of all the Sunday Gospels and Readings.

2. My Grandson is still here, so he can help me before I push the "Publish" button. For example I learned to enjoy using photos while on Facebook, I don't quite get how to move a photo from here to there and back again. Anyway, I hope to have good notes before he goes back to Paris.

In closing, a word from Pope Francis: "THE VIRGIN MARY
                                          teaches us what it means to live in the holy spirit
                                                           and what it means to accept the news of God in our life.
                                                               May Mary help you to be attentive to what the
                                                              Lord asks of you, and to live and walk forever with
                                                                             the HOLY SPIRIT!"

Amen

Year of Faith

Peace

grandpazach@yahoo.com




  

 

  

Feast: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

 

Feast: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"The Virgin Mary teaches us what it means to live in the Holy Spirit and what it means to accept the news of God in our life. May Mary help you to be attentive to what the Lord asks of you, and to live and walk forever with the holy Spirit!" Pope Francis

This Beautiful Mural is in The Basilica of ST. JOHN LATERRAN, ROME, ITALY.

St. John Lateran rightfully adorns herself with the title of "Mother and first of all Churches of Rome and of the World" in its capacity as Cathedral of the Eternal City. Like St. Peter's and St. Paul's, this Basilica was also founded by Constantine.  I took the picture last month when my wife Linda and I were in Rome to visit with Pope Francis and 200,000 other people at high noon on Sunday. We were also able to see the other three main Churches ---- St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Peter.

 

from Living With Christ:  "So freely and totally did Mary respond to God's grace throughout her life, that in death she was honored by God. In declaring the dogma of the Assumption, the Church proclaims and celebrates that in Mary there was no obstacle to deny her immediate passing through death and becoming the first after her Son to be raised body and soul to fullness of with  God.

 

Today's feast of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the summit of her journey as God's most humble and faithful servant. As we reflect on this joyful feast, we realize that she is teaching us to sing the Magnificat with her to the world. We too are invited to proclaim in joy and humble service the compassion and justice of God. Like Mary, in serving the reign of god, we too will one day share in her destiny.   Rev. Michael Traher, SFM

 

Peace

 

Year of Faith

 

grandpazach



 

 

 

Feast of Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Marytown

Maximilian Kolbe, born on January 8, 1894, in Poland, became a Conventual Franciscan and in 1918 was ordained a priest  in Rome. Out of deep filial devotion to Mary, he established the sodality called the Militia of Mary Immaculate and promoted its growth in Poland and other parts of the world. As a missionary in Japan he labored under the patronage of the Immaculate Virgin to spread the Christian faith. He returned to Poland and during World War II was imprisoned and suffered great hardship in the concentration camp in Oswiecim (Auschwitz). His life of dedication was crowned by his supreme sacrifice of charity on August 14, 1941, when he offered up his own life in place of another prisoner.

Prayer by Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Two or Three Gathered in Prayer in Jesus' Name

Prayer is..... a tool unknown to most, and yet, is the best way to reestablish peace in our souls, to reach happiness, since it serves to draw us closer to God's love.

Prayer makes the world anew.

Prayer is the necessary condition for the rebirth and life of every soul.

Through prayer, and without ever leaving the walls of her own convent, Saint Therese of Lisieux was conferred with the title of Patroness of all Missions. Therefore, we also should pray and our prayer should be fruitful and constant. By praying both with our voices and our thoughts, we shall belong to her everyday more in every aspect of our lives, how our sins shall disappear and our faults weaken, how smoothly and powerfully we shall be drawn always closer to God.

Our external activity is all right but, obviously, it is not as important as our spiritual life, our life of recollection, of prayer, of our personal love for God.

only through prayer is it possible to reach Saint Augustine's goal: "The love of God and the contempt of ourselves," a contempt not only imaginary but real, so that, by knowing ourselves, our nothingness, and our weaknesses every day better, we may truly despise ourselves, and wish the others to treat us as we deserve.

In the measure in which we shall burn always more with a divine love, we shall be able to inflame others also with a similar love.

How do we nourish the interior life, the spirit of prayer, our union with God when we are at work, or at reat, or when we are carrying out our different activities? With a spontaneous prayer.... A short spontaneous prayer while we are working is the best prayer, and it is also very practical, for it unites us always closer to the Immaculate, as an instrument in the hands of the Teacher. Through this means we obtain the grace of enlightening our minds to recognize her will, and of strengthening our will to fulfill it.  Amen  

Notes: Marytown-- Libertyville, Il. is a National Shrine in honor of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Patterned after St. Paul Outside-the- walls of Rome, Italy, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament chapel is simply one of the most beautiful religious sites in America. The Chapel is open to adorers of the Eucharist 24/7.

Peace

Year of Faith

grandpazach

My first Blog----- Thank you Lord, for taking me down this "Trail".  

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