DAILY- HOMILY

November 5, 2015 THURSDAY 

ALL SAINTS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS

Feast, White 

Dt 30:10 – 14 / Jn 12:23 - 26 

Reading: Dt 30:10 – 14

     For you shall turn to Yahweh, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and observe his commandments and norms, in a word, everything written in this book of the Law.

     These commandments that I give you today are neither too high nor too far for you. They are not in heaven that you should say: "Who will go up to heaven to get these commandments that we may hear them and put them into practice." Neither are they at the other side of the sea for you to say: "Who will cross to the other side and bring them to us, that we may hear them and put them into practice."

     On the contrary, my word is very near you; it is already in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can put it into practice.

Gospel: Jn 12:23  - 26 

     Then Jesus said, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

     Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world keep it for everlasting life.

     Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me and wherever I am, there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Reflection:

     Today the Society of Jesus celebrates a feast to honor all Jesuits in glory in heaven: saints, blessed and all other Jesuits in heaven. 

     St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society, his close friend and companion St. Francis Xavier, and recently canonized St. Peter Faber were among the initial seven friends at the University of Paris, who took vows at Montmartre on the Feast of Our Lady's Assumption, 15 August 1534, and who were among the ten founding companions of the Society of Jesus in 1540.

     Jesuit saints include its third Superior-General, St. Francis Borgia, two doctors of the Church, Sts. Robert Bellarmine and Peter Canisius, St. Joseph Pignatelli, a key figure in the restoration of the Society of Jesus in 1814, and many priests, preachers, missionaries. There are many Jesuit saints and blessed who have died for their Catholic faith.   

     Non-priests include Sts. Aloysius Gonzaga, John Berchmans and novice Stanislaus Kostka. St. Alphonsus Rodriguez was a Jesuit lay brother in the humble task of porter all his life as a Jesuit.

     The Gospel reading from John speaks of a grain of wheat needing to die to produce fruit: similarly those who are willing to give up their lives and themselves for love of God and the service of others save themselves for eternal life and also help and save others.  

     The saints, blessed and all Jesuits in glory in heaven have lived in an extraordinary and outstanding manner what the Jesuits were founded for:  "Whoever would enlist in the cause of God beneath the standard of the cross, to serve the Lord alone and his bride the Church under the Roman Pontiff, the Vicar of Christ on earth, and wishes to do this in our Society, which we want to be distinguished by the name of Jesus, will make a solemn vow of perpetual chastity, poverty and obedience." [Formula of the Institute, confirmed by Pope Julius III, 21 July 1550]

     We join the Society of Jesus in praying with their brothers and companions in heaven: "Lord God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to your service though you know how weak we are. Help us to be good soldiers of Christ under the banner of his cross. Bring to perfection the work you have begun in St. Ignatius and so many of his followers, now acclaimed as saints and blessed."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     ANTON & CATHERINE J. SEVILLA

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     CO KING TING CHUA (JUN 15, 1929 – NOV 5, 1996)

     BENITO S. CUA (NOV 5, 1935 – MAR 4, 2003)

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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