David Michael Okechukwu's Blog

Mother Teresa Says:   "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

St. Stephen of Mar Saba He was born in the year 725 in Julis, a district of Gaza. He was a nephew of St. John of Damascus and entered the monastery at the age of 10 years and got trained up by his nephew. He was ordained at the age of 24 years. He spent about fifty years in the monastery of Saint Sabas (Mar Saba), overlooking the Kidron Valley in the West Bank, east of Bethlehem. He lived a hermit life and he used to place a sign on his door to request other Fathers not to disturb him. But on weekends he came out to serve as a counselor to others, as instructed by his superiors. One day when he was celebrating mass in a room of the monastery and when he raised the Eucharist and recited the words Holy things to the holy, the monastery room was filled with a glorious light at that time. From that moment on, whatever he prayed for during the Eucharist was granted. He became called as a wonder worker due to his miraculous intercessions. He left behind a life of faith and miracles. The...

Mother Teresa Says:   "I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?"

Thursday of the 4th week of Lent - Proper Readings   (see also The Man Born Blind) Liturgical Colour: Violet. Readings at Mass ________ Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 104: 3-4 Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face. ________ Collect We invoke your mercy in humble prayer, O Lord, that you may cause us, your servants, corrected by penance and schooled by good works, to persevere sincerely in your commands and come safely to the paschal festivities. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ________ First reading Exodus 32:7-14 The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostatised. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice. “Her...

St. Peter Regalado He was born in a noble family in Spain in the year 1390. He entered the Conventual Franciscans when he was 13 years old. He lived a life of solitude and poverty in the convent of Aguilera. He then became the Superior of the same convent of Aguilera. He was endowed with the gift of miracles and prophesies. He observed fasting in Lents taking only bread with water. He lived a pious life and died on March 30, 1456. His body was exhumed thirty six years after death at the insistence of Isabella the Catholic and found to be incorrupt. He was beatified by pope Innocent-XI on March 11, 1684 and canonized by pope Benedict-XIV on June 29, 1746.

Davmikes Dailies It's not about using the English word well or how you do everything well for yourself, it's how you affect the next person positively with them.  #selfishness-kills #Davidmichaellovesyoumore

World Cup hosts Russia continued their build-up to next year's finals by clinching a dramatic 3-3 against Belgium at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. The hosts got off to a flying start when Viktor Vasin gave them the lead after just three minutes, but the Red Devils were back on level terms 14 minutes later through Kevin Mirallas' penalty. Roberto Martinez's side would go into the break 3-1 up courtesy of a quick-fire brace from Romelu Lukaku (42', 45'), although the Bears hit back in the second half with Aleksey Miranchuk (74') pulling one back before Alexander Bukharov equalised in stoppage time. Croatia suffered a surprise 3-0 defeat to Estonia at the Albert Le Coq Arena, as Siim Luts opened the scoring in the first minute before late goals from Konstantin Vassiljev (81') and Sergei Zenjov (84') wrapped up the win for the hosts. Bosnia-Herzegovina recorded a 2-1 win over Bulkan rivals Albania at the Elbasan Arena, thanks to first-half...

Today's Verse ”He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4 Heaven is a place that we all hope to go when we die, but is it something we really look forward to now? Humans tend to fear the unknown and there is much about Heaven that we don’t know. This can make some people nervous about going there. Some people even think that Heaven will be boring! The above verse alone gives us enough reasons to want to be there, but think about this as well: God created all the good things in this world, such as sunsets and snowcapped mountains. This world is fallen, yet we still see so much beauty. It only makes sense that Heaven will be even better! We truly have no reason to fear or not look forward to Heaven. We can be certain that it is a place filled with the love and beauty of the Creator. - Commentary by: Traci Elliott Today...

Mother Teresa Says:   "We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls."

Blessed Ludovico of Casoria He was born on March 11, 1814 in a place called Casoria near Naples. His birth name was Arcangelo Palmentieri. He worked as a cabinet maker. He entered the Friars Minor as a novice on July 1, 1832 and took the name Ludovico. After ordaining a priest in 1837, he taught chemistry and physics to the younger members of his province for the next seven years. He dedicated his life to uplift and help the poor and infirm people. He established an institution for orphans, the deaf and elder persons.  To do the work of charity, he founded the Gray Brothers (Friars of Charity), a religious community with the former members of the secular Franciscan Order. He also later founded the Gray (Franciscan) Sisters of St. Elizabeth for doing the same charity work. He also opened a school for the African children redeemed from slavery in the year 1852. He died on March 30, 1885. He was beatified by Pope John Paul-II in 1993.

Wednesday of the 4th week of Lent - Proper Readings   (see also The Man Born Blind) Liturgical Colour: Violet. Readings at Mass ________ Entrance Antiphon Ps 68: 14 I pray to you, O Lord, for a time of your favour. In your great mercy, answer me, O God, with your salvation that never fails. ________ Collect O God, who reward the merits of the just and offer pardon to sinners who do penance, have mercy, we pray, on those who call upon you, that the admission of our guilt may serve to obtain your pardon for our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ________ First reading Isaiah 49:8-15 Thus says the Lord: At the favourable time I will answer you, on the day of salvation I will help you. (I have formed you and have appointed you as covenant of the people.) I will restore the land and assign you the estates that lie waste. I will sa...

Davmikes Dailies Making someone respect you whenever you are around isn't respect but making that person respect you even when your presence is absent, then that's respect.  #High-services-does-no-good #Davidmichaellovesyoumore

Mother Teresa Says:   "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you."

St. Hesychius of Jerusalem The  birth details of this saint are not known. He is better known in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was born and educated at Jerusalem. On becoming adult he left his home and lived an ascetic life. He was a priest and a monk and was respected as a theologian and a bible commentator. He was consecrated as a presbyter by the Patriarch of Jerusalem in the year 412 A.D. He worked with St. Jerome and St. Cyril of Alexandria in writing comments of the bible. Hesychius is also mentioned in the life of St. Euthymius by Cyril of Scythopolis.

Tuesday 28 March 2017 Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent - Proper Readings   (see also The Man Born Blind) Liturgical Colour: Violet. Readings at Mass ________ Entrance Antiphon Cf. Is 55: 1 All who are thirsty, come to the waters, says the Lord. Though you have no money, come and drink with joy. ________ Collect May the venerable exercises of holy devotion shape the hearts of your faithful, O Lord, to welcome worthily the Paschal Mystery and proclaim the praises of your salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ________ First reading Ezekiel 47:1-9,12 The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round ...

Davmikes Dailies It's the last week of the first quarter of the year and permit me to ask. How well is the year's resolution going? Very soon it will be another new year.  What are you doing to not repeat your resolutions.  Just a reminder How far? #Davidmichaellovesyoumore

Mother Teresa Says: "People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.   If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.  The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.  For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

St John of Egypt (304 - 394) Southern Africa At the age of 25, John left his home and became a monk. He lived under the tutelage of a wise hermit and when his master died, John decided to withdraw into a more remote cave on Mount Lycos. There he lived a very strict life, devoting himself to prayer and manual work. People started to visit him, since he was able to perform miracles, heal the sick and read people’s hearts. He died in 394, at the age of 90.

Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno He was born on March 29, 1825 in Alessandria, then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and later attached to Italy. He was the youngest child of Marchesse Luigi Faa di Bruno and Lady Carolina Sappa de’ Milanesi. First he entered the Royal Army. He then left the army and went to Paris to study mathematics under Augustine Cauchy and Urbain Le Verrier, who jointly discovered the planet Neptune. After study he worked as the professor of mathematics in Turin and he was conferred Doctor of Science by the University of Paris. In Turin he became a close friend of St. John Bosco. He later became a priest at the age of 51 years with the support of pope Pius-IX. To help domestic servants and un-married mothers he founded an organization called Minim Sisters of St. Zita in the year 1881. He also founded a refuge for the rehabilitation of prostitutes. He made many important contributions to mathematics. He died on March 27, 1888 in Italy. He was beatified by Pope Jo...

Monday of the 4th week of Lent - Proper Readings  Liturgical Colour: Violet. Readings at Mass ________ Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 30: 7-8 As for me, I trust in the Lord. Let me be glad and rejoice in your mercy, for you have seen my affliction. ________ Collect O God, who renew the world through mysteries beyond all telling, grant, we pray, that your Church may be guided by your eternal design and not be deprived of your help in this present age. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ________ First reading Isaiah 65:17-21 Thus says the Lord: Now I create new heavens and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men’s minds. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating, because I now create Jerusalem ‘Joy’ and her people ‘Gladness.’ I shall rejoice over Jerusalem ...

Blessed Didacus Joseph of Cadiz He was born in Spain on March 29, 1743 and was given the name Joseph Francis. When he tried to join the Franciscan Order, he was rejected. But later he was admitted into the Capuchin Friars, where he was given the name Didacus. Later he was ordained a priest. During his preaching, one day a child shouted aloud in the church to her mother Mother, mother, see the dove resting on the shoulder of Father Didacus. He even scourges himself unto blood, before his sermons.  He was of the opinion that those who have been charged with the duty of conversion of sinners must remember that the Lord has imposed upon them, the sins of all their clients. He also visited prisons and hospitals and engaged in the work of charity. He was called the Apostle of Trinity because of his devotion to the Holy Trinity. It is also said about him that at times when preaching about the love of God, he would be elevated above the pulpit and require assistance from others to co...

Davmikes Dailies Are you living like a Hen when actually you are an Eagle and do you even know your worth? It's time you realise your full potential. Happy Sunday to you #Davidmichaellovesyoumore

Davmikes Dailies The way people perceive you shouldn't matter to you. "God's thought about you is all you need to know" #Davidmichaellovesyoumore

St. Dismas(March 25 is his feast day)  St. Dismas is the Good Thief crucified with Christ on Calvary. We know that he asked for forgiveness and entered into eternal life with Jesus. He is also called as The Penitent thief. There is no other information about this saint. Even though he was a criminal, he believed Jesus as the Christ and prayed Jesus to remember him, on His return with Kingly powers. The belief of St. Dismas was great because he knew that he would die soon and not going to enjoy any worldly pleasures. Likewise this saint also knew that Jesus would also die soon on the cross. But still he believed Jesus as the Son of God and prayed Him for salvation. Moreover he realized that what he committed was a crime and the punishment of crucifixion was just for him and the other criminal. He rebuked the other criminal, when he talked ill of Jesus. He also told the other criminal that Jesus had not committed any crime to suffer this punishment. This incident is an indicatio...

Not all pain in the head is called headache, you need to identify yours in order to use the right meds for it. "panadol can't cure your head pain".  #Davidmichaellovesyoumore

St. Turibius of Mogrovejo He was a Spanish Missionary born on November 16, 1538 in Leon, Spain. He was born in a noble family and was highly educated. He became the professor of law at the University of Salamanca. Then he was appointed as the Grand Inquisitor of Spain by king Philip-II on the Court of Inquisitor at Grenada. He was later ordained a priest in 1578 and was sent to Peru. He was then made the arch-bishop of Lima, Peru in May, 1579. He visited all the places in his diocese mainly on foot and often alone. He baptized more than five million people, when he was bishop. The notable persons he baptized include St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres. He founded the seminary at Lima in the year1591 and also built many hospitals and convents. He learnt the local language to communicate with the people, to convert them to Christianity. He also worked as a champion of the rights of the local people. He was very strict about spending the time and used to say Time is not our ow...

It's true that all fingers are not equal and we all are not equal too but the truth and fact still remains "we can't be equal until we are equal" #Davidmichaellovesyoumore

Do you always make out time to think and meditate on your daily activities and struggles? Sometimes a little relaxation helps to know how to approach issues of life and helps build us daily, one who doesn't think is headed for doom but when we think and re-think, we tend to know what next to do. So don't go about worring on how to get that job done, how to solve that problem and how to make ends meet daily. Engage the brain fully and actively and commune with God and there all issues will get their solution instantly. Do your best and let God do the rest for you. #Re-think #Davidmichaellovesyoumore