Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Besides being our Mother Mary’s Day, today is also the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Jesuit Order of Priests, and a Canonized Saint-son of Mary. Many are familiar with his story, but I wonder if many have read that by God’s Grace, he began his journey to holiness in earnest on March 25, 1522, when he entered the Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat. Before an image of the Black Madonna, he laid down his military garments. He gave his other clothes away to a poor man… For more, on St. Ignatius, see: St. Ignatius Loyola - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online
By God’s Grace, a holy Jesuit Priest I met invited several people to make an extended retreat on the Gospel of John. It was a further step in my own journey and I am forever grateful to that priest for helping me not only to further my devotion to Mary but also to increase my love for God’s Word. Today, I’m posting the Alleluia verse and Gospel for today’s Mass which is, as always, “our daily bread”:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Jesus we trust in You! Mary, Mother of the Church, Queen of ALL Saints, pray for us. Intercede for us Mary, most loving of all mothers, asking Jesus to give us Courage to give our lives, as Jesus emptied Himself on the Cross in Love for us!
Besides being our Mother Mary’s Day, today is also the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Jesuit Order of Priests, and a Canonized Saint-son of Mary. Many are familiar with his story, but I wonder if many have read that by God’s Grace, he began his journey to holiness in earnest on March 25, 1522, when he entered the Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat. Before an image of the Black Madonna, he laid down his military garments. He gave his other clothes away to a poor man… For more, on St. Ignatius, see: St. Ignatius Loyola - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online
By God’s Grace, a holy Jesuit Priest I met invited several people to make an extended retreat on the Gospel of John. It was a further step in my own journey and I am forever grateful to that priest for helping me not only to further my devotion to Mary but also to increase my love for God’s Word. Today, I’m posting the Alleluia verse and Gospel for today’s Mass which is, as always, “our daily bread”:
Alleluia verse - “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:10)
Gospel - (Mt 14:1-12)
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. ”The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Jesus we trust in You! Mary, Mother of the Church, Queen of ALL Saints, pray for us. Intercede for us Mary, most loving of all mothers, asking Jesus to give us Courage to give our lives, as Jesus emptied Himself on the Cross in Love for us!
