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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 07-09-08, Opt. Mem., St. Augustine Zhao Rong & companions
USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 07-09-08 | New American Bible

Posted on 07/08/2008 10:15:25 PM PDT by Salvation

July 9, 2008

                            Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week
                                in Ordinary Time
 
 
 
Reading 1
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel

Reading 1
Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Israel is a luxuriant vine
whose fruit matches its growth.
The more abundant his fruit,
the more altars he built;
The more productive his land,
the more sacred pillars he set up.
Their heart is false,
now they pay for their guilt;
God shall break down their altars
and destroy their sacred pillars.
If they would say,
“We have no king”—
Since they do not fear the LORD,
what can the king do for them?

The king of Samaria shall disappear,
like foam upon the waters.
The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,
the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars.
Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”

“Sow for yourselves justice,
reap the fruit of piety;
break up for yourselves a new field,
for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (4b) Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”




TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; ordinarytime; saints
For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

1 posted on 07/08/2008 10:15:25 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...
Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

Please hold me in your prayers tomorrow at the hour of Mercy, 3:00 pn because I will be having outpatient heart surgery, atrial flutter ablation. More info here -- www.fluttertreatment.com I am also posting two days tonight, because I don't know if the doctor will keep me overnight in the hospital since my surgery is scheduled so late in the day. I'll catch up the threads later.

2 posted on 07/08/2008 10:20:18 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
St. Augustine Zhao Rong and 119 companions, martyrs in China
3 posted on 07/08/2008 10:31:02 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
July Devotion: The Precious Blood

July Devotion: The Precious Blood 
Like the Sacred Wounds of Jesus, His Precious Blood deserves special honor because of its close relation to the Sacred Passion. That honor was given to it from the beginning by the Apostles who praised its redeeming power. (Rom. 5:9 "we are justified by His blood"; Heb. 13:12 "and so Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by His blood, suffered outside the gate"; 1 John 1:7 "and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.") 
The Church has always held devotion to the Precious Blood in high esteem. We continue to recognize and publicly acknowledge the profound indebtedness of the whole human race to Christ, Priest and Victim. 
 
Standing at the foot of the cross, we see Jesus' head, hands, feet, and side pouring out streams of precious blood. It is precious because it: 
·      Redeems us and atones for our sins. Through His precious blood we are reconciled to God, made one with Him. Death ceases to be death and heaven's gates are opened to us.  
·      Cleanses us from all sin.  
·      Preserves us and keeps us safe from the grasp of evil.  When the Father sees us washed in the Blood of the Lamb we are spared.  
·      Comforts us. It is the constant reminder that Jesus - true God and true man suffered and died to save us and to open heaven to us because He loves us.  
·      Sanctifies us.  The same blood that justifies by taking away sin, continues to work within us.  Its action gives us the grace to continue on the path toward the Kingdom of God.  It assists us in achieving our new nature, leading us onward in subduing sin and in following the commands of God.  
Jesus shed His precious blood seven times during His life on earth.  They events were: 
·      Jesus shed His Blood in the Circumcision  
·      Jesus shed His Blood whilst praying in the Garden of Olives  
·      Jesus shed His Blood in the scourging  
·      Jesus shed His Blood in the crowning with thorns  
·      Jesus shed His Blood while carrying His cross  
·      Jesus shed His Blood in the crucifixion  
·      Jesus shed His Blood and water when His side was pierced 
The Power of the Precious Blood 
"I adore You, O Precious Blood of Jesus, flower of creation, fruit of virginity, ineffable instrument of the Holy Spirit, and I rejoice at the thought that You came from the drop of virginal blood on which eternal Love impressed its movement; You were assumed by the Word and deified in His person. I am overcome with emotion when I think of Your passing from the Blessed Virgin's heart into the heart of the Word, and, being vivified by the breath of the Divinity, becoming adorable because You became the Blood of God." (St. Albert the Great)  
 
At their recent meeting, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had continuous Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for "healing and peace."   They encouraged parishes and communities to have ongoing Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  In these dark months of woundedness, pain and violence we need to turn to the Precious Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, for healing, peace, and light.  
"What power we have in the Precious Blood of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist!  He is there to protect us, to be our refuge and our redemption.  (In Exodus 12, God told Moses to have His chosen people mark their door posts with the blood of an unblemished lamb, during the first Passover. Those who did this were spared when the Angel of the death passed by). This is why Archbishop Sheen said that we must call down the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  For, he warned, when we stop calling down the Blood of the Lamb, we start calling down the blood of each other."  (From our book Bread of Life)      
"And the Lamb on the throne will shepherd them. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water" (Rev 7:17). 
"In the tumultuous events of our time, it is important to look to the Eucharist: it must be at the heart of the life of priests and consecrated people; the light and strength of spouses in putting into practice their commitment to fidelity, chastity and the apostolate; the ideal in education and in training children, adolescents and young people; the comfort and support of those who are troubled, of the sick and all who are weeping in the Gethsemane of life."  (Pope John Paul II)  
Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! 
"The only time our Lord asked the Apostles for anything was the night when He went into His agony.  But as often in the history of the church since that time, evil was awake, but the disciples were asleep.  That is why there came out of His anguished and lonely Heart a sigh: 'Could you not watch one hour with Me?'" (Mt 26:40).  Not for an hour of activity did he plead, but for an hour of friendship (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen).  
 
St. Maria Goretti,  Patroness of Youth & Children of Mary, Feast-July 6 St. Maria of Italy (1890-1902), couldn't wait to make her First Communion.  She wanted to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist so that she could become more beautiful and pure like Him; she wanted Him to live in her, close to her heart.  After she received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time, she stayed in Church for a long time after Mass to talk to Him. Maria's family lived with and worked for a farmer. His son Alessandro kept trying to make Maria sin against purity.  One day, when everyone else was working, Alessandro grabbed Maria and tried to make her sin.  Maria kept crying out for him to stop, and each time she did, he stabbed her. Courageously,   Maria resisted him and was stabbed fourteen times. St. Maria died the next day.  
"Look at Maria Goretti....  Like her, be capable of defending your purity of heart and body.  Be committed to the struggle against evil and sin.  Always esteem and love, purity and virginity." (Pope John Paul II, 1990)      
A Prayer for Priests 
O my God, help those priests who are faithful to remain faithful; to those who are falling, stretch forth Your Divine Hand that they may grasp it as their support.  In the great ocean of Your mercy, lift those poor unfortunate ones who have fallen, that being engulfed therein they may receive the grace to return to Your Great Loving Heart.  Amen.  Precious Blood of Jesus, protect them!A
 
menHe
"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you"  (Jn 6:53).  
The Eucharist is the fruit of our Lords Passion. Jesus gave up His Body on the cross so that He may give you His Body in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus poured out His very last drop of Blood on the cross so that He may fill you with His Divine Love each time that you receive Him in Holy Communion and visit Him in Eucharistic Adoration! 
"The Eucharist, in the Mass and outside of the Mass, is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and is therefore deserving of the worship that is given to the living God, and to Him alone" (Pope John Paul II, September 29, 1979, Phoenix Park, Ireland) 
"The bread and wine, fruit of human hands, transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit into the body and blood of Christ, become a pledge of the 'new heaven and new earth,' announced by the Church in her daily mission." "In Christ, whom we adore present in the mystery of the Eucharist, the father uttered his final word with regard to humanity and human history." "To live the Eucharist, it is necessary, as well, to spend much time in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament, something which I myself experience every day drawing from it strength, consolation and assistance."  "How could the Church fulfill her vocation without cultivating a constant relationship with the Eucharist, without nourishing herself with this food which sanctifies, without founding her missionary activity on this indispensable support?" "To evangelize the world there is need of apostles who are 'experts' in the celebration, adoration and contemplation of the Eucharist" (Pope John Paul II, World Mission Message 2004).
 
The Power of the Precious Blood of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist  
"The Precious Blood belongs in an especial manner to men. Much more, therefore, does God invite them to come to its heavenly baths, and receive therein, not only the cleansing of their souls, but the power of a new and amazing life. Every doctrine in theology is a call to the Precious Blood.  Every ceremony in the Church tells of it . . . .  Every supernatural act is a growth of it. Everything that is holy on earth is either a leaf, bud, blossom or fruit of the Blood of Jesus. To its fountains God calls the sinner, that he may be lightened of his burdens. There is no remission of him in anything else.  Only there is his lost sonship to be found. The saints are no less called by God to these invigorating streams. It is out of the Precious Blood that men draw martyrdoms, vocations, celebacies, austerities, heroic charities, and all the magnificent graces of high sanctity.  The secret nourishment of prayer is from those fountains" (Father Faber, The Precious Blood).  

crucify.jpg (4978 bytes)

LITANY OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
  save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,
  save us.
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
  spare us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
  graciously hear us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
  have mercy on us. .
V. You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.
R. And made us, for our God, a kingdom.
Let us pray.
Almighty and Eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood. Grant we beg of You, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood

The Traditional Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Catholic Caucus)

Devotion to the Precious Blood

DOCTRINE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,And More on the Precious Blood

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

NOTHING IS MORE POTENT AGAINST EVIL THAN PLEADING THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST

FORMER PENTECOSTAL RELATES MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

St.Gaspar:Founder of the Society of the Precious Blood[AKA The Hammer of Freemasons]

4 posted on 07/08/2008 10:32:36 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
JULY 2008
 
General:

That there may be an increase in the number of those who volunteer to serve the Christian community with generous and prompt availability. 
 
Mission:

That World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, may kindle the fire of divine love in numerous young people and render them sowers of hope for a new humanity.

5 posted on 07/08/2008 10:36:19 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Israel’s idolatry


[1] Israel is a luxuriant vine
that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased
the more altars he built;
as his country improved
he improved his pillars.
[2] Their heart is false;
now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars,
and destroy their pillars.
[3] For now they will say:
“We have no king,
for we fear not the Lord,
and a king, what could he do for us?”

[7] Samaria’s king shall perish,
like a chip on the face of the waters.
[8] The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
shall be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle shall grow up
on their altars;
and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us,
and to the hills, Fall upon us.

Israel reproached for its pride


[12] Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain salvation upon you.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

10:1-15. Verses 1-2 summarize the underlying point in the passage: the weal-
thier Israel becomes, the more corrupt she is. The verbs “to increase” (v. 1) and
“to bear guilt” (v. 2) are in direct contrast to one another. The “We have no king”
(v. 3) and the king’s being “like a chip on the face of the waters” (v. 7) refer to the
instability of the monarchy in the Northern kingdom: the period between 747
(when Jeroboam II died) to 721 (when Samaria fell to the Assyrians) saw a suc-
cession of six kings, who were puppets of Assyria or were assassinated by
usurpers. Hosea is quite right when he says they had no king to rule them. The
results of this anarchy are mentioned in vv. 4-8 — lots of empty talk, contracts
with no substance to them, unjust legal decisions; and the result of it all will he
that Assyria will destroy Israel’s altars, the monarchy will perish, and the people
will despair. Verses 9-10 probably hark back to the war when all the tribes turned
on the tribe of Benjamin to avenge the crime committed at Gibe-ah (cf. Judg 19:
1-20:48). Hosea must have regarded that crime and the war it led to (in which the
tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out) as an archetype of the infamy and cruelty
that became so prevalent in later years. Verse 8 is quoted by our Lord when He
meets the women of Jerusalem on his way to Calvary (cf. Lk 23:20), and also in
Revelation 6:16, in the scene where the sixth seal is opened. The whole passage
is a reminder that material progress can also have negative consequences: “Holy
Scripture teaches the human family what the experience of the ages confirms —
that while human progress is a great advantage to man, it brings with it a strong
temptation. For when the order of values is jumbled. and bad is mixed with the
good, individuals and groups pay heed solely to their own interests, and not to
those of others” (Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 37).

The second stanza comprises a parable (vv.11-13) which recalls the first days of
Israel, the years in the wilderness, as being a golden age the stanza continues
(vv. 13-15) with a passage that reveals how disappointed God feels; there are
references here to recent events — the siege of Beth-arbel by Shalman, a Moabite
king (v. 14) and unlawful cults at Bethel (v. 15; note w). The underlying theme is
that of the whole book: the people put their trust in their own resources (cf. v. 13),
neglecting to seek the Lord (cf. v. 12).

*********************************************************************************************
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.


6 posted on 07/08/2008 10:41:55 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: Matthew 10:1-7

The Calling and First Mission of the Apostles


[1] And He (Jesus) called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority
over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infir-
mity. [2] The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called
Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
[3] Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the
son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; [4] Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot,
who betrayed Him.

[5] These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gen-
tiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, [6] but go rather to the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. [7] And preach as you go, saying, `The Kingdom of Heaven
is at hand.’”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

1-4. Jesus calls His twelve Apostles after recommending to them to pray to the
Lord to send laborers into His harvest (cf. Matthew 9:38). Christians’ apostolic
action should always, then, be preceded and accompanied by a life of constant
prayer: apostolate is a divine affair, not a merely human one. Our Lord starts His
Church by calling twelve men to be, as it were, twelve patriarchs of the new peo-
ple of God, the Church. This new people is established not by physical but by
spiritual generation. The names of those Apostles are specifically mentioned
here. They were not scholarly, powerful or important people: they were average,
ordinary people who responded faithfully to the grace of their calling—all of them,
that is, except Judas Iscariot. Even before His death and resurrection Jesus con-
fers on them the power to cast out unclean spirits and cure illnesses—as an
earnest of and as training for the saving mission which He will entrust to them.

The Church reveres these first Christians in a very special way and is proud to
carry on their supernatural mission, and to be faithful to the witness they bore to
the teaching of Christ. The true Church is absent unless there is uninterrupted
apostolic succession and identification with the spirit which the Apostles made
their own.

“Apostle”: this word means “sent”; Jesus sent them out to preach His Kingdom
and pass on His teaching.

The Second Vatican Council, in line with Vatican I, “confesses” and “declares”
that the Church has a hierarchical structure: “The Lord Jesus, having prayed at
length to the Father, called to Himself those whom He willed and appointed
twelve to be with Him, whom He might send to preach the Kingdom of God (cf.
Mark 3:13-19: Matthew 10:1-10). These Apostles (cf. Luke 6:13) He constituted
in the form of a college or permanent assembly, at the head of which He placed
Peter, chosen from among them (cf. John 21:15-17). He sent them first of all to
the children of Israel and then to all peoples (cf. Romans 1:16), so that, sharing
in His power, they might make all peoples His disciples and sanctify and govern
them (cf. Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-48; John 20:21-23) and thus
spread the Church and, administering it under the guidance of the Lord, shepherd
it all days until the end of the world (cf. Matthew 28:28)” (”Lumen Gentium”, 19).

1. In this chapter St. Matthew describes how Jesus, with a view to the spreading
of the Kingdom of God which He inaugurates, decides to establish a Church,
which He does by giving special powers and training to these twelve men who are
its seed.

5-15. After revealing His intention to found the Church by choosing the Twelve
(verses 1-4), in the present passage He shows that He intends to start training
these first Apostles. In other words, from early on in His public ministry He be-
gan to lay the foundations of His Church.

Everyone needs doctrinal and apostolic training to follow his Christian calling.
The Church has a duty to teach, and the faithful have a parallel duty to make
that teaching their own. Therefore, every Christian should avail of the facilities
for training which the Church offers him—which will vary according to each per-
son’s circumstances.

5-6. In His plan of salvation God gave certain promises (to Abraham and the pa-
triarchs), a Covenant and a Law (the Law of Moses), and sent the prophets. The
Messiah would be born into this chosen people, which explains why the Messiah
and the Kingdom of God were to be preached to the house of Israel before being
preached to the Gentiles. Therefore, in their early apprenticeship, Jesus restricts
the Apostles’ area of activity to the Jews, without this taking from the world-wide
scope of the Church’s mission. As we will see, much later on He charges them
to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19); “Go into all the world
and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:16). The Apostles also,
in the early days of the spread of the Church, usually sought out the Jewish com-
munity in any new city they entered, and preached first to them (cf. Acts 13:46).

*********************************************************************************************
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.


7 posted on 07/08/2008 10:42:55 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
“That World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, may kindle the fire of divine love in numerous young people and render them sowers of hope for a new humanity.”

Why does the wording of this appeal sound so New Age, generic, Hippi-love, non-specific, and meaningless.
8 posted on 07/08/2008 10:44:24 PM PDT by John Leland 1789
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To: John Leland 1789

Are you referring to something on the Daily Readings thread?


9 posted on 07/08/2008 10:46:27 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

Mass Readings

First reading Hosea 10:1 - 12 ©
Israel was a luxuriant vine
yielding plenty of fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
the more altars he built;
the richer his land became,
the richer he made the sacred stones.
Their heart is a divided heart;
very well, they must pay for it:
the Lord is going to break their altars down
and destroy their sacred stones.
Then they will say,
‘We have no king
because we have not feared the Lord.’

But what can a king do for us?
Samaria has had her day.
Her king is like a straw drifting on the water.
The idolatrous high places shall be destroyed –
that sin of Israel;
thorn and thistle will grow on their altars.
Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’
and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’

Sow integrity for yourselves,
reap a harvest of kindness,
break up your fallow ground:
it is time to go seeking the Lord
until he comes to rain salvation on you.
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 104
Gospel Matthew 10:1 - 7 ©
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

10 posted on 07/08/2008 10:51:48 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Psalm 105:2-7
Matthew 10:1-7

Prayer is a wine that makes glad the heart of men.

-- St. Bernard of Clairvaux


11 posted on 07/08/2008 10:55:35 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation



The Angelus 

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen. 

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word. 

Hail Mary . . . 

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. 

Hail Mary . . . 


Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray: 

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen. 


12 posted on 07/08/2008 10:58:06 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Office of Readings and Invitatory Psalm

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.


A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 38 (39)
A prayer in sickness
I said, “I will watch my ways,
 I will try not to sin in my speech.
I will set a guard on my mouth,
 for as long as my enemies are standing against me”.

I stayed quiet and dumb, spoke neither evil nor good,
 but my pain was renewed.
My heart grew hot within me,
 and fire blazed in my thoughts.
Then I spoke out loud:
 “Lord, make me know my end.
Let me know the number of my days,
 so that I know how short my life is to be”.

All the length of my days is a handsbreadth or two,
 the expanse of my life is as nothing before you.
For in your sight all men are nothingness:
 man passes away, like a shadow.
Nothingness, although he is busy:
 he builds up treasure, but who will collect it?

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 38 (39)
What, now, can I look forward to, Lord?
 My hope is in you.
Rescue me from all my sins,
 do not make me a thing for fools to laugh at.
I have sworn to be dumb, I will not open my mouth:
 for it is at your hands that I am suffering.

Aim your blows away from me,
 for I am crushed by the weight of your hand.
You rebuke and chastise us for our sins.
Like the moth you consume all we desire
 – for all men are nothingness.

Listen, Lord, to my prayer:
 turn your ear to my cries.
Do not be deaf to my weeping,
 for I come as a stranger before you,
 a wanderer like my fathers before me.
Turn away from me, give me respite,
 before I leave this world,
 before I am no more.

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 51 (52)
Against calumny
Why do you take pride in your malice,
 you expert in evil-doing?
All day long you plan your traps,
 your tongue is sharp as a razor –
 you master of deceit!
You have chosen malice over kindness;
 you speak lies rather than the truth;
 your tongue is in love with every deceit.

For all this, in the end God will destroy you.
 He will tear you out and expel you from your dwelling,
 uproot you from the land of the living.
The upright will see and be struck with awe:
 they will deride the evil-doer.
“Here is the man who did not make God his refuge,
 but put his hope in the abundance of his riches
 and in the power of his stratagems”.

But I flourish like an olive in the palace of God.
 I hope in the kindness of God,
 for ever, and through all ages.
I shall praise you for all time for what you have done.
 I shall put my hope in your name and in its goodness
 in the sight of your chosen ones.

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 2 Samuel 24:1 - 25 ©
The anger of the Lord once again blazed out against the Israelites and he incited David against them. ‘Go,’ he said ‘take a census of Israel and Judah.’ The king said to Joab and to the senior army officers who were with him, ‘Now go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and take a census of the people; I wish to know the size of the population.’ Joab said to the king, ‘May the Lord your God multiply the people a hundred times while my lord the king still has eyes to see it, but why should my lord the king be so set on this?’ But the king enforced his order on Joab and the senior officers, and Joab and the senior officers went from the king’s presence to take a census of the people of Israel.
But afterwards David’s heart misgave him for having taken a census of the people. ‘I have committed a grave sin’ David said to the Lord. ‘But now, the Lord, I beg you to forgive your servant for this fault. I have been very foolish.’ But when David got up next morning, the following message had come from the Lord to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, ‘Go and say to David, “the Lord says this: I offer you three things; choose one of them for me to do to you”.’
So Gad went to David and told him. ‘Are three years of famine to come on you in your country’ he said ‘or will you flee for three months before your pursuing enemy, or would you rather have three days’ pestilence in your country? Now think, and decide how I am to answer him who sends me.’ David said to Gad, This is a hard choice. But let us rather fall into the power of the Lord, since his mercy is great, and not into the power of men.’ So David chose pestilence.
It was the time of the wheat harvest. The Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning till the time appointed and plague ravaged the people, and from Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of them died. The angel stretched out his hand towards Jerusalem to destroy it, but the Lord thought better of this evil, and he said to the angel who was destroying the people, ‘Enough! Now withdraw your hand.’ The angel of the Lord was beside the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite. When David saw the angel who was ravaging the people, he spoke to the Lord. ‘It was I who sinned;’ he said ‘I who did this wicked thing. But these, this flock, what have they done? Let your hand lie heavy on me then, and on my family.’
Gad went to David that day and said, ‘Go up and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.’ David paid fifty shekels in silver for the threshing-floor and oxen. David built an altar to the Lord there and offered holocausts and communion sacrifices. Then the Lord took pity on the country and the plague was turned away from Israel.

Reading From the ancient document entitled "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles"
The Eucharist
Celebrate the Eucharist as follows: Say over the cup: “we give you thanks, Father, for the holy vine of David, your servant, which you made known to us through Jesus your servant. To you be glory for ever”.
Over the broken bread say: “we give you thanks, Father, for the life and the knowledge which you have revealed to us through Jesus your servant. To you be glory for ever. As this broken bread scattered on the mountains was gathered and became one, so too, may your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom. For glory and power are yours through Jesus Christ for ever”.
Do not let anyone eat or drink of your eucharist except those who have been baptised in the name of the Lord. For the statement of the Lord applies here also: Do not give to dogs what is holy.
When you finish the meal, offer thanks in this manner: “We thank you, holy Father, for your name which you enshrined in our hearts. We thank you for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you revealed to us through your servant Jesus. To you be glory for ever. Almighty ruler, you created all things for the sake of your name; you gave men food and drink to enjoy so that they might give you thanks. Now you have favoured us through Jesus your servant with spiritual food and drink as well as with eternal life. Above all we thank you because you are mighty. To you be glory for ever.
“Remember, Lord, your Church and deliver her from all evil. Perfect her in your love; and, once she has been sanctified, gather her together from the four winds into the kingdom which you have prepared for her. For power and glory are yours for ever.
“May grace come and this world pass away! Hosanna to the God of David. If anyone is holy, let him come. If anyone is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen”.
On the Lord’s day, when you have been gathered together, break bread and celebrate the Eucharist. But first confess your sins so that your offering may be pure. If anyone has a quarrel with his neighbour, that person should not join you until he has been reconciled. Your sacrifice must not be defiled. In this regard, the Lord has said: In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice. I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is great among the nations.

Concluding Prayer
O God, the world had fallen flat in the dust but your Son’s humility stood it upright once more.
 Fill your faithful people with a holy joy:
 take those whom you have torn away from slavery to sin
 and make them rejoice eternally.

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.

13 posted on 07/09/2008 8:28:47 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Catholic Culture

Daily Readings (on USCCB site):
» July 09, 2008
(will open a new window)

Collect: All-powerful, ever-living God, turn our weakness into strength. As you gave your martyrs Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions the courage to suffer death for Christ, give us the courage to live in faithful witness to you. Grant 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.

Month Year Season
« July 09, 2008 »

Optional Memorial of St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and companions, Chinese martyrs

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese diocesan priest who was martyred with his 119 companions in 1815. Among their number was an eighteen year old boy, Chi Zhuzi, who cried out to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: "Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian." This optional memorial is new to the USA liturgical calendar and will be inscribed on July 9.


Augustine Zhao Rong and companions
Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s. Depending on China's relations with the outside world, Christianity over the centuries was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly.

The 120 martyrs in this group died between 1648 and 1930. Most of them (eighty-seven) were born in China and were children, parents, catechists or laborers, ranging from nine years of age to seventy-two. This group includes four Chinese diocesan priests.

The thirty-three foreign-born martyrs were mostly priests or women religious, especially from the Order of Preachers, the Paris Foreign Mission Society, the Friars Minor, Jesuits, Salesians and Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese soldier who accompanied Bishop John Gabriel Taurin Dufresse (Paris Foreign Mission Society) to his martyrdom in Beijing. Augustine was baptized and not long after was ordained as a diocesan priest. He was martyred in 1815.

Beatified in groups at various times, these 120 martyrs were canonized in Rome on October 1, 2000.

Saint of the Day, Leonard Foley, O.F.M.

Things to Do:

  • Read more about the missionaries and Chinese believers who were canonized.

14 posted on 07/09/2008 8:33:00 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and companions, all martyrs

St. Augustine Zhao Rong,
Priest and martyr & his companions, martyrs
Optional Memorial
July 9th


from the Vatican Website

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese diocesan priest who was martyred with his 119 companions in 1815. Among their number was an eighteen-year-old boy, Chi Zhuzi, who cried out to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: "Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian."

Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003

Collect:
from the Common of Martryrs or Pastors

First Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Gospel Reading: John 12:24-26
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.


15 posted on 07/09/2008 8:38:11 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

I pray that Jesus will heal you.


16 posted on 07/09/2008 9:28:44 AM PDT by GinaLolaB (=^..^=)
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To: Salvation

My prayers and thoughts are with you.


17 posted on 07/09/2008 6:18:17 PM PDT by not-alone
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To: Salvation
Mt 10:1-7
# Douay-Rheims Vulgate
1 And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities. et convocatis duodecim discipulis suis dedit illis potestatem spirituum inmundorum ut eicerent eos et curarent omnem languorem et omnem infirmitatem
2 And the names of the twelve Apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, duodecim autem apostolorum nomina sunt haec primus Simon qui dicitur Petrus et Andreas frater eius
3 James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, Iacobus Zebedaei et Iohannes frater eius Philippus et Bartholomeus Thomas et Mattheus publicanus et Iacobus Alphei et Thaddeus
4 Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Simon Cananeus et Iudas Scariotes qui et tradidit eum
5 These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not. hos duodecim misit Iesus praecipiens eis et dicens in viam gentium ne abieritis et in civitates Samaritanorum ne intraveritis
6 But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. sed potius ite ad oves quae perierunt domus Israhel
7 And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. euntes autem praedicate dicentes quia adpropinquavit regnum caelorum

18 posted on 07/09/2008 6:53:45 PM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex
1. And when he had called to him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3. Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the Publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus;
4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

GLOSS; From the healing of Peter's wife's mother to this place there has been a continued succession of miracles; and they were done before the Sermon upon the Mount, as we know for certain from Matthew's call, which is placed among them; for he was one of the twelve chosen to the Apostleship upon the mount. He here returns to the order of events, taking it up again at the healing of the centurion's Servant; saying, And calling to him his twelve disciples.

REMIG; The Evangelist had related above that the Lord exhorted His disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His vineyard; and He now seems to be fulfilling what He had exhorted them to. For the number twelve is a perfect number, being made up of the number six, which has perfection because it is formed of its own parts, one, two, three, multiplied into one another; and the number six when doubled amounts to twelve.

GLOSS; And this doubling seems to have some reference to the two precepts of charity, or to the two Testaments.

BEDE; For the number twelve , which is made up of thrice into four, denotes that through the four quarters of the world they were to preach the faith of the Holy Trinity.

RABAN; This number is typified by many things in the Old Testament; by the twelve sons of Jacob, by the twelve princes of the children of Israel, by the twelve running springs in Helim, by the twelve stones in Aaron's breastplate, by the twelve loaves of the show-bread, by the twelve spies sent by Moses, by the twelve stones of which the altar was made, by the twelve ,stones taken out of Jordan, by the twelve oxen which bare the brazen sea. Also in the New Testament, by the twelve stars in the bride's crown, by the twelve foundations of to Jerusalem which John saw, and her twelve gates.

CHRYS; He makes them confident not only by calling their ministry a sending forth to the harvest, but by giving then' strength cure for the ministry; whence it follows, He gave them power over all unclean spirits to cast fluent out, and to heal every sickness and every disease.

REMIG; Wherein is openly showed that the multitude were troubled not with one single kind of affliction, but with many, and this was His pity for the multitude, to give His disciples power to heal and cleanse them.

JEROME; A kind and merciful Lord and Master does not envy His servants and disciples a share in His powers. As Himself had cured every sickness and disease, He imparted the same power to His Apostles. But there is a wide difference between having and imparting, between giving and receiving. Whatever He does He does with the power of a master, whatever they do it is with confession of their own weakness, as they speak, In the name of Jesus rise and walk. A catalogue of the names of the Apostles is given, that all false Apostles might be excluded. The names of the twelve Apostles are these; First, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother. To arrange then in order according to their merit is His alone who searches the secrets of all hearts. But Simon is placed first, having the surname of Peter given to distinguish him from the other Simon surnamed Chananeus, from the village of Chana in Galilee where the Lord turned the water into wine.

RABAN; The Greek or Latin 'Petrus' is the same as the Syriac Cephas, in both tongues the word is derived from a rock; undoubtedly that of which Paul speaks, And that rock was Christ.

REMIG; There have been some who in this name Peter, which is Greek and Latin, have sought a Hebrew interpretation, and would have it to signify, 'Taking off; the shoe,' 'or unloosing,' or 'acknowledging.' But those that say this are contradicted by two facts. First, that the Hebrew has no letter P, but uses Ph instead. Thus Pilate they call Philate. Secondly, that one of the Evangelists has used the word as an interpretation of Cephas; The Lord said, You shalt be called Cephas, on which the Evangelist adds, which being interpreted is Petrus. Simon is interpreted ' obedient,' for he obeyed the words of Andrew, and with him came to Christ, or because he obeyed the divine commands, and at one word of bidding followed the Lord. Or as some will have it, it is to he interpreted, ' Laying aside grief,' and, ' hearing painful things;' for that on the Lord's resurrection he laid aside the grief he had for His death; and he heard sorrowful things, when the Lord said to him, Another shall gird you, and shall carry you where you would not. And Andrew his brother.

CHRYS; This is no small honor (done to Peter), he places Peter from his merit, Andrew from the nobility he had in being the brother of Peter. Mark names Andrew next after the two heads, namely, Peter and John; but this one not so; for Mark has arranged them in order of dignity.

REMIG; Andrew is interpreted ' manly;' for as in Latin 'virilis' is derived from 'vir,' so in Greek Andrew is derived from rightly is he called manly, who left all and followed Christ, and manfully persevered in His commands.

JEROME; The Evangelist couples the names throughout in pairs. So he puts together Peter and Andrew, brothers not so much according to the flesh as in spirit; James and John who left their father after the flesh to follow their true Father; James the son of Zebedee and John his brother. He calls him the son of Zebedee, to distinguish him from the other James the son of Alphaeus.

CHRYS; Observe that he does not place them according to their dignity; for to me John would seem to be greater not than others only, but even than his brother.

REMIG; James is interpreted 'The supplanter,' or 'that supplants;' for he not only supplanted the vices of the flesh, but even contemned the same flesh when Herod put him to death. John is interpreted 'The grace of God,' because he deserved before all to be loved by the Lord; whence also in the favor of His especial love, he leaned at supper in the Lord's bosom.

Philip and Bartholomew. Philip is interpreted, 'The mouth of a lamp' or 'of lamps,' because when he had been enlightened by the Lord, he straightway sought to communicate that light to his brother by the means of his mouth. Bartholomew is a Syriac, not a Hebrew, name, and is interpreted 'The son of him that raises water that. is, of Christ, who raises the hearts of His preachers from earthly to heavenly things, and hangs them there, that the more they penetrate heavenly things, the more they should steep and inebriate the hearts of their hearers with the droppings of holy preaching.

Thomas, and Matthew the Publican.

JEROME; The other Evangelists in this pair of names put Matthew before Thomas; and do not add, the Publican, that they should not seen to throw scorn upon the Evangelist by bringing to mind his former life. But writing of himself he both puts Thomas first in the pair, and styles himself the Publican; because where sin has abounded there grace shall much more abound.

REMIG; Thomas is interpreted 'an abyss,' or 'a twin,' which in Greek is Didymus. Rightly is Didymus interpreted an abyss, for the longer he doubted that more deeply did he believe the effect of the Lord's passion, and the mystery of His Divinity, which forced him to cry, My Lord and my God. Matthew is interpreted ' given,' because by the Lord's bounty he was made an Evangelist of a Publican.

James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus.

RABAN; This James is he who in the Gospels, and also in time Epistle to the Galatians, is called time Lord's brother. For Mary the wife of Alphmeus was the sister of Mary the mother of the Lord; John the Evangelist calls her Mary the wife of Cleophas, probably because Cleophas and Alphaeus were the same person. Or Mary herself on the death of Alphaeus after the birth of James married Cleophas.

REMIG; it is well said, the son of Alphaeus, that is, 'of the just,' or 'the learned;' for he not only overthrew the vices of the flesh, but also despised all care of the same. And of what he was worthy the Apostles are witness, who ordained him Bishop of the Church of Jerusalem. And ecclesiastical history among other things tells of him, that he never ate flesh, drunk neither wine nor strong drink, abstained from the bath and linen garments, and night and day prayed on his bended knees. And so great was his merit, that he was called by all men, 'the just.' Thaddaeus is the same whom Luke calls Jude of James, (that is, the brother of James,) whose Epistle is read in the Church, in which he calls himself the brother of James.

AUG; Some copies have Lebbaeus; but whoever prevented the same man from having two, or even three different names?

REMIG; Jude is interpreted 'having confessed,' because he confessed the Son of God.

RABAN; Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus is interpreted 'a little heart,' that is, a heart-worshipper.

Simon Chananaeus, and Judas Scarioth, who also betrayed him.

JEROME; Simon Chananaeus is the same who in the other Evangelist is called Zelotes. Chana signifies 'Zeal.' Judas is named Scarioth, either from the town in which he was born, or from the tribe of Issachar, a prophetic omen of his sin; for Issachar means 'a booty,' thus signifying the reward of the betrayer.

REMIG; Scarioth is interpreted 'The memory of the Lord,' because he followed the Lord; or 'The memorial of death,' because he plotted in his heart bow he might betray the Lord to death; or 'strangling,' because he went and hanged himself. It should be known that there are two disciples of this name, who are types of all Christians; Jude the brother of James, of such as persevere in the confession of the faith; Jude Scarioth of such as leave the faith; and turn back again.

GLOSS; They are named Apostles, humbly born without honor, without learning, that whatever they should do that was great, it was He that should be in them and should do it. He had among them one that was evil, whom He should use in the accomplishment of His Passion, and who should be an example to His Church of suffering evil men.

AMBROSE; He was not chosen among the Apostles unwittingly; for that truth is great, which cannot be harmed even by having an adversary in one of its own ministers.

RABAN; Also He willed to be betrayed by a disciple, that you when betrayed by your intimate might bear patiently that. your judgment has erred, that your favors have been thrown away.

5. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter not:
6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.

GLOSS; Because the manifestation of the Spirit, as the Apostle speaks, is given for the profit of the Church, after bestowing His power on the Apostles, He sends them that they may exercise this power for the good of others; These twelve Jesus sent forth.

CHRYS; Observe the propriety of the time in which they are sent. After they had seen the dead raised, the sea rebuked, and other like wonders, and had had both in word and deed sufficient proof of His excellent power, then He sends them.

GLOSS; When He sends them, He teaches them whither they should go, what they shout and preach, and what they should do. And first, whither they should go; Giving them commandment, and saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

JEROME; This passage does not contradict the command which He gave afterwards, Go and teach all nations; for this was before His resurrection , that was after. And it was necessary the coming of Christ to be preached to the Jews first, that they might not have any just plea, or say that they were rejected of the Lord, who sent the Apostles to the Gentiles and Samaritans.

CHRYS; Also they were sent to the Jews first, in order that being trained in Judea, as in a palaestra, they might enter on the arena of the world to contend; thus He taught them like weak nestlings to fly.

GREG; Or He would be first preached to Judea and afterwards to the Gentiles, in order that the preaching of the Redeemer should seem to seek out foreign lands only because it had been rejected in His own. There were also at that time some among the Jews who should be called, and among the Gentiles some who were not to be called, as being unworthy of being renewed to life, and yet not deserving of the aggravated punishment which would ensue upon their rejection of the Apostles' preaching.

HILARY; The promulgation of the Law deserved also the first preaching of the Gospel; and Israel was to have less excuse for its crime, as it had experienced more care in being warned.

CHRYS; Also that they should not suppose that they were hated of Christ because they bad reviled Him, and branded Him as demoniac, lie sought first their cure, and withholding His disciples from all other nations, lie sent this people physicians and teachers; and not only forbid them to preach to any others before the Jews, but would not. that they should so much as approach the way that led to the Gentiles; Go not into the way of the Gentiles. And because the Samaritans, though more readily disposed to be converted to the faith, were yet at. enmity with the Jews, He would not suffer the Samaritans to be preached to before the Jews.

GLOSS; The Samaritans were Gentiles who had been settled in the hand of Israel by the king of Assyria after the captivity which he made. They had been driven by many terrors to turn to Judaism, and had received circumcision and the five books of Moses, but renouncing every thing else; hence there was no communication between the Jews and the Samaritans.

CHRYS; From these then He diverts his disciples, and sends them to the children of Israel, whom he calls perishing sheep, not straying; in every way contriving an apology for them, and drawing them to Himself.

HILARY; Though they are here called sheep, yet, they raged against Christ with the tongues of wolves and vipers.

JEROME; Figuratively herein we who bear the name of Christ are commanded not to walk in the way of the Gentiles, or the error of the heretics, but as we are separate in religion, we be also separate in our life.

GLOSS; Having told them to whom they should go, He now introduces what they should preach; Go and preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

RABAN; The kingdom of heaven is here said to draw nigh by the faith in the unseen Creator which is bestowed upon us, not by any movement of the visible elements. The saints are rightly denoted by the heavens, because they contain God by faith, and love Him with affection.

CHRYS; Behold the greatness of their ministry, behold the dignity of the Apostles. They are not to preach of any thing that can be an object of sense, as Moses and the Prophets did; but things new and unhooked for; those preached earthly goods, but these the kingdom of heaven and all the goods that are there.

GREG; Miracles also were granted to the that the power they should show might be a pledge of the truth of their words, and they who preached new things should also do new things; wherefore it follows, Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

JEROME; Lest peasants untaught and illiterate, without the graces of speech, should obtain credit with none when they announced the kingdom of Heaven, He gives them power to do the things above mentioned, that the greatness of the miracles might approve the greatness of their promises.

HILARY; The exercise of the Lord's power is wholly entrusted to the Apostles, that they who were formed in the image of Adam, and the likeness of God, should now obtain the perfect image of Christ; and whatever evil Satan had introduced into the body of Adam, this they should now repair by Communion with the Lord's power.

GREG; These signs were necessary in the beginning of the Church; the faith of the believers must he fed with miracles, that it might grow.

CHRYS; But afterwards they ceased when a reverence for the faith was universally established. Or, if they were continued at all, they were few and seldom; for it is usual with God to do such things when evil is increased, then He shows forth His power.

GREG; The Holy Church daily does spiritually, what it then did materially by the Apostles; yea, things far greater, inasmuch as she raises and cures souls and not bodies.

REMIG; The sick are the slothful who have not strength to live well; the lepers are the unclean in sin and animal delights; the demoniacs are they that are given up under the power of the Devil.

JEROME; And because spiritual gifts are more lightly esteemed when money is made the means of obtaining them, He adds a condemnation of avarice; Freely you have received, freely give; I your Master and Lord have imparted these to you without price, do you therefore give them to others in like manner, that the free grace of the Gospel be not corrupted.

GLOSS; This He says, that Judas who had the bag might not use the above power for getting money; a plain condemnation of time abomination of the simoniacal heresy.

GREG; For He knew before that there would be some that would turn the gift of the Spirit which they had received into merchandise, and pervert the power of miracles into an instrument of their covetousness.

CHRYS; Observe how He is as careful that they should be upright in moral virtue, as that they should have the miraculous powers, showing that miracles without these are nothing, Freely you have received, seems a check upon their pride; freely give, a command to keep themselves pure from filthy lucre. Or, that what they should do might not be thought to be their own benevolence, He says, Freely you have received; as much as to say; you bestow nothing of your own on those you relieve; for you have not received these things for money, nor for wages of labor; as you have received them, so give to others; for indeed it is not possible to receive a price equal to their value.

9. Provide neither gold, nor silver nor brass in your purses,
10. Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

CHRYS. The Lord having forbidden to make merchandise of spiritual things, proceeds to pull up the root of all evil, saying, Possess neither gold, nor silver.

JEROME; For if they preach without receiving reward for it, the possession of gold and silver anti wealth was unnecessary. For had they had such, they would have been thought to be preaching, not for the sake of men's salvation, but their own gain.

CHRYS; This precept then first frees time Apostles from all suspicious; secondly, from all care, so that they may give up their whole time to preaching the word; thirdly, teaches them their excellence. This is what He said to them afterwards, Was any thing lacking to you, when I sent you without bag or scrip?

JEROME; As He had cut off riches, which are meant by gold and silver, He now almost cuts off necessaries of life; that the Apostles, teachers of the true religion, who taught men that all things are directed by God's providence, might show themselves to be without thought for the morrow.

GLOSS; When He adds, Neither money in your purses. For there are two kinds of things necessary; one is the means of buying necessaries, which is signified by the money in their purses; the other the necessaries themselves, which are signified by the scrip.

JEROME; In forbidding the scrip, neither scrip for your journey, He aimed at those philosophers commonly called; Bactroperatae, who being despisers of this world, and esteeming all things as nothing, yet carry a bag about with them. Nor two coats. By the two coats He seems to mean a change of raiment; not to bid us be content with a single tunic in the snow and frosts of Scythia, but that they should not carry about a change with them, wearing one, and carrying about the other as provision for the future. Nor shoes. It is a precept of Plato, that the two extremities of the body should be left unprotected, and that we should not accustom ourselves to tender care of the head and feet; for if these parts be hardy, it will follow that the rest of the body will be vigorous and healthy. Nor staff; for having the protection of the Lord, why need we seek the aid of a staff?

REMIG; The Lord shows by these words that the holy preachers were reinstated in the dignity of the first man, who as long as he possessed the heavenly treasures, did not desire other; but having lost those by sinning, he straightway began to desire the other.

CHRYS; A happy exchange! In place of gold and silver, and the like, they received power to heal time sick, to raise time dead. For He had not commanded them from the beginning, Possess neither gold nor silver; but only then when he said at time same time, Cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Whence it is clear that He made them Angels more than men, freeing them from all anxiety of this life, that they might have but one care, that of teaching; and even of that He in a manner takes away the burden, saying, Be not careful what you shall speak. Thus what seemed hard and burdensome, He shows them to be light and easy. For nothing is so pleasant as to be delivered from all care and anxiety, more especially when it is possible, being delivered from this, to lack nothing, God being present, and being to us instead of all things.

JEROME; As He had sent the Apostles forth unprovided and unencumbered on their mission, and the condition of the teachers seemed a hard one, He tempered the severity of the rules by this maxim, The laborer is worthy of his hire, i.e. Receive what you need for your food and clothing. Whence the Apostle says, Having food and raiment, let us be content. And again, Let him that is catechized communicate to him that catechizes in all good things; that they whose disciples reap spiritual things, should make them partakers of their carnal things, not for the gratification of covetousness, but for the supply of wants.

CHRYS; It fit the Apostles to be supported by their disciples, that neither they should be haughty towards those whom they taught, as though they gave all, and received nothing; and that the others, on their part, should not fall away, as over-honked by them. Also that the Apostles might not cry, he bids us lead the life of beggars, and should be ashamed thereat, he shows that this is their due, calling them laborers, and that which is given their hire. For they were not to suppose that because what they gave was only words, therefore they were to esteem it but a small benefit that they conferred; therefore He says, The laborer is worthy of his meat. This He said not to signify that the labors of the Apostles were only worth so much but laying down a rule for the Apostles and persuading those that gave, that what they gave was only what was due.

AUG; The Gospel therefore is not for sale, that it should be preached for reward. For if they so sell it, they sell a great thing for a small price. Let preachers then receive their necessary support from the people and from God the reward of their payment. For the people did not give pay to those that minister to them in the love of the Gospel but as it were a stipend that may support them to enable them to work.

AUG; Otherwise; When the Lord said to the Apostles, Possess not gold, He added immediately, The laborer is worthy of his hire, to show why He would not have them possess and carry about these things; not that these things were not needed for the support of this life, but that He sent them in such a way as to show that these things were due to them from those to whom they preached time Gospel, as pay to soldiers. It is clear that this precept of the Lord does not at all imply that they ought not according to the Gospel to live by any other means, than by the contributions of those to whom they preached; otherwise Paul transgressed this precept when he lived by the labor of his own hands. But He gave the Apostles authority that these things were due to them from the house in which they abode. But when the Lord has issued a command, if it be not performed it is the sin of disobedience; when He bestows a privilege it is in any one's power not to use it, and as it were to refrain from claiming this right. The Lord then having sanctioned this maxim, that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, He spoke these things to the Apostles, that being confident they should not possess nor carry about with them the necessaries of life, neither things great not things small. Therefore He adds, Nor a staff to show that from His people all things are due to His ministers and they require no superfluities. This authority , He signifies by the staff, saying in Mark, Take nothing but a staff only. And when He forbids them (in Matthew) to take with them shoes, He forbids that carefulness and thought which would be anxious to carry them lest they should be wanting. Thus also we must understand concerning the two coats, that none should think it necessary to carry another besides that which he wore, supposing that he should have need of it; for it would be in his power to obtain one by this authority which the Lord gave. Further that we read in Mark that they should be shod with sandals, seems to imply that this kind of shoe has a mystic meaning in it, that the foot should neither be covered above, nor yet bare beneath, that is, that the Gospel should not be hid, nor yet rest itself on earthy advantage. Also when He forbids them to carry two coats, He warned them not to walk deceitfully, but in simplicity. So we cannot doubt that all these things were said by the Lord, partly in a direct, partly in a figurative sense; and that of the two Evangelists one inserted some things, the other things, in his narrative. If anyone should think that the Lord could not in one speech speak some things in a direct, and some things in a mystic sense, let him look at any other of His sayings, and he will see how hasty and unlearned his opinion is. When the Lord commands that the left hand should not know what the right hand does, does he think that almsgiving, and the rest of His precepts in that place are to be taken figuratively?

JEROME; Thus far we have expounded by the letter; but metaphorically, as we often find gold put for the sense, silver for the words, brass for the voice - all these we may say we are not to receive from others, but to have them given by the Lord. We are not to take up the teaching of heretics, of philosophers, and of corrupt doctrine.


JEROME; Or; the Lord herein teaches us that our feet are not to be bound with the chains of death, but to be bare as we tread on the holy ground. We are not to carry a staff which may be turned into a serpent, nor to trust in any arm of flesh; for all such is a reed on which if a man lean ever so lightly, it will break and go into his hand and pierce him.

HILARY; Neither a staff; that is, We are not to seek rights of extraneous power, having a rod from the root of Jesse.

Catena Aurea Matthew 10
19 posted on 07/09/2008 6:55:19 PM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex


The Last Supper

Lorenzo Monaco

1394-95
Poplar, 47 x 142 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Full View

20 posted on 07/09/2008 6:55:55 PM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: GinaLolaB

Hello, everyone,

I just got home and the surgery went well. More tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers.


21 posted on 07/09/2008 9:59:51 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: not-alone

Home right now. More tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers.


22 posted on 07/09/2008 10:00:24 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

So happy to hear you are back. I hope you’re doing well, and my prayers continue with you.


23 posted on 07/09/2008 10:04:04 PM PDT by Judith Anne
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To: All
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 76 (77)
Remembering the works of the Lord
I cried out loud to the Lord,
 cried out to God, and he turned to me.
In my time of trouble I sought for God,
 my hands stretched out all night long,
 tireless in supplication.
My soul will not be consoled:
 I think of God, and I sigh;
 I meditate, and my spirit fails.

You have kept me awake, my eyes open;
 in my distress, I did not speak.
I pondered on the days of old,
 thought through the immemorial years.
In the night I meditated in my heart.
 I was troubled, and I asked my soul:

Will God reject you for ever,
 will he never again take you into his favour?
Has his kindness ended for ever,
 his word come to an end for all generations?
Will God forget to show mercy,
 will he lock up his mercies in his anger?

And I said, “I am wounded indeed,
 that the Most High has changed”.
I will remember the works of the Lord.
 I will remember your wonders, from the beginning.
I will ponder on all you have done,
 think deeply through all your great deeds.

O God, your ways are holy:
 what god is as great as our God?
You are God, you work wonders,
 you made known your strength to your people.
By your own action you redeemed your people,
 the children of Jacob and of Joseph.

The waters saw you, O God,
 the waters saw you and writhed,
 stirred up even to their depths.
The clouds poured down water,
 the clouds sounded their voice,
 your arrows shot forth.
Your voice thundered in the whirlwind,
 your lightnings lit up the world,
 the earth trembled and shook.

Your way led through the sea,
 your paths through the great waters,
 your steps left no trace behind them.
You led your people like a flock,
 by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

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 1 Samuel 2
The song of Hannah, mother of Samuel
My heart rejoices in the Lord,
 my strength is raised up in the name of my God.
I cry out in triumph over my enemies
 as I rejoice in your deliverance.

No-one is like the Lord, for he is holy;
 no-one is like our God, for he is strong.

Do not pile boasting upon boasting:
 keep proud words far from your mouth,
for the Lord is the God of all knowledge
 and the judge of all actions.

The bow of the mighty is broken,
 and the weak are clothed in strength.
Those who fed well must hire themselves out, for bread;
 but the hungry are hungry no longer.
The barren woman has given birth to many;
 but she who had many sons is left desolate.

The Lord brings death and brings life;
 he leads down to the underworld and rescues from it.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
 he lays low and raises up.
He lifts the needy from the dust and the poor from the dunghill
 to sit among princes
 to sit on the throne of glory.
To the Lord belong the poles of the earth;
 from them he has suspended the world.

He will keep safe the feet of his chosen,
 but the impious will be silent in the darkness
 – for it is not by his own strength that a man becomes strong.
The Lord grinds down his enemies:
 he will thunder on them from the heavens.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth,
 give dominion to his king,
 and raise up the standard of his anointed one.

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 96 (97)
The glory of God in his judgements
The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice,
 let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and dark mist surround him,
 his throne is founded on law and justice.
Fire precedes him,
 burning up his enemies all around.
His lightnings light up the globe;
 the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains flow like wax at the sight of the Lord,
 at the sight of the Lord the earth dissolves.
The heavens proclaim his justice
 and all peoples see his glory.

Let them be dismayed, who worship carved things,
 who take pride in the images they make.
All his angels, worship him.
Sion heard and was glad,
 the daughters of Judah rejoiced
 because of your judgements, O Lord.
For you are the Lord, the Most High over all the earth,
 far above all other gods.

You who love the Lord, hate evil!
The Lord protects the lives of his consecrated ones:
 he will free them from the hands of sinners.
A light has arisen for the just,
 and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord
 and proclaim his holiness.

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 Romans 8:35 - 37 ©
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.

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.

Prayers and Intercessions ?
Blessed be God our Saviour, who has promised to be with his Church until the end of time. Let us thank him and ask him:
Lord, remain with us.
Remain with us, Lord, throughout today:
let your grace be a sun that never sets.
We consecrate today as an offering to you:
we promise to do nothing evil today, nor even attempt it.
Lord, may your gift of light shine through us today:
make us the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
May the love of your Holy Spirit guide our hearts and our speech,
so that we may be at one with you in righteousness and praise.
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, send your light to shine in our hearts.
 May we always follow the path of your commandments
 and never stray from it.

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.

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

24 posted on 07/09/2008 10:04:49 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Regnum Christi

By Name
July 9, 2008
U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Matthew 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ´The kingdom of heaven is at hand.´"

Introductory Prayer: You´ve done so much for me, Lord. Now I want to take this opportunity to spend time with you and listen to you. I know that you are always near, sustaining me. Let me be attentive to your voice and your inspirations to love those around me.

Petition: Lord, give me the courage to carry out whatever you ask of me.

1. Deputized
Jesus chose his disciples and "gave them authority" to carry out his work. Our Lord shows marvelous confidence in mere human beings, choosing them as his collaborators. Christ continues to delegate his authority in a special way through his Church. The Pope and the bishops in communion with him can authentically teach the faith. Likewise, Our Lord calls each of us to help him in his mission. Do I see my life as a mission? As part of Christ´s plan for the world?

2. Fail-proof?
Christ doesn’t call his followers en masse. Rather, he calls each by name; hence, the Gospel passage goes to the trouble of mentioning the disciples individually. Being called by Christ, however, doesn´t guarantee salvation. Reminders of Judas´ betrayal of Jesus abound in the Gospels. That gives us pause to be on guard against presumption. We might think, "I go to Mass on Sunday, I´m saved." Or, "I´m not a bad guy, my salvation is assured." Yet, Judas´ betrayal shows that anyone can fall. Do I ever think that I´m beyond failing? How does Christ´s call to me shape my daily life?

3. Where Charity Begins
Jesus´ parting command to his apostles will be: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). For now, however, he asks his apostles to focus on those closest to home: their countrymen. Before we can launch out to change the world, it´s good to attend to those closest to us: our family and loved ones. God puts us in a particular place, and in a particular family, to help them grow in holiness. This can be a daunting task, since charity demands a special effort in dealing with those we see all the time. Familiarity can breed contempt. If we can love those we live with, loving everyone else will be relatively easy. How do I live charity at home? How could I live it better?

Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know that family members can be the most trying people. After all, even your own relatives thought you were out of your mind (cf. Mark 3:21). What I need to remember is that other people probably find me difficult to get along with, too. All of us know one another´s faults very well. Help me to see and encourage the good points in others. Let me be your apostle of love at home.

Resolution: I will do a special act of kindness for a family member.


25 posted on 07/09/2008 10:15:32 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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