分类： 与主叹啡

Saint John Bosco
Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
Saint John Bosco: Father and Friend of Youth

Today is the Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint John Bosco today.

The Gospel passage from Saint Mark tells us: After dismissing the crowd, Jesus got into the boat with His disciples and sailed across a sea stirred by a fierce wind. The boat was being battered by waves and was already filled with water. The disciples were terrified and thought they were perishing. So, they woke Jesus, crying out for Him to save them.

We often face challenges brought by this world. As students, we endure pressures of studies and entrance exams; in our work, we confront competition from colleagues or within the same profession; in family life, conflicts arise from disagreements among loved ones, sparking strife. We also encounter temptations from the prince of this world and his minions: when we offer prayer to God, he tries to turn our inward hearts toward outward worldly concerns; when we participate in the Mass, we sometimes focus on ritual rather than on all that God reveals to us through His ministers in the Sacred Liturgy of the Mass.

In Saint John Bosco, we see the image of a servant of Christ who walked through storms.

Saint John Bosco (August 16, 1815 – January 31, 1888), a renowned Italian Catholic priest and educator, founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco, is honored as “Father and Friend of Youth.” His life overflowed with selfless love for impoverished youth, yet it was marked by multiple storms and trials.

As his biography recounts:

Bosco’s life began amid “storms”: He lost his father at age two, leaving his family in dire poverty. His elder brother obstructed his pursuit of education, declaring, “A farmer’s son is not worthy of studying,” while the Piedmontese countryside was ravaged by famine due to war and drought. This mirrored the urgency of the Gospel scene—“a boat tossed by a sudden storm”—as he struggled from childhood on the brink of being “overwhelmed.” His mother Margherita’s resilience and faith were his first “lamp of faith.” At age nine, a dream like a call from Jesus showed him direction amid the storm: A noble man urged him, “Win your friends not with blows, but with gentleness and kindness. Show them sin is ugly and virtue beautiful.”

As an adult, Bosco faced fiercer “waves” in Turin. He founded the Oratory to shelter orphans and street children, yet neighbors complained of “noisy disturbances,” and authorities expelled them, deeming the gatherings “dangerous” and fearing revolution. The orphans he took in once stole blankets and destroyed haylofts; the number of residents grew from 36 in a few small rooms to 800, straining resources like a “ship about to sink.” Worse, the anti-religious policies of the Kingdom of Piedmont swept over him like a “fierce wind”: confiscating Church property, suppressing religious orders. He wrote to King Victor Emmanuel II to protest but was ignored. Interrogations and assassination attempts followed—knife attacks, clubbing, shootings. Traditional clergy accused him of “stealing faithful from their parishes”; nationalists viewed his youth groups as “breeding grounds for revolution.”

Yet Bosco never allowed fear to consume his faith. Recalling the exhortation of the “noble man” from his nine-year-old dream, he took “gentleness and kindness” as his oar: teaching youth trades, protecting them from abusive employers (drawing up contracts to forbid corporal punishment and ensure rest), sleeping on straw mats with his mother, sharing meager meals, and persisting despite repeated expulsions. Facing political pressure, he stood firm in his mission like Jesus rebuking the winds and waves: “I live not for myself, but for these children forgotten by the world.” This faith gradually calmed the “storms”—the king’s tacit protection with the order “do not disturb him,” Prime Minister Cavour’s intervention, even the “divine warning” of successive royal deaths (though unproven).

Ultimately, Bosco’s faith, like Jesus calming the storm, turned the Oratory into a “safe harbor” for youth. He founded the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and the Salesian Cooperators, institutionalizing “gentleness and kindness” to restore dignity and education to thousands of orphans. Before his death, looking at the youth filling his courtyard, he smiled: “I once feared they would perish, but now they have become my ship.”

I wish to take this opportunity to say to the superiors of the Bosco family, all Salesians, communities under the patronage of Saint John Bosco, brothers and sisters in Christ, and those discerning a vocation to the consecrated life: Saint John Bosco is Father and Friend of Youth, and above all, our model. When we face storms, let us imitate Saint John Bosco, entrust ourselves courageously to the Lord Jesus Christ with full faith, and fulfill the mission He has entrusted to each of us.

O God, who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco as a father and teacher of the young, grant, we pray, that, aflame with the same fire of love, we may seek out souls and serve you alone. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

常年期第三周星期五
福音：谷4:26-34
芥菜籽：天國的雛形

今天是常年期第三周星期五。在天主教香港教區和天主教澳門教區出版的禮儀日曆，以及天主教會臺灣地區主教團禮儀及聖事委員會編譯的禮儀日曆上特別注明：今天是真福雷永明神父的紀念日。

今天取自聖馬爾谷的福音中，耶穌把天國比作芥菜籽。事實上，天主聖言的種子，如同芥菜籽一樣，播種在我們心中。當我們從我們的近人，或在某個不經意的時刻，聽到了天主的聖言以後，這天主聖言的種子，便在我們的心中發芽滋長，當我們決意追隨基督的時候，天主聖言的種子便會慢慢吐穗，當我們遵照救主的訓示，又承受祂的教導，向天主獻上合宜的祈禱時，這聖言的種子便在我們的心中結出果實，到了收穫的時期，天主便親自來收割，並將麥子收入自己的倉庫。

在這裡，我想特別提到真福雷永明神父。梵蒂岡廣播電臺（現梵蒂岡新聞網）在2012年9月播發的節目中，熱情地向全球聽眾介紹這位真福聖人：1907年﹐在義大利西西里卡塔尼亞省誕生的雷永明神父﹐23歲時晉鐸﹐成為方濟各修會神父。他在中國傳教期間，在北京創辦了“思高聖經學會”﹐後來遷至香港﹐直到1976年去世為止。雷永明神父同時致力於協助窮人、痲瘋病患和其他患病者。阿瑪托樞機稱他是“品德卓越的司鐸”。阿瑪托樞機說：“信仰是新真福的力量。在他的回憶錄中﹐顯示他堅定熱誠的信德。他的信德也從他憐憫人的精神中顯示出來。熱心與基督聖體對話﹐祈禱短誦和玫瑰經﹐以及彌撒聖祭﹐都是可見的表樣。崇敬天主聖言的方式更彰顯他篤深的信仰。他在翻譯聖經的時候非常努力﹐盡可能做到完善﹐經常為了找到一個字的適當翻譯﹐和助手討論數天。”雷永明神父的工作是在熱愛為教會服務的精神推動下完成的。阿瑪托樞機強調雷神父如此謙遜﹐“凡做深耕工作的人﹐或許不像一些當代神學家會贏得名聲﹐但是在我看來﹐將對天主的教會更加有益處。”

真福雷永明神父，他好似天主播種在中華傳教區的芥菜籽，使中華傳教區有也可用的中文聖經，也就是思高普及版聖經。今天，讓我們效法真福雷永明神父，勇敢接受天主聖言託付給我們每人的使命，慷慨承行天主的聖意，成為天主樂意揀選的播種者。

天主，光明之父，祢恩賜真福雷永明神父熱愛聖經，並獻身為聖經服務，把祢聖子的福音傳遍華語地區，求祢因他的轉禱，不斷以賦予生命的聖言滋養我們，並幫助我們以言以行為聖言作證。因祢的聖子、我們的主耶穌基督，他和祢及聖神，是唯一天主，永生永王。亞孟。

©全屬於祢 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

常年期第三周星期五
福音：谷4:26-34
芥菜籽：天国的雏形

今天是常年期第三周星期五。在天主教香港教区和天主教澳门教区出版的礼仪日历，以及天主教会台湾地区主教团礼仪及圣事委员会编译的礼仪日历上特别注明：今天是真福雷永明神父的纪念日。

今天取自圣马尔谷的福音中，耶稣把天国比作芥菜籽。事实上，天主圣言的种子，如同芥菜籽一样，播种在我们心中。当我们从我们的近人，或在某个不经意的时刻，听到了天主的圣言以后，这天主圣言的种子，便在我们的心中发芽滋长，当我们决意追随基督的时候，天主圣言的种子便会慢慢吐穗，当我们遵照救主的训示，又承受祂的教导，向天主献上合宜的祈祷时，这圣言的种子便在我们的心中结出果实，到了收获的时期，天主便亲自来收割，并将麦子收入自己的仓库。

在这里，我想特别提到真福雷永明神父。梵蒂冈广播电台（现梵蒂冈新闻网）在2012年9月播发的节目中，热情地向全球听众介绍这位真福圣人：1907年﹐在意大利西西里卡塔尼亚省诞生的雷永明神父﹐23岁时晋铎﹐成为方济各修会神父。他在中国传教期间，在北京创办了“思高圣经学会”﹐后来迁至香港﹐直到1976年去世为止。雷永明神父同时致力于协助穷人、痲疯病患和其他患病者。阿玛托枢机称他是“品德卓越的司铎”。阿玛托枢机说：“信仰是新真福的力量。在他的回忆录中﹐显示他坚定热诚的信德。他的信德也从他怜悯人的精神中显示出来。热心与基督圣体对话﹐祈祷短诵和玫瑰经﹐以及弥撒圣祭﹐都是可见的表样。崇敬天主圣言的方式更彰显他笃深的信仰。他在翻译圣经的时候非常努力﹐尽可能做到完善﹐经常为了找到一个字的适当翻译﹐和助手讨论数天。”雷永明神父的工作是在热爱为教会服务的精神推动下完成的。阿玛托枢机强调雷神父如此谦逊﹐“凡做深耕工作的人﹐或许不像一些当代神学家会赢得名声﹐但是在我看来﹐将对天主的教会更加有益处。”

真福雷永明神父，他好似天主播种在中华传教区的芥菜籽，使中华传教区有也可用的中文圣经，也就是思高普及版圣经。今天，让我们效法真福雷永明神父，勇敢接受天主圣言托付给我们每人的使命，慷慨承行天主的圣意，成为天主乐意拣选的播种者。

天主，光明之父，祢恩赐真福雷永明神父热爱圣经，并献身为圣经服务，把祢圣子的福音传遍华语地区，求祢因他的转祷，不断以赋予生命的圣言滋养我们，并帮助我们以言以行为圣言作证。因你的圣子、我们的主耶稣基督，他和祢及圣神，是唯一天主，永生永王。亚孟。

©全属于祢 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

Friday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34
Mustard Seed: The Precursor of the Kingdom of Heaven

Today is Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time. In the liturgical calendars published by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and the Catholic Diocese of Macau, as well as the one compiled by Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference Commission for Liturgy and Sacraments, today is specially noted as the Memorial of Blessed Father Gabriele Allegra.

In today’s Gospel according to Saint Mark, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed. Indeed, the seed of God’s Word, like a mustard seed, is sown in our hearts. When we hear God’s Word from our neighbor or at some unexpected moment, this seed of God’s Word sprouts and grows in our hearts. When we resolve to follow Christ, the seed of God’s Word slowly bears ears. When we follow the teachings of the Savior and receive His instruction, offering to God the prayers that are due, this seed of the Word then yields fruit in our hearts. At the time of harvest, God Himself comes to reap, and gathers the wheat into His barn.

Here, I wish to make special mention of Blessed Father Gabriele Allegra. Vatican Radio (now Vatican News) in a program broadcast in September 2012, enthusiastically introduced this new blessed to its global audience: Born in 1907 in the Province of Catania, Sicily, Italy, Father Allegra was ordained a priest at the age of 23, becoming a Franciscan friar. During his missionary work in China, he founded the “Studium Biblicum Franciscanum” in Beijing, which was later moved to Hong Kong, where he remained until his death in 1976. Father Allegra also dedicated himself to assisting the poor, lepers, and other sick people. Cardinal Amato called him a “priest of outstanding virtue.” Cardinal Amato said: “Faith was the strength of the new blessed. In his memoirs, it shows his firm and ardent faith. His faith is also revealed in the spirit of compassion of his mercy. His visible examples were his fervent dialogue with the Most Holy Eucharist, his short prayers and the Rosary, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. His profound faith is even more evident in the way he venerated the Word of God. He worked with great effort in translating the Bible, striving for perfection, often discussing for days with his assistants to find the most appropriate translation for a single word.” Father Allegra’s work was accomplished under the impetus of a spirit of love for service to the Church. Cardinal Amato emphasized that Father Allegra was so humble, “Those who do deep work may not win fame like some contemporary theologians, but in my view, they are of greater benefit to the Church of God.”

Blessed Father Gabriele Allegra was like a mustard seed sown by God in the missionary region of China, enabling the Chinese mission to have an accessible Chinese Bible, namely, the Studium Biblicum Version. Today, let us imitate Blessed Father Gabriele Allegra, courageously accept the mission entrusted to each of us by God’s Word, generously fulfill God’s holy will, and become the chosen sowers whom God delights to select.

God, Father of light, you aroused in Blessed Gabriel Maria, priestly friar, an ardent dedication to the divine Scriptures, so that the Gospel of your Son could resound to the ends of the earth,grant us too, through his intercession, to nourish ourselves assiduously with the Word of life, and always testify to it in words and deeds. 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. Amen.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

常年期第三周星期四
福音：谷4:21-25
基督徒：反映基督之光的燈檯

我們時常會被一些誘人的事物所吸引，比如我們會被人手所創造的美食，社會上的名譽和地位所吸引，因而深深地陷入其中，不能自拔。幾時我們存有這樣的思想，我們便是忽視了天主。以致我們忘記天主是如何一步一步地引導我們，吸引我們歸向祂的，甚至我們會忘記自己還曾是一個基督徒。甚至有時，我們會忘記天主是如何召叫我們的。事實上，天主時常會在我們的生活中向我們彰顯祂的仁慈，並通過我們生活中遭遇的一切，説明我們分辨祂的聖意，並使我們通過自己的親身經歷，如維持我們生命的氧氣，陽光，清泉水源，時時處處感受到祂的無限慈愛。

我們時常能體驗到天主對我們的慈愛，藉著聆聽天主由我們的父輩、親朋好友、素未謀面的兄弟姐妹向我們宣傳的福音，逐漸對信仰有了進一步的瞭解和認識，我們便會產生了與天主建立更緊密關係的意願，願意藉著領受耶穌基督建立的聖洗聖事，在基督的至聖寶血內，一次而又永久地洗淨了自己的原罪 ，並藉著領受聖神的傅油，由罪惡及死亡中解脫出來，不再被稱為黑暗之子，魔鬼之子，而是天主的子女了。當我們領受入門聖事時，施禮的神父（主教、樞機、教宗）會從為慶祝主基督光榮復活而祝聖的復活蠟燭中取火，由這聖火中點亮的蠟燭通過我們的代父母傳遞給我們，使我們藉所領受的基督之光，成為光明之子。通過這入門聖事，我們蒙受祝聖，領受了君王、司祭、先知這三重職份。因此，我們有份于向世界宣講基督教導我們的一切，將我們所領受的基督之光，與我們的近人分享，使他們藉我們所行的一切，如同我們一樣，生活在光明之中。

今天，讓我們向耶穌祈求，求祂賜給我們智慧和明達，使我們的五內充滿與祂共融的聖神，好能把那普照世人的真光帶給那些生活在黑暗中的人，把基督的愛帶那些無人記起的人，使那安慰人的基督之光臨在世上的每個角落。亞孟。

©全屬於祢 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

常年期第三周星期四
福音：谷4:21-25
基督徒：反映基督之光的灯台

我们时常会被一些诱人的事物所吸引，比如我们会被人手所创造的美食，社会上的名誉和地位所吸引，因而深深地陷入其中，不能自拔。几时我们存有这样的思想，我们便是忽视了天主。以致我们忘记天主是如何一步一步地引导我们，吸引我们归向祂的，甚至我们会忘记自己还曾是一个基督徒。甚至有时，我们会忘记天主是如何召叫我们的。事实上，天主时常会在我们的生活中向我们彰显祂的仁慈，并通过我们生活中遭遇的一切，帮助我们分辨祂的圣意，并使我们通过自己的亲身经历，如维持我们生命的氧气，阳光，清泉水源，时时处处感受到祂的无限慈爱。

我们时常能体验到天主对我们的慈爱，藉着聆听天主由我们的父辈、亲朋好友、素未谋面的兄弟姐妹向我们宣传的福音，逐渐对信仰有了进一步的了解和认识，我们便会产生了与天主建立更紧密关系的意愿，愿意藉着领受耶稣基督建立的圣洗圣事，在基督的至圣宝血内，一次而又永久地洗净了自己的原罪 ，并藉着领受圣神的傅油，由罪恶及死亡中解脱出来，不再被称为黑暗之子，魔鬼之子，而是天主的子女了。当我们领受入门圣事时，施礼的神父（主教、枢机、教宗）会从为庆祝主基督光荣复活而祝圣的复活蜡烛中取火，由这圣火中点亮的蜡烛通过我们的代父母传递给我们，使我们藉所领受的基督之光，成为光明之子。通过这入门圣事，我们蒙受祝圣，领受了君王、司祭、先知这三重职份。因此，我们有份于向世界宣讲基督教导我们的一切，将我们所领受的基督之光，与我们的近人分享，使他们藉我们所行的一切，如同我们一样，生活在光明之中。

今天，让我们向耶稣祈求，求祂赐给我们智慧和明达，使我们的五内充满与祂共融的圣神，好能把那普照世人的真光带给那些生活在黑暗中的人，把基督的爱带那些无人记起的人，使那安慰人的基督之光临在世上的每个角落。亚孟。

©全属于祢 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mark 4:21-25
Christians: Lamps Set on a Lampstand Reflecting the Light of Christ

We are often attracted by alluring things—such as delicious food crafted by human hands, social fame, or status—and become deeply entangled, unable to extricate ourselves. When we harbor such thoughts, we neglect God. We forget how He has guided us step by step, drawing us to Himself; we even forget that we were once Christians, sometimes overlooking how God called us. In truth, God constantly reveals His mercy in our lives. Through all that we encounter, He helps us discern His holy will and allows us to experience His infinite love at every moment, like the oxygen that sustains our life, the sunlight, and the clear spring water—always present.

We often experience God’s love as we listen to the Gospel proclaimed to us by our elders, relatives, friends, and even unknown brothers and sisters. Gradually gaining a deeper understanding and knowledge of faith, we develop a desire to establish a closer relationship with God. We wish to receive the Sacrament of Baptism instituted by Jesus Christ, being washed of original sin once and for all in the Most Precious Blood of Christ. Through anointing with the Holy Spirit, we are freed from sin and death, no longer called children of darkness or of the devil, but children of God. When we receive the initiation sacraments, the ministering priest (bishop, cardinal, or Pope) takes fire from the Paschal candle blessed for the celebration of the glorious Resurrection of the Lord. A candle lit from this sacred flame is passed to us through our godparents, so that through the light of Christ we receive, we become children of light. By these sacraments, we are consecrated and share in the triple ministry of king, priest, and prophet. Thus, we are called to proclaim all that Christ taught to the world, sharing the light of Christ with our neighbors, that they may live in the light as we do, through all that we do.

Today, let us pray to Jesus, asking Him to grant us wisdom and understanding, to fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit in communion with Him. May we bring the true light that enlightens everyone to those living in darkness, the love of Christ to those forgotten by all, and let the comforting light of Christ be present in every corner of the world. Amen.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

聖多瑪斯·阿奎那
福音：谷4:1-20
撒種者

今天教會慶祝聖多瑪斯·阿奎那的紀念日。正如我們所知的那樣，聖多瑪斯·阿奎那被稱作天使博士。他曾奇妙地闡釋天主聖言，並以其《神學大全》揭示天主的本質。

今天取自聖馬爾谷福音的經文，耶穌給那些追隨祂的人講了一個撒種者的比喻，並在隨後與宗徒的談話中解釋這個比喻的含義。我們從祂的講述中看到一個高頻的詞：種子。種子是生命的最小形態，更是天主聖言與這個世界的關係。因為天主聖言往往以最不引人注目的形態出現在我們中間，並在天主認為恰當的時機打開我們走向祂的大門，使我們踏上與祂同行，共赴天鄉的旅途。

天主賞賜給我們的一切都是聖善的，美好的。如同祂曾賞賜給了我們的原祖父母在地堂中享受一切福樂。但由於原祖父母的背命，使我們在出離母胎時，便沾染上了原罪。愛我們的天主願意我們能因祂的無限慈悲，重新獲得那因原罪失去了原先天主的義子義女應該佩帶上的義德。因而，祂派遣了祂的唯一子，我們主，天主，耶穌基督，降生的天主聖言。我們通過祂的宣講，看到祂的親身實踐，以及祂為將我們從魔鬼的奴役中拯救出來，為了與我們與天父重新修好而在十字架上的自我犧牲，使我們因祂所行的一切，與天父和祂所創造的世界重修舊好。

今天，天主要求我們效法聖多瑪斯·阿奎那的德表，向世界傳播天主聖言的種子，以祈禱和與天主聖言相稱的行動，灌溉那種在我們眾人心中的種子，使這種子結出豐碩的果實。因此，讓我們向天主祈求說：

天主，祢使聖多瑪斯·阿奎那因他對聖潔的熱忱，因他對神聖教義的研究，超群出眾。我們懇求祢：使我們能理解他的教導，效法他的德表。藉著祢的子，我們的主耶穌基督，祢和祂及聖神，是天主，永生永王。亞孟。

©全屬於祢 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

圣多玛斯·阿奎那
福音：谷4:1-20
撒种者

今天教会庆祝圣多玛斯·阿奎那的纪念日。正如我们所知的那样，圣多玛斯·阿奎那被称作天使博士。他曾奇妙地阐释天主圣言，并以其《神学大全》揭示天主的本质。

今天取自圣马尔谷福音的经文，耶稣给那些追随祂的人讲了一个撒种者的比喻，并在随后与宗徒的谈话中解释这个比喻的含义。我们从祂的讲述中看到一个高频的词：种子。种子是生命的最小形态，更是天主圣言与这个世界的关系。因为天主圣言往往以最不引人注目的形态出现在我们中间，并在天主认为恰当的时机打开我们走向祂的大门，使我们踏上与祂同行，共赴天乡的旅途。

天主赏赐给我们的一切都是圣善的，美好的。如同祂曾赏赐给了我们的原祖父母在地堂中享受一切福乐。但由于原祖父母的背命，使我们在出离母胎时，便沾染上了原罪。爱我们的天主愿意我们能因祂的无限慈悲，重新获得那因原罪失去了原先天主的义子义女应该佩带上的义德。因而，祂派遣了祂的唯一子，我们主，天主，耶稣基督，降生的天主圣言。我们通过祂的宣讲，看到祂的亲身实践，以及祂为将我们从魔鬼的奴役中拯救出来，为了与我们与天父重新修好而在十字架上的自我牺牲，使我们因祂所行的一切，与天父和祂所创造的世界重修旧好。

今天，天主要求我们效法圣多玛斯·阿奎那的德表，向世界传播天主圣言的种子，以祈祷和与天主圣言相称的行动，灌溉那种在我们众人心中的种子，使这种子结出丰硕的果实。因此，让我们向天主祈求说：

天主，祢使圣多玛斯·阿奎那因他对圣洁的热忱，因他对神圣教义的研究，超群出众。我们恳求祢：使我们能理解他的教导，效法他的德表。藉着祢的子，我们的主耶稣基督，祢和祂及圣神，是天主，永生永王。亚孟。

©全属于祢 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Gospel: Mark 4:1-20
The Sower

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas. As we know, Saint Thomas Aquinas is known as the Angelic Doctor. He marvelously expounded the Divine Word and revealed the nature of God through his “Summa Theologiae.”

Today’s passage from the Gospel of Saint Mark recounts how Jesus told the Parable of the Sower to His followers and subsequently explained its meaning in conversation with the Apostles. From His narrative, we observe a frequently recurring word: seed. The seed represents the smallest form of life and, more profoundly, the relationship between the Divine Word of God and this world. For the Divine Word of God often appears among us in the most unobtrusive forms and, now deemed appropriate by God, opens the door for us to approach Him, enabling us to embark on a journey alongside Him toward our heavenly homeland.

All that God has bestowed upon us is holy and good, just as He once bestowed upon our first parents, allowing them to enjoy all blessings in the Garden of Eden. However, due to the disobedience of our first parents, we are stained with original sin at the moment of our birth. God, who loves us, desires that through His infinite mercy, we may regain the righteousness that was lost due to original sin, a righteousness that the adopted sons and daughters of God should originally possess. Therefore, He sent His only Son, our Lord, God, Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God. Through His proclamation, His personal practice, and His self-sacrifice on the cross to save us from the bondage of the devil and to reconcile us with the Heavenly Father, we are enabled, through all that He has done, to be reconciled with the Heavenly Father and the world He created.

Today, God calls upon us to emulate the virtuous example of Saint Thomas Aquinas, to sow the seeds of God’s Word throughout the world, and to nourish those seeds within our hearts through prayer and actions befitting God’s Word, so that they may bear abundant fruit. Therefore, let us pray to God, saying:

O God, who made Saint Thomas Aquinas outstanding in his zeal for holiness and his study of sacred doctrine, grant us, we pray, that we may understand what he taught and imitate what he accomplished. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica