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In a very special way, we pray for HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS as he visits countries here in Asia and Oceania starting today September 3 up to the 13th. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Watch our Dominus Est Live coverage daily at 730 pm!

St. Gregory the Great, pray for us!
September 3

***
“They are not Angles, but angels. They are rightly named, for their faces are angelic; and such should be the co-heirs of the angels in heaven.” These famous words from Pope St. Gregory the Great around 590 A.D., at the beginning of his papacy, were in response to hearing about the origins of some boys from Britain who had been captured and sent to Rome to be sold as slaves. He learned then that the island of Britain had not heard the Good News of the Gospel, and he vowed to change that.

From that point on, Pope Gregory was focused on re-igniting the Church’s mission of evangelizing non-Christian people in northern Europe. The most famous mission he authorized involved a fellow Benedictine monk, St. Augustine of Canterbury, in 597 to Britain, known as the Gregorian Mission.

Although Pope St. Gregory was born into a wealthy family in 540 and his education was of the highest quality, Gregory was drawn to the monastic life early on. When his father died, he converted his family’s villa to a monastery. The monastery and its church, San Gregorio Magno al Celio, are still active in Rome today, with the monastery belonging to a branch of Benedictine monks.

Gregory did not wish to be pope, but when his predecessor died, he reluctantly accepted the honor. As pontiff, he missed the austerity and discipline, but also the beauty and prayer life of the monastery which he had grown to cherish.

In addition to sending out people to evangelize during his papacy, St. Gregory was known for his concern for and almsgiving to the poor. When Rome experienced a famine in the 590s, the vast expanse of papal landholdings, which were traditionally used to generate income, were instead shipped to Rome and distributed for free to those who needed food. It is said that the papal treasury was nearly empty when he died because he gave so much away to the poor.

Pope St. Gregory the Great also is considered a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, and some Lutheran churches.

https://faithmag.com/pope-st-gregory-great-sept-3

From September 1 (World Day of Prayer for Creation) to October 4 (Feast of St. Francis) each year, the Christian community celebrates the Season of Creation by praying and acting together to protect our common home.

" For I have come not to do My own will,but to do the will of Him who sent Me." John 6:38

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"Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of life, open your heart to those who love you, and always be true to yourself." (Maya Angelou)

Today, look for a small sign, a small miracle, a small thing of beauty that will connect you to the source of all beauty and miracles.

Open your heart and explore the beauty of all that you are. Stay true to yourself and nurture your innate goodness as you not only protect your own well-being but also inspire others to live with more love and integrity.

Much love, great peace, and many blessings for this day. ❤☀

Gospel of the Day (Matthew 25,1-13)

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day/2024/08/30.html

Prayer on the Passion of St. John the Baptist
August 29

***
Shortly after he had baptized Jesus on the banks of the Jordan, John the Baptist had denounced Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, to his face.

For thirty years the dissolute ruler had indulged himself and his every whim, while holding court in his palace overlooking the Dead Sea. His latest crime: Herod had divorced his own wife and married Herodias, the wife of his elder brother Philip.
Tolerated by his Roman overlords and useful to them for their own purposes, the licentiousness and excess of the revelries he held were notorious and scandalous, and yet none dared to confront him for fear of the cruelty that lurked just below the surface of his unpredictable character. None dared to speak out. None, that is, until this John, known as the Baptist, and believed by many to be a prophet – if not indeed the Messiah.

In the same direct and fearless manner in which he censured the Jewish nation for the moral decadence into which it had fallen, and called sinners to repentance, John the Baptist spelled out clearly to Herod the evil he had done: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

For proclaiming the truth, John was imprisoned. And yet Herod dared not take any further action against him. As is common with his kind, he was superstitious, and he knew him to be a “righteous man.” Moreover, John had for him an irresistible fascination. Who was this man? Herod’s anger gave way to curiosity. During the next four months, Herod’s visits to his prisoner began to have a strange affect on this master of revels. An irresistible awe gradually took possession of him, to be replaced by fear, which in turn gave place to respect. This did not go unnoticed by his courtiers, foremost among them, Herodias, and she bided her time, watchful for any opportunity that might be used, but impatient for John’s destruction.
A favorable occasion soon presented itself in the form of Herod’s birthday for which an elaborate banquet and lavish entertainment was to be laid on. His marriage to his brother’s wife and his arrest of John the Baptist had not been well received, though none but John dared to voice any open criticism. Thus, both Herod and Herodias took care that the celebrating and feasting should be more brilliant than usual, a luxurious affair that would purchase him the favor of his flatterers once again.
Influential and powerful officials, chiefs and magnates, from near and far, gathered at the palace – their differences dissolved round Herod’s loaded table. At a certain moment, well calculated for its affect, the succession of entertainers is replaced by a single dancer: Herodias's daughter, Salome. Her performance so pleased Herod that, caught up by the adulation of the crowd, he promised her whatever she should ask for, even if it be half of his kingdom. Thus was the elaborate trap set, that having pronounced a rash oath before such an audience, his pride would not permit him to withdraw it cost him what it may. Upon asking her mother’s advice, Salome requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

Although inwardly regretful, in his pride Herod could not refuse the request. As St. Augustine so aptly described what followed, “an oath rashly taken was criminally kept.” A guard was sent to behead John in prison. Thus, the "voice crying in the wilderness" was silenced. The head of the Precursor was placed on a platter and presented to Salome, who gave it to her mother.

John’s holiness was so evident that the Jews thought he might be the Messiah who had been promised, but John had protested and denied it. At the Jordan, John had pointed out Christ in person exclaiming: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sin of the world. This is he, of whom I said: After me there comes one, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose sandal I am not worthy to loose.” And that there be no doubt as to Whom he meant: “And I saw, and I give testimony that this is the Son of God.”

From that moment onwards, an eclipse takes place: “He must increase, and I must decrease.” His mission was to announce the Messiah. Therefore, once the Lamb of God had arrived, the prophecy of St. John Baptist was fulfilled, and his public mission decreased as he headed toward his martyrdom. On the contrary, Our Lord would increase until the complete fulfillment of His divine mission. The humility of St. John the Baptist was rewarded.

After his martyrdom, his name was covered with glory. Our Lord said that no man born of woman was greater than he. It is impossible to have a higher praise or more honorable glorification. But this glory had as its foundation his most profound humility.

https://bit.ly/2WeevY3

St. Augustine of Hippo, pray for us!
August 28

***
St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.

This famous son of St. Monica was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and in false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much, that he could not see or understand the Divine Truth anymore. Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted on reading the life of St. Antony, and he felt terrible ashamed of himself. "What are we doing?" he cried to his friend Alipius. "Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!"

Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, "How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?" Just then he heard a child singing, "Take up and read!" Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.

He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable, too. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: "Here we do not speak evil of anyone." St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. "Too late have I loved You!" he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion. His feast day is August 28th.

https://bit.ly/3y7TcnU

Cardinal Tagle to Join Pope Francis in Indonesia Cardinal Tagle to join Pope Francis in tour of Asia to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Singapore. | Dominus Est

Life is a journey - enjoy each day and don't carry too much baggage. Let the light of each day rise in your heart, and let the joy of each morning be seen in your smile.

May your presence bring waves of sweetness and gentleness to all who cross the path of your life.
And May you feel lifted up by life and supported in every way today and every day of your journey.

Wishing you all a fresh start to a brand new week. I hope that love will cause constant ripples in your world throughout this week. Have a great day! ❤☀

PRAYER BEFORE A CRUCIFIX
(By Saint Francis of Assisi.)
-
Great and glorious God, my Lord Jesus Christ!
I implore Thee to enlighten me
and to disperse the darkness of my soul.
Give me true faith, firm hope, and perfect charity.
Grant me, O Lord, to know Thee so well
that in all things I may act by Thy light
and in accordance with Thy holy will.
Amen.

Gospel of the Day (John 6,60-69)

Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.
And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day/2024/08/25.html