July 20-July 25, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

I’m going on retreat and will be away from my computer for the next several days, so I thought post Blessed Alberione’s thoughts for those days ahead of time (earliest date on the bottom). Please pray for me, that I have a good retreat. If you have any prayer requests you would like me to carry with me, please feel free to contact me.

Monday, July 25
FEAST OF ST JAMES, APOSTLE
2 Cor 4: 7-15
Mt 20: 20-28

Humility teaches us to be diffident of ourselves, to ask for advice, to take the view of others into consideration (ATP 283).

It is not easy to be truly humble. There is always a tendency either to lack a reasonable self-confidence or to be so sure that we need no one’s advice. How do you think YOU are on this point.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Anna Maria Scifo FSP (1989)—Marta Mendoza HFI (1995)—Ines Parenzan HFI (1998)—Giuseppe Valenza HFI (2000)—Rosina Di Malta HFI (2006)—Sr. Alfonsa Marsico FSP (2007)—Sr. M. Urbana Pollini FSP (2007)

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Sunday, July 24
XVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12
Rm 8:28-30
Mt 13: 44-52

To make consecrated life worthwhile we need faith to see Christ in other members and self-denial, to esteem them and overlook their faults (VMC 548).

The Founder is talking of religious community life, but even among ourselves we need similar virtues as is evident from the different and strongly-expressed viewpoints on one of the websites.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Letizia Rigoni FSP (1939)—Fr. Nicola Rocco IJP (1993)—Sr. M. Maggiorina Bortoleto PD (1995)—Sr. Augsta Bertazzon FSP (1997)—Sr. M. Assunta Usai FSP (2002)—M. Elena Serrano HFI (2002)—Sr. M. Redenta Zaccagnino FSP (2007)—Calista Jone (1999)

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Saturday, July 23
BRIDGET OF SWEDEN, Religious
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
Ex. 24: 3-8
Mt 13: 24-30

What sort of glasses do you wear? Green lens… envy. Black lens when you are unreasonably suspicious. Red lens when you get mad. What about getting a regular pair and beginning to see things as they really are? (VMC 543).

Or perhaps you need t have your cataracts treated? “I see,” is a very common phrase, but it usually means what the speaker wants it to mean. Non so blind…as those who don’t want to see. See?

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Silvio Restelli SSP (1945)—Sr. M. Grazia Filippi FSP (1996)—Giovanni Iorio HFI (2002)—Sr. Stefanina Cillario FSP (2006)—Bro Domenico Molino (2007)—Chas Drouhard (1965)

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Friday, July 22
ST. MARY MAGDALENE
2 Cor. 5: 14-17
Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18

You are all golden threads and when you are united you make a gread cord which unites you to one another and unites you to God (VMC 541).

This is the third quote on much the same lines. It is probably not needed—we have just noted that there is great unity among us. Which means—taking the quote at face value—that we are united to God if we are united to each other.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Elisabetta Ranchi SGBP (1961)—Sr. M. Giuseppina Muddolon FSP (1981)—Bro Pietro Gazzano SSP (1998)—Giovanni Marongiu HFI (2004)—Fr. Aristide Marson SSP (2007)—Sr. M. Eugenia Cecchinato (2010).

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Thursday, July 21
OF THE DAY
St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest, doctor
Ex 19: 1-2, 9-11, 16-20
Mt 13: 10-17

What does “common life” mean? It means unity in thought, in activity, in being concerned and in terms of our goals. All of us must contribute to our principle goal—personal holiness—and to our secondary goal, our apostolate (VMC 540).

The reference here is broader than the old concept of “common life”—following the schedule (which was often accompanied by internal rebellion!). It indicates a powerful common conviction and all the good that can come from it.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Vincenzo Ferraro SSP (1960)—Manuel Martinez Garcia HFI (1986)—Sr. Addolorata BAldi FSP (1999)—Angelo Leandri HFI (2004)—Bro Antonio Donato SSP (2010).

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Wednesday, July 20
OF THE DAY
St. Apollinaris, Bishop, martyr
Ex 16: 1-5, 9-15
Mt 13: 1-9

We have to communicate Jesus Christ, Way, Truth and Life, by trying to uplift those we contact in their minds,, their feelings and their wills – theology, morality, worship. (UPS 376)

Certainly a real challenge, but when it is broken down into these sections, we can at least do something: Pauline way of praying, the need for good marriages, constant attendance at Mass.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Bro. Eugenio Banuelos SSP (1995)—Sr. M. Lourdes Vilches Rios FSP (1999)—Fr. Emilio Stefanoni SSP (2009)—Sr. Paola M. Uchino FSP (2010)