“People will hate you because you belong to the Son of Man.  They will make you leave their group. They will insult you. They will think it is wrong even to say your name. When these things happen, know that God will bless you. At that time you can be happy and jump for joy, because you have a great reward in heaven. Their fathers were mean to the prophets in the same way that these people are mean to you.”

 

KEY THOUGHT:

The New Testament writers operated under the assumption that Christianity would always be a rejected counter-culture. The values of the Kingdom are not the values of the majority of people. The demands of the King are thought to be silly, harsh, or judgmental by those outside the Kingdom of God.

 

Because many of us live in a watered down, pseudo-Christian culture, we are sometimes surprised when Christians are ridiculed, ostracized, and persecuted. Yet a night or two of television, a day or two watching hearings on possible judge appointees, and even a casual conversation overheard at the office water cooler reveals that Christians who seek to truly follow Jesus are the objects of disdain.

 

Let’s make sure that if we suffer for the name of Christ, it is because we have been people of character and respect, not because we have been obnoxious or self-righteous. At the same time, let’s also remember that suffering for the name of Jesus is part of being Christian. Rather than being surprised, let’s view these troubles as opportunities to show the character and grace of our Lord! When we do, we can be sure of God’s blessing!

 

TODAY’S PRAYER:

O LORD, God Almighty, help me to be a person who brings your blessings to others. May that be true in my casual encounters with others during the day. May it be true of those with whom I share faith. May it also be true when I find myself under attack for my faith. May my life always reflect the generous grace and the committed character of my Savior, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Robert Edgar Ammon

 

Reading from a Spiritual Canticle of St. John of the Cross

 

Though holy doctors have uncovered many mysteries and wonders, and devout souls have understood them in this earthly condition of ours, yet the greater part still remains to be unfolded by them, and even to be understood by them.

 

We must then dig deeply in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides.For this reason the apostle Paul said of Christ: In Him are hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God.

 

The soul cannot enter into these treasures, nor attain them, unless it first crosses into and enters the thicket of suffering, enduring interior and exterior labours, and unless it first receives from God very many blessings in the intellect and in the senses, and has undergone long spiritual training. All these are lesser things, disposing the soul for the lofty sanctuary of the knowledge of the mysteries of Christ: this is the highest wisdom attainable in this life. Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire.

 

The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.

 

Saint Paul therefore urges the Ephesians not to grow weary in the midst of tribulations, but to be steadfast and rooted and grounded in love, so that they may know with all the saints the breadth, the length, the height and the depth – to know what is beyond knowledge, the love of Christ, so as to be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

The gate that gives entry into these riches of His wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.

 

this article discovered here

 

Sometimes–almost habitually, indeed, or at least very frequently–I would find relief after communicating. There were times, in fact, when the very act of approaching the Sacrament would at once make me feel so well, both in soul and in body, that I was astounded. I would feel as if all the darkness in my soul had suddenly been dispersed and the sun had come out and shown me the stupidity of the things I had been saying and doing.

 

At other times, if the Lord spoke only one word to me (if, for example, as on the occasion I have already described, He said no more than “Be not troubled: have no fear”), that one word completely cured me, or, if I were to see some vision, it was as if there had been nothing wrong with me. I rejoiced in God and made my complaint to Him, asking Him how He could allow me to suffer such tortures, but telling Him that I was well rewarded for them, since, when they were over, I almost invariably received favors in great abundance.

 

My soul seemed to emerge from the crucible like gold, both brighter and purer, to find the Lord within it. So trials like these, unbearable as they may seem, eventually become light, and the soul becomes anxious to suffer again if by so doing it can render the Lord greater service. And, however numerous may be our troubles and persecutions, if we endure them without offending the Lord, but rejoice to suffer for His sake, they all work together for our greater gain–though I do not myself bear them as they should be borne, but in a way which is most imperfect.

 

The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila

 

 

this article discovered here

 

One day a novice in Rome came to me. She was crying. I asked her, “What is the matter?” She had just come back from a family and said, “Mother, I have never seen such suffering. They had nothing in the house. There was this terrible sickness, the terrible cancer, and I could do nothing. Please allow me to do a little bit of extra penance. I want to share in that suffering.”

 

She was a young sister, scarcely three years in our congregation, but it was painful for her to see the suffering of the others.

 

Joy is prayer, Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.  God loves a cheerful giver.  He gives most who gives with joy.   The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy.  A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love.  Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of Christ risen.

 

This I tell my sisters. This I tell you.

 

Blessed Mother Teresa

 

The only feet I have ever admired are those that belong to babies or very young children. For the most part, I think adult feet are ugly. They have a right to be. Most of us, especially women, abuse them with shoes that don’t fit correctly or have inadequate arch support. Many years ago, my husband worked in a shoe store and he says it always amazed him when some women would shove their feet into shoes that were obviously too small.

 

Not me. You won’t catch me in uncomfortable shoes. Once, my mother bought me a pair of shoes to wear to a cousin’s wedding. For some reason I don’t remember now, I didn’t try them on until the day of the wedding. They were too small and so painful that now, almost 20 years later, the only thing I can remember about the day my cousin said, “I do!” was how much my feet hurt.

 

Ugly feet are hereditary in my family. Once, when all the women on my father’s side were together, we took off our shoes to show those who married into our family what their children’s feet might look like. I could tell by the looks on their faces that they thought we were kidding. However, when we took off our shoes, there was no denying the similarity. “How do they get that way?” they asked. “Genetics,” we all replied in unison. “Admire your children’s feet when they are babies because one day they may look like this,” my aunt advised.

 

I remember my grandmother saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But when it comes to feet, I didn’t believe that anyone could possibly find my feet attractive. I am so self conscious about them that I never wear sandals, flip flops, or open-toed shoes. No sirreee. I want those ugly puppies covered up as much as possible.

 

I didn’t believe that anyone could possibly find my feet attractive.

 

Last week, I was reading my Bible and I came upon a verse that I didn’t remember. Paul quotes the Old Testament when he says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Romans 10:15).

 

My mouth dropped open in amazement. The message was loud and clear. If I am a Christian and I am bringing the good news to others, I have beautiful feet! I slipped my shoes off and looked at the same twisted toes and huge bunions that I’ve looked at for the last several years. They definitely didn’t look beautiful to me, but if God thinks they are beautiful … I know they are.

 

When my brother was a little boy my mother looked at his hands one day and told him he had beautiful hands. “No they’re not,” he argued. “Oh yes they are,” she replied gently. “The things they can do are beautiful.”

 

And that’s the way it is with feet. No matter what they look like, when they help us carry the message that Jesus Christ came to this Earth and died for our sins, that He arose victorious from the grave, and that He’s coming back for us one day, then our feet are beautiful.

 

Teresa Bell Kindred

 

I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold.

~~~Gregory, 5

Everybody’s got it all wrong. Angels don’t wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it.

~~~Olive, 9

It’s not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to Heaven, and then there’s still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.

~~~Matthew, 9

Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.

~~~Mitchell, 7

My guardian angel helps me with math, but he’s not much good for science.

~~~Henry, 8

Angels don’t eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows!!!

~~~Jack, 6

Angels talk all the way while they’re flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead.

~~~Daniel, 9

When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there’s a tornado.

~~~Reagan, 10

Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.

~~~Sara, 6

Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who’s a very good carpenter.

~~~Jared, 8

All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn’t go for it.

~~~Antonio, 9

My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.

~~~Lynn, 9

Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don’t make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.

~~~Vicki, 8

What I don’t get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.

~~~ Sarah, 7

 

 

In her Magnificat, Our Lady says, “All generations shall call me blessed.”  When you pray through the Magnificat, you see all the Beatitudes coming to life in her beautiful exhortation of thanksgiving.  When we live her Magnificat, we will share in that blessedness.  We too will be called blessed.  We too will be happy, happy, happy.  We need to be happy! There is a strength that comes with joy.   That does not mean that there will not be sorrow, but joy and sorrow are friends.  They can live side by side in the human heart.  Our Lady knew sorrow; she also knew joy.  In her litany we say that she is the cause of our joy.  We want to be the cause of other people’s joy as well.  If the world needs anything today it needs joy.

The Lord gave me an image one time of a very busy street. It could have been any big city.  I was just watching the people coming and going.  The sidewalks were packed and hardly anybody paid attention to anybody else. It was all hurry, hurry, hurry!  I asked the Lord, “What is it that You want me to do in this image?”  He said, “Look at their faces.”  I said, “Lord, they are not happy! There isn’t any joy.”  He said, “No. They haven’t any wine.  They need the New Wine.  They need the Spirit.”  The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Intercessors need joy because we need strength for the combat that we are in all the time.  It is gift and it is fruit. We may be treading the wine press one day, yet we are still experiencing joy right along with it.  Jesus said that when the birthing has occurred, when that grace comes forth and is given, there is no joy like it.  There is no joy like it.  The intercession lifts and you know you are not treading the wine press.  You know that someone has received Jesus.   Pentecost has happened for somebody somewhere.

We are her offspring.  We are part of that generation that is blessed.  We are the blessed fruit of her heart.  All that Mary is, she wants for us so that we may sing with her every day a new song unto the Lord - a new song.  It is the Spirit playing on our heart-strings.  It is always new when God is involved.  He does not repeat Himself.  Have you ever noticed that in faces?  When we are in airports it is wonderful to watch the people come and go.  You never see anybody look alike.  How can God do that?  Wouldn’t you think that He would run out of ideas?

Mary gave herself totally.  She gave everything.  She gave everything that she was, everything that she had, everything that she really is.  And she received a hundredfold.  She received the fullness of life and the fullness of light, the fullness of love.   She received the fullness of the Trinity. She said that God had made her the most blessed of all and that her spirit rejoiced in God, her Savior.  She truly knew that the Lord was with her.  Joy is always the infallible sign of the presence of God.  Satan can imitate almost everything else.  He can imitate a false peace.  He can imitate prayer languages; he can imitate certain healings.  He can do so much imitation but he cannot imitate joy because joy is God Himself.  It is the presence of God Himself.

Can you imagine what it will be like when the Church really goes into the desert again, really becomes contemplative again and really starts receiving the enfleshment of the Word, being fed, experiencing the joy?  Can you imagine the evangelization that will go forth?  People are drawn to happy people.  Joy is contagious.  You will be able to walk down the street and say, “What do they have?”  That is what drew us, in the cloister, to the Charismatic renewal in the first place.  Bishop Joseph McKenny came and was so filled with joy.  It was wonderful to see a Bishop at the altar who was happy.  You cannot camouflage joy, can you?

We want to be people of joy.  We want to be Pentecost people.  At Pentecost, Our Lady was with the disciples so that they could have the same experience in the Upper Room which she had at the Annunciation. Out of the climate of silence, authentic prayer really begins.  Here is where revelation and contemplation comes.  As we are fed, we become quieter, more silent.  We start to gaze.  The more we gaze, the more we become like that at which we are gazing.

 

Excerpt from Mother Nadine’s, “Lady Wisdom Sings Her Own Praises,” Omaha, NE 2005

 

this article discovered here

 

 

OK, so the screen savers aren’t enough anymore. You want to immerse another of your senses in the world of Christian antiquity. Try hearing next. There’s a lot of ancient chant you can load into your iPod.

 

My personal favorite is a quirk of history. It’s a recording of Roman chant from the 7th and 8th centuries, Chants de l’Eglise de Rome. At the time, Rome’s native culture was in decline. Byzantine Greek culture was still riding fairly high. A number of the popes hailed from the eastern lands. And entire monasteries from the oriean were fleeing to Italy for refuge from various invaders. So the chant sounds Roman, but you hear deep eastern influences ­ and I do mean deep. One of the distinctive notes of Old Roman Chant is its sustained bass parts, which make for odd and beautiful harmonies.

 

Here’s a curiosity: Music from the 5th Century. It’s reconstructed from ancient Coptic manuscripts by an Armenian-American musicologist. He contends that this was the characteristic music not only of the ancient Coptic Christians, but also of the Egyptians, generations earlier, who built the pyramids. I have to admit, my ears have not quite adjusted to this sound.

 

And let’s not forget our old friend Ambrose, who was deeply influenced by the chant of the East, and wanted to bring something like it to his own church in 4th-century Milan. Augustine himself praised Ambrose’s church for its congregational singing. Listen to Sublime Chant: The Art of Gregorian, Ambrosian, and Gallican Chant.

 

Does anyone know if there’s a good recording of the ancient Syriac chants of Edessa? As Christians leave that area (in Turkey and Syria), I fear this music will be lost.

 

this article discovered here

 

 

The Church Christ founded has four marks by which it may be known: it is one; it is holy; it is Catholic (universal); it is apostolic.

 

There is only one universal Christian Church, united in faith, in worship and in succession from the Apostles themselves: the Catholic Church.

 

(taken from the Modern Catholic Dictionary by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.)

 

The fifteen features of the true Church developed by St. Robert Bellermine (1542 – 1621), cardinal, Archbishop of Capua, and Doctor of the Church. As a contemporary of the original Protestant Reformers, he expanded the traditional four marks to fifteen, as follows:

 

1.	Name	The Church’s name, Catholic, universal, and worldwide, and not confined to any particular nation or people.
2.	Antiquity	In tracing the Church’s ancestry directly to Jesus Christ.
3.	Duration	Constant duration in lasting substantially unchanged for so many centuries.
4.	Extensiveness	In the number of the Church’s loyal members.
5.	Episcopal Succession	The episcopal succession of the Church’s bishops from the first Apostles at the Last Supper to the present hierarchy.
6.	Doctrinal Agreement	The doctrinal agreement of the Church’s doctrine with the teaching of the ancient Church.
7.	Union	The union of the Church’s members among themselves and with their visible head the Roman Pontiff.
8.	Holiness	Holiness of doctrine in reflecting the sanctity of God.
9.	Efficacy	Efficacy of doctrine in its power to sanctify believers and inspire them to great moral achievement.
10.	Holiness Of Life	The holiness of life of the Church’s representative writers and defenders.
11.	Miracles	The glory of miracles worked in the Church and under the Church’s auspices.
12.	Prophecy	The gift of prophecy found among the Church’s saints and spokespeople.
13.	Opposition	The opposition that the Church arouses among those who attack her on the very grounds that Christ was opposed by His enemies.
14.	Unhappy End	The unhappy end of those who fight against the Church.
15.	Temporal Peace and Earthly Happiness	The temporal peace and earthly happiness of those who live by the Church’s teaching and defend her interests.

 

this article discovered here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The author of Postscripts from the Catholic Spitfire Grill is quite articulate and these posts make for fascinating reading.  It apparently all began when someone asked her to comment on a post on a blog for something called “Elevation Church.”

 

There’s quite a bit of commentary on this post, so please allocate a few minutes to read it through:

 

and this one:

 

and this one:

 

The blog’s author is also the owner of a group on Yahoo! entitled “Catholic Spitfire Grill” which is for those making genuine inquiry, and immersed in the joy of their new life in The Church.  If you could use some joy, be sure to join the group and read post after post filled with profound gratitude.  The group is located here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/catholicspitfiregrill