Embracing Our Suffering:

When hardship strikes, determined not to be defeated, we rally our forces, and we turn to our network of support and to experts when necessary. Sometimes our efforts pay off and we emerge victorious. But we will not always be victorious; the day comes when our efforts are like beating our head against the wall. That is the day we come face to face with what we really believe about life, about ourselves, about what it means to be human, about God.

Holy Spirit - Peter:

In today's Gospel, Peter was deeply touched by the Holy Spirit who revealed to him that Jesus is 'the Christ, the Son of the Living God.' Our human knowledge and intellect are limited. We should entrust our pains, hopes and needs in God's protective and loving Providence more fully.

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To be a Christian means to be lifted out of the old humanity of Adam to the new humanity of Christ. No man is forced to accept Christ in his life any more than the Blessed Virgin was forced to bear Him. The life of Christ within us is free and consultative.

- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

I have competed well; I have finished the race;I have kept the faith.From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,which the Lord, the just judge,will award to me on that day, and not only to me,but to all who have longed for his appearance.

- St. Paul, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Christianity is designed for the sanctification of our whole nature, with all its faculties, powers, and propensities, since it was the entire and complete manhood that was united to the Godhead in Christ .... Man renders to God that perfect worship when he offers the homage of his entire intelligence and liberty.

- Father Isaac Hecker, founder of the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (1819 - 1888)