Message of 8-15-11

Published: Mon, 08/15/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth

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Message of the Day

- Catholic Church: Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Tell me how Mary became the mother of Christ, if it was not by giving birth to the members of Christ? You, to whom I am speaking, are the members of Christ. Now you in your turn must draw to the font of baptism as many as you possibly can. You became children of God when you were born there yourselves, and now by bringing others to birth in the same way, you have it in your power to become the mothers of Christ.
   - St. Augustine, Sermo 25: 7-8

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Lectionary Readings of the Day
   http://new.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month

Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab;    Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16;    1 Cor 15:20-27;    Lk 1:39-56

R. (10bc) The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.

Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father's house.

So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord.

They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.

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Reflection on the Gospel
  - from Daily Bread
   http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

Mary offers a beautiful example of unwavering faith -- not blind faith, but a confident proclamation to rely on God no matter how outrageous God's plan might initially seem. Despite her confusion, Mary trusted God's vision for her life. When we're uncertain, afraid or overwhelmed, we can take comfort that the Lord fulfills his promises and has great plans for us. We also have the consolation that Mary, our Mother and Protectress, teaches and guides us. She is blessed, and so are we.

Mary, our Mother, hold us in your tender care, we pray.

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Spiritual Reading

The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
   by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)

If we wish to progress rightly in the four aforesaid degrees of the inward exercise which adorn a man's bodily powers and the lower part of his nature, we should mark Christ, Who taught us these four ways and has gone before us therein. Christ, the bright Sun, rose in the heavens of the most high Trinity, and in the dawn of His glorious mother, the Virgin Mary; who was, and is, the dawn and daybreak of all those graces in which we shall rejoice eternally.

Now mark this: Christ had, and still has, the first degree; for he was one and in oneness. In Him were, and are, gathered and united all the virtues that ever were, and ever shall be, practised; moreover all the creatures who ever practised, and ever shall practise, these virtues. Thus He was the Father's Only Begotten Son, and was united with human nature. And He was inward; for He brought to earth the fire that inflamed all the saints and all good men. And He yielded a sensible love and loyalty to His Father, and to all those who shall enjoy Him in eternity. And His devotion and His loving and aspiring heart burned and groaned before His Father because of the miseries of all men. His whole life, and all His works, from without and from within, and all His words, were thanksgiving and praise, and glorifying of His Father. This is the first degree.

- Chapter 33: Showing how these four degrees of perfection are found in Christ.

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