Posted on 08/16/2006 8:51:17 AM PDT by Salvation
Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
The word of the LORD came to me:
Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb
that you recite in the land of Israel:
“Fathers have eaten green grapes,
thus their children’s teeth are on edge”?
As I live, says the Lord GOD:
I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you
who will repeat this proverb in Israel.
For all lives are mine;
the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine;
only the one who sins shall die.
If a man is virtuous—if he does what is right and just,
if he does not eat on the mountains,
nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel;
if he does not defile his neighbor’s wife,
nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;
if he oppresses no one,
gives back the pledge received for a debt,
commits no robbery;
if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury;
if he holds off from evildoing,
judges fairly between a man and his opponent;
if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances,
that man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.
But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer,
or lends at interest and exacts usury—
this son certainly shall not live.
Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die;
his death shall be his own fault.
Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel,
each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD.
Turn and be converted from all your crimes,
that they may be no cause of guilt for you.
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Why should you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,
says the Lord GOD. Return and live!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Gospel
Mt 19:13-15
Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
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Yes, you are seeing strange things. I will be flying to Chicago to stay with my daughter and my eighth grandchild (named ‘David’ after my husband, BTW!) for almost a week.
Carolina and Coleus have agreed to add to the threads after I post them, do the ping, and the links for that day( if there are any.)
| Saturday, August 19, 2006 St. Louis, Bishop (Optional Memorial) |
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Congrats on your new (?) grandson!
Have a safe trip.
Yes, grandson. Thanks.
I knew he was a grandson, but I was wondering if he was a new one or not.
Yes, born 08-09-06! Eighth grandchild for me!
Congratulations!
Faith bump.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 118 (119): 145-152 |
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| I call on you with all my heart – answer me, Lord. I will obey your laws. I call on you, save me so that I can keep your decrees. At dawn I cry to you, I put all my hope in your word. In the night I keep watch, pondering your sayings. In your mercy, Lord, hear my voice; in your justice, give me life. My persecutors come to do me harm: they are far from your law. But you, Lord, are near to me, and you are trustworthy in all your precepts. From the beginning I have known your decrees, how you have made them to last for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Wisdom 9 |
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| Lord, give me wisdom | |
| God of my fathers and Lord of mercy, who made all things by your word; who in your wisdom set man to rule over all that you created – to arrange the world in holiness and justice – to make right judgements according to the guidance of his heart: give me Wisdom, who stands by your throne, and let me not be unworthy to be your servant. For I am your slave and the son of your servant-girl, a man, weak, short-lived, slow to understand your judgements and laws. Even the highest of the children of men – if your wisdom is absent – counts for nothing. With you abides Wisdom, who knows your works. She was with you when you made the world. She knew what was pleasing to your eyes. She saw what was right according to your precepts. Send your Wisdom from the highest heaven; send her from the throne of your greatness; that she may abide with me and work with me, so that I may know what it is that pleases you. For Wisdom knows everything, and understands; she will lead me wisely in what I do, and protect me in her glory. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Psalm 116 (117) |
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| Praise of the merciful Lord |
| Praise the Lord, all nations; all peoples, praise him. For his mercy is strong over us and his faithfulness is for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here. |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
|---|---|
| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God. |
| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| A concluding prayer may follow here. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 106 (107) |
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| Thanksgiving after rescue |
| Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his kindness is for ever. Let them say this, the people the Lord has redeemed, those whom he rescued from their enemies whom he gathered together from all lands, from east and west, from the north and the south. They wandered through desert and wilderness, they could find no way to a city they could dwell in. Their souls were weary within them, weary from hunger and thirst. They cried to the Lord in their trouble and he rescued them from their distress. He set them on the right path towards a city they could dwell in. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his kindness, for the wonders he works for men: the Lord, who feeds hungry creatures and gives water to the thirsty to drink. They sat in the darkness and shadow of death, imprisoned in chains and in misery, because they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsels of the Most High. He wore out their hearts with labour: they were weak, there was no-one to help. They cried to the Lord in their trouble and he rescued them from their distress. He led them out of the darkness and shadow of death, he shattered their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his kindness, for the wonders he works for men: the Lord, who shatters doors of bronze, who breaks bars of iron. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 106 (107) |
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| The people were sick because they transgressed, afflicted because of their sins. All food was distasteful to them, they were on the verge of death. They cried to the Lord in their trouble and he rescued them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them, delivered them from their ruin. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his kindness, for the wonders he works for men: Let them offer a sacrifice of praise and proclaim his works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, those who trade across the great waters – they have seen the works of the Lord, the wonders he performs in the deep. He spoke, and a storm arose, and the waves of the sea rose up. They rose up as far as the heavens and descended down to the depths: the sailors’ hearts melted from fear, they staggered and reeled like drunkards, terror drove them out of their minds. But they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he rescued them from their distress. He turned the storm into a breeze and silenced the waves. They rejoiced at the ending of the storm and he led them to the port that they wanted. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his kindness, for the wonders he works for men: let them exalt him in the assembly of the people, give him praise in the council of the elders. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 106 (107) |
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| The Lord has turned rivers into wilderness, he has made well-watered lands into desert, fruitful ground into salty waste because of the evil of those who dwelt there. But he has made wilderness into ponds, deserts into the sources of rivers, he has called together the hungry and they have founded a city to dwell in. They have sowed the fields, planted the vines; they grow and harvest their produce. He has blessed them and they have multiplied; he does not let their cattle decrease. But those others became few and oppressed through trouble, evil, and sorrow. He poured his contempt on their princes and set them to wander the trackless waste. But the poor he has saved from their poverty and their families grow numerous as sheep. The upright shall see, and be glad, and all wickedness shall block up its mouth. Whoever is wise will remember these things and understand the mercies of the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | Micah 7:7 - 20 © |
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| For my part, I look to the Lord, my hope is in the God who will save me; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy: though I have fallen, I shall rise; though I live in darkness, the Lord is my light. I must suffer the anger of the Lord, for I have sinned against him, until he takes up my cause and rights my wrongs; he will bring me out into the light and I shall rejoice to see the rightness of his ways. When my enemy sees it, she will be covered with shame, she who said to me, ‘Where is the Lord your God?’ My eyes will gloat over her; she will be trampled underfoot like mud in the streets. The day is coming for rebuilding your walls. Your frontiers will be extended that day, men will come to you that day from Assyria as far as to Egypt, from Tyre as far as to the river, from sea to sea, from mountain to mountain. The earth will become a desert by reason of its inhabitants, in return for what they have done. With shepherd’s crook lead your people to pasture, the flock that is your heritage, living confined in a forest with meadow land all around. Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders. The pagans, seeing it, will be confounded for all their power; they will lay their hands to their mouths, their ears will be deafened by it. They will lick the dust like serpents, like things that crawl on the earth. They will come trembling from their lairs, in terror and fear before you. What god can compare with you: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy? Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins. Grant Jacob your faithfulness, and Abraham your mercy, as you swore to our fathers from the days of long ago. |
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| Reading | From a sermon on Baptism by St. Pacian, bishop |
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| Who, O God, is like you? you take away guilt | |
| As we have borne the image of the earthly man, so we shall bear the image of him who is from heaven; since the first man who came from the earth, is earthly, but the second man who came from heaven, is heavenly’. And so, dearly beloved, we shall not die anymore. Even if we fall asleep in this body, we shall live in Christ, as he said: Whoever believes in me, even if he die, shall live. As the Lord is our witness, we are certain that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all saints of God are alive. For concerning them the Lord says: They are all alive. For God is a God of the living, not of the dead. And the Apostle says of himself: For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I would rather die and be with Christ. And again: But while we are still in this body we are away from God, for we are guided by faith, and not by appearance. This is what we believe, dearest brothers. For the rest: If we place our hope in this world, we are the most miserable of men. Life in this world, whether it be that of beasts, wild animals or birds, as you yourself see, is either similar to ours or more tedious. What is peculiar to man, and what Christ gives through his Spirit, is eternal life, but only if we sin no more. Thus death is acquired by sin but avoided by right living; life is lost through sin and preserved through good living. The wages of sin is death; the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is Christ who redeemed us, as the Apostle says: Forgiving us all our sins and destroying what was recorded against us by disobedience, he bore our burden in public view, fixed it to the cross, stripped his own flesh, exposed the powers of this world and freely conquered them in himself. He released our shackles and destroyed our chains, as David had said: The Lord lifts up what has been torn down; the Lord frees those in shackles; the Lord gives light to the blind. And again: You have destroyed my chains; I will offer sacrifice to you with praise. And so when we come to the sign of the Lord in the sacrament of baptism we are freed of these chains and liberated by the blood of Christ and by his name. Therefore, beloved, we are washed clean but once; we are freed only once; we are received into the immortal kingdom once and for all. Once and for all are they happy whose sins are forgiven and whose stains are blotted out. Hold fast to what you have received; preserve it joyfully; sin no more. Keep yourselves as children cleansed by that sacrament and made spotless for the day of the Lord. |
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| A concluding prayer may follow here. |
God calls each one of us to be a saint.
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August 19
St. John Eudes
(1601-1680)
How little we know where God’s grace will lead. Born on a farm in northern France, John died at 79 in the next “county” or department. In that time he was a religious, a parish missionary, founder of two religious communities and a great promoter of the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
He joined the religious community of the Oratorians and was ordained a priest at 24. During severe plagues in 1627 and 1631, he volunteered to care for the stricken in his own diocese. Lest he infect his fellow religious, he lived in a huge cask in the middle of a field during the plague. At age 32, John became a parish missionary. His gifts as preacher and confessor won him great popularity. He preached over 100 parish missions, some lasting from several weeks to several months. In his concern with the spiritual improvement of the clergy, he realized that the greatest need was for seminaries. He had permission from his general superior, the bishop and even Cardinal Richelieu to begin this work, but the succeeding general superior disapproved. After prayer and counsel, John decided it was best to leave the religious community. The same year he founded a new one, ultimately called the Eudists (Congregation of Jesus and Mary), devoted to the formation of the clergy by conducting diocesan seminaries. The new venture, while approved by individual bishops, met with immediate opposition, especially from Jansenists and some of his former associates. John founded several seminaries in Normandy, but was unable to get approval from Rome (partly, it was said, because he did not use the most tactful approach). In his parish mission work, John was disturbed by the sad condition of prostitutes who sought to escape their miserable life. Temporary shelters were found but arrangements were not satisfactory. A certain Madeleine Lamy, who had cared for several of the women, one day said to him, “Where are you off to now? To some church, I suppose, where you’ll gaze at the images and think yourself pious. And all the time what is really wanted of you is a decent house for these poor creatures.” The words, and the laughter of those present, struck deeply within him. The result was another new religious community, called the Sisters of Charity of the Refuge. He is probably best known for the central theme of his writings: Jesus as the source of holiness, Mary as the model of the Christian life. His devotion to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary led Pius XI to declare him the father of the liturgical cult of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Quote:
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August 19, 2006    Optional Memorial of St. John Eudes, priest Old Calendar: St. John Eudes, confessor
St. John Eudes  Born on a farm in northern France, St. John was a religious, a parish missionary, founder of two religious communities and a great promoter of the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He joined the religious community of the Oratorians and was ordained a priest at twenty-four. During severe plagues in 1627 and 1631, he volunteered to care for the stricken in his own diocese. Lest he infect his fellow religious, he lived in a huge cask in the middle of a field during the plague.At age thirty-two, John became a parish missionary. His gifts as preacher and confessor won him great popularity. He preached over one hundred parish missions, some lasting from several weeks to several months. In his concern with the spiritual improvement of the clergy, he realized that the greatest need was for seminaries. He had permission from his general superior, the bishop and even Cardinal Richelieu to begin this work, but the succeeding general superior disapproved. After prayer and counsel, John decided it was best to leave the religious community. The same year he founded a new one, ultimately called the Eudists (Congregation of Jesus and Mary), devoted to the formation of the clergy by conducting diocesan seminaries. The new venture, while approved by individual bishops, met with immediate opposition, especially from Jansenists and some of his former associates. John founded several seminaries in Normandy, but was unable to get approval from Rome (partly, it was said, because he did not use the most tactful approach).
He is probably best known for the central theme of his writings: Jesus as the source of holiness, Mary as the model of the Christian life. His devotion to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary led Pius XI to declare him the father of the liturgical cult of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He was also the author of several books which served his work, e.g., The Ideal Confessor and The Apostolic Preacher. He died at the age of seventy-nine. Excerpted from the Saint of the Day, Leonard Foley, O.F.M. Symbols: Priest with or presenting the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Things to Do:
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Homily of the Day
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For: Saturday, August 19, 2006
19th Week in Ordinary Time
From: Matthew 19:13-15
Jesus Blesses the Children
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[13] Then the children were brought to Him (Jesus) that He might lay His
hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; [14] but
Jesus said, "Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them; for
to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven." [15] And He laid His hands on
them and went away.
***********************************************************************
Commentary:
13-14. Once again (see Matthew 18:1-6) Jesus shows His special love for
children, by drawing them close and blessing them. The Church, also,
shows special concern for children by urging the need for Baptism:
"That this law extends not only to adults but also to infants and
children, and that the Church has received this from Apostolic
tradition, is confirmed by the unanimous teaching and authority of the
Fathers.
"Besides, it is not to be supposed that Christ the Lord would have
withheld the Sacrament of grace of Baptism from children, of whom He
said: `Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them; for
to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven', whom also He embraced, upon
whom He imposed hands, to whom He gave His blessing" ("St. Pius V
Catechism", II, 2, 32).
***********************************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter
Publishers, the U.S. publisher (see below).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
August 19, 2006
Saturday 19th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II
EZEKIEL 18:1-10, 13, 30-32
The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, what is the meaning of
this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel: "Fathers have eaten
green grapes, thus their children's teeth are on edge"? As I live, says
the Lord God: I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you
who will repeat this proverb in Israel. For all lives are mine; the
life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the
one who sins shall die. If a man is virtuous-if he does what is right
and just, if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to
the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's
wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he
oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no
robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he
does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from
evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by
my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is
virtuous-he shall surely live, says the Lord God. But if he begets a
son who is a thief, a murderer, or lends at interest and exacts usury-
this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these
abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault.
Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his
ways, says the Lord God. Turn and be converted from all your crimes,
that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the
crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a
new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no
pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord God. Return and
live!
MATTHEW 19:13-15
Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and
pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children
come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
REFLECTION
We must become like children to enter the kingdom of God. But what is a
child like? Children are certainly not perfect or sinless. Anyone who
has watched even the smallest of children play together has no doubt
noticed the selfish impulses that motivate them. But one quality of
children that we can imitate is their trust. Children have to be
trusting. They depend on their parents and other adults for their
survival and they know it. Even an abused child will trust his or her
parents for quite a while before growing embittered.
This trust is a virtue. As St. Paul says of the charismatic gift of
love, "There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope,
its power to endure." Children seem to posses these essential traits of
love. In this, they are very close to God, for as John tells us, "God
is love."
This childlike attitude is a part of one who is "born again" in the
true sense of the word. But Paul does not want us to be childish in our
childlikeness. He says, "Brothers, do not be childish in your outlook.
Be like children as far as evil is concerned, but in mind be mature."
He says to the Ephesians, "Live as children of the light. Keep careful
watch over your conduct. Do not act like fools, but like thoughtful
men." This hardly sounds like the conduct of immature children. As we
mature as a church, the body of Christ, Jesus is actually realized and
matured in us. This is a great mystery.
Do we seek a maturity that is based on childlike trust in God? Or do we
seek a worldly wisdom that is, in essence, childish? Do we confuse
childlikeness with childishness? St. Paul says, "You know that when you
were pagans, you were led astray as impulse drove you." The wind of the
Spirit involves more than just impulse. It involves mature discernment.
We must have a balance between childlike openness to God and mature
discernment of the Spirit.
Kingdom of Kids
August 19, 2006
The Kingdom of heaven belongs to those who can call God "Father".
Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Father Richard Gill, LC
Matthew 19:13-15
Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
Introductory Prayer: Father, open my heart to trust, to have faith, and to hope in you so that I too may enter your kingdom.
Petition: Lord, give me a simple and profound faith and an unbreakable confidence in your love and power, so that I may trust in you more each day.
1. Days of the Child. Today we are accustomed to paying a lot of attention to the needs of children, almost to the point of obsession. Enormous sums are spent on efforts to educate and socialize children properly to bring about desired results. Yet at the time of Christ, children were considered insignificant and without great value. No one would have found them worthy of the Kingdom, except in virtue of their relationship to their families and parents. But to Jesus each one was a soul, a child of God the Father, for whom he had come to bring love and redemption. Each one was a bearer of the grace of God and needed to be valued and cherished. Jesus could see in them some of the most important qualities for anyone who would be a member of God’s family.
2. Qualities Needed for the Kingdom. The Kingdom of heaven belongs to those who can call God “Father”, to those who put all their hope and confidence in his love and protection rather than in their own talent, knowledge, security, virtue, or experience. As time goes on, it is more and more difficult for us to keep this child-like hope in our Father in heaven. Yet this is the challenge he gives us: Continue to grow in humility and trust as we go through life.
3. The Christ Child. We should from time to time meditate on the familiar fact of Jesus’ childhood. It is something easy to overlook as we look for spiritual growth because it can seem to be the stuff of overly pious and sentimental spirituality. But on a deeper level, the fact that he chose to come as a child -- to become helpless and vulnerable -- and to trust in the guidance and leadership of Joseph and Mary, is highly significant for us. Christ deliberately chose to spend years in a condition of dependence and trust in order to teach us how we ought to turn to the Father as the source of all our hope.
Dialogue with Christ: Jesus, teach us again the lessons of your childhood: dependence, hope, trust, docility, obedience and love. Take away from our hearts any vestiges of self-reliance and pride that come between us and the Kingdom of heaven.
Resolution: I will read for spiritual reading the Gospel accounts of the infancy of Jesus.
Catholic ping!
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In his parish mission work, John was disturbed by the sad condition of prostitutes who sought to escape their miserable life. Temporary shelters were found but arrangements were not satisfactory. A certain Madeleine Lamy, who had cared for several of the women, one day said to him, "Where are you off to now? To some church, I suppose, where you'll gaze at the images and think yourself pious. And all the time what is really wanted of you is a decent house for these poor creatures." The words, and the laughter of those present, struck deeply within him. The result was another new religious community, called the Sisters of Charity of the Refuge.