Love’s Game

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, well knew it would be by her Son’s death that redemption would have to be accomplished, yet she too wept and suffered immensely!

If our Lord shows Himself to you, give thanks; and if He hides, do likewise. All this is love’s game. In her kindness may the Virgin Mary continue to gain for you from our Lord the strength to bear without flinching the many proofs of love He shows you. My wish is that you may come to die on the cross with Him and may cry out in union with Him: «It is finished».

May our Mother Mary transform all the sufferings of your life into joy.

-Saint [Padre] Pio de Pietrelcina (1887-1968), Capuchin

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Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus + Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen +

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은총이 가득하신 마리아님, 기뻐하소서! 주님께서 함께 계시니 여인종에 복되시며 태중의 이들 예수님 또한 복뒤시나이다 + 천주의 성모 마리아님, 이제와 저희죽을 때에 저희 죄인을 위하여 빌어주소서. 아멘 +

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Oh Lord, let us never forget.

Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 34 ; CCL 41, 423-426.

“I give praise to you, Father”

We are invited to sing a new song to the Lord (Ps 149,1). The new man is the man who knows this new song. Singing is joy and, if we consider the matter more closely, love. Someone who understands about loving this new life knows the new song, and so we need to be informed as to what the new life is for the sake of the new song. All these things belong to the same Kingdom: new man, new song, new covenant. The new man will sing a new song and be a member of the new covenant…

«See!» you will say, «I am singing.» You are singing; yes, you are singing, I can hear you. But be careful that your life doesn’t bear witness against your tongue. Sing with your voice, sing with your heart, sing with your mouth, sing in your conduct: «sing to the Lord a new song.» You are wondering what you are to sing for him whom you love and you cast about for the praises to sing to him. «His praise is in the assembly of the saints» (Ps 149,1). The praise to be sung is that of the singer. Do you want to sing praise to God?

Be yourself what you sing. You are his praise if you live uprightly.

My God, how You stooped so low and saved me.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails, never ends.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE.

-1Corinthians13:1-13

"If only I can touch His cloak, I shall be cured.."

Reflection for the Holy Gospel today, July 5, 2010 (Saint Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Friars Minor, Letter to the whole Order)

Listen, my brothers: If the blessed Virgin is so honored, as it is right, since she carried him in her most holy womb; if the blessed Baptist trembled and did not dare to touch the holy head of God; if the tomb in which he lay for some time is so venerated, how holy, just, and worthy must be the person who touches him with his hands, receives him in his heart and mouth, and offers him to others to be received. This is he who is now not about to die, but who is eternally victorious and glorified, upon whom the angels desire to gaze.

Look at your dignity, you brothers who are priests, and be holy since He is holy (1Pt 1,16)… It is a great
misery and a miserable weakness that when you have Him present with you in this way, you concern yourselves with anything else in this entire world! Let the whole of mankind tremble, the whole world shake
and the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is present on the altar in the hands of a priest. O admirable heights and sublime lowliness! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the
universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles himself that for our salvation he hides himself under the little form of bread! Look, brothers, at the humility of God and pour out your hearts before him! Humble yourselves, as well, that you may be exalted by him.

Therefore, hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, so that he who gives himself totally to you may receive you totally.
 

Love and Mercy.