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Wednesday, November 11, 1998

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St. Martin of Tours


Titus 3:1-7
Psalm 23
Luke 17:11-19

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his pierced, beautiful feet

"He threw himself on his face at the feet of Jesus and spoke His praises." —Luke 17:16

There is something about the feet of Jesus. Because His feet are nail-scarred from the crucifixion (see Lk 24:39), they are beautiful (see Is 52:7). Jesus' pierced feet bring the good news of salvation.

The Samaritan leper who was healed "threw himself on his face at the feet of Jesus" (Lk 17:16). Mary of Bethany "seated herself at the Lord's feet and listened to His words" (Lk 10:39). Later, this "Mary brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus' feet. Then she dried His feet with her hair" (Jn 12:3). "A woman known in the town to be a sinner" (Lk 7:37) stood behind Jesus "at His feet, weeping so that her tears fell upon His feet. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissing them and perfuming them with the oil" (Lk 7:38). After the women leaving Jesus' tomb met Him risen from the dead, they "embraced His feet and did Him homage" (Mt 28:9).

In love for Jesus, we should throw ourselves at Jesus' feet and embrace, kiss, and perfume His feet. At the pierced, beautiful feet of Jesus, we must repent of our sins and praise and worship Jesus. Throw yourself on your "face at the feet of Jesus" (Lk 17:16).

Prayer:  "Glorious God, in adoration, at Your feet we belong" (from the song "Glorious God").

Promise:  He saved us "through Jesus Christ our Savior, that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs, in hope, of eternal life. You can depend on this to be true." —Ti 3:6-8

Praise:  St. Martin led his mother to Jesus and to membership in the church shortly before she died.

Rescript:  ..

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.


Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, April 4, 1998


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 8, 1998