— Ephesians 1:18-22 —

=E2=80=94 Ephesians 1:18-22 =E2=80=94

The eyes of your heart enlightened that you may know what the hope is
of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints.  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power
towards us, who believe according to the operation of the might of his
power,  Which he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead and
setting him on his right hand in the heavenly places.  Above all
principality and power and virtue and dominion and every name that is
named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And
he hath subjected all things under his feet and hath made him head
over all the church, .[Ephesians 1:18-22] DRB
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Having been raised from the dead, Christ is now the head of the
church, the ultimate authority over the world. Jesus is the Messiah,
God=E2=80=99s anointed one, the one Israel longed for, the one who would se=
t
their broken world right. As Christians we can be confident that God
has won the final victory and is in control of everything. We need not
fear any dictator or nation or even death or Satan himself. The
contract has been signed and sealed; we are waiting just a short while
for delivery. Paul says, in Romans 8:37-39, that nothing can separate
us from God and his love.

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May 14th - St. Mary Mazzarello, Don Bosco's Lieutenant

Born in 1837, Mary Mazzarello grew up in a hard-working, God-fearing
peasant family in northern Italy. She was a normal teenager of her
times--intelligent, enterprising, hard working, fun-loving and always
in the height of local fashion.

As she grew into young adulthood, she began to sense that God was
calling her to belong totally to Himself and she responded by
consecrating herself completely to Him. She did not understand
immediately what this meant nor how it would unfold. It was a response
of unconditional love.

Mary was often impulsive but in the matter of discovering a direction
for her life she sought advice from those who knew her well and whose
judgement she trusted. Her father was a great source of homespun
wisdom and the leader of the apostolic group she had joined was a
woman of spiritual insight and intelligence. She confided, above all,
in Fr. Pestarino who had guided her for several years and who knew her
inside out. Slowly she came to distinguish the way ahead in the events
of everyday life.

She weighed up her inclinations and physical strength, took stock of
situations around her and considered what she might do to share
Christ=E2=80=99s passion for the world.

An event that had a particular bearing on her life and future mission
came in the form of illness. When assisting some sick members of her
family during the epidemic of typhoid fever that struck her village in
1860, Mary contracted the disease. After several months hovering
between life and death she recovered but no longer had the strength to
work in the fields and vineyards as she had formerly done.

What was she to do? At twenty-three she had her life before her but
lacked skills beyond those acquired in helping her father on the farm.
Together with her closest friend, Petronilla, she set about learning
dressmaking from the village tailor so as not to be a burden to her
family and with the declared aim of setting up sewing classes for the
village girls. Once their training was finished, the pair did indeed
begin their work for the good of the girls, teaching them a life skill
and encouraging them to live their Christian life joyfully.

Hers was not initially a choice for religious life, but one of a life
consecrated to God by vow while living and working in her village
environment. Associations of young women sharing the same desires and
aims as Mary were appearing in several parts of northern Italy at this
time and Mary became part of one of them, receiving support from
others to live the life she had chosen.

But God had further plans for her. She met Don Bosco and they
perceived in each other a shared passion for the good of the young.
Here was a woman who experienced his apostolic ideals for the young
and who was the perfect choice to become the founding member his new
religious congregation of the Salesian Sisters. Mary did not hesitate
but once again said her wondering but joyful =E2=80=98Yes=E2=80=99 to God=
=E2=80=94wherever
that would lead her.


Saint Quote:
"A man is not saved by having once shown mercy to someone, although,
if he scorns someone but once, he merits eternal fire. For 'hungered'
and 'thirsty' is said not of one occasion, not of one day, but of the
whole life. In the same way 'ye gave me meat', 'ye gave me drink', 'ye
clothed me', and so on, does not indicate one incident, but a constant
attitude to everyone. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that He Himself
accepts such mercy from His slaves (in the person of the needy)."
--St. Simeon

Bible Quote:
Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the
rejoicing of my heart.  (Psalm 119:111)

Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.


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Prayer to Our Lady

O Mother of Mercy, Help of Christians, most faithful minister of
Divine Providence, treasurer of all graces, remember that never in the
world has it been heard that thou hast left him without comfort who
has come to thee with true devotion. Wherefore, I, trusting in thy
tender pity and in thy most generous providence, bend low before thee,
praying that thou wouldst hear my prayer.

Obtain for me a holy provision for the future, namely, graces for all
my spiritual and temporal needs.