Vatican City Seek

- 1 Peter 4:9-11 -     Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. ________________________________________________________________ God does not need the help of any man or woman to accomplish his purposes. However, he has chosen to spread the gospel by means of his children. As one person tells another the good news of Jesus Christ, the story of love and hope spreads around the globe. We can offer God many reasons for not serving him - such as weakness, inadequacy and fear. But no excuse changes the mandate of _script_ure. We are the Lord's feet, hands and voice on earth. We go where he wills, help those in need, and tell all about the love of Jesus. <<<<< July 17th - St. Marcellina of Rome V (RM) Born in Rome, Italy; died c. 398. Saint Marcellina was the elder sister of Saint Ambrose of Milan and Saint Satyrus. Their mother moved the family back to Rome after the death of their father, who was the prefect of Gaul. Once there Marcellina was entrusted by her pious mother with the education of her brothers, whom she inspired by word and example to thirst for Christian virtue. She received the veil of a consecrated virgin from the hands of Pope Liberius on Christmas Day, 353, in Saint Peter's Basilica. During his homily on that occasion he exhorted her to the evangelical virtues and to behave in church with the utmost respect. He reminded those present of the page of Alexander the Great, who, for fear of disturbing the solemnity of a pagan sacrifice by shaking off a piece of burning wax that had fallen on his hand, let it burn him to the bone. For the rest of her life, she lived in a private home, first with her mother and after her mother's death with another virgin. Although Marcellina practiced great austerity, she outlived both her brothers. She fasted daily until evening when she would partake only of simple fare and water. Sometimes she went for days without eating anything. Marcellina spent most of the day and night in prayer, pious reading, and tears of divine love and compunction. She slept only when it overcame her body. In her later years, Saint Ambrose, who mentions Marcellina in De virgine (c. 1-4) and two of his epistles (20 and 22), advised her to moderate her austerities, but redouble her fervor in tears and holy prayer. He recommended especially that she often recite the Psalms, Lord's Prayer, and Creed, which he calls the seal of a Christian and the guard of our hearts. She survived Ambrose but after her death Marcellina's body was enshrined at Milan (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth). Saint Quote: I am already 62 and sacrifice all my goods and residence, but I will not deny my faith in any way because I want to save my soul. Do not even come to me. -Blessed Pavol Gojdic to the Communists of Czecho-Slovakia Bible Quote:  A new commandment I give you: that you love one another as I have loved you. St. John 13:34 <<<< Psalm 125 Gladness and hope in the Lord When the Lord gave Sion back her captives, we became like dreamers. Our mouths were filled with gladness and our voices cried in exultation. Among the Gentiles they were saying,   By his deeds the Lord has shown himself great . The Lord's deeds showed forth his greatness,  and filled us with rejoicing. Give us back our captives, O Lord,  as you renew the dry streams in the desolate South. Those who sow in tears will rejoice at the harvest. They wept as they went, went with seed for the sowing; but with joy they will come, come bearing the sheaves. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.