October, 2018

The Holy Father's Prayer Intention

Evangelization – The Mission of Religious That consecrated religious men and women may bestir themselves, and be present among the poor, the marginalized, and those who have no voice.

'The fifth weapon is to remind oneself that we must die. This time is called the time of mercy in which God looks down day after day so that we can amend our lives from good to better. If we do not do this, we will have to render account, not only of the evils we have done, but also of the goods left undone by our negligence.'

St. Catherine of Bologna

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3696888/posts?page=2

Saint of the Day — Saint Teresa of Avila

Victim of Love: Feast of the Transverberation of St. Teresa (of Jesus/Avila) [Catholic Caucus]
St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle
St. Teresa of Avila on Prayer
St. Teresa de Avila's Devotion to St. Joseph (Catholic Caucus)
WHO IS ST. TERESA OF JESUS?
Film explores spiritual life and sexuality of 'sassy' Saint Teresa
Spanish bishop slams new film on St. Teresa of Avila
Avila University to Be Dedicated to Study of Mysticism
Saint Teresa of Avila[Doctor of the Church]
St. Teresa of Avila

Information: St. Teresa of Avila

Feast Day: October 15

Born: 28 March 1515, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain

Died: October 15, 1582, Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain

Canonized: 12 March 1622 by Pope Gregory XV

Major Shrine: Shrine of St. Teresa of Ávila, Ávila, Spain

Patron of: bodily ills; headaches; lacemakers; laceworkers; loss of parents; people in need of grace; people in religious orders; people ridiculed for their piety; sick people; sickness; Spain

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Monday, October 15

Liturgical Color: White

Today is the Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus,
virgin and Doctor of the Church. After her
death, her body remained incorrupt. Her heart
showed signs of transverberation, or piercing on
a miraculous level, and can still be seen today.

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: October 15th

Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, virgin and doctor

MASS READINGS

October 15, 2018 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who through your Spirit raised up Saint Teresa of Jesus to show the Church the way to seek perfection, grant that we may always be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching and fired with longing for true holiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Old Calendar: St. Teresa of Jesus, virgin ; Other Titles: Theresa of Avila; Teresa of Avila; Teresa de Avila; Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada

St. Teresa (1515-1582) was born in Avila and died in Alba, Spain. When only a child of seven, she ran away from home in the hope of being martyred by the Moors; in this way, she said she could come to see God. At the age of eighteen she joined the Carmelite Order and chose Christ as her heavenly Spouse. With the help of St. John of the Cross she reformed most of the Carmelite convents and founded new ones. She reached the highest degree of prayer and through prayer obtained such knowledge of divine things that in 1970 Pope Paul VI named her the first woman Doctor of the Church.

St. Teresa of Jesus
St. Teresa of Jesus, honored by the Church as the "seraphic virgin," virgo seraphica, and reformer of the Carmelite Order, ranks first among women for wisdom and learning. She is called doctrix mystica, doctor of mystical theology; in a report to Pope Paul V the Roman Rota declared: "Teresa has been given to the Church by God as a teacher of the spiritual life. The mysteries of the inner mystical life which the holy Fathers propounded unsystematically and without orderly sequence, she has presented with unparalleled clarity." Her writings are still the classic works on mysticism, and from her all later teachers have drawn, e.g., Francis de Sales, Alphonsus Liguori. Characteristic of her mysticism is the subjective-individualistic approach; there is little integration with the liturgy and social piety, and thus she reflects the spirit of the sixteenth and following centuries.

Teresa was born at Avila, Spain, in the year 1515. At the age of seven she set out for Africa to die for Christ, but was brought back by her uncle. When she lost her mother at twelve, she implored Mary for her maternal protection. In 1533 she entered the Carmelite Order; for eighteen years she suffered physical pain and spiritual dryness. Under divine inspiration and with the approval of Pope Pius IV, she began the work of reforming the Carmelite Order. In spite of heavy opposition and constant difficulties, she founded thirty-two reformed convents.

Truly wonderful were the exterior and interior manifestations of her mystical union with God, especially during the last decade of her life. These graces reached a climax when her heart was transfixed (transverberatio cordis), an event that is commemorated in the Carmelite Order by a special feast on August 27. She practiced great devotion to the foster-father of Jesus, whose cult was greatly furthered throughout the Church through her efforts. When dying she often repeated the words: "Lord, I am a daughter of the Church!" Her holy body rests upon the high altar of the Carmelite church in Alba, Spain; her heart with its mysterious wound is reserved in a precious reliquary on the Epistle side of the altar.

St. Teresa composed the following well-known lines:

Let nothing affright thee,
Nothing dismay thee.
All is passing,
God ever remains.
Patience obtains all.
Whoever possesses God
Cannot lack anything
God alone suffices.

—Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

Patron: sickness; against headaches; against heart disease; lacemakers; loss of parents; opposition of Church authorities; those in need of grace; religious; those ridiculed for their piety; Spain; those named Teresa, Theresa, Teresita, Terry, Tessa, Teresina, and Tracy.

Symbols: nun in habit of a Discalced Carmelite; Carmelite nun with her heart pierced by an arrow held by an angel; Carmelite nun holding a pierced heart, book and crucifix; Carmelite nun with book and quill; Carmelite nun receiving a message from a dove; roses and lilies; inflamed heart; IHS on a heart; flaming arrows; dove; book and pen; crown of thorns; heart transfixed with flaming arrows; scapulary; crucifix and lily.

Things to Do:

Read St. Teresa's bookmark. Perhaps as an art project write and decorate it, to keep it nearby as a reminder, or place in your own prayer book.
Bake a special Spanish recipe, such as Paella, or Gazpacho or learn more about the variety of tapas. Also try your hand at some of the recipes bearing Teresa's own name, such as St. Teresa's Egg Yolks or Yemas or St. Teresa's Bread.
Find out more about the Discalced Carmelites, and the hard sacrifices they follow in their Rule.
Read the Autobiography of St. Teresa. See how human her writing is. Her other books Interior Castle and Way of Perfection are more difficult and lofty to read, but are spiritual classics. The books may also be downloaded online: The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, Interior Castle and Way of Perfection.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Luke 11:29-32

Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

This generation is an evil generation. (Luke 11:29)

Isn’t Jesus being a little hard on his generation? But then again, the same thought has probably gone through our minds at some point or another. It can be overwhelming to look around and see ways that our own generation seems to have rejected God. Every day we hear news of some new religious or political scandal, some act of hatred or violence, war or immorality. It can be discouraging!

But there’s always reason for hope. Just look at the notorious city of Nineveh. The Ninevites repented when they heard just the beginning of Jonah’s preaching. Or consider the pagan Queen of Sheba. She was awestruck and praised the God of Israel for Solomon’s wisdom.

Better still, think about Jesus’ generation. You could argue that it was one of the most evil. It was members of this generation who rejected Jesus and conspired to kill him—despite all the good that he had done. But even that generation, as bad as it might have been, gave us people like Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, and the Virgin Mary herself. These heroes and heroines, members of this “evil generation,” changed the course of history (Luke 11:29). Through them and others like them, the gospel spread throughout the entire Mediterranean Basin—and in just a few decades!

Every generation is evil in its own way. But God pours out grace to every generation, and each generation responds to this grace in its own way. Generation after generation, God continues to gather a people to himself so that he can offer forgiveness, healing, and love to the people he created.

Do we live in an evil generation? Yes, in some ways we do. But in the midst of all the sin, division, hatred, and violence that surround us, we can still take courage. God is not limited by our sins no matter how serious they are. He still reaches out to men and women, and people still respond to him. No matter how bad things may seem, there is always a glimmer of hope, not because of who we are or what we do, but because of God’s surpassing love and mercy toward us. We just need to open our eyes to see it.

“Holy Spirit, help me to find your presence in this generation. Help me also to hold onto my hope and trust in you.”

Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1
Psalm 113:1-7

Daily Gospel Commentary

Saint John Chrysostom (c.345-407)
priest at Antioch then Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church
Fourth Homily on 1 Corinthians

The sign of Jonah

Let us weep for the pagans who do not understand the salvation God wants to give them… Yes, a husband loves his wife less than we love all human beings, desiring to bring all human beings to salvation. Let us weep and moan over these unbelievers, because for them “the message of the cross is complete absurdity,” whereas it is in fact “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:18.24)…

Look, O man! For you Jesus Christ took the form of a slave (Phil 2:7), for you he died on a cross, for you he rose again. And you say that it is impossible to believe in such a love, to adore such a God, while this King did for you, his enemy, what any father among us, a son, or a friend would not have done for you? …

When I say: “My God was attached to a cross,” the pagan answers: “Reason cannot accept that. He suffered, he let himself be crucified; so can he not save himself? … If he cannot save himself, how can he save the others? (cf. Mt 27:42). All of this is contrary to reason.” This is true. The cross is a mystery that is above human reason, it is the sign of a power that is beyond our understanding… When the three Hebrews triumphed over the flames after having been thrown into the furnace (Dan 3), it was more astonishing than if they had not been thrown into it. That Jona was swallowed by a whale is natural, it is normal; but the astonishing thing was that Jona lived in the monster’s belly. In the same way, Christ proved his divinity better by triumphing over death out of the very midst of death than if he had refused to die.

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for October 15, 2018:

A marriage tip from St. Teresa Avila, whose feast we celebrate today: “It is love alone that gives worth to all things.”

Regnum Christi

October 15, 2018 – The Queen, the Ninevites and Me

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Father Daniel Ray, LC

Luke 11: 29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are present here as I turn to you in prayer. I trust and have confidence in your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love, thank you for your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return.

Petition: Lord, help me to recognize the signs of your presence in my life.

Three Days in the Fish: When Jonah is swallowed by the whale he dies, and when he is spit out onto the shore, he comes to life again. This is the only sign that Christ promises to his listeners who seek a sign. Christ will be seen by them as truly dead, swallowed by the tomb of the earth. Then, after three days, he will come to life again in the Resurrection. As Jonah preached conversion to the Ninevites after coming back from the dead, so Christ would bring conversion and peace to some of the very ones who abandoned him or cried out for his crucifixion. Even in rebuking the “evil generation”, Christ promises them a sign that will bring hope to any of them who—like the Ninevites—later repent. If later in life they realize their evilness, Christ himself will be there to guide them back to friendship with his Father.

Even the Queen Came: Christ is reminding his unbelieving listeners that the Queen of Sheba traveled from afar to hear Solomon’s wisdom. The distance from the Kingdom of Sheba in southern Arabia to Jerusalem would have taken weeks to traverse. It would have been an exhausting and expensive journey, especially considering the entourage that would have accompanied the Queen. She recognized the gift of God in him and relished the pearls of divine wisdom that he shared with her. We need to reflect on how often we avail ourselves of all that God offers us that is not a journey of weeks away, but is just a few miles away: Christ in the Eucharist. Closer still, the Bible on the shelf is filled with Christ’s message of love. All this is within easy reach and is much more than anything Solomon could share with us.

Greater than Jonah: The whale was greater than Jonah. It swallowed him whole. Yet that violent death and subsequent resurrection was the key moment in Jonah’s life and mission. It was necessary not only for Jonah’s own salvation (he had been running from God), but it also was necessary for the salvation of the whole city of Nineveh. Christ makes this reference to Jonah as a forewarning to his listeners: He is greater than Jonah. He is greater than the death that would swallow him. This should inspire our faith and confidence in Christ. There is nothing greater than he. There is no greater prophet; no greater event can consume him. All things are under his dominion except one: our free will. That he doesn’t force; that he doesn’t conquer. He leaves it perfectly intact, so that we might respond freely to his call to ongoing conversion, just like the citizens of Nineveh.

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, the sign of love that you give is your willingness to die a cruel and humiliating death. Yet that is not everything: You give me your Word in the Gospel. You give me your Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Help me to appreciate these great gifts and to make the most of every opportunity to receive them.

Resolution: At some point today, I will offer a prayer of thanksgiving, thanking Christ for the blessings received over the past few days.

Homily of the Day

October 15, 2018

In the first reading, Paul reiterates that Christians are saved by their belief in Christ Jesus. Christians have been freed by Christ from the bondage of sin, enabling them to freely accept and follow God’s commandments joyfully..

In the Gospel reading Jesus rebukes so many people who refused to listen to the Good News, who, despite all his wonderful cures and miracles, still demanded signs from him. No sign will be given to them, except the sign of Jonah, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (Jn 2: 19)

The people had hardened hearts, were blind and deaf to his ministry. The people of Nineveh listened to Jonah; the Queen of the South traveled far to hear the wisdom of Solomon: yet here there is greater than Jonah and Solomon..

What signs do we see of God’s Good News today? May our eyes, ears and hearts see, hear and read these signs.

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Espanol

All Issues > Volume 34, Issue 6

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St. Teresa of Avila

Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31�5:1
View Readings

Psalm 113:1-7

Luke 11:29-32
Similar Reflections

THE SIGN IS THE LENGTH OF THE LINE

"This is an evil age. It seeks a sign. But no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah." �Luke 11:29

To the Pharisees who wanted a dazzling, miraculous sign, Jesus offered the sign of Jonah. What was the sign of Jonah? It was a sign with two meanings. First, it was a sign of the Resurrection of Jesus. Jonah was buried in the water in the belly of a large fish, and was delivered safely to land on the third day (Jon 2:1, 11). Second, another sign of Jonah was the sign of repentance. The entire population of the sinfully wicked city of Nineveh, 120,000 people, repented upon hearing the prophetic word of Jonah (Jon 3:4-5, 4:11).

One of the greatest of signs is a repentant heart. To see many repentant hearts is a phenomenal sign that was difficult to miss. This is why a sinner who repents brings great joy in heaven (Lk 15:7, 10). Tax collectors and prostitutes, the most public of sinners, were repenting and turning to Jesus and to God. Nonetheless, the Pharisees missed this sign, even when Jesus pointed it out to them (Mt 21:31).

Perhaps many do not notice the Lord working in the present time because they don't see people repenting of their sins and changing their lives. If repentant sinners are the sign God gives that could bring people to God, then let's repent and get in line for Confession. Lengthen the line for Confession by repenting of your sins and inviting others to Confession. Be a sign. Repent!

Prayer: Father, create in me a clean heart (Ps 51:12) so that I might be a life-long minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18).

Promise: "It was for liberty that Christ freed us. So stand firm, and do not take on yourselves the yoke of slavery a second time!" —Gal 5:1

Praise: St. Teresa fought evil within and outside the Church. She taught: "Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed...all that is needed is the will to love."

Prayer to End Abortions

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that You have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself NEVER to be silent, NEVER to be passive, NEVER to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never to stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen!