[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Thursday, January 5, 2012 >>

St. John Neumann Saint of the Day

1 John 3:11-21
View Readings

Psalm 100:1-5

John 1:43-51

LOVE LETTERS

"This, remember, is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another." —1 John 3:11

 

Love is laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 Jn 3:16). If we have this love, we know we have passed from death to life (1 Jn 3:14). If we do not love, we are "among the living dead" (1 Jn 3:14). Love is not just talk, but actions (1 Jn 3:18). If we have love in action, we know "we are committed to the truth and are at peace before" God (1 Jn 3:19). Therefore, love is a sign of true commitment to God and true peace in Him.

Because God is Love (1 Jn 4:16) and love is the essence of the Christian life, "love never fails" (1 Cor 13:8). Therefore, "seek eagerly after love" (1 Cor 14:1). Seek the Holy Spirit, Who pours out God's love in our hearts (Rm 5:5; Gal 5:22). Then we will be able to love others, even our enemies (Mt 5:44), for we "love because He first loved us" (1 Jn 4:19).

 

Prayer: Father, You are Love. Help me to live in love and live in You (1 Jn 4:16).

Promise: "We have found the One Moses spoke of in the law — the prophets too — Jesus, Son of Joseph, from Nazareth." —Jn 1:45

Praise: St. John lay down his life for others by his devotion to God's people. This devotion led him to establish schools and parish churches in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

[Salvation]

January 5, St. John Neumann

John Neumann was born in Bohemia on March 20, 1811. Since he had a great desire to dedicate himself to the American missions, he came to the United States as a cleric and was ordained in New York in 1836 by Bishop Dubois.

In 1840, John Neumann entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He labored in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1852, he was consecrated bishop of Philadelphia. There he worked hard for the establishment of parish schools and for the erection of many parishes for the numerous immigrants. Bishop Neumann died on January 5, 1860; he was beatified in 1963.

• Day Twelve activity (Visit to the Blessed Sacrament)
• Day Twelve recipe (Vanocka)

 

 

A blessed Twelfth Day of Christmas to all of you!