TODAYS REFLECTION, MEMORIAL OF ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY FRI MAY 27

TODAYS REFLECTION, MEMORIAL OF ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY  FRI MAY 27 ( 1Pt 4:7-13, Mk 11:11-26 )

#FAITHFULNESSANDFORGIVENESNOURISHESOURPRAYERS#

Friends, through the story about the fig tree today, Jesus teaches us about faithfulness, love and forgiveness. Jesus says that he chose us from the world and appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last for all eternity (Jn 15:16). He also teaches us against the faithlessness of those who rejected his message. For faith to be fruitful and productive, it must be nourished with the word of God (2 Tim 3:16; Col 3:16) and be rooted in love (Gal 5:6).

Jesus did not see any fruitful, good works happening in the temple area, because the money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more than was right, in essence, He “sweeps” through the temple cleaning up all the ungodly behaviour and tells us that his house, the temple, is to be a house of prayer for all people.

Further Jesus highlights one of the greatest obstacles to a healthy prayer life as lack of forgiveness. When we come to Christ, in prayer, we need to first cleanse our hearts if we are to hear Him speak. Jesus wants us to forgive others as the Father forgives us and to love one another. The apostle Peter urges us to let our love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins (1Pt 4:9). St. Augustine, whose feast day we celebrate today says “Since love grows within us, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.”

Beloved, reflect, today upon whether you want to grow in prayer. If you do, then start by cleansing your heart of all sin. Confession is the best way to do this. May Help us to forgive others just as He has been merciful towards us and has forgiven us. May St Augustine pray for us. Have a blessed weekend and Be blessed.

SAINT OF THE DAY MAY 27 ( Saint Augustine of Canterbury ) pray for us.

Saint Augustine of Canterbury

Also known as
• Apostle to the Anglo-Saxons
• Apostle to the English
• Austin of Canterbury

Profile

Monk and abbot of Saint Andrew's abbey in Rome, Italy. Sent by Pope Saint Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, including Saint Lawrence of Canterbury to evangelize the British Isles in 597. Before he reached the islands, terrifying tales of the Celts sent him back to Rome in fear, but Gregory told him he had no choice, and so he went. He established and spread the faith throughout England; one of his earliest converts was King AEthelberht who brought 10,000 of his people into the Church. Ordained as a bishop in Gaul (modern France) by the archbishop of Arles. First Archbishop of Canterbury, England. Helped re-establish contact between the Celtic and Latin churches, though he could not establish his desired uniformity of liturgy and practices between them. Worked with Saint Justus of Canterbury. Anglican Archbishops of Canterbury are still referred to as occupying the Chair of Augustine.

Born

at Rome, Italy

Died

• 26 May 605 in Canterbury, England of natural causes
• relics interred outside the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Canterbury, a building project he had started

Patronage

England

Representation

bishop baptizing a king.

SAINTS OF THE DAY MAY 21 ( MARTYRS OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION ) May they pray for us.

MARTYRS OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION

Profile

The 1917 Mexican constitution was pointedly anti-clerical and anti-Church, and its adoption instituted years of violent religious persecution including expulsion of foreign priests, closing of parochial schools, and the murders of several priests and lay leaders who work to minister to the faithful and support religious freedom. 25 of them who died at different times and places but all as a result of this persecution were celebrated together. They each have separate memorials, but are also remembered as a group.

• Saint Agustin Caloca Cortes
• Saint Atilano Cruz Alvarado
• Saint Cristobal Magallanes Jara
• Saint David Galván-Bermúdez
• Saint David Roldán-Lara
• Saint David Uribe-Velasco
• Saint Jenaro Sánchez DelGadillo
• Saint Jesús Méndez-Montoya
• Saint Jose Isabel Flores Varela
• Saint José María Robles Hurtado
• Saint Julio álvarez Mendoza
• Saint Justino Orona Madrigal
• Saint Luis Batiz Sainz
• Saint Manuel Moralez
• Saint Margarito Flores-García
• Saint Mateo Correa-Magallanes
• Saint Miguel de la Mora
• Saint Pedro de Jesús Maldonado-Lucero
• Saint Pedro Esqueda Ramírez
• Saint Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán
• Saint Roman Adame Rosales
• Saint Sabas Reyes Salazar
• Saint Salvador Lara Puente
• Saint Toribio Romo González
• Saint Tranquilino Ubiarco Robles

Venerated

7 March 1992 by Pope John Paul II (decree of martyrdom)

Beatified

22 November 1992 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized

21 May 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME SAT MAY 21

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME SAT MAY 21 ( Jas 5:13-20, Mk 10:13-16 )

#THROUGHPRAYERANDSIMPLICITYSHOWLOVEANDWELCOMEONEANOTHER#

In todays first reading St James asks us questions and also gives us the answer,    Are you suffering?  Pray.  Are you cheerful?  Pray.  Are you sick?  Pray.  This is what we are told, making praying the ultimate solutions to our problems and a way of acheiving success in our lifes. He however, invites us to a deeper level in our exploration of and commitment to prayer. This reading points also to the importance of the sacrament of annoting of the sick administered by the priests.

In the gospel Jesus used the example of children to explain the way that we must accept the Kingdom of God. We must accept it as a child would. Not with skepticism or doubt, but with openness, joy and simplicity. But this passage above also reveals another subtle truth. It reveals the natural and healthy affection we must have for others.

Today Jesus rebuked his disciples for hindering the children from coming to saying, “Let the children come to me.” It goes on, “Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.” These passages reveal to us the holy, natural and healthy affection that Jesus had for these children and for all of us, and also demonstrated that God's love has ample room for everyone. He comes to each person individually that he might touch us with his healing love and power.

May through simplicity, kindness and humility we show love to one another as Jesus has taught us today and continue to pass on the faith. Be blessed as we are united in prayers.

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME FRI MAY 20

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME FRI MAY 20 ( Jas 5:9-12, Mk 10:1-12 )

#BEPATIENTWITHONEANOTHERANDLETOURLOVEBEFAITHFUL#

Friends todays first reading admonishes us not to swear by anything since we have no control over anything but ourselves but only to say and to mean, yes or no. It further challenges us to patient perseverance in our essential commitments.  It requires each of us to take our own voice, and our behavior enacting that voice, very seriously indeed.

Ushering us into the gospel message today St James writes; it is required us to see that the foundation of marriage is faithful self-donation on the part of each of the spouses to an irrevocable spoken “yes” to relationship that flows from, and participates in, God’s work of salvation through perfectly irrevocable mercy. Human beings also want to be loved deeply and forever. We do not want to be used, "dumped," and rejected.

In todays gospel, Jesus announced that divorce is no longer necessary. He is God and is able to change our human nature so that we can fulfill our legitimate needs. Baptized into Jesus, we can love deeply and forever. The life and marriage we want are now possible. Christ's salvation and our Baptism into Him makes divorce obsolete and matrimony holy, not harmful. Accept Jesus as the Saviour of your marriage and your life. May through our prayers today broken marriges be repaired and May the the love of Christ as the foundation of their lifes. Have a blase weekend

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME THURS MAY 19

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME THURS MAY 19 ( Jas 5: 1-6, Mk 9: 41-50 ).

#PURIFICATIONANDREWARDAWAITEACHONEOFUS#

Beloved, the reading from James and the Psalm are reminders of just how short life is and consideration of what we do with what we have. We clearly see that those who oppress others will have their wealth rotted out, because they stored treasures for the last days from the wages of elders and workers. St James said they will weep and wail over impending miseries because their possessions are on the road to decay.

In the gospel Jesus assures the disciples that those who assist them will never lose their reward. As we have been told that God will come on the last day to repay each one according to his deeds, we now have an assurance that those who assisted men of God in their needs will also receive the reward of their gestures of love and kindness and also there will be reward for those who have caused them to derail from their focus with punishments according to their deeds.

Finally Jesus makes it clear that everyone will go through “salting.” So what does this actually mean? Being “salted with fire” means that we are purified by God. Fire purifies and refines. So it is with us, we must be purified by the fire of God in every way. Sin must be purged and we must become malleable by the fire of God so that we can be molded into his divine image.

Reflect, especially upon any ways that you feel the pain of some suffering that you do not want to embrace. Know that a full embrace of this suffering may actually produce the purification God wants in your life so as to make you truly holy and pure. May we be open to the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT. BE BLESSED.

SAINT OF THE DAY MAY 19 ( POPE SAINT CELESTINE V )

Pope Saint Celestine V

Also known as
• Peter Celestine
• Peter Morrone
• Peter of Moroni
• Pietro del Morrone
• Pietro di Murrone

Profile

Eleventh of twelve children. His father died when Peter was quite young. When his mother would ask, "Which one of you is going to become a saint?" Peter would answer "Me, Mama! I'll become a saint!".

At 20 Peter became a hermit, praying, working, and reading the Bible. He followed the Benedictine Rule, and so many other hermits came to him for guidance, that he founded the Holy Spirit Community of Maiella (Celestines).

Following a two year conclave during which the cardinals could not decide on a pope, Peter came to them with the message that God was not pleased with the long delay; the cardinals chose Peter as the 192nd Pope.

The primary objective of Celestine's pontificate was to reform clergy, many of whom were using spiritual power to obtain wordly power. Celestine sought a way to bring the faithful to the original Gospel spirit, and he settled on "Pardon" - he called for a year of forgiveness of sins, and return to evangelical austerity and fidelity.

He reigned a mere five months, and the members of the Vatican Curia took advantage of him. This led to much mismanagement, and great uproar in the Vatican. Knowing he was responsible, Celestine asked forgiveness for his mistakes, and abdicated on 13 December 1294, the only pope to do so. His successor, Boniface VIII, kept Celestine hidden for the last ten months of his life in a small room in a Roman palace. Celestine may have appreciated it - he never lost his love of the hermit's life, and spent his last days in prayer.

Born

1210 at Isneria, Abruzzi, Italy as Pietro del Morrone

Papal Ascension

5 July 1294

Papal Abdication

13 December 1294

Died

• 19 May 1296 in Rome, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the church of Saint Agatha, Ferentino, Italy
• re-interred in the Church of Saint Maria di Collemaggio, Aquila, Italy

Canonized

1313 by Pope Clement V

Patronage

• Aquila, Italy
• bookbinders.