St Cyril, Doctor of the Church

Writing by Saint Cyril on "Two Kinds of Faith":

The one word “faith” can have two meanings. One kind of faith concerns doctrines. It involves the soul’s ascent to and acceptance of some particular matter. It also concerns the soul’s good according to the words of the Lord: Whoever hears my voice and believes in him who sent me has eternal life, and will not come to be judged. And again: He who believes in the Son is not condemned, but has passed from death to life.



How great is God’s love for men! Some good men have been found pleasing to God because of years of work. What they achieved by working for many hours at a task pleasing to God is freely given to you by Jesus in one short hour. For if you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved and taken up to paradise by him, just as he brought the thief there. Do not doubt that this is possible. After all, he saved the thief on the holy hill of Golgotha because of one hour’s faith; will he not save you too since you have believed?


The other kind of faith is given by Christ by means of a special grace. To one wise sayings are given through the Spirit, to another perceptive comments by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing. Now this kind of faith, given by the Spirit as a special favor, is not confined to doctrinal matters, for it produces effects beyond any human capability. If a man who has this faith says to this mountain move from here to there, it will move. For when anybody says this in faith, believing it will happen and having no doubt in his heart, he then receives that grace.


It is of this kind of faith, moreover, that it is said: If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed. The mustard seed is small in size but it holds an explosive force; although it is sown in a small hole, it produces great branches, and when it is grown birds can nest there. In the same way faith produces great effects in the soul instantaneously. Enlightened by faith, the soul pictures God and sees him as clearly as any soul can. It circles the earth; even before the end of this world it sees the judgment and the conferring of promised rewards. So may you have the faith which depends on you and is directed to God, that you may receive from him that faith too which transcends man’s capacity.

"St Joseph, Spouse and Father"

It was into the custody of St. Joseph that God entrusted the mysteries of the salvation of mankind, that is, His Incarnate Son and the Blessed Virgin Mother of God.
Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation (1989), said: "that Joseph showed Jesus by a special gift from heaven, all the natural love, all the affectionate solicitude that a father's heart can know"

By his perfect obedience in faith to the will of God he became Jesus foster father, without hesitation he took Mary and cared for her and her Child.
St Joseph played a big role in Jesus life, He was the earthly father to Him and faithful spouse; he was a just man; he was innocent and pure; he was gentle and tender; as one worthy to be named the father of Jesus; he was prudent and a lover of silence, as became the master of the holy house; above all, he was faithful and obedient to divine calls.

St Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary that is why he is called the patron of a Happy Death.

Saint Joseph, Loving Father, Perfect Spouse!
Be my father today and teach me to love my spouse in the way that you loved the Blessed Virgin Mother.
Intercede for me that I may accept with patience all the trials of family life and may at last die in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

St Joseph Pray for us, Amen

"Fresh Living Water"

This Sunday's Gospel John 4:5-42 is about a "Woman Of The Well" or the "Samaritan Woman".

The story tells us about a Samaritan woman who lived a sinful life, went to draw water from the well at the heat of the day where no one usually go there at that time, because she was rejected by other women of her sinful way of life.

But Jesus most loving and merciful Lord, breaking the Jewish law, first by speaking to a woman, second she was a Samaritan woman, third He's about to drink water from an unclean cup, still He reaches out to her and offers her a divine mercy of fresh living water from the well of Grace which washes away our sins and cleanses our souls.

The woman went to draw water, instead, she got cleansed by the fresh living water of eternal life, only to show us that Jesus' mission here on earth is to save the lost souls and that He came to all mankind alike not only for the Jews.

The story teaches us too that Jesus doesn't judges people for their appearance and their way of life, He look deep down into the heart of individuals, like He did to the Samaritan woman.

The stories goes on that after sharing their views together about their ways of worship, the woman recognize Jesus that He is the Savior of the world and Jesus confirm that to her by telling her that He is "He".

Our human nature is quickly to judge others because of stereotypes, customs or prejudices where sweet loving Jesus treats people as individuals, accepting them with love, forgiveness and compassion drawing them close to Him and offering them a new life, life eternal.

So how about you, how do you see others? and what do you do to these individuals to draw them close to Jesus heart?

THE BODY OF CHRIST AND SACRED SCRIPTURE ARE MOST NECESSARY TO A FAITHFUL SOUL"

By:Thomas a Kempis

O MOST sweet Lord Jesus, how great is the happiness of the devout soul that feasts upon You at Your banquet, where there is set before her to be eaten no other food but Yourself alone, her only Lover, most desired of all that her heart can desire!

To me it would be happiness, indeed, to shed tears in Your presence from the innermost depths of love, and like the pious Magdalen to wash Your feet with them. But where now is this devotion, this copious shedding of holy tears? Certainly in Your sight, before Your holy angels, my whole heart ought to be inflamed and weep for joy. For, hidden though You are beneath another form, I have You truly present in the Sacrament.

My eyes could not bear to behold You in Your own divine brightness, nor could the whole world stand in the splendor of the glory of Your majesty. In veiling Yourself in the Sacrament, therefore, You have regard for my weakness.

In truth, I possess and adore Him Whom the angels adore in heaven -- I as yet by faith, they face to face unveiled. I must be content with the light of the true faith and walk in it until the day of eternal brightness dawns and the shadow of figures passes away. When, moreover, that which is perfect shall have come, the need of sacraments shall cease, for the blessed in heavenly glory need no healing sacrament. Rejoicing endlessly in the presence of God, beholding His glory face to face, transformed from their own brightness to the brightness of the ineffable Deity, they taste the Word of God made flesh, as He was in the beginning and will remain in eternity.

Though mindful of these wonderful things, every spiritual solace becomes wearisome to me because so long as I do not plainly see the Lord in His glory, I consider everything I hear and see on earth of little account.

You are my witness, O God, that nothing can comfort me, no creature give me rest but You, my God, Whom I desire to contemplate forever. But this is not possible while I remain in mortal life, and, therefore, I must be very patient and submit myself to You in every desire.

Even Your saints, O Lord, who now rejoice with You in the kingdom of heaven, awaited the coming of Your glory with faith and great patience while they lived. What they believed, I believe. What they hoped for, I hope for, and whither they arrived, I trust I shall come by Your grace. Meanwhile I will walk in faith, strengthened by the example of the saints. I shall have, besides, for comfort and for the guidance of my life, the holy Books, and above all these, Your most holy Body for my special haven and refuge.

I feel there are especially necessary for me in this life two things without which its miseries would be unbearable. Confined here in this prison of the body I confess I need these two, food and light. Therefore, You have given me in my weakness Your sacred Flesh to refresh my soul and body, and You have set Your word as the guiding light for my feet. Without them I could not live aright, for the word of God is the light of my soul and Your Sacrament is the Bread of Life.

These also may be called the two tables, one here, one there, in the treasure house of holy Church. One is the table of the holy altar, having the holy Bread that is the precious Body of Christ. The other is the table of divine law, containing holy doctrine that teaches all the true faith and firmly leads them within the veil, the Holy of holies.

Thanks to You, Lord Jesus, Light of eternal light, for the table of Your holy teaching which You have prepared for us by Your servants, the prophets and Apostles and other learned men.

Thanks to You, Creator and Redeemer of men, Who, to declare Your love to all the world, have prepared a great supper in which You have placed before us as food not the lamb, the type of Yourself, but Your own most precious Body and Blood, making all the faithful glad in Your sacred banquet, intoxicating them with the chalice of salvation in which are all the delights of paradise; and the holy angels feast with us but with more happiness and sweetness.

Oh, how great and honorable is the office of the priest, to whom is given the consecration of the Lord of majesty in sacred words, whose lips bless Him, whose hands hold Him, whose tongue receives Him, and whose ministry it is to bring Him to others!

Oh, how clean those hands should be, how pure the lips, how sanctified the body, how immaculate the heart of the priest to whom the Author of all purity so often comes. No word but what is holy, none but what is good and profitable ought to come from the lips of the priest who so often receives the Sacrament of Christ. Single and modest should be the eyes accustomed to looking upon the Body of Christ. Pure and lifted up to heaven the hands accustomed to handle the Creator of heaven and earth. To priests above all it is written in the law: "Be ye holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy."

Let Your grace, almighty God, assist us, that we who have undertaken the office of the priesthood may serve You worthily and devoutly in all purity and with a good conscience. And if we cannot live as innocently as we ought, grant us at least to lament duly the wrongs we have committed and in the spirit of humility and the purpose of a good will to serve You more fervently in the future.

Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus Death and Resurrection

1-Zechariah foreshadowed the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver
Zechariah 11:12-13
It's written between 520 and 518 BC
Fulfilled: About 31 AD

Zechariah 11:12-13: I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.
And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"-the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.

2-Jesus Was Betrayed By a Close Friend (Judas) & Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver
Psalm 41:9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

Psalm 55:12-14 It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

3- Religious Leaders Reject, Mock, and Ridicule Jesus
Psalm 69:4 Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.

Isaiah 49:7 The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations, to the one who is the servant of rulers: Kings will stand at attention when you pass by. Princes will also bow low because of the Lord, the faithful one, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.

Psalm 118:22 The stone that the Builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

Psalm 69:8 Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.

4-The Disciple's Desert Jesus and Peter Denies Jesus 3 Times
Psalm 69:8 Even my own Brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a Stranger.

Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs.

Isaiah 63:3 I have been treading the wine press alone; no one was there to help me. In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. Their blood has stained my clothes.

5-Jesus was spat upon and beaten
Isaiah 50:6
Written between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: About 31 AD
I offered my back to those who beat me and my Cheeks to those who pulled out my Beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.

-Jesus Was Whipped & Flogged, Face & Body Disfigured
Isaiah 52:14-15
Isaiah 53:3-10

-God's servant would die for our sins
Isaiah 53:4-6
Written between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: About 31 AD

6-Jesus was Innocent, Yet Treated like a Criminal & Crucified Between 2 Thieves
Isa 53:12 I will give Him the honors of a victorious soldier, because He exposed Himself to death. He was counted among the Rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Isaiah 53:4-6: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7-Jesus Hands and Feet Were Pierced
Psalm 22:16 My enemies surround Me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on Me. They have Pierced My Hands and Feet.

8-Jesus Hung on a Tree (Cross)
Deuteronomy 21:33, "Be sure to bury Him that same day, because anyone who is Hung on a Tree is under God's Curse. You must not desecrate that land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance."


9-Jesus would be buried in a rich man's tomb
Isaiah 53:9
Written between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: About 31 AD

Isaiah 53:9: He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.


10-Jesus' Resurrection From The Dead
Psalm 16:10 For you will not leave My soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

Isaiah 26:19 But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead!"

Psalm 68:18 "When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there.

11-Jesus Sits At Right Hand of God
Psalm 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at My right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 For a Child is Born to us, a Son is given to us. The Government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His Government and its Peace will Never End. He will Rule with Fairness and Justice from the Throne of His Ancestor David for all Eternity. The Passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Daniel 7:13-14 I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He was given Authority, Honor, and Sovereignty over all the nations of the World, so that people of every Race and Nation and Language would Obey Him. His Rule is Eternal—it will Never End. His Kingdom will never be destroyed.

"Pick Up Your Cross And Follow Me"

The phrase “Pick up your cross and follow Me” means to give up your own plans for your life and live the life God has planned for you.

Each one of us has a cross to bear and embrace with joy, peace, hope and trust in the sovereign Lord, that through His grace and His promises, we know that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that He will walk along side us in our life journey.

If we deny ourselves and follow Him fully depending on His strength and power, surrendering our own will for His will to be done, letting His glory be manifested in our lives, who than can stand against us?
No sin, no sickness, no cross, no pain, no suffering, no authority, no spiritual force, no power on earth or heaven can separate us from the Love of God, He loves us unconditionally that's mean with NO Condition.

God's love is unshakable and can always be relied upon and He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, so let GO and let GOD, let Him be in the driver seat of your life journey.

In Jeremiah 29:11 God says: for "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
And in Isaiah 54:17 He declares that: He will never let any weapon stand against us", in Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in your mother womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart"
And last in Luke 21:18 He told us that "not a hair of our head will perish."
By standing firm in our faith journey, we will gain life, life eternal.

Jesus,
Do not be afraid to deny yourself through fasting and self sacrifice. You will gain much spiritually from the taming of your bodily desires. I have told you if you have the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains. Cling to the corner of My garment my little one – come and imitate the ways of your Lord and God. Follow the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and alms giving and you will receive Heaven rewards. Renounce yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me. This is the narrow path that will lead you to life eternal. Break down the walls of self and let Me be first in your daily life. Trust in Me and the love I have for you and for all. God’s people must go through the purification of self in preparation for the coming of the Bridegroom. Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare a worthy dwelling place in the temple of your heart for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Look to John 14:23. Clean the inside of the cup not just the outside as an outward show of piety. You must be cleansed interiorly. Read again Ezekiel 36: 25-28. I shall put My spirit in you and I shall give you a new heart then you will be My people and I will be your God.

Open My Heart Lord

OPEN my heart, O Lord, to Your law and teach me to walk in the way of Your commandments. Let me understand Your will. Let me remember Your blessings -- all of them and each single one of them -- with great reverence and care so that henceforth I may return worthy thanks for them. I know that I am unable to give due thanks for even the least of Your gifts. I am unworthy of the benefits You have given me, and when I consider Your generosity my spirit faints away before its greatness. All that we have of soul and body, whatever we possess interiorly or exteriorly, by nature or by grace, are Your gifts and they proclaim Your goodness and mercy from which we have received all good things.