saints pope JP II & mother teresa in their old age

Re: 43 second shoot on meeting of saints pope john paul ii & mother teresa in their old age

https://www.facebook.com/CatholicNewsAgency/videos/577025880162989/

sec 1 blessed charles de foucauld

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3031687260383022&set=gm.4692489164142073

BLESSED CHARLES DE FOUCAULD

(September 15, 1858 – December 1, 1916)

Born into an aristocratic family in Strasbourg, France, Charles was orphaned at the age of 6, raised by his devout grandfather, rejected the Catholic faith as a teenager, and joined the French army. Inheriting a great deal of money from his grandfather, Charles went to Algeria with his regiment, but not without his mistress, Mimi.

When he declined to give her up, he was dismissed from the army. Still in Algeria when he left Mimi, Charles reenlisted in the army. Refused permission to make a scientific exploration of nearby Morocco, he resigned from the service. With the help of a Jewish rabbi, Charles disguised himself as a Jew and in 1883, began a one-year exploration that he recorded in a book that was well received.

Inspired by the Jews and Muslims whom he met, Charles resumed the practice of his Catholic faith when he returned to France in 1886. He joined a Trappist monastery in Ardeche, France, and later transferred to one in Akbes, Syria. Leaving the monastery in 1897, Charles worked as gardener and sacristan for the Poor Clare nuns in Nazareth and later in Jerusalem. In 1901, he returned to France and was ordained a priest.

Later that year Charles journeyed to Beni-Abbes, Morocco, intending to found a monastic religious community in North Africa that offered hospitality to Christians, Muslims, Jews, or people with no religion. He lived a peaceful, hidden life but attracted no companions.

A former army comrade invited him to live among the Tuareg people in Algeria. Charles learned their language enough to write a Tuareg-French and French-Tuareg dictionary, and to translate the Gospels into Tuareg. In 1905, he came to Tamanrasset, where he lived the rest of his life. A two-volume collection of Charles’ Tuareg poetry was published after his death.

In early 1909, he visited France and established an association of laypeople who pledged to live by the Gospels. His return to Tamanrasset was welcomed by the Tuareg. In 1915, Charles wrote to Louis Massignon: “The love of God, the love for one’s neighbor…All religion is found there…How to get to that point? Not in a day since it is perfection itself: it is the goal we must always aim for, which we must unceasingly try to reach and that we will only attain in heaven.”

The outbreak of World War I led to attacks on the French in Algeria. Seized in a raid by another tribe, Charles and two French soldiers coming to visit him were shot to death on December 1, 1916.

Five religious congregations, associations, and spiritual institutes—Little Brothers of Jesus, Little Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Little Sisters of Jesus, Little Brothers of the Gospel, and Little Sisters of the Gospel—draw inspiration from the peaceful, largely hidden, yet hospitable life that characterized Charles. He was beatified on November 13, 2005.

Reflection:

The life of Charles de Foucauld was eventually centered on God and was animated by prayer and humble service, which he hoped would draw Muslims to Christ. Those who are inspired by his example, no matter where they live, seek to live their faith humbly yet with deep religious conviction.

[Source: Franciscan Media]

Blessed Charles de Foucauld, pray for us.

nov 27 our lady of the miraculous medal

OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

Feastday: November 27

source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesvdmissionphilippinesinc/posts/4679511795439810/27

It was almost midnight, when Sister Laboure was awakened by someone calling her. She saw at the foot of her bed a beautiful child, beckoning her to follow; arriving at the chapel, she beheld Our Lady, who spoke to her for two hours.

On November 27, while the community was assembled for prayer, Mary came for a second visit. Her head was covered with a soft white veil, she stood on a ball on which was a serpent with crushed head. In her hands Our Lady held a small ball, the globe, with a tiny cross at its top, and offered it to God as she prayed. Upon her fingers were many rings, filled with precious stones of varied beauty and brilliancy. As rays of light shot forth from those stones, Our Lady lowered her eyes and spoke to Catherine Laboure:

“This ball which you see is the world; I am praying for it and for everyone in the world. The rays are the graces which I give to everyone who asks for them. But there are no rays for some of these stones; many people do not receive graces because they do not ask for them.”

Then Mary’s arms were lowered and she became brighter and lovelier; a group of words encircled her head:

“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

And a voice said:

“Have a medal made according to this picture. All who wear it when it is blessed will receive many graces especially if they wear it suspended about their necks.”

The vision of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal turned and showed the letter “M” surmounted by a cross with a crossbar beneath it; under the initial of the name Mary were the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary: the first encircled by a crown of thorns; the second transfixed by a sword. Encircling the entire picture were 12 stars with a golden frame.

In December 1831, the third apparition repeated the request for the making of the medal of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Sister Catherine told her superior and her confessor about Mary’s request. When Father Aladel told the archbishop, his Excellency said, “Have a medal made at once and send me some of the first made.” In June, 1832, the first 2,000 medals appeared. So many miracles were wrought by the use of the medal, that it was called “The Miraculous Medal.”

Six years later another desire of Our Blessed Mother’s was answered when an altar was constructed on the very spot where she appeared, in the Chapel of the Apparitions.

Sister Catherine Laboure died in 1876, December 31, and all felt she had gone directly to Heaven. On July 27, 1947, she was canonized by Pope Pius XII. When her casket was opened shortly before, her body looked as lovely as it did when she died fifty-six years before.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8a1GbKr1xU&t=50s

(On why every Catholic should wear the Miraculous Medal)

1830 apparition, 1854 dogma declaring immaculate conception by pope pius ix

the incorruptible saints

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/incorruptible-saints.html#:~:text=The%20Incorruptibles%20are%20saints%20whose%20bodies%20are%20miraculously,be%20found%20in%20many%20places%20throughout%20the%20world.

The Incorruptibles are saints whose bodies are miraculously preserved after death, defying the normal process of decomposition. St. Cecilia is probably the first saint known to be incorrupt, but the bodies of these saints can be found in many places throughout the world.

They are not like mummies, for their skin is soft and their limbs pliable, nothing at all like the dry, skeletal remains of mummies. Under usual circumstances, nothing at all has been done to preserve the bodies of these saints. In fact, some of them have been covered in quicklime, which should have easily destroyed any human remains, yet it has no effect of these saints. Many of them also give off a sweet, unearthly odor, and others produce blood or oils that defy any scientific explanation.

Modern science relegates the incorruptibles to the status of mummies, pretending it understands and can comfortably categorize these saints. How then do the scientists explain the fact that a year and a half after the death of St. Francis Xavier, a medical examiner placed a finger into one of the saint’s wounds and found fresh blood on his finger when he withdrew it? Or that when a finger was amputated from St. John of the Cross several months after his death, it was immediately observed that blood began to flow from the wound? Or the case of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, whose arms have frequently bled over the last 400 years?

No, these saints are in a class by themselves. Even though incorruptibility does not automatically confer sainthood upon the subject, it is still properly appreciated by the Church as a supernatural occurrence. The truth is that these occurrences cannot be understood outside of Divine intervention on behalf of these saints, as the laws of nature have been suspended on behalf of the incorruptible saints. Perhaps it is that God is visibly showing us his pleasure with these saints? Still, it is a physical manifestation of God’s love, and the incorruptible saints console us by their presence, seeming to plead with us to likewise make ourselves pleasing to God in all ways.

A List of Incorruptible Saints

Saint Agatha
Saint Agnes of Montepulciano
Blessed Andrew Franchi
Blessed Angela of Foligno
Saint Angela Merici
Blessed Angelo of Acri
Blessed Angelo of Chivasso
Blessed Anthony Bonfadini
Blessed Anthony of Stroncone
Blessed Antonia of Florence
Saint Benedict the Moor
Saint Bernadette Soubirous
Saint Bernardine of Siena
Saint Catherine of Bologna
Saint Catherine of Genoa
Saint Cecilia
Saint Charles Borromeo
Saint Charles of Sezze
Saint Clare of Assisi
Saint Clare of Montefalco
Saint Crispin of Viterbo
Saint Didacus of Alcala
Saint Eustochium
Saint Fernando III
Saint Frances of Rome
Saint Francis de Sales
Blessed Francis of Fabriano
Venerable Francis Gonzaga
Blessed Gabriel Ferretti
Blessed Gandolph of Binasco
Blessed Helen Enselmini
Saint Ignatius of Laconi
Saint Ignatius of Santhia
Blessed Imelda Lambertini
Blessed James of Bitecto
Saint James of the March
Blessed James Oldo
Blessed James of Pieve
Blessed James of Strepar
Saint Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney (The Curé of Ars)
Blessed Jane Mary of Maille
Blessed Jane of Signa
Saint Jane of Valois
Saint John Bosco
Saint Joseph of Cupertino
Saint Louis Bertrand
Blessed Lucy of Narni
Blessed Margaret of Castello
Saint Margaret of Cortona
Blessed Margaret of Lorraine
Blessed Mark Marconi
Venerable Mary of Agreda
Blessed Mary Assunta Pollotta
Saint Mary Joseph Rossello
Blessed Mary Magdalene Martinengo
Blessed Matthia Nazzarei
Blessed Nicholas Factor
Saint Pacifico of San Severino
Saint Paschal Baylon
Blessed Philippa Mareri
Saint Pope Pius X
Saint Rose of Viterbo
Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio
Saint Seraphin of Montegranaro
Blessed Salome of Cracow
Saint Sperandia
Saint Veronica Giuliani
Saint Vincent Pallotti
Saint Zita
Saint Albert the Great
Saint Alphege of Canterbury
Blessed Alphonsus of Orozco
Saint Andrew Bobola
Blessed Angelo of Borgo San Sepolcro
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi
Saint Anthony Maria Zaccaria
Saint Antoninus
Blessed Arcangela Girlani
Saint Benezet
Blessed Bernard Scammacca
Blessed Bertrand of Garrigua
Saint Camillus de Lellis
Venerable Catalina de Cristo
Saint Catherine Labouré
Blessed Charbel Makhlouf
Saint Catherine dei Ricci
Saint Catherine of Siena
Saint Coloman
Saint Cuthbert
Saint Dominic Savio
Saint Edmund Rich of Canterbury
Saint Edward the Confessor
Saint Etheldreda
Blessed Eustochia Calafato
Saint Ezequiel Moreno y Diaz
Saint Francis of Paola
Saint Francis Xavier
Saint George Preca
Saint Germaine Cousin
Saint Guthlac
Annibale Maria di Francia (Founder of the Rogationist and Daughters of Divine Zeal)
Saint Herculanus of Piegaro
Saint Hugh of Lincoln
Saint Idesbald
Saint Isidore the Farmer
Blessed James of Blanconibus
Venerable John of Jesus Mary
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac
Blessed John of Chiaramonte
Saint John of God
Saint John of the Cross
Saint John Southworth
Saint Josaphat
Saint Julie Billiart
Blessed Karl of Austria
Saint Louise de Marillac
Saint Luigi Orione
Saint Lucy Filippini
Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
Blessed Mafalda of Portugal
Blessed Margaret of Savoy
Saint Maria Goretti
Venerable Maria Vela
Saint Martin de Porres
Blessed Mary Bagnesi
Saint Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi
Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart
Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres
Venerable Mother Maria of Jesus
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
Blessed Osanna of Mantua
Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Blessed Paula Frassinetti
Saint Peregrine Laziosi
Blessed Peter Ghigenzi
Saint Philip Neri
Saint Pierre Julien Eymard
Saint Rita of Cascia
Saint Romuald
Saint Rose of Lima
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
Blessed Sibyllina Biscossi
Saint Silvan
Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart
Saint Ubald of Gubbio
Saint Vincent de Paul
Saint Waltheof
Saint Werburgh
Saint Withburga
Saint Wunibald

---

For more information about Incorrupt saints, we recommend the excellent book, The Incorruptibles, by Joan Carroll Cruz. 

Continuously popular since it first appeared in 1977, The Incorruptibles remains the acknowledged classic on the bodies of saints that did not undergo decomposition after death. Many remained fresh and flexible for years, or even centuries. After explaining both natural and artificial mummification, the author shows that the incorruption of the saints' bodies fits neither category but rather constitutes a much greater phenomenon that is unexplained by modern science to this day. The author presents 102 canonized saints, beati, and venerables, summarizing their lives, the discovery of their incorruption, and investigations by Church and medical authorities.

The incorruptible bodies of saints are a consoling sign of Christ s victory over death, a confirmation of the dogma of the Resurrection of the Body, a sign that the Saints are still with us in the Mystical Body of Christ, and proof of the truth of the Catholic Faith—for only in the Catholic Church do we find this phenomenon.

traumatic life triggers to st therese's depression

 traumatic triggers to st therese's depression: 1. given away to a wet nurse after birth due to difficulty nursing with mom, 2. mom died of breast cancer when she was 4.5 y/o, 3. then at 9 y/o elder sis pauline who acted as substitute mom entered carmel convent -- ABANDONMENT issue causing separation anxiety. at her worst, she had paranoia and hallucinations. with difficulty breathing with TB before death, had a crisis of faith but also overcame it. despite it all, she persevered in growing in love of God from focus on sins to God's loving mercy. taught "the little way" -- doing small things with great love, which st mother teresa adopted as well.

source: talk by ms pure during our bible sharing group meeting 14 nov 2021 & what I read earlier on wikipedia

servant of God archbishop camomot recommended to become venerable to the holy father by congregation for the causes of saints

https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/archbishop-camomots-sainthood-cause-advances-next-step-a-venerable-decree/?fbclid=IwAR0z1edSVmfxBDFH-pL0zWwFbz6pVdamMJh3FwDeMlCua7tO0z9nMCKodso

Servant of God, Archbishop Teofilo Camomot. Photo: archbishopcamomot.ph

By CBCP News

November 11, 2021

A Filipino candidate to sainthood has received the green light to be declared “Venerable,” the first major step towards canonization.

A nine-member Vatican theological commission on Tuesday recognized Cebuano Archbishop Teofilo Camomot as having displayed “heroic virtues”.

The Cebu archdiocese said the special body at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome gave a unanimously voted that Camomot lived according to Catholic principles.

The cause to declare him a saint will now be examined by the congregation’s commission of bishops and cardinals before submitting it to Pope Francis for approval.

“Upon completion of their study, the cause will be presented to the Holy Father for his approval,” the archdiocese said in a brief statement issued Wednesday.It will now be up to the pope to declare him Venerable.

The archdiocese described the new development as “an important day” for the canonization process of the archbishop.

Once declared venerable, the next step is beatification, which requires documentation of miracles attributed to Camomot. A second miracle would be needed for canonization.

Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 and was ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Cebu. He was made Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro on March 23, 1955. Three years after, he was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro.

The archbishop is respected for his simple lifestyle and love for the poor and also reputed to possess spiritual gifts of healing, reading hearts, bilocation and levitation.He founded the Daughters of St. Theresa in 1960.

Camomot died in a car accident on September 27, 1988.

The archbishop’s Cause for Beatification and Canonization was introduced by the Cebu archdiocese and the “nihil obstat” was issued by the Vatican on August 20, 2010.

The diocesan inquiry was closed on March 2, 2017 and the documents were submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints immediately after.

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PS: archbishop camomot's body has been found incorrupt

charity by padre pio

 "Charity is the measure with which the Lord judges everything." 

https://padrepiodevotions.org/padre-pios-words/

4 saints devoted to the sacred heart

https://welcomehisheart.com/four-saints-that-were-greatly-impacted-by-the-sacred-heart-devotion (2020 dec 21 -- my 4th year in tala)

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865) who in 1800 founded the Society of the Sacred Heart, once said, “Christ does not ask that we become perfect all at once, but that we work towards this each day, in the measure that grace operates in us and the radiance of the Holy Spirit enlightens us.”

St. Teresa of Calcutta, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950, once said,“Do not let the past disturb you. Just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy.”

St. Padre Pio says “The Lord our King will hold the door of His heart open for anyone who wants to enter for an audience at any time.”

Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) founded the Redemptorist Order In his writings St. Alphonsus stated, “To advance in the way of holiness it is necessary above all else to concentrate one’s efforts on loving God. God’s infinite majesty certainly deserves all our reverence and submission, but He Himself prefers to receive from souls desirous of loving Him their love and confidence rather than fear and servility.”

buddha, mark twain, martin luther king jr, mahatma gandhi quotes

Wounded Healers:

Reflection and Sharing for Oct 31, 2021

 Introduction:

Let us leave the popular religious saints in heaven for a while and reflect on inspirational quotes from 4 non-biblical and non-canonized leaders of their own era and milieu.

1.       Buddha

2.       Mark Twain

3.       Martin Luther King Jr

4.       Mahatma Gandhi

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          1.       Buddha

Buddha was a spiritual teacher in Nepal during the 6th century B.C. whose teachings became the foundation for the Buddhist religion. One of the most influential spiritual leaders of all time, Buddha (born with the name Siddhartha Gautama), was a philosopher who spoke extensively about peace, life, love, happiness, and death. The name Buddha itself means “one who is awakened” or “the enlightened one,” which says a lot about what he taught others.

Those teachings inspired Buddhism, a practice and spiritual development that uses things like meditation to change yourself and become more aware, kind, and wise. Buddhism is seen as the path to enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal. Buddha himself was someone who embodied that.

1.    “Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity. Conquer dishonesty with truth.”

 

2.    2."Those who cling to perceptions and views wander the world offending people.”

 

3.    3. “Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.”

 

4.    4. “Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.”

 

5.    5. “Should a person do good, let him do it again and again. Let him find pleasure therein, for blissful is the accumulation of good.”

 

6.    6. “Should you find a wise critic to point out your faults, follow him as you would a guide to hidden treasure.”

7 .

 “  7. Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let them resolutely pursue a solitary course.”

8. “Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.”

9. “One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.”

10. “They blame those who remain silent, they blame those who speak much, they blame those who speak in moderation. There is none in the world who is not blamed.”

II. Mark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was lauded as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," and William Faulkner called him "the father of American literature".

He is best remembered as the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885). Twain is widely considered one of the greatest American writers of all time.

Twain's skepticism about religion lasted all of his life. He had a personal faith — he said he believed in God, attended church and donated money for the construction of a church. But he skewered religious hypocrisy wherever he found it.

Born: 30 November 1835, Florida, Missouri, United States

Died: 21 April 1910, Redding, Connecticut, United States

1. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

2. Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

3. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).

4. The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.

5. Classic - a book which people praise and don't read.

6. The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.

7. A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

8. Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.

9. Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

10. Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

11. Give me a child until he is five and he is mine forevermore.

III. Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the American civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Wikipedia

Born: 15 January 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Assassinated: 4 April 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Spouse: Coretta Scott King (m. 1953–1968)

Education: School of Theology (1951–1955), Crozer Theological Seminary (1948–1951), more

Awards: Nobel Peace Prize, Grammy Hall of Fame, Presidential Medal of Freedom, more

1. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

2. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.”

3. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

4. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”

5. “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”

6. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

7. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

8. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

9. “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.

10. “The time is always right to do what is right.

11. “We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now because I’ve been to the mountaintop… I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.”

12. “For when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.”

13. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

14. “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”

15. “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.”

16. “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”

17. “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”

18. “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”

19. “Hate is just as injurious to the hater as it is to the hated. Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Many of our inner conflicts are

20. “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

21. “You can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream.”

22. “Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.”

23. “A right delayed is a right denied.”

24. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

25. “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”

26. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

27. “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.”

IV. Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule and in turn to inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

Born: 2 October 1869, Porbandar, India

Nationality: Indian

Full name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Assassinated: 30 January 1948, Birla House, New Delhi, India

Spouse: Kasturba Gandhi (m. 1883–1944)

Education: UCL Faculty of Laws (1888–1891)

1. “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”

2. “The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane.”

3. “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”

4. “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

5. “An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it. Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained.”

6. “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”

7. “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

8. “Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”

9. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

10. “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

11. “We may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought, word and deed. But we must keep nonviolence as our goal and make strong progress towards it.”

12. “Change yourself – you are in control.”

13. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

14. “If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.”

15. “It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”

16. “My objective is not to be consistent with what I have said yesterday but to be faithful to respond rightfully to the truth that is revealed to me daily.”

 

(1) Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, (2) Daniel, (3) Peter, & (4) Paul & Silas

Fr: Wounded Healers Support Group Lectio Divina c/o Fr Ed F. - Oct 17,2021

Introduction 

Today let us reflect on four very interesting incidents of saving miracles in the lives the prophet Daniel, three Hebrew Teenagers from the OT and two other saving miracles in the lives of Sts Peter and Paul.

All of these saving miracles are proofs that with God there is nothing to fear. As Jesus said in Luke 12,7

“Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

I. Daniel 3, 6-30

 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

6 King Darius decreed that “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”…14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods(R) or worship the image(S) of gold I have set up?

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(V) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver(W) us from it, and he will deliver(X) us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious …He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,(and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace…

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 

27 They saw that the fire(AF) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel(AG) and rescued(AH) his servants! 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble,(AL) for no other god can save(AM) in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

II. Daniel 6

Daniel in the Lions’s Den

7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors(I) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den…9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward(L) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees(M) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.(N) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(O) 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree…13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,(Q) pays no attention(R) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”(T)

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(U) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue(V) you!”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed(W) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating(X) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.(Y)

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”(Z)

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(AA) 22 My God sent his angel,(AB) and he shut the mouths of the lions….

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted(AF) in his God.

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,(AG) along with their wives and children.(AH) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.(AI)

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples 26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence(AL) the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God

    and he endures forever;

III. Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John,(B) put to death with the sword.(C) 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,(D) he proceeded to seize Peter also. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.(F)

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.(G)

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,(H) and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel(I) of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.(J)

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him...

9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.(K) 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself,(L) and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself(M) and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me(N) from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,(O) where many people had gathered and were praying…

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

IV. Acts 16:20-40

Paul and Silas in Prison

20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(H) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(I) to accept or practice.”(J)

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(K) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(L) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(M)

25 About midnight(N) Paul and Silas(O) were praying and singing hymns(P) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.(Q) At once all the prison doors flew open,(R) and everyone’s chains came loose.(S) 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.(T) 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.(U) 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(V)

31 They replied, “Believe(W) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(X)—you and your household.”(Y) 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night(Z) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.(AA) 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he(AB) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer(AC) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”(AD)

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,(AE) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.(AF) 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.(AG) 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,(AH) where they met with the brothers and sisters(AI) and encouraged them.

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My reflection: the recent messages to me these past days were "Fear Not" -- from the early AM The Word reflection to the subsequent watching of Maria Ressa (2021 Nobel Peace Prize -- 1st Filipina) documentary to the readings above.

Context: I've been trying to prepare a video teaching demo on the catholic teaching on masturbation & somehow gets "stuck" with a little procrastination (anxiety), a little doubt / prudence / ongoing discernment ("wrestling with God"), & focus on details (compulsive trait).