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Take courage, O Jerusalem, for He who named you will comfort you. ... Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of righteousness from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting. For God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For your name will for ever be called by God, "Peace of righteousness and glory of godliness."

Baruch 5:1-4, RSVCE

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“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints” (Revelation 14:12).

We all long for rest and refreshment. That’s a God-given longing that he promises to fulfill: “I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish” (Jeremiah 31:25).

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Today we celebrate Mary as the Father's beloved, as she whom the Father loved with a unique love. The Beloved Father chose her from among all other creatures to be given to us as our mother. In this way He makes us understand that His love for Mary is also for us. We discover how much the Father loves us because He gives us His treasure, His beloved to be our mother. Mary is more mother than all other mothers. She keeps nothing for herself, and the treasure of love which the Father gave her and which makes her immaculate -- no sin ever touched her soul, she came from God completely pure and she returns to God completely pure -- she offers this treasure to us. She gives us that which is most precious in her heart -- the Father's love for her. The mystery of the Immaculate is the great victory of love over the first sin and its consequences. Because Mary is Immaculate, the great victory of the Father's love is present, a victory through the mystery of the Cross, in His little Child, and through her, in us.

Fr. Philippe, OP, founder of the Community of St. John - reflection on Gospel Lk 1:26-38

(From Catholic Fire on today's feast)

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You are like the little pauper who suddenly finds out that he is the son of the King. That is why now the only thing that concerns you on this earth is the Glory of your Father God, his Glory in everything.

St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, 334

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My Prayer Life is Dry (by RCSpiritualDirection)

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Mary receives praise as a mirror receives light: She stores it not, nor even acknowledged it, but makes it pass from her to God to whom is due all praise, all honor and thanksgiving.

Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen (World’s First Love)

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St. Augustine has a famous quote that says that God is closer to me than I am to myself (cf. Confessions, III, 6, 11). From here he formulates the invitation: "Do not go outside yourself, come back into yourself: truth dwells in the heart of man" (True Religion, 39, 72). This is another aspect that we risk losing in the noisy and distracted world in which we live: the ability to stop and take a deep look within ourselves and read that thirst for the infinite that we carry within, pushing us to go further and towards that Someone who can satisfy it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "with his openness to truth and beauty, his sense of moral goodness, his freedom and the voice of his conscience, with his longings for the infinite and for happiness, man questions himself about God's existence" (n. 33).

(emphasis mine)

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The Good News of the Apocalypse? What is Father talking about? 

Based on these readings for Sunday, Nov. 18th

Some gems from this Sunday's sermon from Father Robert Barron:

"Evangelization is all about Christ, through His Church, summoning people from the four corners of the world to join this holy remnant that exists in the wake of the great cosmic struggle [of the Crucifixion and Resurrection]."

And:

"Okay, I get it... But what does all this have to do with us? It seems like so much mythology – cosmic signs, epic battles, angels and demons, the end of the world, a remnant remaining... Well, actually, if we take the time really to understand this literature, I think we'll discover it has everything to do with us and with our time. How do we get at it? Well, I'd say first, this:

"We should never sentimentalize the New Testament or the figure who stands at the center of it, as though the New Testament is simply the story of a beguiling and charming itinerant spiritual teacher who taught us deep truths about God. That's the New Age approach to the New Testament, the New Age approach to Jesus... "

Enjoy!

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Wasting Your Life (Part 1) - Archbishop Fulton Sheen (by CatholicClips)

Watch the rest here, here, and here!

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"The distinction between red martyrdom and white martyrdom is this: that one is dying for Christ so to live for Him, and the other is living for Christ so to die for Him"

So, I'm asking myself... which of these ways can I implement today? After all, what do I have to lose? 

Also, see The Recent Unpleasantness, referenced in this article. God bless! "Pray for me, as I will for thee, that we may merrily meet in heaven." - St. Thomas More

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"Abundance comes from the willing gift." The secret of the Gospel - of the Good News! If you want more joy in your life - and there's not a person reading this now who doesn't - be a bearer of joy to others. If you want more of anything - life? Give it away. Faith? Share it! Don't hesitate because you don't believe you have enough faith. Share what faith you have, and God will supply the rest - you will never run out of "flour" and the "jug of oil will not run dry." My pastor spoke at the funeral of his good friend of 20 years, and what moved him to tears as he spoke was the fact that this friend "gave and gave and gave" of himself. His life was gift - and that. is. LOVE. If you give, you are united to God, Who is unlimited Gift, Infinite LOVE. This is why Scripture repeats, over and over, "Do not be afraid!" God is gift - He will never run dry on you. If you have experienced His fidelity once, do not be afraid! His fidelity will never fail you as you approach Him again and again and again. Sometimes you won't realize this until you meet someone who is faithful to you, consistently. No matter how often you approach this person, or ask for help, or need a listening ear - he is there. Sometimes we don't understand God's love as willing gift until we experience His love through another person who is united to Him in love. That is why we are called to be saints! Once we have experienced this love we realize how much the world needs it! How many people out there are suffering because they do not know God's fidelity? How many people suffer the darkness and pain of loneliness? How many people - close to us - maybe in our own household - have never experienced the strength of knowing that they are loved, and will always be loved, and that they can rely on someone's - Someone's - willing gift of self? Listen to Father Barron and be inspired -  to read Scripture, love God, and be a saint!!

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Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait Lyric Video (by BrandedMyreProd) Happy Sunday! Heard this last night on the radio and thought of the Psalms - "My soul waits on the Lord."

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For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Jeremiah 29:11-14