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August 12, 2015   Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Dt 34:1-12 Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo,the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho,and the LORD showed him all the land—Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali,the land of Ephraim and Manasseh,all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,the Negeb, the circuit of the Jordanwith the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms,and as far as Zoar.The LORD then said to him, “This is the landwhich I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobthat I would give to...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Elisha 19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.” 20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water...

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O shameless nation . . . Seek ye the LORD, all ye humble of the earth, that have executed His ordinance; seek righteousness, seek humility. Zephaniah 2:1; 3

August 11, 2015   Memorial of Saint Claire, Virgin Reading 1 Dt 31:1-8 When Moses had finished speaking to all Israel, he said to them,“I am now one hundred and twenty years oldand am no longer able to move about freely;besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan.It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you;he will destroy these nations before you,that you may supplant them.It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og,the kings of...

“Purgatory shows God’s great mercy and washes away the defects of those who long to become one with Him.” – St. Josemaria Escriva When is the last time you heard a homily on purgatory? If your parish is like most, it’s been a very long time. Getting more personal, when is the last time you prayed for the Holy Souls? If you’re like many Catholics, the answer is not recently. The souls in purgatory are too often forgotten by Catholics, and I fear this is often out of a misguided desire not seem medieval (as if that were a...

Ezekiel 34:31 Ye are My Flock, the Sheep of My Pasture. You are My Men and I Am Your God, Saith the Lord GOD.

Out of concern for religious freedom … one county in North Carolina has banned all prayers. You read that right: In Lincoln County, N.C., religious freedom now translates to nobody having the freedom to pray out loud at the opening of a meeting. It all went down thanks to a local Muslim activist who arrived to play the part of the victim, and thanks to a group of elected commissioners who granted that victim status and agreed to abridge everyone’s rights. Until recently, Christian prayers had been said at Lincoln County Commission meetings to focus board members on their duties,...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Elisha 2 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you...

August 10, 2015   Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr Reading 1 2 Cor 9:6-10 Brothers and sisters:Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,for God loves a cheerful giver.Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,so that in all things, always having all you need,you may have an abundance for every good work.As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for foodwill...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Elisha 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen...

August 9, 2015   Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Kgs 19:4-8 Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert,until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death saying:“This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree,but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cakeand a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again,but...

August 8, 2015   Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest Reading 1 Dt 6:4-13 Moses said to the people:“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,with all your heart,and with all your soul,and with all your strength.Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.Drill them into your children.Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.Bind them at your wrist as a signand let them be as a pendant on your forehead.Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your...

August 7, 2015   Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Dt 4:32-40 Moses said to the people:“Ask now of the days of old, before your time,ever since God created man upon the earth;ask from one end of the sky to the other:Did anything so great ever happen before?Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of Godspeaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himselffrom the midst of another nation,by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,with...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. Psalm 72:4 (NIV) ----

A Simple but Powerful Definition of Prayer Msgr. Charles Pope • August 5, 2015 • I have read many definitions of prayer, and I am especially fond of St Therese’s description.But one of the nicest and briefest descriptions of prayer that I have read comes from Dr. Ralph Martin in his book The Fulfillment of All Desire. Dr. Martin says beautifully, in a way that is succinct and yet comprehensive and inclusive of diverse expression,Prayer is, at root, simply paying attention to God (p. 121).Such a wonderful image: paying attention to God. Imagine that, actually paying attention to God! So...

August 6, 2015   Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Reading 1 Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 As I watched: Thrones were set upand the Ancient One took his throne.His clothing was bright as snow,and the hair on his head as white as wool;his throne was flames of fire,with wheels of burning fire.A surging stream of fireflowed out from where he sat;Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,and myriads upon myriads attended him.The court was convened and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw: One like a Son of man coming,on the clouds of...

A young friend from Church lost her Dad last night. She is on an 11 month mission trip to Africa and other countries and will not be able to attend the funeral.

My wife, Barbara and I spent most of the day at different doctor's offices trying to get a handle on a wound on her left foot around her toes that seems to be infected. Each doctor would send us to a different specialist until the last said she should check herself in to a hospital emergency room for IV anti-biotics and an MRI. So that is where she is tonight. She thinks she will just be overnight but I get similar infections in my legs and they keep me 3 or 4 days, usually. Please pray for her quick healing...