FEAST OF ST BRIDGET OF SWEDEN. QUEEN, MOTHER, WIFE AND RELIGIOUS. THE FEAST OF ST BRIDGET OF SWEDEN. MOTHER, WIFE AND RELIGIOUS  "The disciples approached Jesus and said,  “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” "He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich. "From anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. "This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.  Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: "You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see.  Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. "Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Matthew 13: 10 - 17)." Thursday July 23, 2026 in the 16th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Bridget of Sweden. St Bridget of Sweden was a housewife, mother of 4 boys and 4 girls. One of the girls, St Catherine of Sweden is a canonized saint. Bridget persuaded her husband to become a Franciscan Tertiary with her. When the husband died, St Bridget moved to Rome where she founded the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer. St Bridget meditated long on the suffering and death of Jesus. God revealed to her the secrets of heaven. St Bridget is a mystic and authored books on ascetical and mystical theology. She is the patron saint of Sweden and co-patron saint of Europe.  In the Gospel of today, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Teacher said: "Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them." How deeply do you love and follow Jesus Christ? One way to answer that question honestly is to look at the habits that shape a soul. How much time do you give each day, week, or month to: 1. Prayer 2. Sacred Scripture 3. The Eucharist 4. Reconciliation 5. Examination of Conscience 6. Spiritual Reading 7. Sharing your faith in ministry These are the habits of the saints. Holiness rarely begins in dramatic moments;  it grows quietly through faithful, daily surrender to God. Over time, these practices become a way of life, and a way of life becomes a holy character. Saint Bridget of Sweden is a beautiful example of this path to sanctity.  Her love for Christ was nourished by prayer, sacrifice, and obedience to God’s will. She listened deeply to the Lord, lived with spiritual seriousness, and allowed grace to transform her life.  Her daughter, Saint Catherine of Sweden, learned from that witness and followed the same road of holiness, becoming a saint herself. On this feast of Saint Bridget, may we ask for the grace to love Christ more faithfully, to seek Him more earnestly, and to let our daily habits lead us closer to sainthood. We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ every July.  Mary, Mother of the Crucified.  Our Lady’s silent, sorrowful assent at the foot of the Cross.  In the divine plan, Mary’s maternal cooperation aligns perfectly with Christ's sacrifice, making her the co-redemptrix who introduces souls to the mysteries of grace. Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us. For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below: http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/06/july-devotion-to-precious-body-of-jesus.html?m=1 To select Daily Bible Verse for another day please use Daily Reading section [Select date] option