Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 02-03-1/, OM, St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 02-03-18 | Revised New American Bible

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February 3, 2018

Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 1 Kgs 3:4-13

Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,
because that was the most renowned high place.
Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you."
Solomon answered:
"You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David,
because he behaved faithfully toward you,
with justice and an upright heart;
and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today,
seating a son of his on his throne.
O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant,
king to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?"

The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this–
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right–
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.
In addition, I give you what you have not asked for,
such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like."

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

R. (12b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
How shall a young man be faultless in his way?
By keeping to your words.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.

Alleluia Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 6:30-34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.

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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

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KEYWORDS: catholic; mk6; ordinarytime; prayer; saints;

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Alleluia Ping

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From: 1 Kings 3:4-13

Solomon’s Request of God (Continuation)

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[4] And the king (Solomon) went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the
great high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings upon that al-
tar. [5] At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God
said, “Ask what I shall give you.” [6] And Solomon said, “Thou hast shown great
and steadfast love to thy servant David my father, because he walked before thee
in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward thee; and
thou hast kept for him this great and steadfast love, and hast given him a son to
sit on his throne this day. [7] And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy
servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not
know how to go out or come in. [8] And thy servant is in the midst of thy people
whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for
multitude. [9] Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy peo-
ple, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy
great people?”

[10] lt pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. [11] And God said to him,
“Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches
or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern
what is right, [12] behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a
wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none
like you shall arise after you. [13] I give you also what you have not asked, both
riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.”

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Commentary:

3:1-11:1:43. The reign of Solomon became idealized in the memory of Israel.
The sacred writer of 1 and 2 Kings gives him much more space than any other
king. First we are shown his wisdom (3:1-5:14), which would become proverbial
and would cause wisdom books such as Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Book
of Wisdom to be attributed to him, and also poetical books such as the Song of
Songs and a collection of Psalms. He then goes on to deal with the king’s public
works programme (5:15-9:9), especially the building of the temple and its dedica-
tion, for that temple would become the center of the religious life of the people.
On these two scores Solomon became famous inside and outside Israel, as ex-
plained in 9:10-10:29. Finally, with a realism rare among historians of the time,
the writer exposes the king’s sins and failings towards the end of his reign (11:
1-40).

The reign of Solomon is depicted in these chapters in all its splendor—and all its
weakness. The splendor derives from the wisdom with which God endows the
king (3:1-5:14) and is to be found in Solomon’s great buildings (especially the
temple: 5:15-7:51), in his prayer at the dedication of the temple (8:1-9:9) and in
the booming commerce which gives Solomon great prestige and untold wealth
(9:10-10:29). The king’s weakness lies in his unfaithfulness to God, for, to please
his foreign wives, he introduces the worship of other gods into the country. There
are political weaknesses, too: cracks are appearing in the (north-south) union,
and enemies exist inside and outside the state (11:1-40).

3:1-5:14. The most important trait of Solomon is his wisdom, to which our Lord
refers in the Gospel (cf. Mt 12:45). The sacred writer shows here the source and
evidence of that wisdom: it is a gift from God, his answer to the king’s prayer
(3:12-14), and it can be seen in the way Solomon administers justice (3:16-28)
and in the way that court and kingdom are organized, that is, in the typical func-
tions of a king (4:1-24). The more he acts with wisdom, the wiser he becomes
(4:29-34).

3:2-14. The “high places” (v. 2) were altars built in open country, on the top of
some hill, and under a shady tree, where Canaanites and Israelites of this period
offered sacrifices to the divinity. From the time of King Josiah’s reform in 622 this
type of worship was expressly forbidden in case the worship of God should be-
come associated with worship of local gods, baals (cf. 2 Kings 23:4-20).

Gibeon, about 10 km. (6 miles) northwest of Jerusalem, belonged to the tribe of
Benjamin (cf. Josh 18:25) and was one of the cities given over to the Levites (cf.
Josh 21:17) in which according to Chronicles, the desert tent or tabernacle was
kept for a time (cf. 1 Chron 21:29). The fact that the Lord should speak to Solo-
mon here also means that he is confirming him as king of Israel.

Solomon’s request pleases the Lord because it is made with humility (cf. v. 7)
and because he asks not for material things but for “an understanding mind” so
as to be able to govern well (vv. 9-14). Solomon’s request is an anticipation of
the proper order which, according to Christ’s teaching, should be present in pra-
yer of petition: “The one Master and Lord teaches us how and in what order we
ought to pray to God for the things we want; since we indicate and express our
desires and petitions in prayer, then we pray properly and well when the order
of our petitions matches the right order of desires. True charity teaches us that
we ought to dedicate ourselves and all our desires to God; God, the supreme
Good, deserves the highest form of love. And God cannot be loved from the heart,
exclusively, if his honor and glory are not valued above all other things and crea-
tures; all good things, those we have and those we do not possess, all things
that are called good, must be subordinated to the supreme Good from whom
they derive their goodness” (”Roman Catechism”, 4, 10, 1).

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

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From: Mark 6:30-34

The Apostles Return

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[30] The Apostles returned to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and
taught. [31] And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place,
and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure
even to eat. [32] And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by them-
selves.

First Miracles of the Loaves

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[33] Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot
from the towns, and got there ahead of them. [34] As He landed He saw a great
throng, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without
a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

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Commentary:

30-31. We can see here the intensity of Jesus’ public ministry. Such was His
dedication to souls that St. Mark twice mentions that the disciples did not even
have time to eat (cf. Mark 3:20). A Christian should be ready to sacrifice his
time and even his rest in the service of the Gospel. This attitude of availability
will lead us to change our plans whenever the good of souls so requires.

But Jesus also teaches us here to have common sense and not to go to such
extremes that we physically cannot cope: “The Lord makes His disciples rest,
to show those in charge that people who work or preach cannot do so without
breaks” (St. Bede, “In Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc.”). “He who pledges
himself to work for Christ should never have a free moment, because to rest is
not to do nothing: it is to relax in activities which demand less effort” (St. J.
Escriva, “The Way”, 357).

34. Our Lord had planned a period of rest, for Himself and His disciples, from the
pressures of the apostolate (Mark 6:31-32). And He has to change His plans be-
cause so many people come, eager to hear Him speak. Not only is He not an-
noyed with them: He feels compassion on seeing their spiritual need. “My peo-
ple are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). They need instruction and
our Lord wants to meet this need by preaching to them. “Jesus is moved by hun-
ger and sorrow, but what moves Him most is ignorance” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ
Is Passing By”, 109).

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

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

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

---

First reading	1 Kings 3:4-13 ©

King Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, since that was the greatest of the high places – Solomon offered a thousand holocausts on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared in a dream to Solomon during the night. God said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘You showed great kindness to your servant David, my father, when he lived his life before you in faithfulness and justice and integrity of heart; you have continued this great kindness to him by allowing a son of his to sit on his throne today. Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you. What you have not asked I shall give you too: such riches and glory as no other king ever had.’

---

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 118(119):9-14 ©

Lord, teach me your statutes.

How shall the young remain sinless?

  By obeying your word.

I have sought you with all my heart;

  let me not stray from your commands.

Lord, teach me your statutes.

I treasure your promise in my heart

  lest I sin against you.

Blessed are you, O Lord;

  teach me your statutes.

Lord, teach me your statutes.

With my tongue I have recounted

  the decrees of your lips.

I rejoiced to do your will

  as though all riches were mine.

Lord, teach me your statutes.

---

Gospel Acclamation	Jn10:27

Alleluia, alleluia!

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,

says the Lord,

I know them and they follow me.

Alleluia!

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Gospel	Mark 6:30-34 ©

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

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Pray for Pope Francis.

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7 Powerful Ways to Pray for Christians Suffering in the Middle East

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Pray the Rosary!

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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.

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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 ]

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St. Michael the Archangel

~ 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
+

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February Devotion: The Holy Family

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of February has been primarily asociated with the Holy Family, probably due to the feast of Our Lord's presentation at the temple, celebrated on February 2. At the very outset of Christ's work on earth, God showed the world a family in which, as Pope Leo XIII teaches, "all men might behold a perfect model of domestic life, and of all virtue and holiness." The harmony, unity, and holiness which characterized this holy Family make it the model for all Christian families.

INVOCATION
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph most kind, Bless us now and in death's agony.

FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Grant unto us, Lord Jesus, ever to follow the example of Thy holy Family, that in the hour of our death Thy glorious Virgin Mother together with blessed Joseph may come to meet us and we may be worthily received by Thee into everlasting dwellings: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Roman Missal

CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY FAMILY
O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.

Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, three times.

IN HONOR OF THE HOLY FAMILY
O God, heavenly Father, it was part of Thine eternal decree that Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, should form a holy family with Mary, His blessed mother, and His foster father, Saint Joseph. In Nazareth home life was sanctified, and a perfect example was given to every Christian family. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may fully comprehend and faithfully imitate the virtues of the Holy Family so that we may be united with them one day in their heavenly glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. 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

Holy Family Chaplet

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with me in my last hour.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul
in peace with you.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Amen.

Say 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's, and 3 Glory be's.

PRAYER TO
THE HOLY FAMILY
===================================================================== ================

GOD our Heavenly Father, You call all peoples to be united as one family in worshipping You as the one and true God. You willed that Your Son become man, giving Him a virgin mother and a foster father to form the Holy Family of Nazareth.

WE pray: may the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, image and model of every human family unit walk in the spirit of Nazareth and grow in the understanding of its particular mission in society and the Church. May our families be living cells of love, faithfulness and unity, thus reflecting God's covenant with humanity and Christ's redeeming love for His Church.

JESUS, Mary and Joseph protect our families from all evil; keep us, who are away from home, one in love with our dear ones.

Parent's Prayer

Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, and Son of Mary, I thank you for the gift of life you have entrusted to my care. Help me be a parent both tender and wise, both loving and forgiving.

Mary, Holy Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and our Motherly Queen of Heaven, nourish our family with your heavenly grace. Help us to remain faithful to The Most Holy Trinity, in all our sorrows and joys.

Joseph, Earthly father to our Lord God, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.

Holy Family of Nazareth, help our family to walk in your footsteps. May we be peace-loving and peace-giving.
Amen.

 

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February, 2018

The Holy Father's Prayer Intention

That those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption.

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Daily Gospel Commentary

Saturday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Saint John-Mary Vianney (1786-1859), priest, curé of Ars
Pensées choisies du saint Curé d'Ars

Before anything else, let yourself be taught

     My children, the Word of God is no small thing! Our Lord’s first words to his Apostles were these: “Go and teach” so that we might understand that teaching comes before everything else. What enabled us to know our religion? The teaching we heard. What gave us fear of sin, caused us to perceive the beauty of virtue, stirred up in us the desire for heaven? Teaching.

     My children, why are we so blind and ignorant? Because we don’t give any importance to the Word of God. With an educated person there is always a resource. That person may well stray into all sorts of bad ways, it may still be hoped they will return to the Good God sooner or later, even though not until the hour of death. Whereas someone uninstructed in their religion is like a sick person in their last agony; they know neither the enormity of sin, nor the beauty of their soul, nor the worth of virtue. They are led on from sin to sin. An educated person always has two guides going ahead of it: counsel and obedience.

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Whoever spreads the Rosary is saved

~Blessed Bartolo Longo

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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.  "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)   "Blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42).