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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 10-23-09, Opt. Mem. St. John of Capistrano
USCCB.org/New American Bible ^
| 10-23-09
| New American Bible
Posted on 10/22/2009 8:54:26 PM PDT by Salvation
October 23, 2009
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Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week
in Ordinary Time
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Rom 7:18-25a
Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94
R. (68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Lk 12:54-59
Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”
TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; ordinarytime
For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.
1
posted on
10/22/2009 8:54:27 PM PDT
by
Salvation
To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...
Alleluia Ping!
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2
posted on
10/22/2009 9:01:43 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
3
posted on
10/22/2009 9:07:12 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
4
posted on
10/22/2009 9:08:24 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
5
posted on
10/22/2009 9:09:26 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Jesus. High Priest
The Year of the Priest
We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
6
posted on
10/22/2009 9:10:19 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: 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 who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
The Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]
7
posted on
10/22/2009 9:15:54 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
~ PRAYER ~
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+
8
posted on
10/22/2009 9:17:43 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
9
posted on
10/22/2009 9:18:20 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
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October Devotion: The Holy Rosary
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Pope Leo XIII personally started the practice of devoting October to the Rosary devotion. In a letter of September 1, 1883, mindful of the Rosary's power to strengthen faith and foster a life of virtue, he outlined the triumphs of the Rosary in past times and admonished the faithful to dedicate the month of October to the Blessed Virgin through the daily recitation of her Rosary in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, in order to obtain through her intercession the grace that God would console and defend His Church in her sufferings. We highly recommend that you read Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, or "On the Most Holy Rosary." It explains even further this wonderful devotion, and introduces the optional mysteries of light, or Luminous mysteries.
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INVOCATION
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
TO THE QUEEN OF THE HOLY ROSARY
Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety, manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the Church of thy Son, His Vicar on earth, and every order of clergy and laity, who are sore oppressed in the mighty conflict. Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of all heresies, hasten the hour of mercy, even though the hour of God's justice is every day provoked by the countless sins of men. For me who am the least of men, kneeling before thee in supplication, do thou obtain the grace I need to live righteously upon earth and to reign among the just in heaven, the while in company with all faithful Christians throughout the world, I salute thee and acclaim thee as Queen of the most holy Rosary:
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
TO OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
O Virgin Mary, grant that the recitation of thy Rosary may be for me each day, in the midst of my manifold duties, a bond of unity in my actions, a tribute of filial piety, a sweet refreshment, an encouragement to walk joyfully along the path of duty. Grant, above all, O Virgin Mary, that the study of thy fifteen mysteries may form in my soul, little by little, a luminous atmosphere, pure, strengthening, and fragrant, which may penetrate my understanding, my will, my heart, my memory, my imagination, my whole being. So shall I acquire the habit of praying while I work, without the aid of formal prayers, by interior acts of admiration and of supplication, or by aspirations of love. I ask this of thee, O Queen of the holy Rosary, through Saint Dominic, thy son of predilection, the renowned preacher of thy mysteries, and the faithful imitator of thy virtues. Amen.
FOR THE CRUSADE OF THE FAMILY ROSARY
The Family Rosary Crusade, organized and directed by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., sought to revive the practice of families reciting the Rosary daily within their homes. The Crusade has the encouragement and support of Pope Pius XII and it is succeeding admirably in realizing the desire of the Pope that no family would allow a day to pass without the recitation of the Rosary. This prayer was composed by Cardinal Spellman when the Crusade visited his Archdiocese.
O Queen of the most holy Rosary: with hearts full of confidence we earnestly beseech you to bless the Crusade of the Family Rosary. From you came the grace to begin it. >From you must come the grace to win souls to it. We beg you to bless this Crusade so that from every home the incense of this prayer will daily rise before you, O admirable Mother.
O Queen of Homes: by the power of the Rosary we beseech you to embrace all the members of our family in the love of your Immaculate Heart. May you abide with us and we with you, praying to you while you pray for us. May you preside in our homes as once you did at Nazareth with Jesus and Joseph, filling them with the holiness of your presence and inspiration.
O Queen of Peace: it is you who have placed the Rosary in our hands. It is you who bid us to recite it daily. By the power of the Family Rosary we beseech you to obtain peace for uspeace within our hearts, our homes, our country and throughout the world. Through the daily recitation of the Family Rosary we beg you to keep sin from our souls, enmities from our hearts and war from our shores. By the graces received from the devotion of the Family Rosary we pray to be made helpful to one another in following the paths of virtue so that we may be found worthy to be called children of your family, children of your home. Amen.
Cardinal Spellman
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
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: 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 who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) [Spiritual fruit - Humility]
2. The Visitation (Luke 1: 39-56) [Spiritual fruit - Love of Neighbor]
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20) [Spiritual fruit - Poverty of Spirit]
4. The Presentation (Luke 2:21-38) [Spiritual fruit - Purity of mind & body]
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) [Spiritual fruit - Obedience ]
The Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light
(Thursdays) see Rosarium Virginis Mariae
1. Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan (II Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 3:17 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Gratitude for the gift of Faith]
2. Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana (John 2:1- 12) [Spiritual fruit - Fidelity]
3. Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to conversion (Mark 1:15, Mark 2:3-13; Luke 7:47- 48, John 20:22-23) [Spiritual fruit - Desire for Holiness]
4. Jesus' Transfiguration (Luke 9:35 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Spiritual Courage]
5. Jesus' institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery. (Luke 24:13-35 and parallels, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) [Spiritual fruit - Love of our Eucharistic Lord]
The Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]
The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]
The Rosary and Me - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Rosary promoted as path to Christ and peace [at third annual Rosary Bowl NW]
The Efficacy and Power of One Hail Mary [Ecumenical]
“Let Us Do It!“ (Sunday: Rosary to be simultaneously prayed on five continents)
Beginning Catholic: How to Pray the Rosary: Contemplating Christ With Mary [Ecumenical]
[Oregon] Rosary Bowl focuses on links between prayer, evangelization
Rosary Is a School of Mary, Says Pope: Encourages Recitation [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Rosary and the Republic
Protestants and the rosary
Estimated 50,000 recite rosary in event at Rose Bowl
The Rosary and Orthodoxy
Father Benedict Groeschel on the Rosary
THE HOLY ROSARY
Catholic Caucus: The Holy Rosary
The Power of the Rosary - A Weapon Against Terrorism
Rosary May Contribute to Unity Says Protestant Theologian
Papal Address on the Rosary as a Weapon of Peace
Very simple guide to praying/learning the Rosary
October: Month of the Holy Rosary
Rosary-Prayers Aiming to Break Record [Catholic Caucus]
Rosary vs. Repetitious Prayer [Ecumenical]
The Luminous Mysteries [of the Rosary]: Knowing Jesus in His Public Ministry
New campaign launched to promote family rosary
Chant the Rosary... in Latin!
Protestants and the rosary
Estimated 50,000 recite rosary in event at Rose Bowl
Our Lady of Victory (HLI Page)
Tips on Praying a Family Rosary
SRI LANKA CATHOLICS START ROSARY CHAIN FOR PEACE
Rosary Aids Spiritual Growth, Says Pope
Pray the Rosary
Rosary to Mark St. Martha's Feast
THE HOLY ROSARY
Catholic Caucus: The Holy Rosary
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Praying the Rosary By Bishop Fulton J. Sheen(Catholic Caucus)
____________________________________________________________
Pray the Rosary.
Pray without ceasing.
How Europe Escaped Speaking Arabic
The Battle of Lepanto
Civilization in the Balance: The Battle of Lepanto and Election ‘08
LEPANTO
A Call To Prayer: This Lepanto Moment [Repost]
Lepanto, 1571: The Battle That Saved Europe
Celebrating the Battle of Lepanto
Clash of civilizations: Battle of Lepanto revisited
Lepanto, Bertone e Battesimo, Oh My!
Lepanto Sunday
Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval (A Mini-Lepanto in the Philippines)
Swiss Guards at the Battle of Lepanto, 7 October 1571
Battle of Lepanto
LEPANTO, 7 OCTOBER 1571: The Defense of Europe
Battle of Lepanto
Remember Lepanto!
The Battle of Lepanto
On This Day In History, The Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto
Chesterton's Lepanto
The Miracle At Lepanto...
Lepanto
The Naval Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto
10
posted on
10/22/2009 9:20:22 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Holy Father's Prayer Intentions For October 2009
General: That Sunday may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the risen Lord, participating in the Eucharist.
Mission: That the entire People of God, to whom Christ entrusted the mandate to go and preach the Gospel to every creature, may eagerly assume their own missionary responsibility and consider it the highest service they can offer humanity.
11
posted on
10/22/2009 9:22:38 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
From: Romans 7:18-25a
Interior Struggle
[18] For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will
what is right, but I cannot do it. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil
I do not want is what I do. [20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that
do it, but sin which dwells within me.
[21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
[22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, [23] but I see in my mem-
bers another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the
law of sin which dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will
deliver me from this body of death? [25a] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ
our Lord!
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
14-25. As can be seen from the use of the present tense, the “I” in vv. 14-25 is
no longer Paul before his conversion, but rather after it: and it also stands for all
mankind redeemed by Christ’s grace. Here we have a vivid description of the in-
terior struggle which everyone experiences, Christians included. These words
are in line with something we are all well aware of: in our bodies there is a “law”,
an inclination, which fights against the law of our spirit (cf. v. 23), that is, against
the spiritual good which God’s grace causes us to desire. The very expression
“the law of sin which dwells in my members” emphasizes how strenuously our
senses, appetites and passions try to reject the dictates of the spirit; however,
the spirit can gain the upper hand. The Church’s teaching is that Baptism does
not take away a person’s inclination to sin (”fomes peccati”), concupiscence: he
or she still experiences a strong desire for earthly or sensual pleasure. “Since it
[concupiscence] is left to provide a trial, it has no power to injure those who do
not consent and who, by the grace of Christ Jesus, manfully resist” (Council of
Trent, “De Peccato Originali”, can. 5).
The Jews were able to keep the Law of Moses only through the help of divine
grace granted them in anticipation of the merits of Christ. Without grace they
were like slaves, “sold-under sin” (v. 14). After Christ, a person who rejects the
Redemption is in a similar position, for “in the state of corrupt nature man needs
grace to heal his nature and enable him to avoid sin entirely. In this present life
this healing is brought about in his mind [the spiritual part of man]: the carnal
appetite is not completely healed. Hence the Apostle (Rom 7:25) says of the
person healed by grace, ‘I serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh
I serve the law of sin’. In this state a person can avoid mortal sin [...] but he can-
not avoid all venial sin, due to the corruption of his sensual appetite” (St Thomas
Aquinas, “Summa Theologiae”, I-II, q. 109, a. 8).
Hence our need for God’s help if we are to persevere in virtue; hence also our
need to make a genuine personal effort to be faithful. The “St Pius V Catechism”,
when dealing with the fact that even after Baptism man is subject to various dis-
abilities, including concupiscence, explains that God has willed that death and
suffering, which originate in sin, remain part of our lot, thereby enabling us to at-
tain mystical and real union with Christ, who chose to undergo suffering and
death; and, likewise, we still have concupiscence, and experience bodily weak-
ness etc. “that in them we may have the seed and material of virtue a which we
shall hereafter receive a more abundant harvest of glory and more ample rewards”
(II, 2, 48). “’Infelix ego homo!, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis huius? Unhap-
py man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?’ The cry is Saint
Paul’s—Courage: he too had to fight” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 138).
*********************************************************************************************
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.
12
posted on
10/22/2009 9:23:43 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
From: Luke 12:54-59
The Coming of Christ
[54] He (Jesus) also said to the multitudes, “When you see a cloud rising in the
west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. [55] And when
you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it
happens. [56] You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearances of
earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”
[57] “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? [58] As you go with
your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way,
lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the
officer put you in prison. [59] I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid
the very last copper.”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
56. Jesus’ listeners knew from experience how to forecast the weather. However,
although they knew the signs of the Messiah’s coming announced by the prophets,
and were hearing His preaching and witfnessing His miracles, they did not want to
draw the logical conclusion; they lacked the necessary good will and upright inten-
tion, and they just closed their eyes to the light of the Gospel (cf. Romans 1:18ff).
This attitude is also found to be very widespread in our own time, in forms of cer-
tain kinds of atheism denounced by the Second Vatican Council: “Those who will-
fully try to drive God from their heart and to avoid all questions about religion, not
following the biddings of their conscience, are not free from blame” (”Gaudium Et
Spes”, 19).
*********************************************************************************************
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.
13
posted on
10/22/2009 9:29:02 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd
Mass Readings
| First reading |
Romans 7:18-25 © |
|
I know of nothing good living in me – living, that is, in my unspiritual self – for though the will to do what is good is in me, the performance is not, with the result that instead of doing the good things I want to do, I carry out the sinful things I do not want. When I act against my will, then, it is not my true self doing it, but sin which lives in me.
In fact, this seems to be the rule, that every single time I want to do good it is something evil that comes to hand. In my inmost self I dearly love God’s Law, but I can see that my body follows a different law that battles against the law which my reason dictates. This is what makes me a prisoner of that law of sin which lives inside my body.
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
|
| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 118:66,68,76-77,93-94 |
| Gospel |
Luke 12:54-59 © |
|
Jesus said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?
‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’
|
14
posted on
10/22/2009 9:32:10 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Friday, October 23, 2009
St. John of Capistrano, OFM, Priest (Memorial) |
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
|
Romans 7:18-25
Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94
Luke 12:54-59
No man [truly] making a profession of faith sinneth; nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognized by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession, but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end. -- St. Ignatius |
|
15
posted on
10/22/2009 9:34:36 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
|
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.
|
16
posted on
10/22/2009 9:40:04 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Pray for an end to the Culture of Death in America!
17
posted on
10/22/2009 9:43:13 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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 34 (35) |
| The Lord, a saviour in time of persecution |
|
Lord, rise up and defend me.
|
|
Judge, Lord, those who are judging me:
attack those who are attacking me.
Take up your shield and come out to defend me.
Brandish your spear and hold back my pursuers.
Say to my soul, “I am your deliverance.”
Let them be thrown into confusion,
those who are after my life.
Let them be weakened and put to flight,
those who plan harm to me.
Let them be like chaff blowing in the wind,
when the angel of the Lord scatters them.
Let their paths be dark and slippery,
when the angel of the Lord harries them.
For it was without cause that they spread out their nets to ensnare me,
without cause that they dug a pit to take my life.
Let death come upon them suddenly,
may they be entangled in their own nets.
But my soul will exult in the Lord
and rejoice in his aid.
My bones themselves will say
“Lord, who is your equal?”
You snatch the poor man
from the hand of the strong,
the needy and weak
from those who would destroy them.
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.
|
|
Lord, rise up and defend me.
|
| Psalm 34 (35) |
|
Judge my case, Lord: defend me, for you are strong.
|
|
Lying witnesses rose up against me;
they asked me questions I could not answer.
They paid me back evil for the good I did,
my soul is desolation.
Yet I – when they were ill, I put on sackcloth,
I mortified my soul with fasting,
I prayed for them from the depths of my heart.
I walked in sadness as for a close friend, for a brother;
I was bowed down with grief as if mourning my own mother.
But they – when I was unsteady, they rejoiced and gathered together.
They gathered and beat me: I did not know why.
They were tearing me to pieces, there was no end to it:
they teased me, heaped derision on me, they ground their teeth at 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.
|
|
Judge my case, Lord: defend me, for you are strong.
|
| Psalm 34 (35) |
|
All day my tongue will ponder your justice and utter your praise.
|
|
Lord, how long will you wait?
Rescue my life from their attacks,
my only life from the lions.
I will proclaim you in the great assembly,
in the throng of people I will praise you.
Let not my lying enemies triumph over me,
those who hate me for no reason,
who conspire against me by secret signs,
who do not speak of peace,
who plan crimes against the innocent,
who cry out slanders against me,
saying “Yes! Yes! We saw it ourselves!”
You see them, Lord, do not stay silent:
Lord, do not leave me.
Rise up and keep watch at my trial:
my God and my Lord, watch over my case.
Judge me according to your justice,
Lord: my God, let them not rejoice over me!
Let them not think to themselves,
“Yes! We have what we wanted!”
Let them not say,
“We have swallowed him up.”
But let those who support my cause rejoice,
let them say always “How great is the Lord,
who takes care of his servant’s welfare.”
And my tongue too will ponder your justice,
and praise you all day long.
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.
|
|
All day my tongue will ponder your justice and utter your praise.
|
|
My son, keep my words in your heart.
– Follow my commandments and you will live.
|
| Reading |
Baruch 1:14-2:5,3:1-8 © |
|
You are to read the book aloud which we send you with this and so make public confession in the house of the Lord on the feastday and on days of solemn assembly. You are to say:
Integrity belongs to the Lord our God; to us the look of shame we wear today, to us, the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem, to our kings and princes, our priests, our prophets, as to our ancestors, because we have sinned in the sight of the Lord, have disobeyed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God telling us to follow the commandments which the Lord had ordained for us. From the day when the Lord brought our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until today we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, we have been disloyal, refusing to listen to his voice. And so the disasters, and the curse which the Lord pronounced through his servant Moses the day he brought our fathers out of Egypt to give us a land where milk and honey flow, have seized on us, disasters we experience today. Despite all the words of those prophets whom he sent us, we have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God, but, each following the dictates of his evil heart, we have taken to serving alien gods, and doing what is displeasing to the Lord our God.
And so the Lord has carried out the sentence which he passed on us, on our judges who governed Israel, on our kings and leaders, on the men of Israel and of Judah; what he did to Jerusalem has never been paralleled under the wide heavens – all this in conformity with what was written in the Law of Moses; we were all reduced to eating the flesh of our own sons and daughters. Furthermore, he has handed them over into the power of all the kingdoms that surround us, to be loathed and avoided by all the neighbouring nations among whom he scattered them. Instead of being masters, they found themselves enslaved, because we had sinned against the Lord our God by not listening to his voice.
Almighty Lord, God of Israel, a soul in anguish, a troubled heart now cries to you: Listen and have pity, Lord, for we have sinned in your sight. You sit enthroned for ever, while we perish continually. ‘Almighty Lord, God of Israel, hear the prayer of the dead of Israel, of the sons of those who have sinned against you and have not listened to the voice of the Lord their God, hence the disasters that have seized on us. Do not call to mind the misdeeds of our ancestors, but remember instead your power and your name. You are indeed the Lord our God and we long to praise you, Lord, since you have put respect for you in our hearts to encourage us to call on your name. We long to praise you in our exile, for we have emptied our hearts of the evil inclinations of our ancestors who sinned against you. Look on us today, still in exile where you have dispersed us as something execrable, accursed, condemned, in punishment for all the misdeeds of our ancestors who had abandoned the Lord our God.
|
| Reading |
A letter to Proba by St Augustine |
| The spirit pleads for us |
|
The person who asks for and seeks this one thing from the Lord makes his petition confidently and serenely. He has no fear that, when he receives it, it may harm him, for if this is absent, anything else he duly receives brings no benefit at all. This is the one, true and only life of happiness, that, immortal and incorruptible in body and spirit, we should contemplate the Lord’s graciousness for ever. It is for the sake of this one thing that everything else is sought and without impropriety requested. The person who has this will have all that he wants; in heaven, he will be unable to want, because he will be unable to possess anything that is unfitting.
In heaven is the fountain of life, that we should now thirst for in prayer as long as we live in hope and do not yet see the object of our hope, under the protection of his wings in whose presence is all our desire, so that we may drink our fill from the plenty of his house and be given drink from the running stream of his delights, for with him is the fountain of life, and in his light we shall see light, when our desire will be satisfied with good things, and there will be nothing to ask for with sighs but only what we possess with joy.
Yet, since this is that peace that surpasses all understanding, even when we ask for it in prayer we do not know how to pray for what is right. Certainly we do not know something if we cannot think of it as it really is; whatever comes to mind we reject, repudiate, find fault with; we know that this is not what we are seeking, even if we do not yet know what kind of thing it really is.
There is then within us a kind of instructed ignorance, instructed, that is, by the Spirit of God who helps our weakness. When the Apostle said: If we hope for something we do not see, we look forward to it with patience, he added, In the same way the Spirit helps our weakness; we do not know what it is right to pray for, but the Spirit himself pleads with sighs too deep for words. He who searches hearts knows what the Spirit means, for he pleads for the saints according to God’s will.
We must not understand by this that the Holy Spirit of God pleads for the saints as if he were someone different from what God is: in the Trinity the Spirit is the unchangeable God and one God with the Father and the Son. Scripture says: He pleads for the saints because he moves the saints to plead, just as it says: The Lord your God tests you, to know if you love him, in this sense, that he does it to enable you to know. So the Spirit moves the saints to plead with sighs too deep for words by inspiring in them a desire for the great and as yet unknown reality that we look forward to with patience. How can words express what we desire when it remains unknown? If we were entirely ignorant of it we would not desire it; again, we would not desire it or seek it with sighs, if we were able to see it.
|
| Concluding Prayer |
|
Almighty and ever-living God,
make us devoted to doing your will
and serving you in your majesty with sincere hearts.
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.
|
18
posted on
10/23/2009 7:20:30 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
St. John Capistrano, Priest
Saint John of Capistrano, priest
Optional Memorial
October 23rd
(1386-1456) Saint John was born in Italy. He became a lawyer before becoming a Franciscan. He preached in various countries of Eastern Europe, bringing about great revivals of the faith. He also led a section of the Christian army at the Battle of Belgrade in 1456 in order to defend Europe from the advances of the Turks.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
Lord,
you raised up St. John of Capistrano
to give your people comfort in their trials.
May your Church enjoy unending peace
and be secure in your protection.
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.
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-20
For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that One has died for all; therefore all have died. And He died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard Him thus no longer. Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:57-62
As they were going along the road, a man said to Jesus, "I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head." To another He said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow You, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
19
posted on
10/23/2009 7:37:08 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Catholic Culture
Daily Readings for: October 23, 2009
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: Lord, you raised up Saint John of Capistrano to give your people comfort in their trials. May your Church enjoy unending peace and be secure in your protection. 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.
Optional Memorial of St. John of Capistrano, priest Old Calendar: St. Anthony Mary Claret
John was a native of Capistrano, in Italy. He became a Franciscan and was one of the great organizers of the struggle against the Mohammedans in the 15th century, when they threatened to overrun the whole of Europe. Mohammed II had taken Constantinope and was already marching against Belgrade, when Pope Callixtus III called St. John to preach the crusade; assisted by the Hungarian John Hunyadi, he gathered a strong Christian army, which defeated the Turks in the great battle of Belgrade (1453). He died in 1456.
According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, St. John of Capistrano's feast is celebrated on March 28 and today is the feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret which is now observed on October 24 in the Ordinary Rite.
St. John of Capistrano
St. John was born in 1386 at Capistrano in the Italian Province of the Abruzzi. His father was a German knight and died when he was still young. St. John became a lawyer and attained the position of governor of Perugia. When war broke out between Perugia and Malatesta in 1416, St. John tried to broker a peace. Unfortunately, his opponents ignored the truce and St. John became a prisoner of war. On the death of his wife he entered the order of Friars Minor, was ordained and began to lead a very penitential life.
John became a disciple of Saint Bernadine of Siena and a noted preacher while still a deacon, beginning his work in 1420. The world at the time was in need of strong men to work for salvation of souls. Thirty percent of the population was killed by the Black Plague, the Church was split in schism and there were several men claiming to be pope. As an Itinerant priest throughout Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia, St. John preached to tens of thousands and established communities of Franciscan renewal. He reportedly healed the sick by making the Sign of the Cross over them. He also wrote extensively, mainly against the heresies of the day.
He was successful in reconciling heretics. After the fall of Constantinople, he preached a crusade against the Muslim Turks. At age 70 he was commissioned by Pope Callistus II to lead it, and marched off at the head of 70,000 Christian soldiers. He won the great battle of Belgrade in the summer of 1456. He died in the field a few months later, but his army delivered Europe from the Moslems.
Patron: chaplains; jurists; judges; military chaplains.
Symbols: man with a crucifix and lance, treading a turban underfoot; Franciscan with cross on his breast and carrying banner of the cross; Franciscan preaching, angels with rosaries and IHS above him; Franciscan pointing to a crucifix which he holds; crucifix; IHS banner; red cross; star.
Things to Do:
- St. John struggled with finding his vocation. Younger people can pray to St. John for help in discerning God's will for their lives.
- Learn more about the times that St. John Capistrano lived, such as the Crusades, the Black Plague, anti-popes.
- St. John is the patron of jurists. We can turn to him to help discern major decisions. We can also follow his example of strict self-discipline in order to think more clearly.
- In 1776 in Southern California, Father Junipera Serra founded the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, named for St. John, for mission work to the Indians. The mission is a historical site, and has both a Catholic Basilica and the original smaller chapel that are still used for Catholic liturgy. There is also a tradition of the swallows returning to San Juan every March 19. Find out more about this annual event.
20
posted on
10/23/2009 6:48:09 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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 50 (51) |
| God, have mercy on me |
|
Lord, you will accept lawful sacrifice on your altar.
|
|
Take pity on me, Lord, in your mercy;
in your abundance of mercy wipe out my guilt.
Wash me ever more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know how guilty I am:
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned,
and I have done evil in your sight.
Know this, so that you may give just sentence
and an unbiased judgement.
See, I was conceived in guilt,
in sin my mother conceived me;
but you love truth in the heart,
and deep within me you have shown me your wisdom.
You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be made clean;
you will wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
You will make me hear the sound of joy and gladness;
the bones you have crushed will rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins
and wipe out all my transgressions;
create a pure heart in me, God,
put a steadfast spirit into me.
Do not send me away from your presence,
or withdraw your holy spirit from me;
give me again the joy of your salvation,
and be ready to strengthen me with your spirit.
I will teach the unjust your ways,
and the impious will return to you.
Free me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, God my saviour,
and my voice will glory in your justice.
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will proclaim your praise;
for you do not delight in sacrifices:
if I offered you a burnt offering, it would not please you.
The true sacrifice is a broken spirit:
a contrite and humble heart, O God, you will not refuse.
Be pleased, Lord, to look kindly on Zion,
so that the walls of Jerusalem can be rebuilt,
Then indeed you will accept the proper sacrifices, gifts and burnt offerings;
then indeed will bullocks be laid upon your altar.
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.
|
|
Lord, you will accept lawful sacrifice on your altar.
|
| Canticle |
Isaiah 45 |
| All peoples, turn to the Lord |
|
In the Lord all descendants of Israel will receive justice and glory.
|
|
In truth you are a hidden God,
the God and Saviour of Israel.
They were dismayed and ashamed, all the makers of idols,
all of them fled in dismay.
Israel has been saved by the Lord, saved for ever;
you will not be dismayed or ashamed,
to the end of time.
For thus says the Lord, the God
who made the heavens,
who made the earth, shaped it, set it firm –
he did not make it to be empty,
but to be full of life –
“I am the Lord, there is no other.
I have not spoken secretly,
in some dark corner of the earth.
I have not said to the children of Jacob, ‘seek me in vain.’
I am the Lord who speaks justice, who proclaims uprightness.
“Gather together, come, approach me
all you who have been rescued from the Gentiles.
They were ignorant, who raised up wooden idols
and begged favours of a god without power.
Announce it – come, ponder it together –
who was saying this from the beginning, who foretold this from the start?
Am I not the Lord?
Is there any other God but me?
Do you seek a just God who will save you? There is no other.
“Turn to me and you will be saved, all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, there is no other.
“I have sworn by my own being,
I have decreed a judgement that will not be revoked;
for every knee will bend to me,
every tongue swear by my name.”
“Only in the Lord,” they will say,
“are there justice and strength!”
All who resisted him will come to him, and be dismayed;
but in the Lord all descendants of Israel
will receive justice and glory.
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.
|
|
In the Lord all descendants of Israel will receive justice and glory.
|
| Psalm 99 (100) |
| Enter the Temple with joy |
|
Come in triumph before the face of the Lord.
|
|
Rejoice in the Lord, all the earth,
and serve him with joy.
Exult as you enter his presence.
Know that the Lord is God.
He made us and we are his
– his people, the sheep of his flock.
Cry out his praises as you enter his gates,
fill his courtyards with songs.
Proclaim him and bless his name;
for the Lord is our delight.
His mercy lasts for ever,
his faithfulness through all the ages.
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.
|
|
Come in triumph before the face of the Lord.
|
| Short reading |
Ephesians 4:29-32 © |
|
Guard against foul talk; let your words be for the improvement of others, as occasion offers, and do good to your listeners, otherwise you will only be grieving the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal for you to be set free when the day comes. Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. Be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.
|
| Canticle |
Benedictus |
| The Messiah and his forerunner |
|
The Lord has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
|
|
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.
|
|
The Lord has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
|
| Prayers and Intercessions |
? |
|
We worship Christ, who by his cross brought salvation to the human race, and we pray to him:
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Christ, you are our daylight: shine on us this morning,
and cleanse us of every evil inclination.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Watch over what we think, what we say, and what we do,
so that today we may be pleasing in your sight.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Turn your face away from our sins,
and wipe out all our transgressions.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Through your cross and resurrection
give us the strength of the Holy Spirit.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
|
|
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 who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
|
|
O God, your light dispels the darkness of ignorance of your word, morning, noon and night:
Increase in our hearts the faith that you have given us:
may no trials extinguish the fire lit by your grace.
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 |
21
posted on
10/23/2009 7:07:44 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
The Word Among Us
Meditation: Romans 7:18-25
Here is a truth we can never hear too many times: In Jesus Christ, we are set free.
He died, rose, ascended into heaven, and poured out his Spirit so that we could live free from sin and death. But there is another truth that is just as important, but which we find a little harder to hear: There is another one at work, a liar from the beginning, whose only plan is to bring us into slavery and keep us there forever.
We call that liar the devil, or Satan. Unlike God, he is not all-present, all-knowing, or even all-powerful. He is just a liar. From the beginning, he has delighted in deceiving us. God commanded Adam: “From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die” (Genesis 2:17). And almost immediately, Satan told a huge lie: “You certainly will not die” (3:4). God just doesn’t want you to be like him.
With that one lie, when our first parents believed it, the power of sin was unleashed, and the human race became enslaved. Satan continues this same strategy today, conning us into accepting his lies, and using them as a tool to keep us ensnared. This is the “law of sin” that St. Paul cites in Romans 7:23. And some days, it’s more real to us, and easier to see in operation, than the finished work of Jesus on the cross. But Jesus has redeemed us! That is truth, no matter what other thoughts are whispered into our minds.
We have a way out of our entanglement in sin: the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There, sin must bow to the truth of freedom in Christ, to the truth that Jesus has restored us to a right relationship with the Father. It’s there, in Confession, that truth triumphs, and we taste our freedom once more. So when you see sin in your life, don’t accept it as immutable fact. Cry out: “Jesus, I want to be free!” Receive the sacrament. And embrace the liberation, the life, the peace, and the joy that Jesus died to give you.
“Jesus, I want to be free! Show me how the law of sin is at work in my life, so that I may turn and receive the reconciliation you died for.”
Psalm 119:66,68,76-77,93-94;? Luke 12:54-59
22
posted on
10/23/2009 7:10:14 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Secret Harbor ~ Portus Secretioris
Everything we do, our every objective, must be undertaken for the sake of purity of heart. This is why we take on loneliness, fasting, vigils, work, nakedness. For this we must practice the reading of the Scriptures, together with all the other virtuous activities, and we do so to hold our hearts free of the harm of every dangerous passion to keep it pure and in order to rise step by step to the high point of love.
It may be that some good and necessary task prevents us from achieving fully all that we set out to do. Let us not on this account give way to sadness or anger or indignation, since it was precisely to repel these, to destroy them in our hearts, that we would have done what in fact we were compelled to omit.
What we gain from fasting does not compensate for what we lose through anger. Our profit from Scriptural reading in no way equals the damage we cause ourselves by showing contempt for a brother. We must always relate our fasting, vigils, withdrawal, and the meditation of Scripture and all these similar things, which are merely effects and consequences of our piety, to the principal end to which we must tend, that is, to this purity of heart which is nothing other than charity.
~ Saint John Cassian ~
23
posted on
10/23/2009 7:12:35 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
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 40 (41) |
| Prayer in time of sickness |
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Heal my soul, Lord, for I have sinned against you.
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Blessed is he who takes thought for the helpless,
for the Lord will keep him safe in time of trouble.
The Lord will guard him and give him life.
He will give him good fortune on the earth,
and not betray him into the power of his enemies.
The Lord will lend him strength on his bed of pain;
you will transform all his sickness into health.
I said, “Lord, have mercy, heal my soul,
for I have sinned against you.”
My enemies spoke against me, saying: “When will he die?
When will his name perish?”
When one of them came to visit me, he talked of nothing,
but stored up wickedness in his heart.
He went out, and told tales against me.
All my enemies whispered together against me,
imagined the worst:
“A plague has taken hold of him:
he has lain down and will not rise.”
Even my dearest friend, in whom I put my trust, who had eaten my bread –
even he trampled me down.
But you, Lord – have mercy on me,
revive me, and I will pay them back.
This is how I know that I have your favour,
when my enemy cannot triumph over me,
when you raise me up because of my innocence,
and put me in your presence for all eternity.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
from the beginning to the end of time.
Amen! Amen!
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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Heal my soul, Lord, for I have sinned against you.
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| Psalm 45 (46) |
| God, our refuge and our strength |
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The Lord of might is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.
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The Lord is our refuge and our strength,
a true help in our troubles.
Therefore we do not fear,
even when the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the depths of the sea,
the waves roar and foam
and rise up to shake the mountains.
The streams of the river give joy to the city of God,
the holy dwelling-place of the Most High.
God is within it, it will not be shaken;
God will give help as the day dawns.
The nations are in turmoil and kingdoms totter:
at the sound of his voice, the earth flows like water.
The Lord of strength is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come and see the works of the Lord,
who has done wonders on the earth.
He puts an end to wars over all the world:
he tramples the bow, shatters weapons, and burns the shields with fire.
Stop and see that I am God:
I will be exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.
The Lord of strength is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
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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The Lord of might is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.
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| Canticle |
Apocalypse 15 |
| A hymn of adoration |
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All nations will come and worship in your presence, O Lord.
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Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God Almighty;
just and true are your ways, King of all nations!
Who, Lord, will not revere and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship in your presence,
for your judgements have been seen by all.
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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All nations will come and worship in your presence, O Lord.
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| Short reading |
Romans 15:1-3 © |
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We who are strong have a duty to put up with the qualms of the weak without thinking of ourselves. Each of us should think of his neighbours and help them to become stronger Christians. Christ did not think of himself: the words of scripture apply to him – the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
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| Canticle |
Magnificat |
| My soul rejoices in the Lord |
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He has come to help us, his servants: he has remembered his mercy.
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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.
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He has come to help us, his servants: he has remembered his mercy.
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| Prayers and Intercessions |
? |
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Blessed be God. In his kindness he answers the prayers of those in need and fills the hungry full of good things. Let us put our trust in him and pray:
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Lord and gentle Father, we pray for the suffering limbs of the Church:
whose Head, your Son, suffered on the cross, and completed his sacrifice as day was ending.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Free those who are in bondage, give sight to the blind,
look after widows and orphans.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Clothe the faithful in your armour
to resist the snares of the Devil.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Be close to us, Lord, in our last hours:
in your compassion, judge us to be faithful and let us leave this world at peace with you.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
Lead the dead into your light:
may they enjoy the sight of you for ever.
– Lord, show us your compassion.
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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 who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
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To your servants, O Lord, grant this:
that we may learn from the example of your Son’s passion
to be ready always to bear his gentle burden.
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.
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| A M E N |
24
posted on
10/23/2009 7:14:35 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Regnum Christi
| Spiritual Weather Reports |
| | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY |
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Friday, 29th week, OT
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Father Steven Reilly, LC
Luke 12:54-59
Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain -- and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot -- and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are here with me. I have come to honor and adore you. Your love sustains me. I want to love you more in return.
Petition: Lord, allow me to comprehend your providence more deeply.
1. Seeing Signs Jesus expresses some indignation with the spiritual obtuseness of his listeners; in other words, they don’t get it! When it comes to earthly matters, they can put two and two together in an almost infallible manner. A dim dullness, however, has the upper hand when the spiritual realm is broached. Why? Possibly because they were not bothering to ponder what the sign of Jesus’ presence, miracles and words really meant. They remained on the superficial level without plumbing the depths. Superficiality inhibits our own spiritual progress as well. Seeing signs isn’t so much a matter of being able to pick out the shape of a tabernacle or cross in a passing cloud, but of deep and prayerful consideration of the love of God in our lives.
2. God’s Presence People who live a life of consistent prayer are much more in tune with God’s presence. Where others see coincidence, they see providence. This gives them a profound sense of peace. They know that God is in charge and that they don’t have to figure out everything for themselves. The world doesn’t rest on their shoulders, but on God’s. So instead of complaining or worrying, they live in an atmosphere of trust and acceptance.
3. Paying Attention God’s providence guides all things. We know this through faith and sometimes he sends a sign to say, “Yes, I’m indeed here.” Once a Legionary priest was driving down the road in Virginia and his thoughts were taken up with a difficulty he was having with a particular person. “How should I handle this,” he asked himself. A car pulled out in front of him. Virginia is known for its high number of vanity license plates, and this one left him scratching his head. The license plate read “CARITAS”, which is Latin for “charity.” Was it just a coincidence? He couldn’t deny that this was the answer he was looking for. The signs that invite us to be more Christ-like are the ones to which we need to pay the most attention.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, the times I really don’t pick up on the signs you send me are when they challenge my resistance to your grace. Help me to overcome my spiritual superficiality and perceive your presence in my life.
Resolution: I will try to be prompt in following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. |
25
posted on
10/23/2009 7:18:07 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
October 23rd, 2009 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Rom 7:18-25 / Lk 12:54-59
Once again St. Paul demonstrates his special knack for cutting to the heart of the matter and speaking wisely for us all. Reflecting on his own life, he says, “What happens is that I do, not the good I intend, but the evil I don’t intend.” Isn’t it the truth! We set out with the best of intentions, and then everything goes awry. Sometimes it’s just poor planning or not seeing the matter at hand in all its complexity. That’s the easy part, and better planning and more thoughtful analysis can fix it.
What’s far more frustrating is to set out with a good plan and the best of intentions and then to make a mess of it all because our ego, or our fears, or our loves or hates get in the way and send us off in the wrong direction. The worst part of all is knowing at the very moment that we act that what we’re doing is stupid, wrong, and counter-productive. We’ve all been there — many times! And we’ve found ourselves crying out in anguish with St. Paul, “Who can set me free from all this?”
That question tormented Paul for the many years before he found Jesus. He so much wanted to do the right and to be right with God and with his neighbor. And his failures broke his heart. So, when he finally met Jesus, his relief and his gratitude were beyond all telling. And that’s the experience he wants to share with us: Don’t despair. Open your heart to the Lord. He will give you what you need. And when you stumble, he’ll pick you up and help you try again … and again … and again. He never gives up on you, so don’t ever give up.
26
posted on
10/23/2009 7:22:26 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
One Bread, One BodyOne Bread, One Body
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Romans 7:18-25
View Readings |
Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94 |
Luke 12:54-59
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SPRINGTIME IN OCTOBER
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"Why can you not interpret the present time?" —Luke 12:56
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Most of the time it's easy to predict the weather. Jesus claimed it was also easy to interpret the signs of the times (Lk 12:56). What are the signs of our times? What time is it spiritually? Pope John Paul II prophesied it is early "springtime" for the Church (Mission of the Redeemer, 86). This means we have weathered a long, cold spiritual winter. Some have spiritually died during this winter; others are starving, sick, or weakened. We must reach out to resurrect, nourish, and heal our Christian brothers and sisters. We should also tell them the good news that, although early spring sometimes looks like winter, it is still spring. We have the certain hope of new life. "For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land" (Sg 2:11-12). Although we may be getting ready for winter in the calendar year, winter is over in the spiritual calendar. The dove, the Holy Spirit, is singing a new song of new life in our land. Come, Holy Spirit of springtime! |
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Prayer: Father, send the Spirit to teach me to read the signs of the times.
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Promise: "Who can free me from this body under the power of death? All praise to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" —Rm 7:24-25
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Praise: Like St. Francis, St. John was called by God to be a soldier for Christ after serving in his country's military and after being held prisoner of war.
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27
posted on
10/23/2009 7:25:28 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Compline -- Night Prayer
Compline (Night 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.
This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.
Now that the daylight dies away,
By all thy grace and love,
Thee, Maker of the world, we pray
To watch our bed above.
Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,
The offspring of the night,
Keep us, like shrines, beneath thine eye,
Pure in our foe’s despite.
This grace on thy redeemed confer,
Father, co-equal Son,
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Eternal Three in One.
Psalm 87 (88)
The prayer of one gravely ill |
I cry out to you, Lord, by day and by night.
Lord God, my saviour,
I have cried out to you by day and by night.
Let my prayer come before you:
turn your ear to my request.
For my soul is full of evils,
my life has come close to its end.
I am counted with those who go down to the pit:
I am left without help.
I am one of the dead,
like the murdered who sleep in their tombs,
who lie there forgotten,
cut off from your care.
You have thrust me down into the pit,
to the gloom and the shadow of death.
Your anger weighs heavy upon me;
you have drowned me under your waves.
You have taken my friends away from me:
you have made me hateful in their sight,
I am shut in, I may not go out.
My eyes are weak from my sufferings.
I have called to you, Lord, all the day;
I have stretched out my hands to you.
Is it for the dead that you perform your wonders?
Will the ghosts rise up and proclaim you?
In the tomb, will they tell of your kindness?
Will they tell of your faithfulness in the place of the lost?
Will your wonders be known in the darkness,
or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
And so I have called out to you, Lord,
and in the morning my prayer will come before you.
With what purpose, Lord, do you reject my soul?
Why do you hide your face from me?
I am poor; from my youth I have been dying;
I have borne the terrors you sent, I am lost in confusion.
Your anger has overrun me, your terrors have broken me:
they have flowed round me like water,
they have besieged me all the day long.
You have taken my friends and those close to me:
all I have left is shadows.
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.
I cry out to you, Lord, by day and by night.
You, Lord, are in our midst, and we are called by your name; therefore do not abandon us, Lord, our God.
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.
You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;
the glory of your people Israel.
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.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Let us pray.
Lord, let us be so united with your only Son that we become worthy to rise with him into new life, who lives and reigns for ever and ever, Amen.
May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
A M E N
Hail to you, O Queen, mother of loving kindness,
our life, our happiness, our hope.
Hear us cry out to you,
children of Eve in our exile.
Hear as we sigh, with groaning and weeping
in this life, this valley of tears.
Come then, our Advocate, turn towards us
the gaze of your kind and loving eyes.
And show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb,
when at last our exile here is ended.
28
posted on
10/23/2009 7:29:19 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
| Luke |
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English: Douay-Rheims |
Latin: Vulgata Clementina |
Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) |
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Luke 12
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| 54. |
And he said also to the multitudes: When you see a cloud rising from the west, presently you say: A shower is coming: and so it happeneth: |
Dicebat autem et ad turbas : Cum videritis nubem orientem ab occasu, statim dicitis : Nimbus venit : et ita fit. |
ελεγεν δε και τοις οχλοις οταν ιδητε την νεφελην ανατελλουσαν απο δυσμων ευθεως λεγετε ομβρος ερχεται και γινεται ουτως |
| 55. |
And when ye see the south wind blow, you say: There will be heat: and it cometh to pass. |
Et cum austrum flantem, dicitis : Quia æstus erit : et fit. |
και οταν νοτον πνεοντα λεγετε οτι καυσων εσται και γινεται |
| 56. |
You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth: but how is it that you do not discern this time? |
Hypocritæ ! faciem cæli et terræ nostis probare : hoc autem tempus quomodo non probatis ? |
υποκριται το προσωπον της γης και του ουρανου οιδατε δοκιμαζειν τον δε καιρον τουτον πως ου δοκιμαζετε |
| 57. |
And why even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just? |
quid autem et a vobis ipsis non judicatis quod justum est ? |
τι δε και αφ εαυτων ου κρινετε το δικαιον |
| 58. |
And when thou goest with thy adversary to the prince, whilst thou art in the way, endeavour to be delivered from him: lest perhaps he draw thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the exacter, and the exacter cast thee into prison. |
Cum autem vadis cum adversario tuo ad principem, in via da operam liberari ab illo, ne forte trahat te ad judicem, et judex tradat te exactori, et exactor mittat te in carcerem. |
ως γαρ υπαγεις μετα του αντιδικου σου επ αρχοντα εν τη οδω δος εργασιαν απηλλαχθαι απ αυτου μηποτε κατασυρη σε προς τον κριτην και ο κριτης σε παραδω τω πρακτορι και ο πρακτωρ σε βαλη εις φυλακην |
| 59. |
I say to thee, thou shalt not go out thence, until thou pay the very last mite. |
Dico tibi, non exies inde, donec etiam novissimum minutum reddas. |
λεγω σοι ου μη εξελθης εκειθεν εως ου και τον εσχατον λεπτον αποδως |
29
posted on
10/23/2009 8:10:05 PM PDT
by
annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
To: annalex
54. And he said also to the people, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower; and so it is.
55. And when you see the south wind blow, you say here will be heat; and it comes to pass.
56. You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?
57. Yes, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?
THEOPHYL. When He spoke about preaching, and called it a sword, His hearers may have been troubled, not knowing what He meant. And therefore our Lord adds, that as men determine the state of the weather by certain signs, so ought they to know His coming. And this is what he means by saying, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower.
And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, There will be heat, &c. As if He says, Your words and works show me to be opposed to you. You may therefore suppose that I came not to give peace, but the storm and whirlwind. For I am a cloud, and I come out of the west, that is, from human nature; which has been long since clothed with the thick darkness of sin. I came also to send fire, that is, to stir up heat. For I am the strong south wind, opposed to the northern coldness.
BEDE; Or, they who from the change of the elements can easily when they like predetermine the state of the weather, might if they wished also understand the time of our Lord's coming from the words of the Prophets.
CYRIL; For the prophets have in many ways foretold the mystery of Christ; it became them therefore, if they were wise, to stretch their prospect beyond to the future, nor will ignorance of the time to come avail them after the present life. For there will be wind and rain, and a future punishment by fire; and this is signified when it is said, A shower comes. It became them also not to be ignorant of the time of salvation, that is, the coming of the Savior, through whom perfect piety entered into the world. And this is meant when it is said, You say that there will be heat. Whence it follows in censure of them, You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and the earth, but how is it that you do not discern this time.
BASIL; Now we must observe, that conjectures concerning the stars are necessary to the life of man, as long as we do not push our searches into their signs beyond due limits. For it is possible to discover some things with respect to coming rain, still more concerning heat and the force of the winds, whether partial or universal, stormy or gentle. But the great advantage that is rendered to life by these conjectures is known to every one. For it is of importance to the sailor to prognosticate the dangers of storms, to the traveler the changes of the weather, to the husbandmen the abundant supply of his fruits.
BEDE; But lest any of the people should allege their ignorance of the prophetical books as a reason why they could not discern the courses of the times, He carefully adds, And why even of yourselves judge you not what is right, showing them that although unlearned they might still by their natural ability discern Him, who did works such as none other man did, to be above man, and to be God, and that therefore after the injustice of this world, the just judgment of the creation would come.
ORIGEN; But had it not been implanted in our nature to judge what is right, our Lord would never have said this.
58. When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him; lest he hale you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.
59. I tell you, you shall not depart thence, till you have paid the very last mite.
THEOPHYL. Our Lord having described a rightful difference, next teaches us a rightful reconciliation, saying, When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him, &c. As if He says, When your adversary is bringing you to judgment, give diligence, that is, try every method, to be released from him. Or give diligence, that is, although you have nothing, borrow in order that you may be released from him, lest he summon you before the judge as it follows, Lest he hale you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.
CYRIL; Where you will suffer want until you pay the last farthing; and this is what He adds, I say to you, you shall not depart hence.
CHRYS. It seems to me that He is speaking of the present judges, and of the way to the present judgment, and of the prison of this world. For by these things which are visible and at hand, ignorant men are wont to gain improvement. For often He gives a lesson, not only from future good and evil but from present, for the sake of His ruder hearers.
AMBROSE; Or our adversary is the devil, who lays his baits for sin, that he may have those his partners in punishment who were his accomplices in crime; our adversary is also every vicious practice. Lastly, our adversary is an evil conscience, which affects us both in this world, and will accuse and betray us in the next. Let us then give heed, while we are in this life's course, that we may be delivered from every bad act as from an evil enemy. Nay, while we are going with our adversary to the magistrate, as we are in the way, we should condemn our fault. But who is the magistrate, but He in whose hands is all power? But the Magistrate delivers the guilty to the Judge, that is, to Him, to whom He gives the power over the quick and dead, namely, Jesus Christ, through Whom the secrets are made manifest, and the punishment of wicked works awarded. He delivers to the officer, and the officer casts into prison, for He says, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness. And he shows that His officers are the angels, of whom he says, The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; but it is added, I tell you, you shall not depart thence till you have paid the very last mite. For as they who pay money on interest do not get rid of the debt of interest before that the amount of the whole principal is paid even up to the least sum in every kind of payment, so by the compensation of love and the other acts, or by each particular kind of satisfaction the punishment of sin is canceled.
ORIGEN; Or else, He here introduces four characters, the adversary, the magistrate the officer, and the judge. But with Matthew the character of the magistrate is left out, and instead of the officer a servant is introduced. They differ also in that the one has written a farthing , the other a mite, but each has called it the last. Now we say that all men have present with them two angels, a bad one who encourages them to wicked deeds, a good one who persuades all that is best. Now the former, our adversary whenever we sin rejoices, knowing that he has an occasion for exaltations and boasting with the prince of the world, who sent him. But in the Greek, "the adversary" is written with the article, to signify that he is one out of many, seeing that each individual is under the ruler of his nation. Give diligence then that you may be delivered from your adversary, or from the ruler to whom the adversary drags you, by having wisdom, justice, fortitude, and temperance. But if you have given diligence, let it be in Him who says, I am the life, otherwise the adversary will hale you to the judge. Now he says, hale, to point out that they are forced unwillingly to condemnation. But I know no other judge but our Lord Jesus Christ who delivers to the officer. Each of us have our own officers; the officers exercise rule over us, if we owe any thing. If I paid every man every thing, I come to the of officers and answer with a fearless heart, "I owe them nothing." But if I am a debtor, the officer will cast me into prison, nor will he suffer me to go out from thence until I have paid every debt. For the officer has no power to let me off even a farthing. He who forgave one debtor five hundred pence and another fifty, was the Lord, but the exactor is not the master, but one appointed by the master to demand the debts. But the last mite he calls slight and small, for our sins are either heavy or slight. Happy then is he who sin not, and next in happiness he who has sinned slightly. Even among slight sins there is diversity, otherwise he would not say until he has paid the last mite. For if he owes a little, he shall not come out till he pays the last mite. But he who has been guilty of a great debt, will have endless ages for his payment.
BEDE; Or else, our adversary in the way is the word of God, which opposes our carnal desires in this life; from which he is delivered who is subject to its precepts. Else he will be delivered to the judge, for of contempt of God's word the sinner will be accounted guilty in the judgment of the judge. The judge will deliver him to the officer, that is, the evil spirit for punishment. He will then be cast into prison, that is, to hell, where because he will ever have to pay the penalty by suffering, but never by paying it obtain pardon, he will never come out from thence, but with that most terrible serpent the devil, will expiate everlasting punishment.
Catena Aurea Luke 12
30
posted on
10/23/2009 8:10:42 PM PDT
by
annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
To: annalex
The God's Last Judgement
Pomorye, 19c.
31
posted on
10/23/2009 8:12:41 PM PDT
by
annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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