Veni

DAY'S SAINTS
Blessed James of Viterbo, Hermit
Edburga of Thanet, Benedictine
Gospel LK 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

+

He comes to you.

Perhaps the one most momentous statement of all Scripture, "for nothing is impossible for God."

Put your hopes in Him for protection and to prosper in heavenly ways, and fear nothing from God, for you have found favor with Him.

Ask for peace, and it will be given, and ask Him to receive your penances and sacrifices for your brothers and sisters, for He will not deny you.

You who are intent on pleasing the Lord can never displease Him, and He longs to hear your voice. Come alone to the garden, let the gardenia and the rose scent the air of evening as you wait for Him. 

In the midst of violence and din, dwell in peace, dwell in grace and forsake sin.

So as to silence those who do not believe the Lord, peace settles over the land, and the children of God rejoice at His coming disposing themselves utterly for Him, for He comes to those awaiting. He does not tarry, but as the light of day appears swiftly over the edge of the world, He comes and His angels prepare the way for His children.

Be at peace, for He dwells in peace.

Veni

DAY'S SAINTS
Blessed James of Viterbo, Hermit
Edburga of Thanet, Benedictine
Gospel LK 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

+

He comes to you.

Perhaps the one most momentous statement of all Scripture, "for nothing is impossible for God."

Put your hopes in Him for protection and to prosper in heavenly ways, and fear nothing from God, for you have found favor with Him.

Ask for peace, and it will be given, and ask Him to receive your penances and sacrifices for your brothers and sisters, for He will not deny you.

You who are intent on pleasing the Lord can never displease Him, and He longs to hear your voice. Come alone to the garden, let the gardenia and the rose scent the air of evening as you wait for Him. 

In the midst of violence and din, dwell in peace, dwell in grace and forsake sin.

So as to silence those who do not believe the Lord, peace settles over the land, and the children of God rejoice at His coming disposing themselves utterly for Him, for He comes to those awaiting. He does not tarry, but as the light of day appears swiftly over the edge of the world, He comes and His angels prepare the way for His children.

Be at peace, for He dwells in peace.

Come

 

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her,

"Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,

and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel,

"How can this be,

since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born

will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,

has also conceived a son in her old age,

and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.

+

"I am not so far away that
you cannot hear me if your
love grows ardent enough.

I am obligated to observe this solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God because of the great number of favors She has granted me, most of which I never deserved.

Finding your way to God is more like beheld by the hand and led to God and His consolations, and those who languish in aridity can aske Her for a drop of water with assurance that She will hear and answer Her.

Never forget how much we owe Her, and Her Son. It is altogether fitting to offer our penances and sacrifices to Her to honor Her and Her Son.

All consolation belongs to God who does not spare us from His affections, and who does not spare us sharing in His passion, since it is all one great life.

Spend the day in gratitude to Mary, your Mother, and if you desire the sweetness and gentle love of a Mother in your life as it is, never lose hope of tasting that sweetness one more time from the hands of your celestial Mother.

Come

 

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her,

"Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,

and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel,

"How can this be,

since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born

will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,

has also conceived a son in her old age,

and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.

+

"I am not so far away that
you cannot hear me if your
love grows ardent enough.

I am obligated to observe this solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God because of the great number of favors She has granted me, most of which I never deserved.

Finding your way to God is more like beheld by the hand and led to God and His consolations, and those who languish in aridity can aske Her for a drop of water with assurance that She will hear and answer Her.

Never forget how much we owe Her, and Her Son. It is altogether fitting to offer our penances and sacrifices to Her to honor Her and Her Son.

All consolation belongs to God who does not spare us from His affections, and who does not spare us sharing in His passion, since it is all one great life.

Spend the day in gratitude to Mary, your Mother, and if you desire the sweetness and gentle love of a Mother in your life as it is, never lose hope of tasting that sweetness one more time from the hands of your celestial Mother.

To See

Day's Saints
Blessed Bartholomew Fanti of Mantua, Carmelite
Blessed Guglielmo Saggiano, Mercedarian

Is 11:1-10 A shoot from the stump of Jesse

Gospel Lk 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."
Turning to the disciples in private he said,
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

+

The revelation to the shepherds.

Although many saw Jesus whom we have not seen, nevertheless, they did not see Him in His resurrected glory, and we might do well to aspire to see both while we live.

In this time, a time of longing, let us set our hearts upon that one Heart which died for our love. Crucified, He was able to give us His Blood, and by drinking of it, we may be healed of all that troubles us, and enjoy His company.

How the proud shall be humbled who have never aspired to see anything that mattered, with the eyes He gave them. Many an eye has led men astray into sin, and regret choked them in their old age while they longed for absolution and restoration of their pristine sight.

To be filled with the vision of His happiness, the glory that enlightens the universe is to be happy indeed, for it never passes as things pass in this world. All things that we love tend toward that unity which is complete in Christ. With himself, He completes us so we lack nothing and so our happiness may be complete. He has made a our little joys a means of uniting us to Himself, a little at a time.

The blessed do not speak of their unspeakable sufferings, the sorrows that linger for days and years, but which borne in silence leads men to God Himself in unity such as He grants in our lives.

We do well to remember all His benefits to us so that He may discover us at His side and complete His happiness by uniting us into a participation in Himself forever.

Such things suit us, so that He grants them because it ennobles us in His affection. To please Himself He may do many things, and some may be the occasion of consummate bliss and joy, in a joyless time that so lacks hope.

The heart that loves the Lord does not mind that His consolations are brief and fleeting, because they so enrapture the soul that everything else is forgotten, shining in a splendid light. Evil takes what it can snatch, but we still do not lack the happiness He meant we should have in a moment. The whole world shall be transformed as He was transfigured on the mountaintop, so that His glory is revealed for us to see and be delighted and comforted. 

To See

Day's Saints
Blessed Bartholomew Fanti of Mantua, Carmelite
Blessed Guglielmo Saggiano, Mercedarian

Is 11:1-10 A shoot from the stump of Jesse

Gospel Lk 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."
Turning to the disciples in private he said,
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

+

The revelation to the shepherds.

Although many saw Jesus whom we have not seen, nevertheless, they did not see Him in His resurrected glory, and we might do well to aspire to see both while we live.

In this time, a time of longing, let us set our hearts upon that one Heart which died for our love. Crucified, He was able to give us His Blood, and by drinking of it, we may be healed of all that troubles us, and enjoy His company.

How the proud shall be humbled who have never aspired to see anything that mattered, with the eyes He gave them. Many an eye has led men astray into sin, and regret choked them in their old age while they longed for absolution and restoration of their pristine sight.

To be filled with the vision of His happiness, the glory that enlightens the universe is to be happy indeed, for it never passes as things pass in this world. All things that we love tend toward that unity which is complete in Christ. With himself, He completes us so we lack nothing and so our happiness may be complete. He has made a our little joys a means of uniting us to Himself, a little at a time.

The blessed do not speak of their unspeakable sufferings, the sorrows that linger for days and years, but which borne in silence leads men to God Himself in unity such as He grants in our lives.

We do well to remember all His benefits to us so that He may discover us at His side and complete His happiness by uniting us into a participation in Himself forever.

Such things suit us, so that He grants them because it ennobles us in His affection. To please Himself He may do many things, and some may be the occasion of consummate bliss and joy, in a joyless time that so lacks hope.

The heart that loves the Lord does not mind that His consolations are brief and fleeting, because they so enrapture the soul that everything else is forgotten, shining in a splendid light. Evil takes what it can snatch, but we still do not lack the happiness He meant we should have in a moment. The whole world shall be transformed as He was transfigured on the mountaintop, so that His glory is revealed for us to see and be delighted and comforted. 

Endurance

 Suppose you knew that someone would suffer a great deal and the suffering would be stubbornly persistent. What would you say to that person? Would you try to console the person, or admonish them to bear the suffering patiently and with good will? Would you tell that person the suffering was going to go away, even if you knew it would not?

Suppose you knew that entire nations of people were going to suffer grievously, and for a long time because it was stubbornly persistent. Would you be silent about what you knew, or what would you do?

These questions are nothing new, and if people think someone spoke authentically about such things, they might swarm over them for relics, bits and pieces of clothing or things touched if perchance it might convey some spiritual blessing.

Speak the truth, live the truth you know. Tell it like it is, and if there is nothing else you can do, at least offer a prayer for suffering people to have patience and faith that God's love suffices.

Blessed are the people who endure patiently in docility with love, for they have done a mighty deed with God, to bring about salvation where it might not have been possible before.

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong in praying for the healing of sufferers and their souls so they might experience salvation. Blessed are those who allow themselves to be engulfed in distress for their sake, if only so that the Lord might see you care, where no one else has noticed or expressed concern.

For Jesus suffered the nth degree of impatience and the full depths of human suffering to the point He finally died giving Himself to the Father in love, for us.

This being the case, conserve your strength and energy for the sake of God's people and so you might be a conduit of grace to them of which you do not participate.

There is grace in suffering for someone else and foregoing consolations for their sake so they may be saved by savoring the fragrance of those graces, letting them slip through your hands instead of trying to clutch at them to keep some particle for yourself.

Our time is short, nor does God often ask a person to forego everything for very long; He is neither feeble nor faint and is not uncaring, but the shortest route through the pain is enduring what is troubling, and loving Jesus because you cannot bear to see Him suffering His cross without relief.

It is not the person who cannot enter into suffering that is troubled with it, but the one who knows full-well and does not mind and does not seek escape. He will be filled with love and consolation to the fullest, who suffered most fully.

The simplicity of suffering souls is most pleasing to the Lord who relishes it, and does not take without acknowledging the source.

In all things be at peace, and acknowledge the presence of the Lord whether you are aware of His physical presence or not. Neither seek suffering nor avoid it, but rest in His hands and receive what He is intent on giving you. Great graces may be obtained that way, for the relief of those who suffer most and who least deserved to suffer at all. 

He was born in a stable in a place with no other rest available. He was born to be crucified and rested on the cold stone of the sepulcher, having been prepared for His death by those faithful to Him. All this unfolded into space and time in the world so that things might unfold still further as they should today. The stable is in all time, and the cross stands starkly against the dark sky still, and will remain forever, so that salvation my be forever, and our enjoyment of His consolations might also be eternal, but our pains and participation in the cross for others knows its limit too. It is only eternity that is eternal and how should that be without a moment that it came? It came because YOU came to participate and be beside Him hanging on the cross's nails because of the intensity of your love which would not allow you to desert or abandon Him, and in the Garden some did abandon Him so that He must go when He did not want to go.

If you allow Him to bring suffering upon you even when you did not want it, you will not remain the same but will become like Him, and surely release will come for others for whom you endured? It is impossible that the cross should be without efficacy, ours or His.