The name “Monica” means “advisor” or “counselor”. May St. Monica intercede for us with the advice and counsel with which she led her pagan husband and his mother to become Catholic. When her son, Augustine, fell into Manichaeism, her prayers helped him become not only a Catholic, but also a great Catholic priest, Bishop, counselor, and author of The Confessions of St. Augustine, one of History’s most widely read books.
We may ask St. Monica to help us better love The Only Church eternally echoing from This Word of He Who Fulfilled the Prophecies: “And I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 begins Today’s Reading because St. Monica, like St. Paul, was “working day and night in order not to burden any of you, . . exorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of The God Who calls you into His Kingdom and glory.”
Today’s Psalm 119:7-12 reflects what we hope God finds in us at our Judgment: “You have searched me and you know me, Lord,. . from Your Presence, where can I flee? . . If I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, Your hand shall guide me. . “
Today’s “Alleluia” is Biblical Proof that St. Monica is among the Blessed Catholics described in 1 John 2:5, “Whoever keeps the Word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”
Today’s Gospel, Mt. 23:27-32, shows the opposite of St. Monica, those who knowingly choose not to be among those who “keep The Word of Christ”:
“Jesus said, ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.”
Then, Jesus described the fate of those who would try to destroy Him and His Church: “Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
What will those who reject God and His Holy Saints “fill up”? Can it be anything but the pits of hell?
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “May every Catholic man and wife / Ask God to bless each child’s life.”
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