Mystery of the day: Sorrowful
Saint of the day
St. Joseph of Leonissa
Joseph was born on January 8, 1556 at Leonissa in Italy. His birth name was Eufranio Desiderio and he became a Capuchin at the age of 16 years. He made his novitiate at the Friary of the Carcerelle near Assisi. He was ordained a priest on May 21, 1581. In 1587 he was sent to Constantinople by the Minister General of his Order to do missionary work there. In Constantinople, he was appointed as the chaplain for about 4000 Christian slaves who worked in the penal colony of Qaasim-pacha. He used to walk through the streets by ringing a bell to remind the parents of children to send their children to catechism classes. In the course of his missionary work one day he went to the palace of Sultan Murad-III to preach the Gospel before him. But he was seized by the guards and condemned to death by the Sultan. He was hung on the gallows for three days, held up by two hooks driven through his right hand and foot. But on the evening of the third day, the guards cut him down at near death position only, due to the miraculous intercession of an angel and escaped from death. He then returned to Italy and took up the work of Home Missions in his native province. He preached to poor people and gave them food also. He lived a saintly life. He died in Amatrice on February 4, 1612.
St. Joseph was beatified by pope Clement-XII in the year 1737 and canonized by pope Benedict-XIV in the year 1746.
Reflection for the day
Theme: Beware of Herodian's promise
"Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." (Mark 6:22-23)
Most often we are being carried away with situation, either in pains or joy. This plague our sense of reasoning.Thus, pushing us to do what will bring regret at the end. We promise to delight the minds of others, even though we know within us that we won't fulfil it, we say what we don't mean, we use "honey coated lips" just to gather people around us.
In the light of this ill-way of life that we invite you to reflect with is, taking cognizance of the Herodian's promise as Evangelist Mark reported in the gospel pericope of today.
"Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." (Mark 6:22-23)
From the excerpt above, we have seen how King Herod was carried away with amusement of life, he could not had control of his will and wish. He was carried away by mere relationship of friends and leading men and suddenly forgot himself in the midst of the sea.
On another note, the request of the little girl as directed by the mother would have still been turned down, only if he wish to; but he was afraid to loose his relationship with these leading men in the society.
On our own path, at times we tend to please others in detriment of our relationship with God, to satisfy the immediate hunger, and and go empty stomach afterwards, we sale our hard earned dignity on the plater of cheap popularity by pursuing empty glory and honour. How long will we continue like this?
The caveat now is: watch what you think, say and do. Let every promise or pledge made be moderated by reason and right judgment and not by who is to be offended or not.
Peace, be with you
Let is pray
Almighty God, we are grateful to You for the gift of reason and right judgement. In our day-to-day living grant us we pray the grace to be able to seive the corn out from the chaff; so that our lives may be a sweet smelling fragrance before You. We ask this through Cbrist our Lord. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 04022022
Amen, more grace fr.
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