The Catholic Calendar for Friday, August 27, 2004
Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
St. Monica

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,10-11
Matthew 25:1-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today is the feast of St. Monica, the most persistent of mothers, hounding God incessantly with tearful prayers for her brilliant but wayward son, Augustine. Finally, (was it in weary resignation?) God spoke to him through the high-pitched voice of a little child "Tolle et lege (take and read)", and Augustine, looking around to catch sight of the speaker, obediently picked up St. Jerome's translation of Holy Scripture--and read--and was converted. Tomorrow, we celebrate the life of this great saint.

How many rivers of tears have flowed from the eyes of loving mothers through the centuries? Tears are never wasted--for only God's own Mother knows the mercy that brings erring souls to salvation, perhaps at the very moment their souls leave their bodies---because of saintly mothers who prayed for their children for countless years, and are now long dead themselves? God always listens and is moved, because His love is so like a mother's love.

Praise to the Divine Mercy that wrought our salvation!
To it be honor and glory forever!

- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:27 AM