Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 11-19-14

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 11-19-14 | Revised New American Bible

[Salvation]

November 19, 2014

Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

 

 

Reading 1 Rv 4:1-11

I, John, had a vision of an open door to heaven,
and I heard the trumpetlike voice
that had spoken to me before, saying,
“Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.”
At once I was caught up in spirit.
A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one
whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian.
Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald.
Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones
on which twenty-four elders sat,
dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.
From the throne came flashes of lightning,
rumblings, and peals of thunder.
Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne,
which are the seven spirits of God.
In front of the throne was something that resembled
a sea of glass like crystal.

In the center and around the throne,
there were four living creatures
covered with eyes in front and in back.
The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf,
the third had a face like that of a man,
and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight.
The four living creatures, each of them with six wings,
were covered with eyes inside and out.
Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks
to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down
before the one who sits on the throne
and worship him, who lives forever and ever.
They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming:

“Worthy are you, Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things;
because of your will they came to be and were created.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (1b) Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise the LORD in his sanctuary,
praise him in the firmament of his strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for his sovereign majesty.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp,
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD! Alleluia.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!

Gospel Lk 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak,
he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately.
So he said,
“A nobleman went off to a distant country
to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce,
‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,
he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,
to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said,
‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said,
‘Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;
you take up what you did not lay down
and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him
and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him,
‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’
He replied, ‘I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.’”

After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

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From: Revelation 4:1-11

God in Majesty

---

[1] After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I
had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show
you what must take place after this.” [2] At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a
throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! [3] And he who sat there
appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that loo-
ked like an emerald. [4] Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated
on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden
crowns upon their heads. [5] From the throne issue flashes of lighting, and voi-
ces and peals of thunders and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which
are the seven spirits of God; [6] and before the throne there is as it were a sea of
glass, like crystal.

And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of
eyes in front and behind: [7] the first living creature like a lion, the second living
creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth
living creature like a flying eagle. [8] And the four living creatures, each of them
with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never
cease to sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and
is to come!”

[9] And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who
is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, [10] the twenty-four elders fall
down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever
and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, [11] “Worthy art thou,
our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all
things, and by thy will they existed and were created.”

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Commentary:

1. The second part of the Apocalypse begins at this point and extends to the
start of the Epilogue. The author describes visions concerning the future of man-
kind, particularly the ultimate outcome of history when our Lord Jesus Christ will
obtain the final victory, at his second coming. It begins with a formal introduction
(chaps. 4-5); this is followed by a first section as it were (6:11-11:14) covering the
visions of the seven seals and the first six trumpets, which describes the event
prior to the final battle. The war begins with the sound of the seventh trumpet and
it goes on (this is the second section 11:15-22:5) until the beast is completely
routed and the Kingdom of God is definitively established in the heavenly Jerusa-
lem.

This introductory vision (chaps 4-5) begins with God in heaven in all his glory be-
ing worshipped and celebrated by all creation (chap. 4). He alone controls the
destiny of the world and the Church.

Only Jesus knows God’s salvific plans, and he, through his death and resurrec-
tion, reveals them to us. All this is expressed in chapter 4 by the image of the
Lamb who is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.

1-3. The risen and glorified Christ, who spoke to St John previously (cf. 1:10-13),
now invites him, in a new vision, to go up into heaven to be told God’s plan for
the world. “I looked,” “I was in the Spirit,” “I went up to heaven” all describe the
same phenomenon — God revealing something to the writer. Because the things
he is being told are things man could not possibly discover for himself, the writer
speaks about going up to heaven: this enables him to contemplate heavenly
things, that is, God. Going up to heaven is the same as being in ecstasy, “being
in the Spirit”, being taken over by the Holy Spirit so as to be able to understand
what God wants to reveal to him (cf. note on 1:10).

He is going to be shown “what must take place after this”; it is something which
has already begun to happen in the writer’s own time but it will not reach its cli-
max until the end of the world. The revelation he is given shows him the ultimate
meaning of contemporary events, the outcome of which is guaranteed by the au-
thority of the revealer, Jesus Christ.

The description given here of heaven stresses the majesty and power of God.
Heaven is depicted with a throne at its center, an image taken from Isaiah (cf.
Is 6:1) and Ezekiel (cf. Ezek 1:26-28; 10:1). God’s appearance is described in
terms of the vivid coloring of precious stones; this avoids the danger of defining
God in human terms (an inversion of values). The rainbow round the throne fur-
ther emphasizes the sublimity of God and is also a reminder (cf. Gen 9:12-17)
of God’s merciful promise never to destroy mankind.

4. God’s sovereignty over the world — as symbolized by the throne — is shared in
by others whom the vision also portrays as seated on thrones. They are symbo-
lically described as twenty-four elders who act as a kind of heavenly council or
senate. These elders appear frequently in the course of the book, always posi-
tioned beside God, rendering him tribute of glory and worship (cf. 4:10; 5:9; 19:
4), offering him the prayers of the faithful (cf. 5:8) or explaining events to the seer
(cf. 5:5; 7:13). It is not clear whether they stand for angels or saints; the Fathers
and recent commentators offer both interpretations.

The symbolic number (twenty-four) and the way they are described suggest that
they stand for saints in the glory of heaven. They are twenty-four — twelve plus
twelve, that is, the number of the tribes of Israel plus that of the Apostles. Our
Lord in fact promised the latter that they would sit on thrones (cf. Mt 19:28). The
twenty-four elders, then, would represent the heavenly Church, which includes
the old and the new Israel and which, in heaven, renders God the tribute of per-
fect praise and intercedes for the Church on earth. The number twenty-four has
also been seen as reflecting the twenty-four priestly classes of Judaism, there-
by emphasizing the liturgical dimension of heaven (cf. 1 Chron 24: 7-18; 25:1, 9-
13). Whichever is the case, the white garments indicate that they have achieved
everlasting salvation (cf. 3:5); and the golden crowns stand for the reward they
have earned (cf. 2:10), or the prominence among Christians, who have been pro-
mised that, if they come out victorious, they will sit on Christ’s throne (cf. 3:21).

Through these visions laden with symbolism the Apocalypse shows the solida-
rity that exists between the Church triumphant and the Church militant — specifi-
cally, the connection between the praise that is rendered God in heaven and that
which we offer him on earth, in the liturgy. The Second Vatican Council refers to
this: “In the earthly liturgy we take part in the foretaste of that heavenly liturgy
which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pil-
grims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God [...]. With all the warriors of
the heavenly army we sing a hymn of glory to the Lord; venerating the memory of
the saints, we hope for some part and fellowship with them; we eagerly await the
Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, until he our life shall appear and we too will appear
with him in glory” (”Sancrosanctum Concilium”, 8).

5. This vision is similar to the Old Testament theophanies, especially that of Si-
nai. There too the Lord’s presence was revealed with thunder and lightning (cf.
Ex 19:16). Storms are frequently used to symbolize the salvific power and majes-
ty of God at the moment of revelation (cf. Ps 18:14; 50:3; etc.). Further on, the
author will again describe, in more detail, the signs accompanying God’s self-re-
vealing; this gives the book a sense of on-going revelation with an increasing tem-
po (cf. Rev 8:5; 11:19; 16:18; etc.). It is generally accepted Church tradition to in-
terpret fire as a manifestation of the Spirit of God. On the seven spirits, see the
note on 1:4.

6-7. To describe the majesty of God, St John uses symbols which are some-
times quite difficult to interpret. This is the case with the sea as transparent as
glass, and the four living creatures round the throne and on each side of it. The
scene may be a kind of heavenly replica of the arrangements in Solomon’s tem-
ple where there stood in front of the Holy of Holies a huge water container called
the “molten sea” supported by figures of oxen, twelve in number (cf. 1 Kings 7:
23-26; 2 Chron 4:2-5). This similarity between heaven and the temple would be
a way of expressing the connection between liturgy on earth and worship of God
in heaven.

The crystal sea may also be an allusion to God’s absolute dominion over all
forms of authority on earth. In biblical tradition the sea is often used as a symbol
for the powers of darkness (cf. Rev 13:1; 21:1). To God, however, the sea is crys-
tal-clear, that is, he is its master; cf. the way the spirit of God moved over the
surface of the waters in Genesis 1:2.

Elsewhere in the Apocalypse (15:2) it speaks of the sea of glass supporting the
blessed while they praise God: just as the Israelites passed through the Red
Sea, so those who have conquered the beast will cross this solid sea to make
their way to God.

The author of the Book of Revelation avails of images used by the prophets to de-
scribe the glory of Yahweh. The four living creatures are very like those in the pro-
phet Ezekiel’s vision of the chariot of the Lord drawn by four angels representing
intelligence, nobility, strength and agility (cf. Ezek 1:10; 10:12; Is 6:2).

Christian tradition going back as far as St Irenaeus has interpreted these four
creatures as standing for the four evangelists because they “carry” Jesus Christ
to men. The one with the face of a man is St Matthew, who starts his book with
the human genealogy of Christ; the lion stands for St Mark: his Gospel begins
with the voice crying in the wilderness (which is where the lion’s roar can be
heard); the ox is a reference to the sacrifices in the temple of Jerusalem, which
is where St Luke begins his account of Christ’s life, and the eagle represents St
John, who soars to the heights to contemplate the divinity of the Word.

8-11. The chant of the four living creatures is virtually the same as that which the
prophet Isaiah heard the six-winged seraphim sing in his vision of God in the tem-
ple of Jerusalem (cf. Is 6: 1-3). St John changes the ending by bringing in the
new name of God which is an elaboration of the name “Yahweh” (cf. note on Rev
1:4). The four creatures (who, because there are four of them stand for govern-
ment of the entire universe) take the lead in worshipping and praising God; but
they are joined by all the people of God, as represented by the twenty-four elders,
that is, the Church victorious in heaven. They throw down their crowns to show
that they realize their victory is due to God, and that all power belongs to him.
Essentially what they are praising here is God as creator. By reporting this vi-
sion the author of the Apocalypse is inviting the pilgrim Church on earth to asso-
ciate with the worship and praise offered God the creator in heaven.

The Church uses these words of praise in its eucharistic liturgy: at the end of the
Preface, it chants the angelic Sanctus in preparation for the Canon. This angelic
chant, performed as it is in heaven and on earth, reminds us of the sublimity of
the Mass, where the worship of God crosses the frontiers of time and space and
has a positive influence on the entire world, for, “through the communion of the
saints, all Christians receive grace from every Mass that is celebrated, regard-
less of whether there is an attendance of thousands or whether it is only a boy
with his mind on other things who is there to serve. In either case, heaven and
earth join with the angels of the Lord to sing: “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus ...”
(St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 88). The saintly Cure of Ars refers to this
intercommunion of praise and thanksgiving, of grace and forgiveness: “The Holy
Mass is a source of joy to all the heavenly court; it alleviates the poor souls in
purgatory; it draws down to earth all kinds of blessings; and it gives more glory
to God than all the sufferings of all the martyrs taken together, than all the penan-
ces of all the hermits, than all the tears shed for them [the holy souls] since time
began and all that will be shed from now till the end of time” (”Selected Sermons”,
second Sunday after Pentecost).

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

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

[Salvation]

From: Luke 19:11-28

Parable of the Pounds

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[11] As they heard these things, [Jesus] proceeded to tell a parable, because
He was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the Kingdom of God
was to appear immediately. [12] He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far
country to receive kingly power and then return. [13] Calling ten of his servants,
he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’ [14]
But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him saying, ‘We do not
want this man to reign over us.’ [15] When he returned, having received the king-
ly power, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to
be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. [16] The
first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.’
[17] And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faith-
ful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ [18] And the second
came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ [19] And he said to him,
‘And you are to be over five cities.’

[20] Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid a-
way in a napkin; [21] for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you
take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’ [22] He said
to him, ‘I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew
that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did
not sow? [23] Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my co-
ming I should have collected it with interest?’ [24] And he said to those who stood
by, ‘Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.’ [25]
(And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) [26] ‘I tell you, that to every one
who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be
taken away. [27] But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign
over them, bring them here and slay them before me.’”

The Messiah Enters the Holy City

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[28] And when He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

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

11. The disciples had a wrong concept of the Kingdom of Heaven: they thought it
was about to happen and they saw it in earthly terms: they envisaged Jesus con-
quering the Roman tyrant and immediately establishing the Kingdom in the holy
city of Jerusalem, and that when that happened they would hold privileged posi-
tions in the Kingdom. There is always a danger of Christians failing to grasp the
transcendent, supernatural character of the Kingdom of God in this world, that
is, the Church, which “has but one sole purpose—that the Kingdom of God may
come and the salvation of the human race may be accomplished.” (Vatican II,
“Gaudium Et Spes”, 45).

Through this parable our Lord teaches us that, although His reign has begun, it
will only be fully manifested later on. In the time left to us we should use all the
resources and graces God gives us, in order to merit the reward.

13. The “mina”, here translated as “pound”, was worth about 35 grams of gold.
This parable is very like the parable of the talents reported in St. Matthew (cf.
25:14-30).

14. The last part of this verse, although it has a very specific context, reflects
the attitude of many people who do not want to bear the sweet yoke of our Lord
and who reject Him as king. “There are millions of people in the world who reject
Jesus Christ in this way; or rather they reject His shadow, for they do not know
Christ. They have not seen the beauty of His face; they do not realize how won-
derful His teaching is. This sad state of affairs makes me want to atone to our
Lord. When I hear that endless clamor—expressed more in ignoble actions than
in words—I feel the need to cry out, ‘He must reign!’ (1 Corinthians 15:25)” (St. J.
Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 179).

17. God counts on our fidelity in little things, and the greater our effort in this re-
gard the greater the reward we will receive: “Because you have been ‘in pauca
fidelis’, faithful in small things, come and join in your Master’s happiness. The
words are Christ’s. ‘In pauca fidelis!...Now will you neglect little things, if Heaven
itself is promised to those who mind them?” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 819).

24-26. God expects us to strive to put to good use the gifts we have received —
and He lavishly rewards those who respond to His grace. The king in the parable
is shown to be very generous towards his servants—and generous in rewarding
those who managed to increase the money they were given. But he is very se-
vere towards the lazy servant who was also the recipient of a gift from his Lord,
who did not let it erode but guarded it carefully—and for this his king criticizes
him: he failed to fulfill the just command the king gave him when he gave him
the money: “Trade till I come.” If we appreciate the treasures the Lord has given
us — life, the gift of faith, grace — we will make a special effort to make them bear
fruit — by fulfilling our duties, working hard and doing apostolate. “Don’t let your
life be barren. Be useful. Make yourself felt. Shine forth with the torch of your
faith and your love. With your apostolic life, wipe out the trail of filth and slime left
by the corrupt sowers of hatred. And set aflame all the ways of the earth with the
fire of Christ that you bear in your heart” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 1).

28. Normally in the Gospels when there is mention of going to the Holy City it is
in terms of “going up” to Jerusalem (cf. Matthew 20:18; John 7:8), probably be-
cause geographically the city is located on Mount Zion. Besides, since the tem-
ple was the religious and political center, going up to Jerusalem had also a sa-
cred meaning of ascending to the holy place, where sacrifices were offered to
God.

Particularly in the Gospel of St. Luke, our Lord’s whole life is seen in terms of a
continuous ascent towards Jerusalem, where His self-surrender reaches its high
point in the redemptive sacrifice of the Cross. Here Jesus is on the point of ente-
ring the city, conscious of the fact that His passion and death are imminent.

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

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

[Salvation]

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

Readings at Mass

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First reading

Apocalypse 3:1-6,14-22 ©

I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: ‘Write to the angel of the church in Sardis and say, “Here is the message of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know all about you: how you are reputed to be alive and yet are dead. Wake up; revive what little you have left: it is dying fast. So far I have failed to notice anything in the way you live that my God could possibly call perfect, and yet do you remember how eager you were. when you first heard the message? Hold on to that. Repent. If you do not wake up, I shall come to you like a thief, without telling you at what hour to expect me. There are a few in Sardis, it is true, who have kept their robes from being dirtied, and they are fit to come with me, dressed in white. Those who prove victorious will be dressed, like these, in white robes; I shall not blot their names out of the book of life, but acknowledge their names in the presence of my Father and his angels. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

  ‘Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea and say, “Here is the message of the Amen, the faithful, the true witness, the ultimate source of God’s creation: I know all about you: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other, but since you are neither, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth. You say to yourself, ‘I am rich, I have made a fortune, and have everything I want’, never realising that you are wretchedly and pitiably poor, and blind and naked too. I warn you, buy from me the gold that has been tested in the fire to make you really rich, and white robes to clothe you and cover your shameful nakedness, and eye ointment to put on your eyes so that you are able to see. I am the one who reproves and disciplines all those he loves: so repent in real earnest. Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him. Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I was victorious myself and took my place with my Father on his throne. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”’

---

Psalm

Psalm 14:2-5 ©

Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne.

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault;

he who acts with justice

and speaks the truth from his heart;

he who does not slander with his tongue.

Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne.

He who does no wrong to his brother,

who casts no slur on his neighbour,

who holds the godless in disdain,

but honours those who fear the Lord.

Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne.

He who keeps his pledge, come what may;

who takes no interest on a loan

and accepts no bribes against the innocent.

Such a man will stand firm for ever.

Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne.

---

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ps129:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

My soul is waiting for the Lord,

I count on his word.

Alleluia!

Or

1Jn4:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

God so loved us that he sent his Son

to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel

Luke 19:1-10 ©

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’

[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

 

Jesus, High 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

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem.  He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

[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, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there 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 ever shall be, world without end. 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 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 Spirit (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]

[Salvation]

~ 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 the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
 Amen
+

[Salvation]

A Prayer for our Free Nation Under God
God Save Our Country web site (prayer warriors)
Prayer Chain Request for the United States of America
Pray for Nancy Pelosi
Prayer and fasting will help defeat health care reform (Freeper Prayer Thread)
Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Non-stop Rosary vigil to defeat ObamaCare

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

"Pray for Obama.  Psalm 109:8"

   

PLEASE JOIN US -

Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?  

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.    Please forward this to your praying friends.

[Salvation]

(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." II Maccabees 12

November Devotion: The Holy Souls in Purgatory

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

To Help the Holy Souls in Purgatory:

1. Have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered up for them.

2. Pray the Rosary and or the Chaplet of Divine Marcy for them, or both.

3. Pray the Stations of the Cross.

4. Offer up little sacrifices and fasting.

5. Spread devotion to them, so that others may pray for them.

6. Attend Eucharistic Adoration and pray for them.

7. Gain all the indulgences you can, and apply them to the Holy Souls

8. Visit to a Cemetery

 

Litany for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

The just shall be in everlasting remembrance; 

He shall not fear the evil hearing.

V. Absolve, O Lord, the souls of the faithful departed 

from every bond of sin, 

R. And by the help of Thy grace

may they be enabled to escape the avenging judgment, 

and to enjoy the happiness of eternal life. 

Because in Thy mercy are deposited the souls that departed 

in an inferior degree of grace,

Lord, have mercy.

Because their present suffering is greatest 

in the knowledge of the pain that their separation from Thee is causing Thee,

Lord, have mercy. 

Because of their present inability to add to Thy accidental glory, 

Lord, have mercy.

Not for our consolation, O Lord; 

not for their release from purgative pain, O God; 

but for Thy joy 

and the greater accidental honour of Thy throne, O Christ the King,

Lord, have mercy.

For the souls of our departed friends, relations and benefactors, 

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those of our family who have fallen asleep in Thy bosom, O Jesus, 

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those who have gone to prepare our place,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

(For those who were our brothers [or sisters] in Religion,)

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For priests who were our spiritual directors,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For men or women who were our teachers in school,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those who were our employers (or employees),

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those who were our associates in daily toil,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For any soul whom we ever offended,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For our enemies now departed,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those souls who have none to pray for them,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those forgotten by their friends and kin,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those now suffering the most,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those who have acquired the most merit,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For the souls next to be released from Purgatory,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those who, while on earth, 

were most devoted to God the Holy Ghost, 

to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, 

to the holy Mother of God,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For all deceased popes and prelates,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For all deceased priests, seminarians and religious, 

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For all our brethren in the Faith everywhere, 

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For all our separated brethren who deeply loved Thee, 

and would have come into Thy household had they known the truth,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those souls who need, or in life asked, our prayers,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

For those, closer to Thee than we are, whose prayers we need,

grant light and peace, O Lord.  

That those may be happy with Thee forever, 

who on earth were true exemplars of the Catholic Faith, 

grant them eternal rest, O Lord.

That those may be admitted to Thine unveiled Presence, 

who as far as we know never committed mortal sin,     

grant them eternal rest, O Lord.  

That those may be housed in glory, 

who lived always in recollection and prayer,

grant them eternal rest, O Lord.  

That those may be given the celestial joy of beholding Thee, 

who lived lives of mortification and self-denial and penance,

grant them eternal rest, O Lord.  

That those may be flooded with Thy love, 

who denied themselves even Thy favours of indulgence 

and who made the heroic act 

for the souls who had gone before them,

grant them eternal rest, O Lord.  

That those may be drawn up to the Beatific Vision, 

who never put obstacles in the way of sanctifying grace 

and who ever drew closer in mystical union with Thee,

grant them eternal rest, O Lord.  

V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, 

R. And let perpetual light shine upon them. 

Let Us Pray 

Be mindful, O Lord, 

of Thy servants and handmaids, 

N. and N., 

who are gone before us 

with the sign of faith 

and repose in the sleep of grace.  

To these, O Lord, 

and to all who rest in Christ, 

grant, we beseech Thee, 

a place of refreshment, 

light and peace, 

through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen

Halloween and All Saints Day
All Saints or All Souls? Differences should be black and white
All Souls' Day [Catholic Caucus]
Why I Am Catholic: For Purgatory, Thank Heavens (Ecumenical)
Q and A: Why Pray for the Dead? [Ecumenical]
“….and Death is Gain” – A Meditation on the Christian View of Death [Catholic Caucus]
99 & 1/2 Won’t Do – A Meditation on Purgatory
The Month of November: Thoughts on the "Last Things"
To Trace All Souls Day.........

November 2 -- All Souls Day
On November: All Souls and the "Permanent Things"
"From the Pastor" ALL SAINTS & ALL SOULS
Praying for the Dead [All Souls Day] (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
To Trace All Souls Day [Ecumenical]
All Souls Day [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Roots of All Souls Day
The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
During Month of Souls, Recall Mystic, St. Gertrude the Great
All Saints and All Souls

[Salvation]

November 2014 Year A

Pope's Intentions

Universal: That all who suffer loneliness may experience the closeness of God and the support of others.

For Evangelization: That young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors.

[Salvation]

Daily Gospel Commentary

Wednesday of the Thirty-third week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Benedict XVI, pope from 2005 to 2013
Encyclical « Caritas in veritate / On integral human development in charity and truth », § 48, 50 (trans. © copyright Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

"'Engage in trade with these"

The natural environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole... In nature, the believer recognizes the wonderful result of God's creative activity, which we may use responsibly to satisfy our legitimate needs, material or otherwise, while respecting the intrinsic balance of creation. If this vision is lost, we end up either considering nature an untouchable taboo or, on the contrary, abusing it. Neither attitude is consonant with the Christian vision of nature as the fruit of God's creation.

Nature expresses a design of love and truth. It is prior to us, and it has been given to us by God as the setting for our life. Nature speaks to us of the Creator (Rom 1,20) and his love for humanity. It is destined to be “recapitulated” in Christ at the end of time (Eph 1,9-10; Col 1,19-20). Thus it too has a “vocation”. Nature is at our disposal not as “a heap of scattered refuse”, but as a gift of the Creator who has given it an inbuilt order, enabling man to draw from it the principles needed in order “to till it and keep it” (Gn 2,15)…

Human beings legitimately exercise a responsible stewardship over nature, in order to protect it, to enjoy its fruits and to cultivate it in new ways, with the assistance of advanced technologies, so that it can worthily accommodate and feed the world's population. On this earth there is room for everyone: here the entire human family must find the resources to live with dignity… At the same time we must recognize our grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations in such a condition that they too can worthily inhabit it and continue to cultivate it.

[Salvation]

keep my eyes fixed on Eternity, and from this source I draw constancy in the midst of the confusion of daily life. God empties my heart of all natural attachments, probably to fill it with things more pure, of which nothing surpasses the desire to do good to my neighbor. I like to find at least a few moments each day spent in doing good for others out of love for God. These few moments, almost unnoticeably used, bring something like rays of peace and comfort behind them. They unite us with people and God with purity and sweetness.

-- Saint Raphael Kalinowski">

[Salvation]

Just A Minute (Listen) Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click.

[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. 

[Salvation]

A Reflection on Perhaps the “Meanest” and Most Shocking Thing Jesus Ever Said

[Salvation]

Information: St. Mechtilde

Feast Day: November 19

Born: 1240 or 1241 at the ancestral castle of Helfta, near Eisleben, Saxony

Died: 19 November, 1298