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Blessed Luke Belludi - February 17 Feb 28, 2008 In 1220, St. Anthony was preaching conversion to the inhabitants of Padua when a young nobleman, Luke Belludi, came up to him and humbly asked to receive …More
Blessed Luke Belludi - February 17
Feb 28, 2008 In 1220, St. Anthony was preaching conversion to the inhabitants of Padua when a young nobleman, Luke Belludi, came up to him and humbly asked to receive the habit of the followers of St. Francis. Anthony liked the talented, well-educated Luke and personally recommended him to St. Francis, who then received him into the Franciscan Order.
Irapuato
TODAY: February 24, 2011
READINGS: Text | Audio
REFLECTION: Watch Video
www.usccb.org/video/reflections.shtmlMore
TODAY: February 24, 2011
READINGS: Text | Audio

REFLECTION: Watch Video

www.usccb.org/video/reflections.shtml
Irapuato
FEBRUARY 24, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
PRICE OF THE KINGDOM
February 24, 2011
Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Father Edward Hopkins, LC
Mark 9:41-50
Jesus said to his disciples: "Anyone who gives you a cup of water to
drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose their
reward. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these
little ones who believe …More
FEBRUARY 24, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
PRICE OF THE KINGDOM
February 24, 2011
Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Father Edward Hopkins, LC
Mark 9:41-50
Jesus said to his disciples: "Anyone who gives you a cup of water to
drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose their
reward. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these
little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great
millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the
sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for
you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,
to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut
it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two
feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to
stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of
God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,
where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. For
everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has
lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves,
and be at peace with one another."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in your presence in my
life. I believe that you consider those around me your children and
that you ardently desire to possess them with love for all eternity.
I trust that you will help me treat others as your brothers and
sisters. I love you now with my prayer. May this prayer increase my
desire to honor and serve you with my life.
Petition: Jesus, help me to set a good example for others out of
love.
1. You Are Priceless Jesus leaves us with no doubt: We are
valuable. We all carry within us a God-given dignity. And this
dignity is identified and enhanced when we bear his name. Every human
being has an intrinsic dignity because every human being is created
in God's image. But this image of God is perfectly incarnated in
Christ, God made man. So a baptized Christian—a Christ
bearer—carries a more perfect image: Christ, in whom we are
made children of God. It is little wonder, then, that Jesus assures
a reward to anyone who serves us for his sake!
2. Every Little One Is Priceless To carry his image is also a
responsibility. We must live up to this dignity and show to others a
life worthy of the image we carry within. Others may be "little" due
to their age, the newness and immaturity of their Christian life, or
even their weakness and struggle. We put a stumbling block in their
way, we scandalize them, when our behavior causes them to doubt or
become discouraged about living the ideals of faith. A "millstone"
suggests that anything would be better for us than this. How damaging
then are my bad examples given to "little ones"! Damaging for them
and for me! What can I do to avoid such scandal? On the other hand,
what a great reward awaits those who do the contrary, giving these
little ones good example! If I loved "these little ones" just half as
much as Jesus does, would it not be much easier to avoid giving bad
example?
3. Better to Lose Anything Else In today's world, the value of
something is measured in comparison to other items of the same kind:
stocks, food, clothes, even music and films are judged against each
other. Yet, there are some things that have absolute value: the value
of a soul. Nothing compares! Jesus paints this total non-comparison
in terms of cutting off whatever becomes an obstacle. You are so
valuable that you must be ready to deny, subdue, silence and even
sacrifice your own body, or any of its members, rather than risk
losing your soul. Do I value my immortal soul, my vocation to eternal
life? If so, do I show this by the self-denial I exert in
controlling what makes me (and eventually others through me) stumble?
How often do I prefer my "things" to the loved ones who depend on my
example of Christ? How radical is my faith?
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to understand a
little more just how valuable I am to you, how priceless my eternal
life is. Make me sensitive to value each and every person in my
life. I know you want me to help save them. Never allow me to become
a stumbling block for anyone. If I have, may my love and efforts of
faith be used by you now to restore what was lost.
Resolution: I will repair a past act of "scandal" (outburst of
anger, foul language, gossip or slander, dishonesty, etc.) with a
period of quality time given to the "little ones" so as to rebuild
the trust and Christ-like behavior they expect from me.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
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Irapuato
February 17 Blessed Luke Belludi(1200-c. 1285) In 1220, St. Anthony was preaching conversion to the inhabitants of Padua when a young nobleman, Luke Belludi, came up to him and humbly asked to receive the habit of the followers of St. Francis. Anthony liked the talented, well-educated Luke and personally recommended him to St. Francis, who then received him into the Franciscan Order. Luke, then only …More
February 17 Blessed Luke Belludi(1200-c. 1285) In 1220, St. Anthony was preaching conversion to the inhabitants of Padua when a young nobleman, Luke Belludi, came up to him and humbly asked to receive the habit of the followers of St. Francis. Anthony liked the talented, well-educated Luke and personally recommended him to St. Francis, who then received him into the Franciscan Order. Luke, then only 20, was to be Anthony's companion in his travels and in his preaching, tending to him in his last days and taking Anthony's place upon his death. He was appointed guardian of the Friars Minor in the city of Padua. In 1239 the city fell into the hands of its enemies. Nobles were put to death, the mayor and council were banished, the great university of Padua gradually closed and the church dedicated to St. Anthony was left unfinished. Luke himself was expelled from the city but secretly returned. At night he and the new guardian would visit the tomb of St. Anthony in the unfinished shrine to pray for his help. One night a voice came from the tomb assuring them that the city would soon be delivered from its evil tyrant. After the fulfillment of the prophetic message, Luke was elected provincial minister and furthered the completion of the great basilica in honor of Anthony, his teacher. He founded many convents of the order and had, as Anthony, the gift of miracles. Upon his death he was laid to rest in the basilica that he had helped finish and has had a continual veneration up to the present time. Comment: The epistles refer several times to a man named Luke as Paul’s trusted companion on his missionary journeys. Perhaps every great preacher needs a Luke; Anthony surely did. Luke Belludi not only accompanied Anthony on his travels, he also cared for the great saint in his final illness and carried on Anthony’s mission after the saint’s death. Yes, every preacher needs a Luke, someone to offer support and reassurance—including those who minister to us. We don’t even have to change our names! www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx