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).

Edmund Campion along with his pals, on their way to England, met with Charles Borromeo where they received words of encouragement as they prepared for what would become their executions.

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 14
1.	AND it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the chief of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, to eat bread, that they watched him.	Et factum est cum intraret Jesus in domum cujusdam principis pharisæorum sabbato manducare panem, et ipsi observabant eum.	και εγενετο εν τω ελθειν αυτον εις οικον τινος των αρχοντων των φαρισαιων σαββατω φαγειν αρτον και αυτοι ησαν παρατηρουμενοι αυτον
[...]
7.	And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them:	Dicebat autem et ad invitatos parabolam, intendens quomodo primos accubitus eligerent, dicens ad illos :	ελεγεν δε προς τους κεκλημενους παραβολην επεχων πως τας πρωτοκλισιας εξελεγοντο λεγων προς αυτους
8.	When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him:	Cum invitatus fueris ad nuptias, non discumbas in primo loco, ne forte honoratior te sit invitatus ab illo.	οταν κληθης υπο τινος εις γαμους μη κατακλιθης εις την πρωτοκλισιαν μηποτε εντιμοτερος σου η κεκλημενος υπ αυτου
9.	And he that invited thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place: and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place.	Et veniens is, qui te et illum vocavit, dicat tibi : Da huic locum : et tunc incipias cum rubore novissimum locum tenere.	και ελθων ο σε και αυτον καλεσας ερει σοι δος τουτω τοπον και τοτε αρξη μετ αισχυνης τον εσχατον τοπον κατεχειν
10.	But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee, cometh, he may say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.	Sed cum vocatus fueris, vade, recumbe in novissimo loco : ut, cum venerit qui te invitavit, dicat tibi : Amice, ascende superius. Tunc erit tibi gloria coram simul discumbentibus :	αλλ οταν κληθης πορευθεις αναπεσε εις τον εσχατον τοπον ινα οταν ελθη ο κεκληκως σε ειπη σοι φιλε προσαναβηθι ανωτερον τοτε εσται σοι δοξα ενωπιον των συνανακειμενων σοι
11.	Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.	quia omnis, qui se exaltat, humiliabitur : et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur.	οτι πας ο υψων εαυτον ταπεινωθησεται και ο ταπεινων εαυτον υψωθησεται

1. And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

CYRIL; Although our Lord knew the malice of the Pharisees, yet He became their guest, that He might benefit by His words and miracles those who were present. Whence it follows, And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him; to see whether He would despise the observance of the law, or do any thing that was forbidden on the sabbath day. When then the man with the dropsy came into the midst of them, He rebukes by a question the insolence of the Pharisees, who wished to detect Him;
as it is said, And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering, &c.

7. And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying to them,
8. When you are bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honor man than you be bidden of him;
9. And he that bade you and him come and say to you, Give this man place; and you begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10. But when you are bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade you comes, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher: then shall you have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with you.
11. For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

AMBROSE; First the dropsical man is cured, in whom the abundant discharges of the flesh crushed down the powers of the soul quenched the ardor of the Spirit. Next, humility is taught, when at the nuptial feast the desire of the highest place is forbidden. As it is said, And he spoke, Sit not down in the highest room.

CYRIL; For to rush forward hastily to honors which are not fitting for us, indicates rashness. and casts a slur upon our actions. Hence it follows, lest a more honorable man than you be invited, &c.

CHRYS. And so the seeker of honor obtained not that which he coveted, but suffered a defeat, and busying himself how he might be loaded with honors, is treated with dishonor. And because nothing is of so much worth as modesty, He leads His hearer to the opposite of this; not only for- him to seek the highest place, but bidding him search for the lowest. As it follows; But when you are bidden go and sit down in the lowest room.

CYRIL; For if a man wishes not to be set before others, he obtains this honor according to the divine word. As it follows; That when he that bade you comes, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher. In these words He does not harshly chide, but gently admonishes; for a word of advice is enough for the wise. And thus for their humility men are crowned with honors; as it follows, Then shall you have worship.

BASIL; To take then the lowest place at a feast, according to our Lord's command, is becoming to every man, but again to rush contentiously after this is to be condemned as a breach of order and cause of tumult; and a strife raised about it, will place you on a level with those who dispute concerning the highest place. Wherefore, as our Lord here says, it becomes him who makes the feast to arrange the order of sitting down. Thus in patience and love should we mutually bear ourselves, following all things decently according to order, not for external appearance or public display; nor should we seem to study or affect humility by violent contradiction, but rather gain it by condescension or by patience. For resistance or opposition is a far stronger token of pride than taking the first seat at meat, when we obtain it by authority.

THEOPHYL. Now let no one deem the above precepts of Christ to be trifling, and unworthy of the sublimity and grandeur of the Word of God. For you would not call him a merciful physician who professed to heal the gout, but refilled to cure a scar on the finger or a tooth-ache. Besides, how can that passion of vainglory appear slight, which moved or agitated those who sought the first seats. It became then the Master of humility to cut off every branch of the bad root. But observe this also, that when the supper was ready, and the wretched guests were contending for precedency before the eyes of the Savior, there was a fit occasion for advice.

CYRIL; Having shown therefore from so slight an example the degradation of the ambitious and the exaltation of the humble-minded, He adds a great thing to a little, pronouncing a general sentence, as it follows, For every one who exalts himself shall be abased, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. This is spoken according to the divine judgment, not after human experience, in which they who desire after glory obtain it, while others who humble themselves remain inglorious.

THEOPHYL. Moreover, he is not to be respected in the end, nor by all men, who thrusts himself into honors; but while by some he is honored, by others he is disparaged, and sometimes even by the very men who outwardly honor him.

BEDE; But as the Evangelist calls this admonition a parable, we must briefly examine what is its mystical meaning. Whosoever being bidden has come to the marriage feast of Christ's Church, being united to the members of the Church by faith, let him not exalt himself as higher than others by boasting of his merits. For he will have to give place to one more honorable who is bidden afterwards, seeing that he is overtaken by the activity of those who followed him, and with shame he occupies the lowest place, now that knowing better things of the others he brings low whatever high thoughts he once had of his own works. But a man sits in the lowest place according to that verse, The greater you are, humble yourself in all things. But the Lord when He comes, whomsoever He shall find humble, blessing him with the name of friend, He will command him to go up higher. For whoever humbles himself as a little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. But it is well said, Then shall you have glory, that you may not begin to seek now what is kept for you in the end. It may also be understood, even in this life, for daily does God come to His marriage feast, despising the proud; and often giving to the humble such great gifts of His Spirit, that the assembly of those who sit at meat, i.e. the faithful, glorify them in wonder. But in the general conclusion which is added, it is plainly declared that the preceding discourse of our Lord must be understood typically. For not every one who exalts himself before men is abased; nor is he who humbles himself in their sight, exalted by them. But whoever exalts himself because of his merits, the Lord shall bring low, and him who humbles himself on account of his mercies, shall He exalt.

Catena Aurea Luke 14

Extreme Humility (Christ, Man of Sorrows)

Saint Charles Borromeo

Fr. Don Miller, OFM

<em>Saint Carlo Borromeo, cardinal of Milan</em> | Wellcome Images

Image: San Carlo Borromeo, cardinal of Milan | Wellcome Images

Saint Charles Borromeo

Saint of the Day for November 4

(October 2, 1538 – November 3, 1584)

Saint Charles Borromeo’s Story

The name of Charles Borromeo is associated with reform. He lived during the time of the Protestant Reformation, and had a hand in the reform of the whole Church during the final years of the Council of Trent.

Although he belonged to the Milanese nobility and was related to the powerful Medici family, Charles desired to devote himself to the Church. In 1559, when his uncle, Cardinal de Medici was elected Pope Pius IV, he made Charles cardinal-deacon and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan. At the time Charles was still a layman and a young student. Because of his intellectual qualities Charles was entrusted with several important offices connected with the Vatican, and later appointed secretary of state with responsibility for the papal states. The untimely death of his elder brother brought Charles to a definite decision to be ordained a priest, despite his relatives’ insistence that he marry. Soon after being ordained a priest at age 25, Borromeo was consecrated bishop of Milan.

Working behind the scenes, Saint Charles deserves the credit for keeping the Council of Trent in session when at several points it was on the verge of breaking up. Borromeo encouraged the pope to renew the Council in 1562, after it had been suspended for 10 years. He took upon himself the task of the entire correspondence during the final phase. Because of his work at the Council, Borromeo was unable to take up residence in Milan until the Council concluded.

Eventually, Borromeo was allowed to devote his time to the Archdiocese of Milan, where the religious and moral picture was far from bright. The reform needed in every phase of Catholic life among both clergy and laity was initiated at a provincial council of all the bishops under him. Specific regulations were drawn up for bishops and other clergy: If the people were to be converted to a better life, Borromeo had to be the first to give a good example and renew their apostolic spirit.

Charles took the initiative in giving a good example. He allotted most of his income to charity, forbade himself all luxury, and imposed severe penances upon himself. He sacrificed wealth, high honors, esteem, and influence to become poor. During the plague and famine of 1576, Borromeo tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. To do this he borrowed large sums of money that required years to repay. Whereas the civil authorities fled at the height of the plague, he stayed in the city, where he ministered to the sick and the dying, helping those in want.

Work and the heavy burdens of his high office began to affect Archbishop Borromeo’s health, leading to his death at the age of 46.

Reflection

Saint Charles Borromeo made his own the words of Christ: “…I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35-36). Borromeo saw Christ in his neighbor, and knew that charity done for the least of his flock was charity done for Christ.

Saint Charles Borromeo is the Patron Saint of:

Catechists
Catechumens
Seminarians

St. Charles Borromeo – A Model for All Clergy in Troubled Times
In Times Like These, Reform is Still Possible. A Meditation on the Life of St. Charles Borromeo
SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO ARCHBISHOP, CARDINAL 1538-1584 [Catholic Caucus]
Charles Borromeo and Catholic Tradition, re: Catholic Architecture [Catholic Caucus]
St. Charles Borromeo -- November 4
[Saint]Charles Borromeo B.Cardinal(RM)

Information: St. Charles Borromeo

Feast Day: November 4

Born: October 2, 1538, Aron

Died: November 3, 1584, Milan

Canonized: 1 November 1610 by Paul V

Major Shrine: Milan

Patron of: against ulcers; apple orchards; bishops; catechists; catechumens; colic; intestinal disorders; seminarians; spiritual directors; spiritual leaders; starch makers; stomach diseases

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Charles Borromeo

Feast Day: November 4
Born: 1538 :: Died: 1584

Charles was born at Aron in Italy. He was the son of a rich Italian count and the nephew of Pope Pius IV.

Like other wealthy young men, he went to the University of Pavia. But he was different from most of the students there and refused to take part in sinful activities.

He seemed to be a slow student because he was not a good speaker, but he really made good progress and became a lawyer at the age of twenty-one.

He was only twenty-three when his uncle, Pope Pius IV, gave him many important duties, which Charles managed to handle well. He was afraid that he might stray from God because of the many temptations around him so he denied himself many pleasures. He also made a great effort to be humble and patient.

As a priest and later the cardinal archbishop of Milan, St. Charles was a model for his people. He gave away great amounts of money to the poor. He had only one shabby cassock (long black habit) of his own.

But in public, he dressed grandly as a cardinal should and took great care to give dignity and respect to Church ceremonies.

In Milan, the people followed many bad practices and superstitions (wrong beliefs). By wise laws, gentle kindness and his own wonderful example, St. Charles made his diocese (the Churches under his care) a model for the whole Catholic Church.

He was never a good speaker - people could barely hear him but his words reached the hearts of the people.

When a terrible disease caused many deaths in Milan, Cardinal Borromeo spent all his time caring for his people. He prayed and did penance. He organized crews of attendants and borrowed money to feed the hungry. He even had altars set up in the streets so that the sick could assist at Mass from their windows.

This great man was never too busy to help simple people. He once stayed with a little shepherd boy until he had taught him the Our Father and the Hail Mary.

As he lay dying at the age of forty-six, St. Charles said peacefully, "Behold, I come!" He died on November 3, 1584.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Saturday, November 4

Liturgical Color: White

Today is the Memorial of St.
Charles Borromeo, archbishop and
confessor. St. Charles was a great
believer in the healing power of the
confessional. He required all his
priests to confess weekly, while he
confessed daily. St. Charles died in
1584.

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: November 4th

Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, bishop

MASS READINGS

November 04, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Preserve in the midst of your people, we ask, O Lord, the spirit with which you filled the Bishop Saint Charles Borromeo, that your Church may be constantly renewed and, by conforming herself to the likeness of Christ, may show his face to the world. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Lumen Caritatis | Pope Benedict XVI

Old Calendar: St. Charles Borromeo; Sts. Vitalis and Agricola, martyrs

St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) was a member of a noble family and a nephew of Pope Pius IV. He was made a Cardinal at the age of 23 and assisted the Pope in administering the affairs of the Holy See and in governing the Church. Soon thereafter he was made Archbishop of Milan. His endeavors on behalf of the 19th Ecumenical Council of Trent (1545-1564) were especially meritorious and fruitful. He helped to direct and guide it and bring it to a successful conclusion. He then proceeded to enforce its decrees in the Archdiocese of Milan and thoroughly reformed Catholic life in his See. During a plague he walked barefooted in the public streets, carrying a cross, with a rope around his neck, offering himself as a victim to God for the transgressions of his people.

According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the commemoration of Sts. Vitalis and Agricola, martyrs in Bologna.

Don't forget to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory from November 1 to the 8th.

St. Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo, the bishop of Milan, came from a wealthy, aristocratic Italian family. He was born in the family castle, and lived a rather lavish life, entertaining sumptuously as befit a Renaissance court. He personally enjoyed athletics, music, art, and the fine dining that went along with lifestyles of the rich and famous of the sixteenth century. His maternal uncle, from the powerful Medici family, was pope. As was typical of the times, his uncle-pope made him a cardinal-deacon at age twenty-three and bestowed on him numerous offices. He was appointed papal legate to Bologna, the Low Countries, and the cantons of Switzerland, and to the religious orders of St. Francis, the Carmelites, the Knights of Malta, and others.

When Count Frederick Borromeo passed away, many people thought Charles would give up the clerical life and marry now that he had become head of the Borromeo family. But he did not. He deferred to another uncle and became a priest. Shortly thereafter he was appointed bishop of Milan, a city that had not had a resident bishop for over eighty years.

Although raised to the grand life, Borromeo spent much of his time dealing with hardship and suffering. The famine of 1570 required him to bring in food to feed three thousand people a day for three months. Six years later a two-year plague swept through the region. Borromeo mobilized priests, religious, and lay volunteers to feed and care for the sixty thousand to seventy thousand people living in the Alpine villages of his district. He personally cared for many who were sick and dying. In the process, Borromeo ran up huge debts, depleting his resources in order to feed, clothe, administer medical care, and build shelters for thousands of plague-stricken people.

As if the natural disasters facing Borromeo were not enough, a disgruntled priest from a religious order falling out of favor with Church authorities attempted to assassinate him. As Charles knelt in prayer before the altar, the would-be assassin pulled a gun and shot him. At first, Charles thought he was dying, but the bullet never passed through the thick vestments he was wearing. It only bruised him.

Borromeo combined the love of the good life with the self-sacrificing zeal one would expect of a Renaissance churchman. Once when he was playing billiards, someone asked what he would do if he knew he only had fifteen more minutes to live. "Keep playing billiards," he replied. He died at age forty-six, not at the billiard table but quietly in bed.

—Excerpted from The Way of the Saints, Tom Cowan

St. Charles used the following strong language to the assembly of bishops during the convocation of the Synod:

Let us fear lest the angered judge say to us: If you were the enlighteners of My Church, why have you closed your eyes? If you pretended to be shepherds of the flock, why have you suffered it to stray? Salt of the earth, you have lost your savor. Light of the world, they that sat in darkness and the shadow of death have never seen you shine. You were apostles; who, then, put your apostolic firmness to the test, since you have done nothing but seek to please men? You were the mouth of the Lord, and you have made that mouth dumb. If you allege in excuse that the burden was beyond your strength, why did you make it the object of your ambitious intrigues?

Great was Charles' love of neighbor and liberality toward the poor. When the plague raged in Milan, he sold his household furniture, even his bed, to aid the sick and needy, and thereafter slept upon bare boards. He visited those stricken by the disease, consoled them as a tender father, conferred upon them the sacraments with his own hands. A true mediator, he implored forgiveness day and night from the throne of grace. He once ordered an atonement procession and appeared in it with a rope about his neck, with bare and bloody feet, a cross upon his shoulder—thus presenting himself as an expiatory sacrifice for his people to ward off divine punishment. He died, dressed in sackcloth and ashes, holding a picture of Jesus Crucified in his hands, in 1584 at the age of forty-six. His last words were, "See, Lord, I am coming, I am coming soon." His tomb in the cathedral of Milan is of white marble.

Patron: Against ulcers; apple orchards; bishops; catechists; catechumens; colic; intestinal disorders; diocese of Monterey, California; seminarians; spiritual directors; spiritual leaders; starch makers; stomach diseases.

Symbols: Altar; chalice and host; rope around neck; casket and crucifix; cardinal's hat; word Humiltitas crowned.
Often Portrayed As: Bishop wearing a noose around his neck; cardinal wearing a noose around his neck.

Things to Do:

Pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin in imitation of St. Charles who recited it daily;
Say a rosary for our Bishops that they will have the courage to be the salt and light in our confused world;
Learn more about the Council of Trent;
Pray for vocations and pray for the pastor and the priests in your parish that they will plant the life of grace and help it grow;
Meditate on the common priesthood bestowed on all of us at baptism and confirmation;
Do something today to spread the faith, explain some teaching to your children, witness to your neighbor, purchase good Catholic books for others, mindful that "every Catholic is responsible for the salvation of those with whom he lives!" (Pius Parsch)
From the Catholic Culture library: Charles Borromeo: Hero of Reform and Editae Saepe (On St. Charles Borromeo).

Sts. Vitalis and Agricola
Vitalis and Agricola were two martyrs of Bologna. Their bodies were discovered in 393 during the episcopate of St. Ambrose who was present at the translation of their relics.

The following is a legendary account:

Vitalis, a slave, and Agricola, his master, were cruelly tortured under Diocletian. In vain was Vitalis tempted by promises to renounce his faith; he merely showed himself more constant as a confessor of Christ. He was tortured most dreadfully, but bore all with incomparable patience till in prayer he gave up the spirit. Agricola's sentence was delayed in the hope that the torments of his slave would frighten him into a denial of Christ, but the constancy of Vitalis confirmed him in the faith. He was nailed to a cross and thereby became a comrade and sharer with his servant in the crown of martyrdom (c. 304). Later times distinguished two persons by the name Vitalis, one the martyr of Ravenna, the other Agricola's companion at Bologna; actually there is question that they are but one and the same individual.

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

Symbols: White war horse; spiked club; post; cross and nails.

Indulgences for All Souls Week
An indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. The indulgence is plenary each day from the first to the eighth of November; on other days of the year it is partial.

A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed [November 2 {as well as on the Sunday preceding or following, and on All Saints' Day}] piously visit a church. In visiting the church it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.

To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary also to fulfill the following three conditions: sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father. The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the visit; it is, however, fitting that communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on the same day as the visit.

The condition of praying for the intention of the Holy Father is fully satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. A plenary indulgence can be acquired only once in the course of the day.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29

Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop (Memorial)

Has God rejected his people? Of course not! (Romans 11:1)

Posing a rhetorical question, St. Paul asks whether God has given up on his chosen people. No way, he replies. God’s plan is still unfolding. One day all of Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26).

Perhaps we pose the same question to the Lord for our loved ones who are still distant from him. “Have you rejected this person, Lord? Why aren’t you intervening in his life? Why are you allowing her to stray from you?”

We can’t see into the future. We don’t know how each person’s story will end. So while we may not be able to see what God is doing in the life of the ones we are most concerned about, we can hold onto this truth: God is still at work. He hasn’t given up—on any of us! He may not let us in on his grand design, but he urges us to keep interceding and not give up. He wants all to be saved. Our prayers can make the difference!

While we are praying and interceding, we can do one more thing. We can ask the Lord, “Is there anything you would like me to do for this person today?”

Not only do our prayers help bring others to Christ, but so do our efforts to reach out to them in love. If our invitations to church-related events have fallen on deaf ears, maybe we need to take a different tack. Perhaps the Lord will put it on our hearts to do an unexpected favor for someone. Maybe we can spend a little extra time with that person, perhaps even by attending a sporting event or going out for coffee with them. Or maybe we should write a little note of encouragement for someone who is going through a difficult time.

What we do may be the next stitch in the net God is weaving. We may never see the results of his work in a person’s life, but we can trust that he is still working. But however much or little we can see, we can be sure of this: God delights in making us part of his grand plan. We only have to trust that at the perfect time, the net will be strong enough to gather our loved ones into his kingdom.

“Father, show me how to cooperate with you.”

Psalm 94:12-15, 17-18
Luke 14:1, 7-11

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

Daily Marriage Tip for November 4, 2017:

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mk 12:31) This presumes that you have a humble and honest self-love. Keep yourself healthy as a gift to your spouse. This includes exercising and not smoking or drinking excessively.

Regnum Christi

November 4, 2017 – Friend, Go Up Higher

04 Nov 2017

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Father James Swanson, LC

Luke 14:1, 7-11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you with a faith that never seeks to test you. I trust in you, hoping to learn to accept and follow your will, even when it does not make sense to the way that I see things. May my love for you and those around me be similar to the love you have shown to me.

Petition: Lord, please help me to replace my selfishness with love.

1. I Want to Hear All about Myself: Sooner or later we all experience the displeasure of having to be around someone who is always promoting himself. Perhaps we do it ourselves, without realizing how it disgusts the people around us. I remember working with one such fellow myself. He was the nicest guy in the world otherwise, but he consistently and continually talked about himself. He was his own favorite subject. It was his only noticeable flaw, but a fatal one. I’m sure he didn’t realize it. Probably if you asked him if he talked about himself more than other people talk about themselves, he would have answered that he talked about himself about the same amount as others do. He had plenty of other virtues, and I’m sure if he had rid himself of his major flaw he would have been one of the most well-liked people where I worked. But he was always putting himself in first place, and in our hearts we were always putting him in one of the last places.

2. Number One in your Heart: On the other hand, you sometimes run into people who don’t wave their own flag. They seem to exist to support and help others. Maybe you don’t always notice when they are around, but you notice the effects. Everyone is happier. There is less stress. People seem less worried. These people grease the wheels. If you need a hand, they’ll give it to you and you don’t even need to ask. Their support and friendship are givens. You know you can count on them. They are assets wherever they work because they know how to make the people around them more effective. Everybody likes them. They may not have the greatest personality or a lot of social skills, but nobody cares because the goodness seems to just ooze out of them. While they seem unassuming and unimportant, everyone who is around them prizes them highly. Without even realizing it, they are at the highest places in everyone’s hearts.

3. Will I Develop my Ambition or my Love? Which kind of person am I? Am I a shameless self-promoter, always focused on getting as much for Number One as possible? This strategy might work well in a company where people are faceless widgets instead of personalities, where the bottom line is the bottom line, but it is never very successful in real life relationships. Perhaps I do what I can to help others whenever I can, to make others feel good. That is the way to real fulfillment. After all, Jesus said that those who wanted to be first must be the last of all and the servant of all. Have I been foolish enough to think that Jesus was saying that the way to achieve my ambitions is to serve? No way. Jesus isn’t concerned with us achieving ambitions, he is telling us how to be first in hearts. If you want to be first in hearts, be a servant of all. If you have the humility to serve others, you will attain to a high place in others’ hearts. When you take a low place, they will always raise you higher.

Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, I am always trying to serve myself and my ambitions, and you want me to be concerned with serving others. Help me to be more focused on what really matters – loving – than on what the world prizes – empty, self-serving actions.

Resolution: Today, I will perform some act of service for another person, preferably for someone close to me, preferably without their notice. These are the acts that most deeply express love. Remember, if you expect something in return, even just thanks, it isn’t love, it’s business.

Homily of the Day -- Catholic Exchange One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 33, Issue 6

<< Saturday, November 4, 2017 >>

St. Charles Borromeo

Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29
View Readings

Psalm 94:12-15, 17-18

Luke 14:1, 7-11
Similar Reflections

DOUBLE-AGENTS

"In respect to the gospel, the Jews are enemies of God for your sake; in respect to the election, they are beloved by Him because of the patriarchs." �Romans 11:28

An old saying says God writes straight with crooked lines. "God makes all things work together for the good of those who love" Him (Rm 8:28). God is omnipotent; so He even uses His enemies to further His plan (Prv 16:4). For example, Joseph's brothers heartlessly abandoned him in a cistern (Gn 37:24). As a result, he was forced to spend years in Egypt as a slave and then a prisoner. Yet God brought Joseph out of prison to lead Egypt through a time of severe famine. Joseph later told his brothers: "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people" (Gn 50:20).

God even uses man's direct opposition to advance His plan. Certain Jewish leaders were "opposing the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51) by condemning Stephen and stoning him to death. Yet God immediately used this tragedy to spread His Word "throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1) and soon even to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8).

Many first-century Jews did not accept Jesus as Messiah and Lord. It seemed the ministry of Jesus to His people (see Mt 15:24) failed. Yet God turned even this failure to triumph. The unbelief of certain Jewish leaders caused Paul to turn to the Gentiles, who "responded to the word of the Lord with praise" (Acts 13:48).

Place your trust in the Father's love, power, and ability. He is supreme and sovereign. "Therefore do not be perturbed" by circumstances, no matter how horrible. "Remain calm" and trust in your heavenly Father (1 Pt 4:7).

Prayer: Father, I put my life in Your hands (see Ps 31:6).

Promise: "Your kindness, O Lord, sustains me." �Ps 94:18

Praise: St. Charles showed heroic charity during a plague in Milan.

November 4, 2017

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Reading 1 Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29

Responsorial Psalm Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 17-18

Alleluia Mt 11:29ab

Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-11

Saint Charles Borromeo

Saint of the Day for November 4

(October 2, 1538 – November 3, 1584)

Saint Charles Borromeo’s Story

Reflection

Saint Charles Borromeo is the Patron Saint of:

St. Charles Borromeo

Ordinary Time: November 4th

Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, bishop

MASS READINGS

COLLECT PRAYER

Recipes (4)

Activities (3)

Prayers (6)

Library (1)

Meditation: Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29

November 4, 2017 – Friend, Go Up Higher

One Bread, One Body

DOUBLE-AGENTS