Today, October 23
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
John was born at Capistrano in the Kingdom of Naples in 1386, the son of a German knight living in Italy. Trained as a lawyer at the University of Perugia, John became governor of that city in 1412.
When Perugia became involved in a conflict, John was imprisoned, during which time he resolved to change his life. At age 30 he joined the Friars Minor and was ordained. For the next 30 years he preached missions in the whole of Italy, drawing large and enthusiastic crowds. Meanwhile, he assisted Bernardine of Siena in re-uniting the divided Franciscans.
John was frequently sent on papal diplomatic missions. While his preaching revived the faith of many, some of his methods in dealing with heretics were extremely harsh. In 1453 he was called to Hungary to preach a crusade against the Turks who threatened to take Vienna and Rome. At the age of 70, carrying a cross rather than a sword, John personally led a wing of the Christian army in the Battle of Belgrade. The victory of 1456 prevented the Turks from overrunning Europe. A few months later John died of the plague. He is a patron of military chaplains.
©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
Letter to the Ephesians 4,1-6.
Brothers and sisters : I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Psalms 24(23),1-2.3-4ab.5-6.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12,54-59.
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot--and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
Daily Reflection
How is it that although continually warned that everything that happens in the world is but a shadow, a figure, a mystery of faith, we look at the outside only and do not perceive the enigma they contain? We fall into this trap like men without sense instead of raising our eyes to the principle, source and origin of all things, in which they all have their right name and just proportions, in which everything is supernatural, divine, and sanctifying; in which all is part of the plenitude of Jesus Christ, and each circumstance is as a stone towards the construction of the heavenly Jerusalem, and all helps to build a dwelling for us in that marvellous city. Faith is the light of times. By faith the veil is torn aside to reveal the eternal truth. When a soul has received this understanding of faith, God speaks to it through all creatures; the universe is, for that soul, a living scripture that the finger of God ceaselessly traces before its eyes. The history of every passing moment is a sacred history; the Holy Books dictated by the Spirit of God are, to it, merely the beginning of divine instruction. All that happens—and is not written down—is, for it, the continuation of the Scripture. What is written is the commentary on what is not. Faith judges the one by the other.