Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 09-10-07

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 09-10-07 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

September 10, 2007

Monday of the Twenty-third Week                                     in Ordinary Time Psalm: Monday 33

Reading 1 Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading 1
Col 1:24–2:3

Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his Body, which is the Church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
For this I labor and struggle,
in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you
and for those in Laodicea
and all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are brought together in love,
to have all the richness of assured understanding,
for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 62:6-7, 9

R. (8) In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. In God is my safety and my glory.

Gospel
Lk 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up and stand before us.”
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

[Salvation]

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From: Colossians 1:24-2:3

Paul’s response to his calling

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[24] Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what
is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, [25] of
which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me
for you, to make the word of God fully known, [26] the mystery hidden for ages
and generations but now made manifest to his saints. [27] To them God chose
to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this
mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [28] Him we proclaim, warning
every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man
mature in Christ. [29] For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily
inspires within me.

St. Paul’s concern for the faithful

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[1] For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at Laodicea,
and for all who have not seen my face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged as
they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and
the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, [3] in whom are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.

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Commentary:

24. Jesus Christ our Lord perfectly accomplished the work the Father gave him to
to (cf. Jn 17:4); as he said himself when he was about to die, “It is finished”, it is
accomplished (Jn 19:30).

>From that point onwards objective redemption is an accomplished fact. All men
have been saved by the redemptive death of Christ. However, St Paul says that
he completes in his flesh “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”; what does he
mean by this? The most common explanation of this statement is summarized by
St Alphonsus as follows: “Can it be that Christ’s passion alone was insufficient to
save us? It left nothing more to be done, it was entirely sufficient to save all men.
However, for the merits of the Passion to be applied to us, according to St.
Thomas (Summa theologiae, III, q. 49, a. 3), we need to cooperate (subjective
redemption) by patiently bearing the trials God sends us, so as to become like our
head, Christ” (St Alphonsus, Thoughts on the Passion, 10).

St Paul is applying this truth to himself. Jesus Christ worked and strove in all
kinds of ways to communicate his message of salvation, and then he accomp-
lished the redemption by dying on the Cross. The Apostle is mindful of the
Master’s teaching and so he follows in his footsteps (cf. 1 Pet 2:21), takes up his
cross 9cf. Mt 10:38) and continues the task of bringing Christ’s teaching to all
men.

Faith in the fact that we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, John Paul II says,
gives a person “the certainty that in the spiritual dimension of the work of Redemp-
tion he is serving, like Christ, the salvation of his brothers and sisters. Therefore
he is carrying out an irreplaceable service. In the Body of Christ, which is cease-
lessly born of the Cross of the Redeemer, it is precisely suffering permeated by
the spirit of Christ’s sacrifice that is the irreplaceable mediator and author of the
good things which are indispensable for the world’s salvation. It is suffering, more
than anything else, which clears the way for the grace which transforms human
souls. Suffering, more than anything else, makes present in the history of
humanity the force of the Redemption” (Salvifici doloris, 27).

26-27. The “mystery”, now revealed, is God’s eternal plan to give salvation to
men, both Jews and Gentiles, making all without distinction co-heirs of glory and
members of a single body which is the Church (cf. Eph 3:6), through faith in Jesus
Christ (cf. Rom 15:25-26).

In Christ, who has brought salvation to Gentile and Jew, the “mystery” is fully
revealed. His presence in Christians of Gentile origin is in fact a very clear mani-
festation of the supernatural fruitfulness of the “mystery” and an additional ground
for Christians’ hope. Thanks to this presence people who do not form part of
Israel are enabled to attain salvation. Previously subject to the power of darkness
and slaves of sin (vv. 13-14), the have now died to sin through Baptism (cf. Rom
6:2-3) and Christ, through grace, dwells in their hearts (on the salvific “mystery”,
cf. notes on Eph 1:13-14 and Eph 1:9, and “Introduction to the letters of St Paul”
in The Navarre Bible: Romans and Galatians, pp. 32-33).

In his infinite love Christ lives in us through faith and grace, through prayer and
the sacraments. Also, “he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he
has promised ‘where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the
midst of them’ (Mt 18:20)” (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7).

“Christ stays in his Church, its sacraments, its liturgy, its preaching – in all that it
does. In a special way Christ stays with us in the daily offering of the Blessed
Eucharist […]. The presence of Christ in the host is the guarantee, the source
and the culmination of his presence in the world.

“Christ is alive in Christians. Our faith teaches us that man, in the state of grace,
is divinized – filled with God. We are men and women, not angels. We are flesh
and blood, people with sentiments and passions, with sorrows and joys. And this
divinization affects everything human; it is a sort of foretaste of the final resurrec-
tion” (J. Escriva, Christ is passing by, 102-103).

28. “In all wisdom”: St Paul is exhorting and teaching each and every one, com-
municating wisdom, the true teaching of Jesus Christ. The text clearly shows St
Paul’s conviction that he is a faithful transmitter of teachings revealed by God.
Possessed of such wisdom he is confident that he can lead his disciples to
Christian perfection.

2-3. The term “mystery”, which St Paul uses on other occasions (cf. 1:26; Eph
1:9), refers in this verse expressly to Christ: Christ is the complete manifestation
of the divine plan or “mystery” designed to bring about the salvation of mankind.
The name Jesus means Saviour and indicates his principal mission – to save the
people of Israel (and through them all mankind) from their sins (cf. Mt 1:21).

The assertion that in Christ “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” is
based on the fact that Christ – God made man – is the incarnation of divine Wis-
dom itself, for Wisdom is one of the names applied in Sacred Scripture to the
second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Hence St Athanasius’ comment that “God
no longer chose to make himself known, as in times past, by the reflection and
shadow of wisdom to be seen in created things: he determined that Wisdom it-
self, in person, should become incarnate, should be made man and suffer death
on the cross, so that from then on all the faithful might attain salvation through
faith grounded on the cross” (Oratio II contra Arianos).

The infinite richness of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ means that medi-
tation on his life and his teachings is an inexhaustible source of nourishment for
the life of the soul. “There are great depths to be fathomed in Christ. For he is
like an abandoned mine with many recesses containing treasures, of which, for all
that men try to fathom them, the end and bottom is never reached; rather in each
recess men continue to find new veins of new riches on all sides” (St. John of the
Cross, Spiritual Canticle, 37, 3).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

From: Luke 6:6-11

The Cure of a Man with a Withered Hand

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[6] On another Sabbath, when He (Jesus) entered the synagogue and taught,
a man was there whose right hand was withered. [7] And the scribes and the
Pharisees watched Him, to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so
that they might find an accusation against Him. [8] But He knew their thoughts,
and He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.”
And he rose and stood there. [9] And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful
on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” [10] And
He looked around on them all, and said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he
did so, and his hand was restored. [11] But they were filled with fury and
discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

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Commentary:

10. The Fathers teach us how to discover a deep spiritual meaning in apparently
casual things Jesus says. St. Ambrose, for example, commenting on the phrase
“Stretch out your hand,” says: “This form of medicine is common and general.
Offer it often, in benefit of your neighbor; defend from injury anyone who seems to
be suffering as a result of calumny; stretch your hand out also to the poor man who
asks for your help; stretch it out also to the Lord asking Him to forgive your sins;
that is how you should stretch your hand out, and that is the way to be cured”
(”Expositio Evangelii sec. Lucam, in loc”.).

11. The Pharisees do not want to reply to Jesus’ question and do not know how
to react to the miracle which He goes on to work. It should have converted them,
but their hearts were in darkness and they were full of jealousy and anger. Later
on, these people, who kept quiet in our Lord’s presence, began to discuss Him
among themselves, not with a view to approaching Him again but with the purpose
of doing away with Him. In this connection St. Cyril comments: “O Pharisee,
you see Him working wonders and healing the sick by using a higher power, yet
out of envy you plot His death” (”Commentarium in Lucam, in loc.”).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

 

September Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Due to her feast day on September 15, the month of September has traditionally been set aside to honor Our Lady of Sorrows. All the sorrows of Mary (the prophecy of Simeon, the three days' loss, etc.) are merged in the supreme suffering at the Passion. In the Passion, Mary suffered a martyrdom of the heart because of Our Lord's torments and the greatness of her love for Him. "She it was," says Pope Pius XII, "who immune from all sin, personal or inherited, and ever more closely united with her Son, offered Him on Golgotha to the Eternal Father together with the holocaust of her maternal rights and motherly love. As a new Eve, she made this offering for all the children of Adam contaminated through his unhappy fall. Thus she, who was the mother of our Head according to the flesh, became by a new title of sorrow and glory the spiritual mother of all His members."

INVOCATIONS
Mary most sorrowful, Mother of Christians, pray for us.
Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.

TO THE QUEEN OF MARTYRS
Mary, most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, accept the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into thy heart, pierced by so many swords, do thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as the companion of thy sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for the redemption of the world. With thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly suffer all the trials, contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please our Lord to send me. I offer them all to thee in memory of thy sorrows, so that every thought of my mind, and every beat of my heart may be an act of compassion and of love for thee. And do thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me, reconcile me to thy divine Son Jesus, keep me in His grace, and assist me in my last agony, so that I may be able to meet thee in heaven and sing thy glories. Amen.

TO THE MOTHER OF SORROWS
Most holy Virgin. and Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never-ending joy at His triumph; obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the adversities of Holy Church and the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

IN HONOR OF THE SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
O most holy and afflicted Virgin! Queen of Martyrs! thou who didst stand motionless beneath the Cross, witnessing the agony of thy expiring Son--through the unceasing sufferings of thy life of sorrow, and the bliss which now more than amply repays thee for thy past trials, look down with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before thee to venerate thy dolors, and place my requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of thy wounded heart; present them, I beseech thee, on my behalf, to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred death and passion, together with thy sufferings at the foot of the cross, and through the united efficacy of both obtain the grant of my present petition. To whom shall I resort in my wants and miseries if not to thee, O Mother of Mercy, who, having so deeply drunk of the chalice of thy Son, canst compassionate the woes of those who still sigh in the land of exile? Offer for me to my Savior one drop of the Blood which flowed from His sacred veins, one of the tears which trickled from His divine eyes, one of the sighs which rent His adorable Heart. O refuge of the universe and hope of the whole world, do not reject my humble prayer, but graciously obtain the grant of my petition.

TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS
O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and the death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforward all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object. Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate Mother of God. Amen.    --Saint Bonaventure

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

 

Lord, have mercy on us.        Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God, the Father of heaven,  God the Son, Redeemer of the world, . God the Holy Ghost,  Holy Mary, Mother of God,  Holy Virgin of virgins,  Mother of the Crucified,  Sorrowful Mother,  Mournful Mother,  Sighing Mother,  Afflicted Mother,  Foresaken Mother, . Desolate Mother,  Mother most sad,  Mother set around with anguish,  Mother overwhelmed by grief,  Mother transfixed by a sword,  Mother crucified in thy heart,  Mother bereaved of thy Son,  Sighing Dove,  Mother of Dolors,  Fount of tears,  Sea of bitterness,  Field of tribulation,  Mass of suffering,  Mirror of patience,  Rock of constancy,  Remedy in perplexity,  Joy of the afflicted,  Ark of the desolate,  Refuge of the abandoned,. Shiled of the oppressed,  Conqueror of the incredulous,  Solace of the wretched,  Medicine of the sick,  Help of the faint,  Strength of the weak,  Protectress of those who fight,  Haven of the shipwrecked,  Calmer of tempests,  Companion of the sorrowful,  Retreat of those who groan,  Terror of the treacherous,  Standard-bearer of the Martyrs,  Treasure of the Faithful,  Light of Confessors,  Pearl of Virgins, . Comfort of Widows, . Joy of all Saints,  Queen of thy Servants, Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled, Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,	Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray, --- O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end,  Amen.
The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady 1. The Prophecy of Simeon  2. The Flight into Egypt . 3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple  4. Mary meets Jesus Carrying the Cross  5. The Crucifixion 6. Mary Receives the Dead Body of Her Son 7. The Burial of Her Son and Closing of the Tomb.
Consecration to Our Lady of Sorrows Most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, Mary, would that I could be in Heaven, there to contemplate the honors rendered to thee by the Most Holy Trinity and by the whole Heavenly Court! But since I am still a pilgrim in this vale of tears, receive from me, thy unworthy servant and a poor sinner, the most sincere homage and the most perfect act of vassalage a human creature can offer thee.  In thy Immaculate Heart, pierced with so many swords of sorrow, I place today my poor soul forever; receive me as a partaker in thy dolors, and never suffer that I should depart from that Cross on which thy only begotten Son expired for me.  With thee, O Mary, I will endure all the sufferings, contradictions, infirmities, with which it will please thy Divine Son to visit me in this life. All of them I offer to thee, in memory of the Dolors which thou didst suffer during thy life, that every thought of my mind, every beating of my heart may henceforward be an act of compassion to thy Sorrows, and of complacency for the glory thou now enjoyest in Heaven.  Since then, O Dear Mother, I now compassionate thy Dolors, and rejoice in seeing thee glorified, do thou also have compassion on me, and reconcile me to thy Son Jesus, that I may become thy true and loyal son (daughter); come on my last day and assist me in my last agony, even as thou wert present at the Agony of thy Divine Son Jesus, that from this painful exile I may go to Heaven, there to be made partaker of thy glory. Amen.

 

Homilies on Our Lady of Sorrows

Starkenburg:Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine

Our Mother of Sorrows

ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI, OF THE DOLOURS OF MARY, The Glories [Sorrows] of Mary

Our Lady of Sorrows - Sep 15

[Salvation]

Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

Mass Readings

First reading

Colossians 1:24 - 2:3 ©

It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints. It was God’s purpose to reveal it to them and to show all the rich glory of this mystery to pagans. The mystery is Christ among you, your hope of glory: this is the Christ we proclaim, this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ. It is for this I struggle wearily on, helped only by his power driving me irresistibly. Yes, I want you to know that I do have to struggle hard for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for so many others who have never seen me face to face. It is all to bind you together in love and to stir your minds, so that your understanding may come to full development, until you really know God’s secret in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 61

Gospel

Luke 6:6 - 11 ©

On another sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ And he came out and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I put it to you: is it against the law on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?’ Then he looked round at them all and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand’. He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus.

[Salvation]

Office of Readings and Invitatory Prayer

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

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A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 49 (50)

True reverence for the Lord

The Lord, the God of gods has spoken;
 he has summoned the whole earth, from east to west.
God has shone forth from Sion in her great beauty.
 Our God will come, and he will not be silent.
Before him, a devouring fire;
 around him, a tempest rages.

He will call upon the heavens above, and on the earth, to judge his people.
“Bring together before me my chosen ones, who have sealed my covenant with sacrifice”.
The heavens will proclaim his justice; for God is the true judge.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Psalm 49 (50)

Listen, my people, and I will speak;
 Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
I will not reproach you with your sacrifices,
 for your burnt offerings are always before me.
But I will not accept calves from your houses,
 nor goats from your flocks.

For all the beasts of the forests are mine,
 and in the hills, a thousand animals.
All the birds of the air – I know them.
 Whatever moves in the fields – it is mine.

If I am hungry, I will not tell you;
 for the whole world is mine, and all that is in it.
Am I to eat the flesh of bulls,
 or drink the blood of goats?

Offer a sacrifice to God – a sacrifice of praise;
 to the Most High, fulfil your vows.
Then you may call upon me in the time of trouble:
 I will rescue you, and you will honour me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

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Psalm 49 (50)

To the sinner, God has said this:

Why do you recite my statutes?
 Why do you dare to speak my covenant?
For you hate what I teach you,
 and reject what I tell you.

The moment you saw a thief, you joined him;
 you threw in your lot with adulterers.
You spoke evil with your mouth,
 and your tongue made plans to deceive.
Solemnly seated, you denounced your own brother;
 you poured forth hatred against your own mother’s son.

All this you did, and I was silent;
 so you thought that I was just like you.
But I will reprove you –
 I will confront you with all you have done.

Understand this, you who forget God;
 lest I tear you apart, with no-one there to save you.
Whoever offers up a sacrifice of praise gives me true honour;
 whoever follows a sinless path in life will be shown the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Reading

Jeremiah 42:1 - 43:7 ©

Then all the army leaders, with Johanan son of Kareah and Azariah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from least to greatest, approached the prophet Jeremiah and said, ‘May it please you to hear our request! Intercede with the Lord your God for all this remnant – and how few we are who once were so many, your own eyes can now see – so that the Lord your God may show us the way we are to go and what we must do.’ The prophet Jeremiah replied, ‘I hear you; and I will indeed pray to the Lord your God as you ask; and every word the Lord your God replies I will tell you, keeping nothing back from you’. They in their turn said to Jeremiah, ‘May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not follow the instructions that the Lord your God sends us through you. Whether we like it or not, we mean to obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you to speak for us, and by thus obeying the voice of the Lord our God we will prosper.’ Ten days later the word of the Lord was addressed to Jeremiah. He then summoned Johanan son of Kareah and all the army leaders who were with him, and all the people from least to greatest. He said, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you delegated me to offer your request says this: “If you are willing to remain peaceably in this country, I will build you and not overthrow you; I will plant you, not tear you up. For I am sorry for the evil I have done you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon any longer; do not fear him – it is the Lord who speaks – for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hands. I will take pity on you, and move him to pity you and let you return to your native soil. But if you say: We do not want to stay in this country; if you disobey the voice of the Lord your God, and say: No, the land of Egypt is where we want to go, where we shall not see war nor hear the sound of trumpet, nor lack for bread; that is where we want to live; in that case, remnant of Judah, listen to the word of the Lord. The Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: If you are determined to go to Egypt, and if you do go and settle there, the sword you fear will overtake you, there in the land of Egypt; the famine you dread will follow on your heels, right into Egypt; you shall die there. Despite this, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army leaders and all the people would not obey the voice of the Lord and stay in the land of Judah. Johanan son of Kareah and all the army leaders led off the entire remnant of Judah, those who had come back from all the nations into which they had been dispersed, to live in the land of Judah: men, women, children, the royal princesses too, and every single person entrusted to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, by Nebuzaradan, commander of the guard; they also led off the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch son of Neriah. And so, disregarding the voice of the Lord, they reached the land of Egypt and arrived at Tahpanhes.

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Reading	A sermon by Pope St Leo the Great
Whoever loves your law will have abundant peace
The blessedness of seeing God is justly promised to the pure of heart. For the eye that is unclean would not be able to see the brightness of the true light, and what would be happiness to clear minds would be a torment to those that are defiled. Therefore, let the mists of worldly vanities be dispelled, and the inner eye be cleansed of all the filth of wickedness, so that the soul’s gaze may feast serenely upon the great vision of God. It is to the attainment of this goal that the next words refer: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This blessedness, dearly beloved, does not derive from any casual agreement or from any and every kind of harmony, but it pertains to what the Apostle says: Be at peace before the Lord, and to the words of the prophet: Those who love your law shall enjoy abundant peace; for them it is no stumbling block. Even the most intimate bonds of friendship and the closest affinity of minds cannot truly lay claim to this peace if they are not in agreement with the will of God. Alliances based on evil desires, covenants of crime and pacts of vice – all lie outside the scope of this peace. Love of the world cannot be reconciled with love of God, and the man who does not separate himself from the children of this generation cannot join the company of the sons of God. But those who keep God ever in their hearts, and are anxious to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, never dissent from the eternal law as they speak the prayer of faith. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. These then are the peacemakers; they are bound together in holy harmony and are rightly given the heavenly title of sons of God, co-heirs with Christ. And this is the reward they will receive for their love of God and neighbour: when their struggle with all temptation is finally over, there will be no further adversities to suffer or scandal to fear; but they will rest in the peace of God undisturbed, through our Lord who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

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Concluding Prayer

O God, you have redeemed us and adopted us.
Grant to your beloved children
 that their belief in Christ
 may bring them true liberty and an eternal inheritance.

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.

[Salvation]

Monday, September 10, 2007
Feria

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Colossians 1:24 -- 2:3 Psalm 62:6-7, 9 Luke 6:6-11 I no longer desire to live a purely human life. Make this your choice if you yourselves would be chosen. -- St. Ignatius of Antioch

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings (on USCCB site):
» September 10, 2007
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Collect: Lord God, give us the strength and love of the heart of your Son that, by becoming one with him, we may have eternal salvation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

« September 10, 2007 »

Monday of the Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: St. Nicholas of Tolentino, confessor

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  • » September Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows
    » Collect for the Feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino
    

St. Nicholas of Tolentino, a native of Sant' Angelo, in the diocese of Fermo, was born about the year 1245. As a young man, but already endowed with a canon's stall, he was one day greatly affected by a sermon preached by a Hermit of St. Augustine and decided to enter this newly-founded Order. At first he lived at the hermitage of Pesaro and then at Tolentino where he died in 1305. His whole life was remarkable for its great austerity which was inspired by his great love of the cross. Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was his feast.

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St. Nicholas of Tolentino
This Nicholas was born in answer to his mother's prayers. Childless and in middle age, she had made a pilgrimage with her husband to the shrine of St. Nicholas of Bari to ask for a son whom she promised to dedicate to God's service. When her wish was granted, she named the boy Nicholas and he soon gave unusual signs of saintliness. Already at seven he would hide away in a nearby cave and pray there like the hermits whom he had observed in the mountains.

As soon as he was old enough he was received into the Order of Augustinian friars. On account of his kind and gentle manner his superiors entrusted him with the daily feeding of the poor at the monastery gates, but at times he was so free with the friary's provisions that the procurator begged the superior to check his generosity. He was ordained in 1271 and said his first Mass with exceptional fervor; thereafter, whenever he celebrated the holy Mystery he seemed aglow with the fire of his love. His preaching, instructions and work in the confessional brought about numerous conversions, and his many miracles were responsible for more, yet he was careful not to take any credit for these miracles. "Say nothing of this," he would insist, "give thanks to God, not to me. I am only a vessel of clay, a poor sinner."

He spent the last thirty years of his life in Tolentino, where the Guelfs and the Ghibellines were in constant strife. Nicholas saw only one remedy to the violence: street preaching, and the success of this apostolic work was astounding. "He spoke of the things of heaven," says his biographer St. Antonine. "Sweetly he preached the divine word, and the words that came from his lips fell like flames of fire. Among his hearers could be seen the tears and heard the sighs of people detesting their sins and repenting of their past lives."

During the last years of his life St. Nicholas was bedridden and suffered grievously. He died surrounded by his community. In 1345 a lay Brother cut off the arms of his body intending to take them to Germany as relics, and the friars then hid his body to prevent further attempts of this kind. It has not been found to this day, but the arms have been preserved. It is recorded that they have bled on several occasions, usually, it is said, before some calamity that befell the Church or the world.

Excerpted from A Saint A Day by Berchman's Bittle, O.F.M. Cap.

Patron: Lost souls; mariners; infants; animals; dying people; souls in purgatory.

Symbols: Crucifix and wreath of lilies; flaming star; doves and dish; partridge; fountain; basket with bread rolls; bread; lily; man in black Augustinian habit holding one of the symbols; star above Augustinian; Augustinian with star on breast.

Things to Do:

• A single phrase from a sermon effected St. Nicholas' conversion and made him a saint. An excellent example of the power of God's word! Christ once said, "Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." In other terms: Bread nourishes one's physical life, the word of God nourishes one's supernatural life. Recall the parable of the sower about the seed that fell on good ground and produced abundant returns-a parable explained by Jesus Himself. The seed is the word of God. This point is particularly important. The word of God is seed containing limitless vitality. It does not yet live, but requires the good earth to burst into life, to become a living, growing plant. Spend some time today meditating on the words of the Gospel and praying that God will bring similar fruit from your life and make you a saint.

• Read other accounts of St. Nicholas' life here and here.

• St. Nicholas had a great love for the Holy Souls. He would offer Mass, pray and do penance for them so they could more quickly enter Heaven. Why not offer up a Mass or pray the Rosary today.

• The Convento di San Nicola located in the center of the beautiful town of Tolentino is a very popular place of pilgrimage. It has one of the most important fresco cycles of the 1300s, painted by the Master of Tolentino. There are also many excellent paintings in the elegant baroque basilica, a memorable cloister, the cell where St. Nicholas of Tolentino lived, and an interesting museum containing some fine ceramics. St. Nicholas is buried in the crypt. If you read Italian or if you just like to look at photographs you might find this site about the Basilica of St. Nicholas interesting.

[Salvation]

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 83 (84)

Longing for the Lord's temple

How delightful is your dwelling-place, Lord of hosts!
 My soul is weak with longing for the courts of your palace.
 My heart and my body rejoice in the living God.
Even the sparrow finds itself a home,
 the swallow a nest to raise her young –
 in your altars, O Lord,
 Lord of strength, my king and my God.
Blessed are they who dwell in your house:
 they will praise you for ever.

Blessed the man whose help comes from you,
 who has set his heart on reaching you.
They pass through the valley of thirst
 and make a spring there:
 the morning rain will cover it with blessings.
They will go from strength to strength:
 they will see the God of gods, in Sion.

Lord God of hosts, listen to my prayer;
 hear me, O God of Jacob.
Take notice of us, God our protector,
 and look on the face of your anointed one.

One day in the courts of my God
 is worth more than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be at the doorstep of the house of my God
 than live in the dwellings of sinners.

For the Lord my God is my sun and my shield.
 The Lord gives grace and glory.
He will not deny his good things
 to those who walk in purity.
Blessed is he who trusts in you,
 O Lord of hosts.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Canticle	Isaiah 2
The mountain of the house of the Lord
In the last days, at the end of time,  the mountain of the house of the Lord  will be prepared high above all mountains. It will be raised above the hills  and all nations will come to it. And many peoples will come there and say  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,  to the house of the God of Jacob. Let him teach us his ways,  so that we may walk in his paths”. For from Sion the law will go forth,  from Jerusalem the word of the Lord. And he will judge the nations  and rebuke many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares  and their spears into sickles. Nation will lift sword against nation no longer.  No longer will they go out into battle. People of Jacob, come:  let us walk in the light of the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

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Psalm 95 (96)

The Lord, the universal King and judge

Sing a new song to the Lord,
 sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
 day after day, proclaim his saving power.
Proclaim his glory to the nations,
 proclaim to all peoples the wonders he has done.

For the Lord is great; great is the praise we owe him,
 he is to be feared above all gods.
The gods of the nations are foolishness,
 but the Lord made the heavens.
Majesty and splendour are all about him,
 power and honour in his holy place.

Bring to the Lord, clans of the peoples,
 bring to the Lord glory and power,
 bring to the Lord the glory that belongs to his name.
Bring your offerings, enter his courts,
 worship the Lord in holy attire.
Tremble at his presence, all the earth.
 Say to the nations: “The Lord reigns!”.
For he has set the world firm, so that it cannot be shaken,
 and he will judge the peoples with fairness.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad,
 let the sea and its fulness resound.
The fields will rejoice, and all that is in them,
 all the trees of the woods will rejoice
 at the Lord’s presence – for he comes,
 for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge all the world with justice.
 He will judge all the peoples with fairness.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Short reading	James 2:12 - 13 ©
Talk and behave like people who are going to be judged by the law of freedom, because there will be judgement without mercy for those who have not been merciful themselves; but the merciful need have no fear of judgement.

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Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

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Prayers and Intercessions

?

God put mankind into the world to work together and thereby give him glory. We beg him: - Lord, make us reflect your glory. God and Creator, we bless you for giving us the good things of the world to support and sustain our lives. Look with favour on us as we start our daily work: may we work with you and according to your will. Make what we do today bear good fruit for our brethren: with them and for them may we build an earthly city that is pleasing to you. Be close to us and everyone we meet today: give us the gift of joy and peace.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

Lord God, King of heaven and earth, guide and sanctify, rule and govern our hearts and our bodies, our feelings, words and actions, according to your law and following your commandments.
 With your help, in this world and the next,
 may we deserve to receive freedom and salvation.

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.

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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

Vultus Christi

A Little Bit of Heaven Present on Earth

Monday of the Twenty-Third Week of the Year I
Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Good Counsel

Colossians 1:24–2:3
Psalm 61:5-6, (R. 7a)
Luke 6:6-11

Warning and Teaching

After listening to the teachings of the Holy Father over the past three days, it occurred to me that what Saint Paul says concerning himself in today’s First Reading applies also, by the grace of God, to Pope Benedict XVI:

“We proclaim Christ in you, the hope of glory,
warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man mature in Christ.
For this I toil,
striving with all the energy
which he mightily inspires within me” (Col 1:28-29).

To Present Every Man Mature in Christ

For the past three days the Holy Father has given himself tirelessly to an intense proclamation of Christ, the Hope of Glory. He called upon all Catholics, and not just those of Austria, to fix their gaze upon the Face of Christ and upon His open Heart. He warned every man. He taught every man in all wisdom. His teaching addressed all the members of the Church: bishops, priests, deacons, religious, monks, nuns, and lay faithful. His desire was none other than that of the Apostle: to present every man mature in Christ.

The Thoughts of God’s Spirit

Like Jesus teaching in the synagogue, there were those who watched the Holy Father “so that they might find an accusation against him” (Lk 6:7). The secular media, largely hostile to all things Catholic, cannot be trusted to provide objective coverage of the Holy Father. In First Corinthians Saint Paul says: “Mere man with his natural gifts cannot take in the thoughts of God’s Spirit; they seem mere folly to him, and he cannot grasp them, because they demand a scrutiny which is spiritual. Whereas the man who has spiritual gifts can scrutinize everything, without being subject himself, to any other man’s scrutiny” (1 Cor:15-16).

Yesterday evening, the Holy Father closed his apostolic journey with a visit to the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz. There he pronounced a discourse that was nothing less than his Charter for Monastic Life in the Third Millennium. Pope Benedict XVI addresses point by point the substance of Benedictine life for this generation and for all generations to come. It is a text that one needs to read on bended knee with profound humility and docility.

Here are just a few highlights of his discourse:

I wished to come to this place so rich in history in order to draw attention to the fundamental directive of Saint Benedict…. Quite simply, Benedict insisted that “nothing be put before the Divine Office.”

For this reason, in a monastery of Benedictine spirit, the praise of God, which the monks sing as a solemn choral prayer, always has priority. Monks are certainly not the only people who pray; others also pray: children, the young and the old, men and women, the married and the single – all Christians pray. Or at least, they should!

In the life of monks, however, prayer takes on a particular importance: it is the heart of their calling. Their vocation is to be men of prayer. In the patristic period the monastic life was likened to the life of the angels. It was considered the essential mark of the angels that they are adorers. Their very life is adoration. This should hold true also for monks. Monks pray first and foremost not for any specific intention, but simply because God is worthy of being praised.

Our light, our truth, our goal, our fulfilment, our life – all this is not a religious doctrine but a person: Jesus Christ. Over and above any ability of our own to seek and to desire God, we ourselves have already been sought and desired, and indeed, found and redeemed by him! The roving gaze of people of every time and nation, of all the philosophies, religions and cultures, encounters the wide open eyes of the crucified and risen Son of God; his open heart is the fullness of love.

The core of monasticism is adoration – living like the angels. But since monks are people of flesh and blood on this earth, Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard added to the central command: “pray,” a second command: “work.” In the mind of Saint Benedict, part of monastic life, along with prayer, is work: the cultivation of the land in accordance with the Creator’s will. Thus in every age monks, setting out from their gaze upon God, have made the earth live-giving and lovely.

Your primary service to this world must therefore be your prayer and the celebration of the Divine Office. The interior disposition of each priest, and of each consecrated person, must be that of “putting nothing before the Divine Office.” The beauty of this inner attitude will find expression in the beauty of the liturgy, so that wherever we join in singing, praising, exalting and worshipping God, a little bit of heaven will become present on earth. Truly it would not be presumptuous to say that, in a liturgy completely centred on God, we can see, in its rituals and chant, an image of eternity.

In all our efforts on behalf of the liturgy, the determining factor must always be our looking to God. We stand before God – he speaks to us and we speak to him. Whenever in our thinking we are only concerned about making the liturgy attractive, interesting and beautiful, the battle is already lost. Either it is Opus Dei, with God as its specific subject, or it is not. In the light of this, I ask you to celebrate the sacred liturgy with your gaze fixed on God within the communion of saints, the living Church of every time and place, so that it will truly be an expression of the sublime beauty of the God who has called men and women to be his friends.

The soul of prayer, ultimately, is the Holy Spirit. Whenever we pray, it is he who “helps us in our weakness, interceding for us with sighs too deep for words” (Rom 8:26).

As a spiritual oasis, a monastery reminds today’s world of the most important, and indeed, the only decisive thing: that there is an ultimate reason why life is worth living: God and his unfathomable love.

But just as a liturgy which no longer looks to God is already in its death throes, so too a theology which no longer draws its life-breath from faith ceases to be theology; it ends up as a array of more or less loosely connected disciplines. But where theology is practised “on bended knee,” as Hans Urs von Balthasar urged, it will prove fruitful for the Church.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Bernard, who entered the monastery along with thirty of his companions, is a kind of patron saint of vocations. Perhaps it was because of his particular devotion to Our Lady that he exercised such a compelling and infectious influence on his many young contemporaries called by God. Where Mary is, there is the archetype of total self-giving and Christian discipleship. Where Mary is, there is the pentecostal breath of the Holy Spirit; there is new beginning and authentic renewal.

In the words of Saint Bernard, I invite everyone to become a trusting child before Mary, even as the Son of God did: “Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination.”

Too Late?

When I read the Holy Father’s discourse last evening I was immediately moved to share it. Shortly after I e-mailed it to some priests and others, I received a reply from a friend of mine, a monk belonging to a great Benedictine abbey in the Midwest. This is what he wrote: “Many, many thanks, Father. Indeed, a comfort. For some situations, alas, too late.” Perhaps. But where the power of God and the mercy of God are operative, is it ever too late? It is only too late where hearts have grown hard and lukewarmness has set in, causing souls to resist anything that would stir them from their deadly slumber.

Arise!

When Jesus called the man with the withered hand to stand before him in the synagogue, the man obeyed. “‘Arise, and stand forth in the midst.’ And rising, he stood forth” says Saint Luke (6:8). “And looking round about on them all, he said to the man: ‘Stretch forth thy hand.’ And he stretched it forth: and his hand was restored” (Lk 6:10).

I would want to say to my discouraged Benedictine friend that even a withered monasticism can be restored to vigour, to freshness, and to strength. It is a question of prompt obedience to the word of the Lord. It is a question, too, of taking to heart the Charter of Monastic Life given us yesterday by Pope Benedict XVI. “I call heaven and earth to witness this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose therefore life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Dt 30:19).

Posted by Father Mark on September 10, 2007 4:31 PM | Permalink

[Salvation]

Regnum Christi

Do Good, Always and Everywhere
September 10, 2007



Monday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Father Patrick Butler, LC

Luke 6: 6-11
On a certain Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

Introductory Prayer: You teach us, Lord, the words that give life. Your message applies to me today. Help me to penetrate the personal message that you intend for me. I will strive to be docile to the Holy Spirit so that this meditation might transform me. Seeing how you love others, I hope to be able to imitate you. I desire to become more detailed and concrete in the way I love others.

Petition:Lord, make me a magnanimous, great-hearted person, one who always desires the good of others.

1. Teaching and Doing    When Jesus speaks, he convinces those of good will who are present. The people commented that Jesus spoke convincingly, not like the Pharisees. That’s because Jesus only preached what he was willing to put into practice himself. He practices what he preaches. This is my Teacher and Master, who speaks of compassion and shows it. This is he who lowers himself to washing his followers’ feet at the Last Supper because he wants me to do the same.

2. Doing Good, Regardless of What Others Think    Jesus is omniscient, knowing even what others are thinking. He often chides the Pharisees, because he sees their nitpicking and pettiness. They are guides of the people, yet they stand aloof of their needs, constraining them to follow many rules that they themselves do not fulfill. Jesus sees a person in need whom he can help. Although he sees so many critics around him scrutinizing his words and actions, nothing will keep him from doing this good deed. When I feel the weight of others’ eyes upon me, can I still practice charity regardless of what they think?

3. Saving Life    There is a culture of death and a culture of life in this Gospel. The judgments of the Pharisees make them critical of Jesus to the point of becoming enraged. Eventually, they will plot to kill Jesus. They could care less about the plight of the men Jesus heals. Jesus speaks the words of life in the synagogue. He enriches life through healing. I must learn from Jesus how to be a beacon of light and life amid the divisive culture of egoism and death that surrounds me.

Conversation with Christ: You can see my heart, as you read the hearts of the Pharisees. I also have a tendency to be critical, not always being constructive. Make my heart more like yours, desiring good, being generous despite the criticisms that might come my way.

Resolution: I will strive to perceive the needs of another person today, someone in particular. Then, I will seek to do what I can to help that person, if possible in a way that does not draw attention to myself.

[Salvation]

Imitation of Christ -- Foreword [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ, 1,1 - Imitating Jesus Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1,2, Having A Humble Opinion of Self [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 3, The Doctrine of Truth [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 4, Prudence in Action [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ, 1, 5, Reading the Holy Scripture [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 6, Unbridled Affections [Devotional]

Imitation of Christ: 1, 7, Avoiding False Hope and Pride [Devotional]

[Salvation]

The Core of Monasticism Is Adoration [Catholic Caucus](Homily of Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday

[annalex]

Lk 6:6-11
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
6	And it came to pass also, on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught. And there was a man whose right hand was withered.	factum est autem et in alio sabbato ut intraret in synagogam et doceret et erat ibi homo et manus eius dextra erat arida
7	And the scribes and Pharisees watched if he would heal on the sabbath: that they might find an accusation against him.	observabant autem scribae et Pharisaei si in sabbato curaret ut invenirent accusare illum
8	But he knew their thoughts and said to the man who had the withered hand: Arise and stand forth in the midst. And rising he stood forth.	ipse vero sciebat cogitationes eorum et ait homini qui habebat manum aridam surge et sta in medium et surgens stetit
9	Then Jesus said to them: I ask you, if it be lawful on the sabbath days to do good or to do evil? To save life or to destroy?	ait autem ad illos Iesus interrogo vos si licet sabbato bene facere an male animam salvam facere an perdere
10	And looking round about on them all, he said to the man: Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth. And his hand was restored.	et circumspectis omnibus dixit homini extende manum tuam et extendit et restituta est manus eius
11	And they were filled with madness: and they talked one with another, what they might do to Jesus.	ipsi autem repleti sunt insipientia et conloquebantur ad invicem quidnam facerent Iesu

[annalex]

Healing of the withered hand

The Vehapar Gospel

pre-1081
Erevan, Matenadaran
Armenia

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day
Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.	Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. Printer Friendly Version
What Are You Not Seeing?

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September 9, 2007

Col 1:24-2:3 / Lk 6:6-11

Imagine a man living all his life with a withered hand. People stared at him, his playmates gave him a cruel nickname, and there were all sorts of things he just couldn't do. And then suddenly, after a lifetime of that, he was made whole — in an instant.

Now what would be the normal, healthy reaction to seeing that happen? Wouldn't it be delight? Of course! But that's not what happened in today's gospel. The Pharisees flew into a frenzy because the healing took place on the sabbath. It was a violation of the commandment: keep holy the Lord's day.

Jesus tried to wake them up by asking, "Is it lawful to do a good deed on the Lord's day?" Now we'd assume there's no better time, no better way to keep the day holy. But those Pharisees just didn't get it. Instead, they launched a conspiracy to get Jesus.

It was a case of total blindness: they couldn't see that their actions made no sense. And they couldn't see their own motives, which were plain enough to everyone else.

Blindness like that isn't rare. We see it in various forms all around us. And that should raise some questions about ourselves: What am I not seeing? Are some of my motivations distorted or self-serving? Am I closing my eyes to circumstances in which I habitually do harm? What faults am I hiding under layers of denial?

Those are hard questions, but we all need to ask them fearlessly. We can do that, even in the worst of cases, because we know that Lord who healed the man with the withered hand can heal us too. And he will, if only we name what needs his healing, and give it to him, and don't take it back.

 

[Salvation]

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 122 (123)

The Lord guards his people

To you I lift up my eyes,
 to you who dwell in the heavens.

Like the eyes of a servant watching his master,
 like the eyes of a maid on her mistress’s hands,
 so we keep our eyes on the Lord our God,
 as we wait for his kindness.

Take pity on us, Lord, take pity:
 we have had our fill of contempt.
Our souls have had their fill
 of the laughter of the rich,
 of the contempt of the proud.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Psalm 123 (124)

Our help is in the name of the Lord

If the Lord had not been with us
 (so let Israel sing),
If the Lord had not been with us
 when men rose up against us,
they might have skinned us alive,
 such was their anger.
The waters could have drowned us,
 the torrent poured over us,
 the foaming waters poured over us.

Blessed be the Lord, who saved us
 from being torn to pieces by their teeth.
We have escaped, like a bird
 from the snare of the fowler.
The snare was broken,
 and we escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
 who made heaven and earth.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Canticle	Ephesians 1
God the Saviour
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In love, he chose us before the creation of the world, to be holy and spotless in his sight. He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, simply because it pleased him to do so. This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace, of his free gift of us in his Beloved, in whose blood we have gained redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins. This he did according to the riches of his grace, which he gave us in abundance, with all wisdom and discernment, revealing to us the mysteries of his will, because it pleased him to do so. In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time, to bring all things together in Christ, from the heavens and from the earth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

---

Short reading	James 4:11 - 12 ©
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who slanders a brother, or condemns him, is speaking against the Law and condemning the Law. But if you condemn the Law, you have stopped keeping it and become a judge over it. There is only one lawgiver and he is the only judge and has the power to acquit or to sentence. Who are you to give a verdict on your neighbour?

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Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour –  me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed,  because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy,  his mercy lasts for generation after generation  for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength:  he has scattered the proud and conceited,  torn princes from their thrones;  but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things;  the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel,  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,  to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

---

Prayers and Intercessions

?

It is Christ’s will to lead all men to final salvation. With sincere hearts let us pray to him: - Lord, draw all things to yourself. Blessed are you, Lord: with your precious blood you ransomed us from the slavery of sin: give us the freedom that belongs to the children of glory. Give your grace to our Bishop N., and to all the bishops of your Church may they celebrate your mysteries with ardent joy. To all who seek the truth, grant the joy of finding what they seek, and let them live always according to that truth. Lord, be near to orphans, widows, and all who are abandoned: may they feel your presence and keep always close to you. In your goodness, receive our deceased into your heavenly city, where you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, will be all in all.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

God, you are truly said to be inexhaustible light.
 You have brought us to this hour:
 enlighten our souls and be pleased to forget our sins.

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.

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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Monday, September 10, 2007 Meditation Luke 6:6-11 They became enraged. (Luke 6:11) Why did the Pharisees react so strongly against Jesus’ loving kindness? What was wrong with his healing a man’s hand? The Pharisees were devout Jews who strove to live righteously before God. In fact, they were members of a reform movement within Judaism that took the Mosaic law very seriously and kept it zealously. But some of them—in their efforts to interpret and apply the law with exacting precision to every aspect of life—missed the true spirit and purpose of it. When Jesus restored the man’s hand on the Sabbath, these Pharisees considered his good deed a violation of the commandment against working on the Sabbath. Thus, they were furious. It seems these Pharisees got their priorities mixed up. They made attentiveness to rules and concern for religious practices more important than showing compassion and caring for human needs. For Jesus, pleasing God meant first and foremost acting with love and mercy. With his authority as the Son of God—and “lord of the sabbath” (Luke 6:5)—he showed that helping one another takes priority over religious regulations like the sabbath observance. Doing good and saving life far outweighs pious practices. They should be done day in and day out! Jesus’ “reform” was much deeper than that of the Pharisees: His healings marked a whole new order, the breaking forth of God’s kingdom into the world. Consequently, these Pharisees’ opposition was not just a matter of legalism; it was a refusal to recognize Jesus as God’s emissary, sent to inaugurate the kingdom of God. There is a profound lesson for us here. Without denying the value of the law, Jesus is asking us to focus on following him, not a set of rules. Rather than placing our hope in whether we have observed all the necessary guidelines, Jesus invites us to trust in him and in the power of his Holy Spirit. As we do, we will find a freedom that both fulfills the law and brings the transforming power of God to everyone around us.  “Thank you, Jesus, for the freedom you give us in your Holy Spirit. May your priorities rule in my heart and mind as I follow you and live by your law of love.” Colossians 1:24–2:3; Psalm 62:6-7,9

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Monday, September 10, 2007 >>

Colossians 1:24—2:3

Psalm 62

Luke 6:6-11

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EASY CHAIR

"On another sabbath He came to teach in a synagogue where there was a man whose right hand was withered." —Luke 6:6

 

"The scribes and Pharisees were on the watch to see if He would perform a cure on the sabbath so that they could find a charge against Him" (Lk 6:7). They assumed Jesus would have to work to heal the man with the withered hand and thereby violate the sabbath. Jesus healed the man, but without working. All He did was speak, and all the man did was stand and stretch out his hand (Lk 6:10). Thus although a great healing was performed, there was no violation of the sabbath.

Jesus healed the man effortlessly, but that seemed impossible. The whole Jewish law presumed it required a great effort to obey the 612 commandments of the Old Testament. Worshiping God was also laborious with hundreds, even thousands, of animals sacrificed. The Jewish religion was rightly called a yoke and a burden. Jesus, however, said: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome" (Mt 11:28). "Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light" (Mt 11:29-30).

Jesus offered good news of simple healings and light burdens. He would later do all the work necessary for the salvation of every human being when He died on the cross. Jesus has done the job. His work is finished (Jn 19:30). We can live saved, freed, and healed. Have faith in Jesus' works (Jn 5:36; 14:11).

 

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for making my life worth living.

Promise: "This is the Christ we proclaim while we admonish all men and teach them in the full measure of wisdom, hoping to make every man complete in Christ." —Col 1:28

Praise: Thomas has learned that it is actually harder to fight God's will than to accept it (see Acts 26:14).