Reading 1 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

An informant came to David with the report,
"The children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom."
At this, David said to all his servants
who were with him in Jerusalem:
"Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom.
Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us,
then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword."

As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing.
His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot.
All those who were with him also had their heads covered
and were weeping as they went.

As David was approaching Bahurim,
a man named Shimei, the son of Gera
of the same clan as Saul's family,
was coming out of the place, cursing as he came.
He threw stones at David and at all the king's officers,
even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard,
were on David's right and on his left.
Shimei was saying as he cursed:
"Away, away, you murderous and wicked man!
The LORD has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul,
in whose stead you became king,
and the LORD has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom.
And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer."
Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king:
"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?
Let me go over, please, and lop off his head."
But the king replied: "What business is it of mine or of yours,
sons of Zeruiah, that he curses?
Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David;
who then will dare to say, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants:
"If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life,
how much more might this Benjaminite do so?
Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction
and make it up to me with benefits
for the curses he is uttering this day."
David and his men continued on the road,
while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside,
all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.

Responsorial Psalm PS 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (8a) Lord, rise up and save me.
O LORD, how many are my adversaries!
Many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
"There is no salvation for him in God."
R. Lord, rise up and save me.
But you, O LORD, are my shield;
my glory, you lift up my head!
When I call out to the LORD,
he answers me from his holy mountain.
R. Lord, rise up and save me.
When I lie down in sleep,
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I fear not the myriads of people
arrayed against me on every side.
R. Lord, rise up and save me.

Alleluia Lk 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 5:1-20

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea,
to the territory of the Gerasenes.
When he got out of the boat,
at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him.
The man had been dwelling among the tombs,
and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.
In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains,
but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed,
and no one was strong enough to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides
he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.
Catching sight of Jesus from a distance,
he ran up and prostrated himself before him,
crying out in a loud voice,
"What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
I adjure you by God, do not torment me!"
(He had been saying to him, "Unclean spirit, come out of the man!")
He asked him, "What is your name?"
He replied, "Legion is my name. There are many of us."
And he pleaded earnestly with him
not to drive them away from that territory.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.
And they pleaded with him,
"Send us into the swine. Let us enter them."
And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine.
The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea,
where they were drowned.
The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town
and throughout the countryside.
And people came out to see what had happened.
As they approached Jesus,
they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion,
sitting there clothed and in his right mind.
And they were seized with fear.
Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened
to the possessed man and to the swine.
Then they began to beg him to leave their district.
As he was getting into the boat,
the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.
But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead,
"Go home to your family and announce to them
all that the Lord in his pity has done for you."
Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis
what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

From: 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

David’s Flight

[13] And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel
have gone after Absalom.” [14] Then David said to all his servants who were with
him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee; or else there will be no escape for us
from Absalom; go in haste, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon
us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.”

Hushai Undertakes to Work for David

[30] But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went,
barefoot and with his head covered; and all the people who were with him co-
vered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.

Shimel Curses David

[5] When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of
the house of Saul, whose name was Shime-i, the son of Gera; and as he came
he cursed continually. [6] And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants
of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand
and on his left. [7] And Shime-i said as he cursed, “Begone, begone, you man
of blood, you worthless fellow! [8] The LORD has avenged upon you all the blood
of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given
the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your ruin is on you; for
you are a man of blood.”

[9] Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog
curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” [10] But the king
said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because
the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you
done so?’”And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own
son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone,
and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him. [12] It may be that the LORD
will look upon my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for this
cursing of me today.” [13] So David and his men went on the road, while Shi-
me-i went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw
stones at him and flung dust.

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

15:13-17. Faced with the imminent arrival of his usurping son, David takes flight.
In a poignant scene he processes out of the city, as if accepting that God’s plan
includes Absalom’s revolt. He does not want to delay, in case that should put the
city itself at risk (v. 14). David’s original conquest of the city was a sign of God’s
protection; now it must seem as though God has abandoned him. The humbled
king leaves on foot (15:30) but he cherishes the hope that the city will remain the
royal capital: he has left his concubines in the palace and they will look after it
for whomever the Lord chooses to be its master.

Although this is humiliating flight, David is consoled by unconditional support
from certain quarters (vv. 18, 23). He stops at the last house to bid farewell to
the city he founded.

15:24-37. The ark must stay in Jerusalem, the religious capital, as a sign that
the Lord will continue to protect its inhabitants and the rightful king, whoever he
may be. David hopes to return to the ark if he still finds favor with the Lord. Even
though David knows that leaving Jerusalem is a punishment from God (v. 26),
he continues to act as king and he sends trusted men to the city to be his
spies and report back on the position there (v. 28). Meanwhile he loses some
adherents, including the treacherous Ahithophel (v. 31), and gains better ones.

16:1-14. For David the flight from Jerusalem is a time of sorrow, although it
serves to purify his soul. Not only does he have to abandon his beloved city;
he is jeered and despised by many of his subjects. The first two persons who
come out to meet him (Ziba and Shimei) are from the north and they serve to
remind him that there are still supporters of Saul who hate him. Ziba, who has
his own reasons for doing so, informs David that Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son
and a man treated with deference at David’s court (cf. 9:6-13), has gone over to
Absalom. David takes a decision which will be moderated when he later disco-
vers Mephibosheth’s part in the plot not to have been so very serious (cf. 19:25-
31). Shimei acts in a cowardly and disrespectful way towards David; but the
king, instead of reacting with violence, accepts these humiliations as coming
from God. Thus, his religious piety is growing and he is learning to accept his
well-deserved punishment.

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

From: Mark 5:1-20

The Gerasene Demoniac

[1] They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. [2]
And when He (Jesus) had come out of the boat, there met Him out of the tombs
a man with an unclean spirit, [3] who lived among the tombs; and no one could
bind him any more, even with a chain; [4] for he had often been bound with fetters
and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces;
and no one had the strength to subdue him. [5] Night and day among the tombs
and on the mountains he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones.
[6] And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him; [7] and crying
out with a loud voice, he said, “What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the
Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me.” [8] For He had said to
him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” [9] And Jesus asked him, “What
is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” [10] And he
begged Him eagerly not to send them out of the country. [11] Now a great herd
of swine was feeding there on the hillside; [12] and they begged Him, “Send us
to the swine, let us enter them.” [13] So, He gave them leave. And the unclean
spirits came out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two
thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the
sea.

[14] The herdsmen fled, and told it in the city and the country. And people came
to see what it was that had happened. [15] And they came to see Jesus, and
saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had
had the legion; and they were afraid. [16] And those who had seen it told what
had happened to the demoniac and to the swine. [17] And they began to beg Je-
sus to depart from their neighborhood. [18] And as He was getting into the boat,
the man who had been possessed with demons begged Him that he might be
with Him. [19] But He refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and
tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on
you.” [20] And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much
Jesus had done for him; and all men marvelled.

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

1-20. The inhabitants of Gerasa were mostly pagans, as one can gather from the
fact that there was such a huge herd of swine there (which must have belonged
to a number of different people). Jews were forbidden to raise pigs or eat pork
(Leviticus 11:7).

This miracle emphasizes, once more, the existence of the devil and his influence
over men’s lives: if God permits it, the devil can harm not only humans but also
animals. When Christ allows the demons to enter the swine, the malice of the
demons becomes obvious: they are tormented at not being able to do men harm
and therefore they ask Christ to let them, at least, inflict themselves on animals.
This He does, in order to show that they would have the same effect on men as
they have on these swine, if God did not prevent them.

Clearly it was not Jesus’ intention to punish the owners of the swine by the loss
of the herd: since they were pagans that were not subject to the precepts of the
Jewish law. Rather, the death of the swine is visible proof that the demon has
gone out of the possessed man.

Jesus permitted the loss of some material goods because these were of infinitely
less value than the spiritual good involved in the cure of the possessed man.

15-20. Notice the different attitudes to Jesus Christ: the Gerasenes beg Him to
go away; the man freed from the devil wants to stay with Him and follow Him. The
inhabitants of Gerasa have had our Lord near them, they have seen His divine po-
wers, but they are very self-centered: all they can think about is the material da-
mage they have suffered through the loss of the herd; they do not realize the mar-
vel Jesus has worked. Christ has invited them and offered them His grace but
they do not respond: they reject Him. The man who has been cured wants to
follow Jesus with the rest of His disciples but our Lord refuses; instead He gives
him a task which shows Christ’s unlimited compassion for all men, even for those
who reject Him: the man is to stay in Gerasa and proclaim to the whole neighbor-
hood what the Lord has done for him. Perhaps they will think again and realize
who He is who has visited them, and escape from the sins their greed has led
them to commit. These two attitudes are to be found whenever Christ passes by
— as are Jesus’ mercy and continuous offer of grace: our Lord does not want the
death of the sinner but rather that he should turn from his way and live (cf. Eze-
kiel 18:23).

20. The “Decapolis” or “country of the ten cities”, among the more famous of
which are Damascus, Philadelphia, Scythopolis, Gadara, Pella and Gerasa. The
region was located to the east of the lake of Gennesaret and was inhabited main-
ly by pagans of Greek and Syrian origin. This territory came under the Roman
governor of Syria.

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

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading
2 Samuel 15:13-14,30,16:5-13 ©

A messenger came to tell David, ‘The hearts of the men of Israel are now with Absalom.’ So David said to all his officers who were with him in Jerusalem, ‘Let us be off, let us fly, or we shall never escape from Absalom. Leave as quickly as you can in case he mounts a surprise attack and worsts us and puts the city to the sword.’

David then made his way up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, his head covered and his feet bare. And all the people with him had their heads covered and made their way up, weeping as they went.

As David was reaching Bahurim, out came a man of the same clan as Saul’s family. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he came he uttered curse after curse and threw stones at David and at all King David’s officers, though the whole army and all the champions flanked the king right and left. The words of his curse were these, ‘Be off, be off, man of blood, scoundrel! the Lord has brought on you all the blood of the House of Saul whose sovereignty you have usurped; and the Lord has transferred that same sovereignty to Absalom your son. Now your doom has overtaken you, man of blood that you are.’ Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, ‘Is this dead dog to curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut his head off.’ But the king replied, ‘What business is it of mine and yours, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse. If the Lord said to him, “Curse David,” what right has anyone to say, “Why have you done this?”’ David said to Abishai and all his officers, ‘Why, my own son, sprung from my body, is now seeking my life; so now how much the more this Benjaminite? Let him curse on if the Lord has told him to. Perhaps the Lord will look on my misery and repay me with good for his curse today.’ So David and his men went on their way.

Responsorial Psalm	Psalm 3:2-8 ©

Arise, Lord; save me, my God.

How many are my foes, O Lord!

How many are rising up against me!

How many are saying about me:

‘There is no help for him in God.’

Arise, Lord; save me, my God.

But you, Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, who lift up my head.

I cry aloud to the Lord.

He answers from his holy mountain.

Arise, Lord; save me, my God.

I lie down to rest and I sleep.

I wake, for the Lord upholds me.

I will not fear even thousands of people

who are ranged on every side against me.

Arise, Lord; save me, my God.

Arise, Lord; save me, my God.

Gospel Acclamation	Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord:

consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

Or	Lk7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;

God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

Gospel	Mark 5:1-20 ©

Jesus and his disciples reached the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the lake, and no sooner had Jesus left the boat than a man with an unclean spirit came out from the tombs towards him. The man lived in the tombs and no one could secure him any more, even with a chain; because he had often been secured with fetters and chains but had snapped the chains and broken the fetters, and no one had the strength to control him. All night and all day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he would howl and gash himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and fell at his feet and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? Swear by God you will not torture me!’ – for Jesus had been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, unclean spirit.’ ‘What is your name?’ Jesus asked. ‘My name is legion,’ he answered ‘for there are many of us.’ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the district.

Now there was there on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding, and the unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us to the pigs, let us go into them.’ So he gave them leave. With that, the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand pigs charged down the cliff into the lake, and there they were drowned. The swineherds ran off and told their story in the town and in the country round about; and the people came to see what had really happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his full senses – the very man who had had the legion in him before – and they were afraid. And those who had witnessed it reported what had happened to the demoniac and what had become of the pigs. Then they began to implore Jesus to leave the neighbourhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to be allowed to stay with him. Jesus would not let him but said to him, ‘Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in his mercy has done for you.’ So the man went off and proceeded to spread throughout the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

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.

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.

6. 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 ]

Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")

Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."

Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."

Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."

Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."

Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!

January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

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

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

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

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.

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

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Phil:2:10-11

The Most Holy Name
The Power of Jesus’ Name
What does IHS stand for? The meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus [Catholic Caucus]
Litany Of The Holy Name of Jesus
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Jesus, The Name above all Names
Devotion to the Holy Name (of Jesus) [Catholic Caucus]
Lessons In Iconography : The Chi Rho - Christ
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Excerpt from a Sermon) (Catholic Caucus)
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

St. Bernard on the Most Holy Name of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Saving the day in His Holy Name: St. Genevieve gets a reprieve [Catholic Caucus]
The Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
The Holy Name of Jesus

Philippians 2
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Daily Gospel Commentary

Monday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916), hermit and missionary in the Sahara
Meditations on the Gospels, no.194

"As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But he would not permit him."

The only true perfection is not that we should be leading this or that lifestyle but doing God's will; it is to lead the kind of life that God wants, where he wants, and to lead it as he would have done himself. When he leaves the choice to us then, yes, let us try to follow him as closely as possible, step by step, to share in his life just as his apostles did both during his life and after his death. Love presses us on to such imitation. If God leaves this choice, this freedom to us then it is precisely because he wants us to trim our sails to the breeze of pure love so that, blown on by it, we might «run after him in the odour of his fragrance» (Sg 1:4 LXX) in perfect imitation as Saint Peter and Saint Paul did...

And if one day God wishes to take us out of this beautiful and perfect way, whether for a while or for always, let us not be troubled or surprised. His designs are without fathoming. He can do for us, in the middle or at the end of the course, what he did for the Gerasene at the beginning. Let us obey him, let us do his will..., let us go wherever he wishes and lead the kind of life his will purposes for us. But let us everywhere draw close to him with all our might and, in every state, in every condition, let us be as he would have been and acted if his Father's will had placed him as it has placed us.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

January 29, 2018

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

Responsorial Psalm PS 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Alleluia Lk 7:16

Gospel Mk 5:1-20

Readings at Mass

Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

January, 2018

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions

That .........., and other religious minorities in Asian countries, may be able to practice their faith in full freedom.

Monday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time