— John 14:19-21 —
Weedy
"Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.
Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that
I am
in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my
commands
and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be
loved by
my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
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Sometimes people wish they knew the future so they could prepare for
it. God
has chosen not to give us that knowledge. He alone knows what will
happen,
but he tells us all we need to know to prepare for the future. When we
live
by his standards, he will come to us, he will be in us, and he will
show
himself to us. God knows what will happen, and because he will be with
us
through it all, we need not fear. We don't have to know the future to
have
faith in God; we have to have faith in God to be secure about the
future.
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December 23rd - St. John of Kanty
St. John Kanty receives his name from his birthplace, Kant, near
Oswiecim in
Poland. His parents were country folk of respectable position and,
seeing
that their son was as quick and intelligent as he was good, they sent
him in
due course to the University of Cracow.
After his ordination, John was appointed to a Iectureship or chair at
the
University. He was known to lead a very strict life, and when he was
warned
to look after his health he replied by pointing out that the fathers
of the
desert were notably long-lived.
There is a story told that once when he was dining, a famished looking
beggar passed the door. John jumped up and carried out all his food to
the
man; when he returned to his seat he found his plate again full -
miraculously. This, it is said, was long commemorated in the
university by
setting aside a special meal for a poor man every day; when dinner was
ready
the vice-president would cry out in Latin, "A poor man is coming, to
which
the president replied "Jesus Christ is corning," and the man was then
served. But while he was yet alive John's success as a preacher and
teacher
raised up envy against him, and his rivals managed to get him removed
and
sent as a parish priest to Olkusz. John turned to his new work with
single
hearted energy, but his parishioners did not like him and he himself
was
afraid of the responsibilities of the position. Nevertheless he
persevered
for some years, and by the time h'e was recalled to Cracow had so far
won
his people's hearts that they accompanied him on part of the road with
such
grief that he said to them: "This sadness does not please God. If I
have
done any good for you in all these years, sing a song of joy."
St. John's second appointment at the University was as professor of
Sacred
Scripture, and he held it to the end of his life. He left such a
reputation
that his doctoral gown was for long used to invest each candidate at
the
conferring of degrees, but his fame was not all confined to academic
circles. He was a welcome guest at the table of the nobility (once his
shabby cassock caused the servants to refuse him admission, so he went
away
and changed it. During the meal a dish was upset over the new one. "No
matter," be said, "my clothes deserve some dinner because to them I
owe the
pleasure of being here at all."), and he was known to all the poor in
Cracow. His goods and money were always at their disposal, and time
and
again they literally "cleared him out." But his own needs were few; he
slept
on the floor, never ate meat, and when he went to Rome he walked all
the way
and carried his luggage on his back. He was never weary of telling his
pupils to "fight all false opinions, but let your weapons be patience,
sweetness and love. Roughness is bad for your own soul and spoils the
best
cause." Several miracles were reported of St. John, and when news got
round
the city that he was dying there was an outburst of sorrow. "Never
mind
about this prison which is decaying" he said to those who were looking
after
him, "but think of the soul that is going to leave it." He died on
Christmas
Eve 1473, at the age of eighty three. St. John Kanty was canonized in
1767.
Saint Quote:
I have not done any mighty or heroic deeds. I am just an ordinary
person like those at Ephesus whom Paul greets "to the saints who are
faithful." that's what Jesus said, "only believe" "have faith" be
faithful.
-St William of Winchester.
Bible Quote:
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of
his
correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father
the son
in whom he delighteth. (Proverbs 3:11-12)
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HAPPINESS IS JESUS THE LORD
I wake up in the morning to face another day,
A day filled first with gladness,
For I have learned to pray.
I lift my eyes to Heaven, and ask what I can do to
Face another working day
Along the path to You?
Temptations are beside me, for me to cast aside;
For there has been a promise
To be Your loving bride.
I open wide the door, steadfastly on my way,
to give and take the worst and best
With every passing day.
My mission fills my heart,
There is no room for fear,
I'll always tell the story
Of when you came so near.
They'll never quite believe me,
Though what I say is true
That all these visions that I saw,
Were gifts that came from You!
St. Teresa
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Divine precepts we must live by:
The Eleven Moral Virtues
Prudence - Justice - Fortitude - Temperance - Filial Piety -Obedience
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Veracity - Liberality - Patience - Humility - Chastity or Purity
The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy
Admonish the sinner - Instruct the ignorant - Counsel the doubtful -
Comfort the sorrowful - Bear wrongs patiently - Forgive all injuries
-
Pray for the living and the dead
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry - Give drink to the thirsty - Clothe the naked -
Visit the imprisoned - Shelter the homeless -
Visit the sick - Bury the dead