Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 01-24-06, Mem. St. Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor of Church

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 01-24-06 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

January 24, 2006

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church

Psalm: Tuesday 7

Reading I
2 Sm 6:12b-15, 17-19

David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom
into the City of David amid festivities.
As soon as the bearers of the ark of the LORD had advanced six steps,
he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
Then David, girt with a linen apron,
came dancing before the LORD with abandon,
as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD
with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.
The ark of the LORD was brought in and set in its place
within the tent David had pitched for it.
Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
When he finished making these offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
He then distributed among all the people,
to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel,
a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake.
With this, all the people left for their homes.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Gospel
Mk 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.
Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him,
“Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you.”
But he said to them in reply,
“Who are my mother and my brothers?”
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

[Salvation]

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

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Alleluia Ping!

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 St. Francis de Sales on St. Joseph (Some Excerpts for St. Joseph's Day 2004)

Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church

Introduction to a devout life - St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales: Catholic Encyclopedia Entry

January 24: The Feast Day of St. Francis de Sales: Bishop, Doctor of the Church, Gentleman Saint

Saint Francis de Sales

St. Joseph's Humility (By St. Francis de Sales)

Introduction to a devout life - St. Francis de Sales

[Pyro7480]

I totally forgot today was St. Francis de Sales' feast day on the new calendar. Thanks for the reminder! He's the one saint has made the biggest impact on my life, after Our Lady and St. Joseph.

[Salvation]

You're welcome. I just bumped two of your posts about him.

[Salvation]

From: 2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19


The Ark in Jerusalem (Continuation)

---

[12b] So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of
Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; [13] and when those who
bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a
fatling. [14] And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and
David was girded with a linen ephod. [15] So David and all the house
of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the
sound of the horn.

[17] And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place,
inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered
burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. [18] And when
David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace
offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts,
[19] and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of
Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of
meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people departed, each to his house.

---

Commentary:


6:1-23. By moving the ark to Jerusalem from Baale, a town on the
border with the Philistines (cf. 1 Sam 4:1-7:1), David is making the
city the religious capital: from now on, it will be the Holy City
blessed by the presence of the Lord. The narrative gives a good idea
of the solemnity of the transfer (a liturgical procession of the kind
celebrated in Psalm 132) and has a lot of doctrinal content.


The first stage in the transfer of the ark (vv. 1-11) was interrupted
by the death of Uzzah, son of Abinadab. This amazing episode may be
meant to show the predominance of one priestly family, that of
Abiathar (cf. 1 Sam 22:20-23; 2 Sam 15:27-29), and the disappearance
(for some inexplicable reason) of the descendants of Abinadab; but the
main message is of course the respect and veneration due to the ark as
the symbol of God’spresence among his people. Only those in charge of
the ark may touch it. Even the king wonders whether it is right to
bring it as far as Jerusalem, and it is the Lord himself who, by
blessing the house of Obed-edom, signals that it should be brought the
rest of the way.


The procession bringing the ark into the holy city is reported in
detail in the second stage of the transfer (vv. 12-15). David himself,
as king of Israel, assumes the functions of a priest and gives a lead
in ritual jubilation. The Fathers have seen the ark as a figure of the
Blessed Virgin; so the transfer of the ark is a symbol of Mary’s
journey to visit her relative Elizabeth (cf. Lk 1:39-45), and David’s
dance is a figure of the Baptist, who leaps with joy in the womb of
his mother when Mary arrives with Jesus in her womb. "The prophet
dances before the ark; but what is the ark if not [a symbol of] Holy
Mary? The ark contained the tablets of the testament, Mary held in her
body the heir to the testament; the ark carried the Law, Mary the
Gospel; the ark held the voice of God, Mary the Word; inside and out,
the ark shone with gold, the light of Mary’s virginity shines inside
and out; the ark was decorated with earthly gold, Mary with the gold
of heaven" (St Maximus of Turin, Sermons, 42, 5). See also the note on
1 Chronicles 15:1-24.


The last scene records Michal’s failure to understand David’s sincere
devotion towards the ark (vv. 16-23); her rejection has political
implications as regards the succession. David will have many sons who
later dispute the throne, but none of them will be descendants of
Saul. The sentence pronounced against Michal, David’s first wife,
draws a line under the house of Saul.

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

From: Mark 3:31-35


The True Kinsmen of Jesus

---

[31] And His (Jesus') mother and His brethren came; and standing
outside they went to Him and called Him. [32] And a crowd was sitting
about Him: and they said to Him, "Your mother and Your brethren are
outside, asking for You." [33] And He replied, "Who are My mother and
My brethren?" [34] And looking around on those who sat about Him, He
said, "Here are My mother and My brethren! [35] Whoever does the will
of God is My brother, and sister, and mother."

---

Commentary:


31-35. In Aramaic, the language used by the Jews, the word "brethren"
is a broad term indicating kinship: nephews, first cousins, and
relatives in general are called `brethren' (for further explanation cf.
note on Mark 6:1-3). "Jesus did not say this to disown His mother, but
to show that she is worthy of honor not only account of having given
birth to Jesus, but also because she has all the virtues" (Theophylact,
"Enarratio In Evangelium Marci, in loc.").


Therefore, the Church reminds us that the Blessed Virgin "in the course
of her Son's preaching received the words whereby, in extolling a
kingdom beyond the concerns and ties of flesh and blood, He declared
blessed those who heard and kept the word of God as she was faithfully
doing" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 58).


Our Lord, then, is also telling us that if we follow Him we will share
His life more intimately than if we were a member of His family. St.
Thomas explains this by saying that Christ "had an eternal generation
and a generation in time, and gave preference to the former. Those who
do the will of the Father reach Him by Heavenly generation [...].
Everyone who does the will of the Father, that is to say, who obeys
Him, is a brother or sister of Christ, because he is like Him who
fulfilled the will of His Father. But he who not only obeys but
converts others, begets Christ in them, and thus becomes like the
Mother of Christ" ("Commentary on St. Matthew", 12, 49-50.)

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
St. Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
(Week of prayer for Christian unity)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19 Psalm 24:7-10 Mark 3:31-35 He who faithfully prays to God for the necessaries of this life is both mercifully heard, and mercifully not heard. For the physician knows better than the sick man what is good for the disease. -- St. Augustine

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Collect: Father, you gave Francis de Sales the spirit of compassion to befriend all men on the way to salvation. By his example, lead us to show your gentle love in the service of our fellow men. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Recipes: » Zuercher Ratsherrentopf Activities: » Namedays » What is a Nameday? Prayers: » Prayer of Love by Saint Francis de Sales » Prayer of Dedication by St. Francis de Sales » Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany of Loretto) » Prayer for Peace more » Novena for Church Unity » Novena for Purification less

January 24, 2006 Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor; Optional memorial of Our Lady of Peace Old Calendar: St. Timothy, bishop and martyr His ardent love of God and souls, his great kindliness, rare wisdom and sure teaching made St. Francis exceptionally influential in bringing about conversions and in guiding souls in the spiritual life. He won back to the faith more than 70,000 heretics, thus restoring to the Church a great part of the Chablais, which had been ravaged by Protestantism. He was St. Jane de Chantal's director, and with her founded the Order of the Visitation. He is the author of Treatise on the Love of God and Introduction to the Devout Life. St. Francis died at Lyons in 1622. This is also the optional memorial of Our Lady of Peace celebrated in the diocese of Honolulu. Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar this was the feast of St. Timothy, bishop and martyr. St. Timothy was the faithful companion of St. Paul on his missionary journeys. His feast is now celebrated on January 26. St. Francis de Sales feast was celebrated on January 29 and the feast of Our Lady of Peace was celebrated on July 9. St. Francis de Sales Francis was born on August 21, 1567, and ordained to the priesthood in 1593. From 1594 to 1598 he labored at the difficult and dangerous task of preaching to the Protestants of Chablais and effected the return of some 70,000 souls to the Catholic faith. In 1602 he became bishop of Genf. His zeal for souls is attested in 21,000 extant letters and 4,000 sermons which exemplify how he applied St. Paul's words: "I have become all things to all men." You may epitomize his character in two words, kindliness and lovableness — virtues that were the secret of his success. His writings reflect his kindheartedness and sweet disposition. Most widely known is the saint's Introduction to the Devout Life, which, with the Imitation of Christ, is rightly considered the finest outline of Christian perfection. Francis' Introduction proves to the world that true piety makes persons amiable, lovable and gay. A renowned and holy friendship existed between him and St. Frances de Chantal. In cooperation with her he founded the Visitation Nuns in 1610. Out of love for his own poor diocese, he refused opportunities for advancement, including the cardinalate. In recognition of the Introduction and his other writings, Francis has been declared a doctor of the Church. How Francis developed a gentle and amiable disposition is a story in itself; he was not born a saint. By nature his temperament was choleric, fiery; little was needed to throw him into a state of violent anger. It took years before he mastered his impatience, his unruly temper. Even after he became bishop, there were slips, as for instance, when someone rang a bell before he had finished preaching. The important point, of course, is that by constant perseverance he did in time attain perfect self-mastery. Wherein lies a lesson. Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch. Patron: Authors; Diocese of Baker, Oregon; Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio; Catholic press; Diocese of Columbus, Ohio; confessors; deaf people; deafness; Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware; educators; journalists; teachers; writers. Symbols: Bald man with a long beard wearing a bishop's robes holding a book; heart pierced with thorns or picture of the Virgin. Things to Do: Buy a copy of Introduction to the Devout Life or read it online here. Read more about St. Francis de Sales. Learn more about the errors of Calvinism and the Jansenistic heresy, both of which St. Francis' converted many followers. Learn more about the Salesian order. St. Francis was born near Geneva, Switzerland, try a Swiss recipe in his honor. Our Lady of Peace Our Lady Queen of Peace has been the patroness of the Catholic Church in Hawaii since 1827. The first Catholic missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands arrived at Honolulu Bay on July 7, 1827. These missionaries were members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of Perpetual Adoration and upon their arrival in the islands dedicated their labors to the patroness of the Congregation, Our Lady Queen of Peace and placed the Islands under her protection. It was in her honor that these missionaries erected the first Catholic Church. After more than a decade of contentious relations with the Hawaiian government, the missionaries were finally allowed to proceed with their evangelization work. In thanksgiving, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace was erected. Completed in 1843, a statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace was placed in the niche above the main altar. The Cathedral was solemnly blessed and dedicated to Our Lady of Peace on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1843. The original statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace is located in the Convent Chapel of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts in Picpus, France. During the troubled days of the Commune, in 1871, the populace, incited by atheistic leaders, invaded churches, chapels and convents, destroying every emblem of religion that fell into their hands. The chapel of Our Lady Queen of Peace became their prey. The Superior, with tears in her eyes, begged them to spare their beloved shrine; and, strange to say, the rabble went away, leaving it unharmed. When the tempest of the persecution subsided, the statue was again returned to its usual place and honored and venerated by a phalanx of devout souls. On July 9, 1906, the statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace was solemnly crowned in the name of Pope Pius X by his Eminence Cardinal Amette, Archbishop of Paris. Every year on July 9 the feast of Our Lady Queen of Peace is celebrated with great solemnity in the Congregation of the Fathers and Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and Perpetual Adoration. During World War I Pope Benedict XV added the title Queen of Peace to the Litany of Loreto. Things to Do: Pray the Litany of Loreto. Pray for peace in the world, especially for an end to the war in Iraq and for the safety of all soldiers.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	He Loved People, But He Could Walk Alone
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Tuesday, January 24, 2006

2 Sam 6:12-15,17-19 / Mk 3:31-35

Today’s gospel records one of the saddest moments in Jesus’ life. His family thought He was crazy, and they were trying to get Him to forget His outlandish ideas and come home with them. What a terrible moment of isolation and utter aloneness it must have been, to be abandoned by those who had been closest to Him all his life, those He loved most dearly.

Jesus’ reaction at this sad and humiliating moment is worth pondering at length. He didn’t waver. He remembered who He was and what was the mission the Father had given Him. And He stood firm in His commitment ... firm and very alone.

There are times in every human life when the normal supports that we’ve come to count on simply aren’t there. The temptation is to scurry to a safe place in the midst of the crowd. The temptation is to bend to the pressures and head for a place in the shadows. That’s when we need to think of Jesus standing tall and alone. That’s when we need to ask His help in remembering who we are and where God has called us.

That’s a prayer that is always answered. And with the answer always comes the strength to stay the course. There are no exceptions, because God is faithful.

 

[Carolina]

From Introduction to a devout life

But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God;—and indeed it is neither more nor less than a very real love of God, though not always of the same kind; for that Love one while shining on the soul we call grace, which makes us acceptable to His Divine Majesty;—when it strengthens us to do well, it is called Charity;—but when it attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly, then it is called Devotion.

......The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;—love being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;—and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God’s Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations.

On rash judgments...

Rash judgment beget uneasiness, contempt of neighbor, pride, self-satisfaction, and many other extremely bad effects. Slander, the true plague of society, holds first place among them. I wish that I had a burning coal taken from the holy altar to purify men’s lips so that their iniquities might be removed and their sins washed away, as did the seraphim who purified Isaiah’s mouth. The man who could free the world of slander would free it of a large share of its sins and iniquity.

[Salvation]

Thanks, Carolina, I could not get that link to come up.

[Salvation]

Could you please post the live link where you found it? Thanks in advance!

[Salvation]

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 84 (85)

Our salvation is very near

You looked kindly, O Lord, on your land:
 you ended the captivity of Jacob.
You forgave your people’s unrighteousness
 and covered over their sins.
You reined back all of your anger
 and renounced your indignant fury.

Rescue us, God, our saviour,
 and turn your anger away from us.
Do not be angry for ever
 – or will you let your wrath last from one generation to the next?
Surely you will turn round and give us life
 – so that your people can rejoice in you?
Show us, Lord, your kindness
 and give us your salvation.

I will listen to whatever the Lord God tells me,
 for he will speak peace to his people and his chosen ones,
 and to those who repent in their hearts.
Truly his salvation is close to those who fear him,
 so that glory may dwell in our land.
Kindness and faithfulness have met together,
 justice and peace have kissed.
Faithfulness has sprung from the earth,
 and justice has looked down from heaven.

Truly the Lord will give generously,
 and our land will be fruitful.
Justice will walk before him
 and place its footsteps on his path.

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.

---

Canticle	Isaiah 26
Thanksgiving for victory
The city is ours,  with its walls and ramparts,  a refuge and stronghold. Open the gates, let the just people enter,  the nation that keeps faith. The agreement is made: you will keep peace,  for peace is entrusted to you. Trust in the Lord for all ages,  for the Lord is your strength for ever. The way of the just is straight;  you smooth the straight path of the just. As we follow the path of your judgements,  we put all our trust in you, Lord. Our soul’s one desire  is your name and your memory. My soul longs for you at night,  my desire for you leaves me breathless. When your judgements shine out on the earth –  then the peoples of the world will know your justice. Lord, you will give us peace,  for all you have done, you did for us. 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.

---

Psalm 66 (67)

All peoples, praise the Lord

O God, take pity on us and bless us, and let your face shine upon us,
so that your ways may be known across the world, and all nations learn of your salvation.

Let the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and rejoice, for you judge the peoples with fairness and you guide the nations of the earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has produced its harvest: may God, our God, bless us.
May God bless us, may the whole world revere him.

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.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. 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.

---

Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

---

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Ciexyz]

Faith-sharing bump.

[Ciexyz]

Now that the March for Life is over, let's all remember to honor life...and adoption...the other 364 days of the year!

[Salvation]

 

 

Prayer for the Helpless Unborn

Heavenly Father, in Your love for us,  protect against the wickedness of the devil, those helpless little ones to whom You have given the gift of life.

Touch with pity the hearts of those women pregnant in our world today who are not thinking of motherhood.

Help them to see that the child they carry is made in Your image - as well as theirs - made for eternal life.

Dispel their fear and selfishness and give them true womanly hearts to love their babies and give them birth and all the needed care that a mother can give.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

[Salvation]

 

 

 

A Voice in the Dessert

Tuesday January 24, 2006    Third Week in Ordinary Time

 Reading (2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19)   Gospel (St. Mark 3:31-35)

In the Gospel reading today, Our Lord asks that great question: Who are My mother and My brothers? And He says, Whoever does the Will of God is mother and brother and sister to Me. This being the case, we first have to understand that it is not a put-down to Our Lady, as some would try to suggest. There is no one who did the Will of God more perfectly than Our Lady. Consequently, if the one who does the Will of God is mother and brother and sister to the Lord, Our Lady primarily is not only mother in the physical sense, but she is also mother in this extended sense that Our Lord is speaking about, that is, in the discipleship in union with Him. Our Lady is pre-eminent in both senses in that way, and in no way is this any kind of put-down to her. But it also tells us something about our own selves. The Lord makes very clear that it is those who do the Will of His Father. It is not for those who simply want to say they believe, but they have to act upon the belief. It is not enough, once again, just to sit back and have this generic idea of Who He is; we have to act on what it is that we believe.  

When we look at what that means, of course, it means first and foremost that we have to pray. How can we claim even to be Christian, let alone Catholic, if we do not pray? So that is number one. We cannot know Jesus and we cannot know His Will if we are not in union with Him and if we are not seeking to know. How can we do His Will if we do not even know what it is? It requires first that we have to pray. Secondly, it requires that we have to seek Him wholeheartedly.  

Look at what David did in the first reading. He desired to honor and glorify God so much and he was so filled with that desire for God that as the ark was being transferred from the house of Obededom to the temple, he sacrificed an ox every six steps that the priests made with the ark. He gave the people the raisin cakes and the meat and so on, and he also was dancing before the ark. Now I am not going to recommend that anybody come before the tabernacle and dance, but it is a matter not of what the body is doing at that point, but what is in the heart. So often we drag ourselves before the Lord and it is pretty evident that we really do not want to be there, but David, on the other hand, wanted desperately to be in the presence of the Lord. That is the kind of example we can look at. How much do we really want Jesus? How much do we really want to be with Him? 

The other thing we need to be so careful of is that most of us will say, “Yes, I want to be with Jesus” – but only to a certain degree. We refuse to open our hearts fully to Him because we are afraid or because we are attached to too many things. We know fully well that if we let Him in any further, He is going to say, “You need to get rid of a few things that are cluttering things up. You need to get rid of the selfishness.” Most of us do not want to do that. So we need to be detached from our own selves, and we need to be detached from everything that is not Christ.  

Then we need to strive to be obedient. If we are going to do God’s Will, it has to be the way He wants things done. It cannot be our own way of doing things; it cannot be our decision as to what and how and when. Rather it is when the Lord tells us that this is what He wants done, and then we do it. We have to do it when He wants and how He wants. That, again, is not easy for us because we all know the Lord is going to ask of us things that are very difficult, things that sometimes are pretty humiliating, things that perhaps are going to put us in a bad light with others, things that are going to cause people to think we have lost or marbles, or whatever it might be. The Lord is going to ask us simply to do His Will, no matter what it happens to be. The question is: Are we willing to do it?  

If we want that kind of union with Christ, if we want that kind of closeness with Our Lord that He speaks of in the Gospel – to be close enough to be called mother and brother and sister to Him – these are the things that are required, to do the Will of God. To do the Will of God means that we have to know the Will of God. To know the Will of God means that we have to know God, Whose Will we are striving to know. That means we need to strive for that union with Him, to open our heart, to seek to serve Him, to know Him, to love Him, to give everything we have because we know that God wants only what is the very best. As long as we are striving to do God’s Will, that is where we will find fulfillment for our own selves; but far more importantly, we will find that union with Christ, to be mother and brother and sister to Him. 

*  This text was transcribed from the audio recording with minimal editing.       

n

[Salvation]

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 124 (125)

The Lord guards his people

Those who trust in the Lord are like the mountain of Sion:
 it cannot be shaken, it will stand firm for ever.

Jerusalem – the mountains stand guard over it,
 and the Lord stands guard over his people,
 both now and for ever.
The sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
 upon the inheritance of the just;
lest the just themselves stretch out their hands
 and turn to wickedness.

Be good, O Lord, to the good
 and the upright of heart.
As for those who turn away to crooked paths,
 the Lord shall treat them like the doers of evil.
Peace be on Israel!

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.

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Psalm 130 (131)

Childlike trust in God

Lord, I do not puff myself up or stare about,
or walk among the great or seek wonders beyond me.

Truly calm and quiet I have made my spirit:
quiet as a weaned child in its mother’s arms –
like an infant is my soul.

Let Israel hope in the Lord, now and for all time.

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.

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Canticle	Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power; for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created. You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals, for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation, and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth. The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing. 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.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour –  me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed,  because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy,  his mercy lasts for generation after generation  for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength:  he has scattered the proud and conceited,  torn princes from their thrones;  but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things;  the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel,  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,  to Abraham and his children for ever. 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.

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Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Pyro7480]

Here's the new link on the Introduction to the Devout Life.

Introduction to the Devout Life - St. Francis de Sales.