Jesus I Trust in You

All that the Church says and does shows the mercy that God feels for man. When the Church has to remind about a neglected truth, or a betrayed good, it does it always motivated by a merciful love, so that men may have life and have it in abundance (cf. John 10:10). From divine mercy, which puts hearts at peace, also arises the authentic peace of the world, peace among peoples, cultures and religions.

Pope Benedict XVI

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Titian - Resurrection - 1544

Scourging at the Pillar

JPII

O Holy Trinity,
we thank you for having given to the Church
Pope John Paul II,
and for having made him shine with your fatherly tenderness,
the glory of the Cross of Christ and the splendor of the Spirit of love

He, trusting completely in your infinite mercy
and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself
in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd
and has pointed out to us holiness
as the path to reach eternal communion with You.

Grant us, through his intercession,
according to your will, the grace that we implore,
in the hope that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/intercessionJP2.htm#ixzz1qtMTMp5q

Pick Up Your Cross

Albrecht Durer, Christ Bearing the Cross, 1498

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household.  He who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 10:34-39

Annunciation

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,

and the world came to be through him,

but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own,

but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father’s only Son,

full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-14

Psalm 36

Sin directs the heart of the wicked man;

his eyes are closed to the fear of God.

For he lives with the delusion:

his guilt will not be known and hated.

Empty and false are the words of his mouth;

he has ceased to be wise and do good.

On his bed he hatches plots;

he sets out on a wicked way;

he does not reject evil.

Psalm 36:2-5


 UPDATE
Part II

LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven;

your fidelity, to the clouds.

Your justice is like the highest mountains;

your judgments, like the mighty deep;

human being and beast you sustain, LORD.

How precious is your mercy, O God!

The children of Adam take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the rich food of your house;

from your delightful stream you give them drink.

For with you is the fountain of life,

and in your light we see light.

Psalm 36:6-10