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Saturday, August 9, 2025

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St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross



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how god wants to work now

“Why could we not expel it?” —Matthew 17:19

Jesus makes us the amazing promise: “I assure you, if you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would be able to say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible for you” (Mt 17:20). We can do the impossible through faith (Mt 17:20). We can express our faith in many ways, but the way on which Jesus focuses is prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB). Pope St. John Paul II prophesied that this way of expressing our faith is of special significance in our culture of death. He revealed: “Prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil” (The Gospel of Life, 100).

To replace this culture of death with a civilization of love and life, we need to do the impossible again and again. We need faith to move not only mountains but even mountain ranges. The Lord promises to give us that great faith, and He even tells us how to express this faith. Believe, pray, and fast. Be part of the Holy Spirit’s renewing the face of the earth (Ps 104:30).

Prayer:  Father, by faith I will do whatever it takes. Increase my faith (see Lk 17:5).

Promise:  “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” —Dt 6:4-5

Praise:  St. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rose, both Catholic religious of Jewish origin, were arrested by the Nazis and put to death for being Catholic and Jewish. They confidently clung to faith in Jesus till the end.

Reference:  (Are you divorced or separated? We have a retreat to help heal your broken heart, Sept. 12-14. Call 513-373-2397 or see our website to register.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 8, 2025"

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.