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August 2, 2016 Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book. For thus says the LORD:Incurable is your wound,grievous your bruise;There is none to plead your cause,no remedy for your running sore,no healing for you.All your lovers have forgotten you,they do not seek you.I struck you as an enemy would strike,punished you cruelly;Why cry out over your wound?your pain is without relief.Because of your great...

August 1, 2016 Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Jer 28:1-17 In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah,in the fifth month of the fourth year,the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon,said to me in the house of the LORDin the presence of the priests and all the people:“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.Within two years I will restore to this placeall the vessels of the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar,king of Babylon, took...

July 31, 2016 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,and yet to another who has not labored over it,he must leave property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heartwith which he has labored under the sun? All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity. Responsorial...

July 30, 2016 Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jer 26:11-16, 24 The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people,“This man deserves death;he has prophesied against this city,as you have heard with your own ears.”Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people:“It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and cityall that you have heard.Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;listen to the voice of the LORD your God,so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.As...

July 29, 2016 Memorial of Saint Martha Reading 1 Jer 26:1-9 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim,son of Josiah, king of Judah,this message came from the LORD: Thus says the LORD:Stand in the court of the house of the LORDand speak to the people of all the cities of Judahwho come to worship in the house of the LORD;whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing.Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way,so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon themfor their evil deeds.Say to them:...

July 26, 2016 Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary Reading 1 Jer 14:17-22 Let my eyes stream with tearsday and night, without rest,Over the great destruction which overwhelmsthe virgin daughter of my people,over her incurable wound.If I walk out into the field,look! those slain by the sword;If I enter the city,look! those consumed by hunger.Even the prophet and the priestforage in a land they know not. Have you cast Judah off completely?Is Zion loathsome to you?Why have you struck us a blowthat cannot be healed?We wait for peace, to no avail;for a time...

July 25, 2016 Feast of Saint James, Apostle Reading 1 2 Cor 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters:We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.For we who live are constantly being given up to deathfor the sake of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal...

July 24, 2016 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 18:20-32 In those days, the LORD said: "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great,and their sin so grave,that I must go down and see whether or not their actionsfully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out." While Abraham's visitors walked on farther toward Sodom,the LORD remained standing before Abraham. Then Abraham drew nearer and said:"Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city;would you wipe out the place, rather...

July 23, 2016 Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jer 7:1-11 The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:Stand at the gate of the house of the LORD,and there proclaim this message:Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judahwho enter these gates to worship the LORD!Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:Reform your ways and your deeds,so that I may remain with you in this place.Put not your trust in the deceitful words:“This is the temple of the LORD!The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!”Only if...

July 22, 2016 Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene Reading 1 SGS 3:1-4b The Bride says:On my bed at night I sought himwhom my heart loves–I sought him but I did not find him.I will rise then and go about the city;in the streets and crossings I will seekHim whom my heart loves.I sought him but I did not find him.The watchmen came upon me,as they made their rounds of the city:Have you seen him whom my heart loves?I had hardly left themwhen I found him whom my heart loves. OR 2 cor 5:14-17 Brothers and sisters:The love of Christ...

July 21, 2016 Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 This word of the LORD came to me:Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear! I remember the devotion of your youth,how you loved me as a bride,Following me in the desert,in a land unsown.Sacred to the LORD was Israel,the first fruits of his harvest;Should any presume to partake of them,evil would befall them, says the LORD. When I brought you into the garden land to eat its goodly fruits,You entered and defiled my land,you made my heritage loathsome.The priests asked...

July 20, 2016 Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jer 1:1, 4-10 The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah,of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,before you were born I dedicated you,a prophet to the nations I appointed you.“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,AI know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me,Say not, “I am too young.”To whomever I send you, you shall go;whatever I command you, you...

Do you ever feel bored at Mass?Don’t worry, I’m not judging. When I first returned to Mass after a time away, I found the Mass boring. But Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist drew me in. And eventually, his presence in the Mass instructed me in the ways of heaven, helping me to develop a greater love for the Mass. I realized that the Mass was the most important prayer that I could pray in any day.As Blessed James Alberione once said, the Mass is “the daystar of prayer.” In other words, nothing else we do to get closer to...

July 18, 2016 Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Mic 6:1-4, 6-8 Hear what the LORD says:Arise, present your plea before the mountains,and let the hills hear your voice!Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD,pay attention, O foundations of the earth!For the LORD has a plea against his people,and he enters into trial with Israel. O my people, what have I done to you,or how have I wearied you? Answer me!For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,from the place of slavery I released you;and I sent before you Moses,Aaron, and Miriam....

July 15, 2016 Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8 When Hezekiah was mortally ill,the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him:“Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order,for you are about to die; you shall not recover.”Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD: “O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedlyI conducted myself in your presence,doing what was pleasing to you!”And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go, tell Hezekiah:Thus says the LORD, the...

July 14, 2016 Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin Reading 1 Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 The way of the just is smooth;the path of the just you make level.Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,we look to you;Your name and your titleare the desire of our souls.My soul yearns for you in the night,yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;When your judgment dawns upon the earth,the world’s inhabitants learn justice.O LORD, you mete out peace to us,for it is you who have accomplished all we have done. O LORD, oppressed by your punishment,we cried out...

July 13, 2016 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Is 10:5-7, 13b-16 Thus says the LORD:Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,my staff in wrath.Against an impious nation I send him,and against a people under my wrath I order himTo seize plunder, carry off loot,and tread them down like the mud of the streets.But this is not what he intends,nor does he have this in mind;Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,to make an end of nations not a few. For he says:“By my own power I have done it,and by my wisdom, for...

July 11, 2016 Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot Reading 1 Is 1:10-17 Hear the word of the LORD,princes of Sodom!Listen to the instruction of our God,people of Gomorrah!What care I for the number of your sacrifices?says the LORD.I have had enough of whole-burnt ramsand fat of fatlings;In the blood of calves, lambs and goatsI find no pleasure. When you come in to visit me,who asks these things of you?Trample my courts no more!Bring no more worthless offerings;your incense is loathsome to me.New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies,octaves with wickedness: these I cannot bear.Your new moons and festivals I...

July 9, 2016 Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Is 6:1-8 In the year King Uzziah died,I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,with the train of his garment filling the temple.Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings:with two they veiled their faces,with two they veiled their feet,and with two they hovered aloft. They cried one to the other,“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!All the earth is filled with his glory!”At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shookand the house was filled with...

July 6, 2016 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Israel is a luxuriant vinewhose fruit matches its growth.The more abundant his fruit,the more altars he built;The more productive his land,the more sacred pillars he set up.Their heart is false,now they pay for their guilt;God shall break down their altarsand destroy their sacred pillars.If they would say,“We have no king”—Since they do not fear the LORD,what can the king do for them? The king of Samaria shall disappear,like foam upon the waters.The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,the sin of Israel;thorns...