The Daily Gospel for Thursday, 4 February 2016

The Daily Gospel for Thursday, 4 February 2016
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Thursday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time
Saints of the day: St. Jane of Valois, Queen and Religious (+ 1505)

SAINT JANE OF VALOIS
Queen and Religious
(+ 1505)

Born of the blood royal of France, herself a queen, Jane of Valois led a life remarkable for its humiliations even in the annals of the Saints. Her father, Louis XI., who had hoped for a son to succeed him, banished Jane from his palace, and, it is said, even attempted her life. At the age of five the neglected child offered her whole heart to God, and yearned to do some special service in honor of His blessed Mother.
At the king's wish, though against her own inclination, she was married to the Duke of Orleans. Towards an indifferent and unworthy husband her conduct was ever most patient and dutiful. Her prayers and tears saved him from a traitor's death and shortened the captivity which his rebellion had merited. Still nothing could win a heart which was already given to another. When her husband ascended the throne as Louis XII., his first act was to repudiate by false representations one who through twenty-two years of cruel neglect had been his true and loyal wife.
At the final sentence of separation, the saintly queen exclaimed, "God be praised Who has allowed this, that I may serve Him better . than I have heretofore done." Retiring to Bourges, she there realized her long-formed desire of founding the Order of the Annunciation, in honor of the Mother of God.
Under the guidance of St. Francis of Paula, the director of her childhood, St. Jane was enabled to overcome the serious obstacles which even good people raised against the foundation of her new Order. In 1501 the rule of the Annunciation was finally approved by Alexander VI. The chief aim of the institute was to imitate the ten virtues practised by Our Lady in the mystery of the Incarnation, the superioress being called "Ancelle," handmaid, in honor of Mary's humility. St. Jane built and endowed the first convent of the Order in 1502.
She died in heroic sanctity, 1505, and was buried in the royal crown and purple, beneath which lay the habit of her Order.[Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]]
Saint John de Britto
Saint John de Britto
Feastday: February 4
Patron of Portugal, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai
Birth: 1647
Death: 1693
Jesuit martyr in India. He was a native of Lisbon, Portugal, was dedicated at birth to St. Francis Xavier, and was a noble friend of King Pedro. He entered the Jesuits at the age of fifteen. In his effort to promote conversions among the native Indian people as a missionary to Goa, he wandered through Malabar and other regions and even adopted the customs and dress of the Brahmin caste which gave him access to the noble classes. In 1683, John had to leave India but returned in 1691. Arrested, tortured, and commanded to leave India, he refused and was put to death. Pope Pius XII canonized him in 1947
Thursday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time
1st book of Kings 2:1 The time came near for David to die; so he commissioned Shlomo his son as follows: 2 “I am going the way of all the earth. Therefore, be strong; show yourself a man. 3 Observe the charge of Adonai your God to go in his ways and keep his regulations, mitzvot, rulings and instructions in accordance with what is written in the Torah of Moshe; so that you will succeed in all you do and wherever you go. 4 If you do, Adonai will fulfill what he promised me when he said, ‘If your children pay attention to how they live, conducting themselves before me honestly with all their heart and being, you will never lack a man on the throne of Isra’el.’
10 Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 David had ruled Isra’el for forty years — seven years in Hevron and thirty-three years in Yerushalayim.
12 Shlomo sat on the throne of David his father; and his rule had become firmly established,
1st book of Chronicles 29:10 as he blessed Adonai before the entire community: “Blessed be you, Adonai, the God of Isra’el our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, Adonai, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. The kingdom is yours, Adonai; and you are exalted as head over all. 12 Riches and honor come from you, you rule everything, in your hand is power and strength, you have the capacity to make great and to give strength to all.
The Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint Mark 6:7 Yeshua summoned the Twelve and started sending them out in pairs, giving them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them, “Take nothing for your trip except a walking stick — no bread, no pack, no money in your belt. 9 Wear shoes but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place; 11 and if the people of some place will not welcome you, and they refuse to hear you, then, as you leave, shake the dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
12 So they set out and preached that people should turn from sin to God, 13 they expelled many demons, and they anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Thursday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day:
Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916), hermit and missionary in the Sahara
Letter to Joseph Hours, 3 May 1912 
"He began to send them out" To be an apostle? How? Through those whom God makes available. Priests have their superiors who tell them what they are to do. Laypeople should be apostles towards all those they reach: relations and friends but not them alone; charity is not restricted, it embraces all those embraced by the Heart of Jesus. 

By what means? By the best possible, taking into account those to whom they address themselves. But with all those with whom they are in relation, without exception with goodness, kindness, brotherly love, the example of virtue, and with the humility and gentleness that is always so attractive and so Christian. With some people without ever saying a word to them about God or religion, being patient as God is patient, good as God is good, by being a tender, prayerful brother. With yet others, speaking to them about God in the degree they are able to bear it. As soon as they have started thinking about seeking out the truth then through the study of religion, putting them into contact with a carefully chosen priest who is able to do them good. Above all, see a brother in every person. 

---------------------