St. Matthew Apostle Catholic Church

The Pope's Universal Intention for the month of December is "That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over."

As we approach October, the month of th Rosary: "Love Our Lady and make her loved; always recite the Rosary and recite it as often as possible." St. Padre Pio

"The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart." St. Philip Neri

"It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes." St. Thomas Aquinas

In honor of Mother Teresa's canonization this weekend, we'll get our quote from her today: "If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive." Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Soon to be St. Teresa!!)

A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read, "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt." His son asked, "What happened to the flea?"

"Even when God's will does not correspond to your own desires, it is always beneficial for you." St. Arnold Janssen

Happy Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven! Here is a painting by Peter Paul Rubens circa 1626.

The esteem in which the Church holds Lawrence is seen in the fact that today’s celebration ranks as a feast. We know very little about his life. He is one of those whose martyrdom made a deep and lasting impression on the early Church. Celebration of his feast day spread rapidly. He was a Roman deacon under Pope St. Sixtus II. Four days after this pope was put to death, Lawrence and four clerics suffered martyrdom, probably during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian. A... well-known legend has persisted from earliest times. As deacon in Rome, Lawrence was charged with the responsibility for the material goods of the Church, and the distribution of alms to the poor. When Lawrence knew he would be arrested like the pope, he sought out the poor, widows and orphans of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand. When the prefect of Rome heard of this, he imagined that the Christians must have considerable treasure. He sent for Lawrence and said, You Christians say we are cruel to you, but that is not what I have in mind. I am told that your priests offer in gold, that the sacred blood is received in silver cups, that you have golden candlesticks at your evening services. Now, your doctrine says you must render to Caesar what is his. Bring these treasuresthe emperor needs them to maintain his forces. God does not cause money to be counted: He brought none of it into the world with himonly words. Give me the money, therefore, and be rich in words. Lawrence replied that the Church was indeed rich. I will show you a valuable part. But give me time to set everything in order and make an inventory. After three days he gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, These are the treasure of the Church. The prefect was so angry he told Lawrence that he would indeed have his wish to diebut it would be by inches. He had a great gridiron prepared, with coals beneath it, and had Lawrence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had suffered the pain for a long time, the legend concludes, he made his famous cheerful remark, It is well done. Turn me over!

Another one from inheritthemirth.com:

"The deeds you do may be the only sermon some people will hear today." St. Francis of Assisi

Here is the Pope's Intention for Evangelization for the month of August: "That Christians may live the Gospel, giving witness to faith, honesty, and love of neighbor."