Saturday, June 30, 2018

John, Chapter 19, verse 38

³⁸After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body.

Where is Jesus’ body? If Christ did not resurrect where are the remains of his body? We have the nails, we have the shroud, we have the wood of the cross, and the crown of thorns, but we do not have His body. Why, because he has resurrected and in due time so will we.

Faith is the answer to fear. Deep down we are all afraid: of suffering, or of dying, or of God’s judgment, or of the unknown, or of weakness, or of our live’ slipping out of control, or of not being understood and loved. We sin because we fear. We bully because we are cowards.[1]

“Faith casts our fear, as light casts out darkness. God has shone his light into our world, and it is stronger than darkness. (John 1:50)

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome[2]

This memorial is in honor of the nameless followers of Christ brutally killed by the mad Emperor Nero as scapegoats for the fire in Rome. The pagan historian Tacitus and St. Clement of Rome tell of a night of horror (August 15, 64 A.D.) when in the imperial parks Christians were put into animal skins and hunted, were brutally attacked, and were made into living torches to light the road for Nero's chariot. From 64 to 314 "Christian" was synonymous with "execution victim."

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has called each of us to be a witness of charity. He encourages us to "open our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity and let us recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help!" (Misericordiae Vultus [MV], no. 15). The Peter's Pence Collection unites us in solidarity to the Holy See and its works of charity to those in need. Your generosity allows the Pope to respond to our suffering brothers and sisters.

Peter’s Pence[3]

The purpose of the Peter's Pence Collection is to provide the Holy Father with the financial means to respond to those who are suffering as a result of war, oppression, natural disaster, and disease.

The Peter's Pence Collection has raised nearly $190 million to support our suffering brothers and sisters around the globe. Thank you for standing in solidarity with the Holy See through your generosity. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in faith who are facing adversity.

The national collection date for the Peter's Pence Collection is the weekend of July 1-2, 2017. Your diocese may take up the collection at a different time. Check with your diocese or call the USCCB Office of National Collections at 202-541-3346.

History

The Peter's Pence Collection derives its name from an ancient custom. In ninth-century England. King Alfred the Great collected money, a "pence," from landowners as financial support for the Pope. Today, the Peter's Pence Collection supports the Pope's philanthropy by giving the Holy Father the means to provide emergency assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war, oppression, and disease.

Please give generously to the Peter's Pence Collection.

To donate online, please visit www.peterspence.va. . .

Or send your donation by mail to:

Peter's Pence Collection
The Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

The Way[4]

"Read these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in the end you will be a more worthy soul."

6. Turn your back on the tempter when he whispers in your ear: 'Why make life difficult for yourself?'

Daily Devotions

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Please pray for me and this ministry

· daily “examination of conscience”

· Please Pray for Senator McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to intercede.

· Pray the Divine Mercy Novena-Day 6

· Pray for the President and our Bishops

[1] Peter Kreeft, Knight of Columbus, Luke E. Hart Series, Part I Faith.

[2]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-06-30

[3]http://www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/peters-pence/index.cfm