Posted on 06/27/2006 6:25:37 AM PDT by Salvation
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah
with this message:
“Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:
‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you
by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over
to the king of Assyria.
You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done
to all other countries: they doomed them!
Will you, then, be saved?’”
Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;
then he went up to the temple of the LORD,
and spreading it out before him,
he prayed in the LORD’s presence:
“O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim!
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations
and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire;
they destroyed them because they were not gods,
but the work of human hands, wood and stone.
Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man,
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God.”
Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:
“’She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.
“’For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.’
“Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.’”
That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11
R. (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,”
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Gospel
Mt 7:6, 12-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”
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From: Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Respect for Holy Things
| First reading | 2 Kings 19:9 - 36 © |
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| Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah again, saying, ‘Tell this to Hezekiah king of Judah, “Do not let your God on whom you are relying deceive you, when he says: Jerusalem shall not fall into the power of the king of Assyria. You have learnt by now what the kings of Assyria have done to every country, putting them all under the ban. Are you likely to be spared?’ Hezekiah took the letter from the hands of the messenger and read it; he then went up to the Temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah said this prayer in the presence of the Lord, ‘O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned on the cherubs, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth. ‘Give ear, the Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, the Lord, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib who has sent to insult the living God. ‘It is true, the Lord, that the kings of Assyria have exterminated all the nations, they have thrown their gods on the fire, for these were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, and hence they have destroyed them. But now, the Lord our God, save us from his hand, I pray you, and let all the kingdoms of the earth know that you alone are God, the Lord.’ Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah. ‘the Lord, the God of Israel’ he said ‘says this, “I have heard the prayer you have addressed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria”. Here is the oracle that the Lord has pronounced against him: “She despises you, she scorns you, the virgin, daughter of Zion; she tosses her head behind you, the daughter of Jerusalem.”’ |
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| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 47 |
| Gospel | Matthew 7:6 - 14 © |
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| Jesus said, ‘Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces. ‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets. ‘Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ |
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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 101 (102) |
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| Prayers and vows of an exile |
| Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me: whenever I am troubled, turn to me and hear me. Whenever I call on you, hurry to answer me. For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones are dry as tinder. My heart is cut down like grass, it is dry – I cannot remember to eat. The sound of my groaning makes my bones stick to my flesh. I am lonely as a pelican in the wilderness, as an owl in the ruins, as a sparrow alone on a rooftop: I do not sleep. All day long my enemies taunt me, they burn with anger and use my name as a curse. I make ashes my bread, I mix tears with my drink, because of your anger and reproach – you, who raised me up, have dashed me to the ground. My days fade away like a shadow: I wither like grass. 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 101 (102) |
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| But you, Lord, remain for ever and your name lasts from generation to generation. You will rise up and take pity on Sion, for it is time that you pitied it, indeed it is time: for your servants love its very stones and pity even its dust. Then, Lord, the peoples will fear your name. All the kings of the earth will fear your glory, when the Lord has rebuilt Sion and appeared there in his glory; when he has listened to the prayer of the destitute and not rejected their pleading. These things shall be written for the next generation and a people yet to be born shall praise the Lord. Because he has looked down from his high sanctuary, – the Lord has looked down from heaven to earth – and heard the groans of prisoners and freed the children of death so that they could proclaim the Lord’s name in Sion and sing his praises in Jerusalem, where people and kingdoms gather together to serve the Lord. 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 101 (102) |
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| He has brought down my strength in the midst of my journey; he has shortened my days. I will say, “My God, do not take me away half way through the days of my life. Your years last from generation to generation: in the beginning you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will pass away but you will remain; all will grow old, like clothing, and like a cloak you will change them, and they will be changed. “But you are always the same, your years will never run out. The children of your servants shall live in peace, their descendants will endure in your sight”. 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. |
| Reading | 1 Samuel 17:57 - 18:30 © |
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| When David came back after killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the Philistine’s head in his hand. Saul asked him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?’ David replied, ‘The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem’. After David had finished talking to Saul, Jonathan’s soul became closely bound to David’s and Jonathan came to love him as his own soul. Saul kept him by him from that day forward and would not let him go back to his father’s house. Jonathan made a pact with David to love him as his own soul; he took off the cloak he was wearing and gave it to David, and his armour too, even his sword, his bow and his belt. Whenever David went out, on whatever mission Saul sent him, he was successful, and Saul put him in command of the fighting men; he stood well in the people’s eyes and in the eyes of Saul’s officers too. On their way back, as David was returning after killing the Philistine, the women came out to meet King Saul from all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing to the sound of tambourine and lyre and cries of joy; and as they danced the women sang: ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.’ Saul was very angry; the incident was not to his liking. ‘They have given David the tens of thousands,’ he said ‘but me only the thousands; he has all but the kingship now.’ And Saul turned a jealous eye on David from that day forward. Now Michal the daughter of Saul fell in love with David. When Saul heard this he was pleased. He thought, ‘Yes, I will give her to him, but she will prove a snare for him and the hand of the Philistines will strike him’. (Twice Saul said to David, ‘Now you shall be my son-in-law’.) Saul then gave this command to his servants, ‘Talk secretly to David and say, “Look, the king is pleased with you and all his servants love you; it is time you became the king’s son-in-law”’. The king’s servants repeated these words in David’s ear, and David replied, ‘Does it strike you as an easy thing for me to become the king’s son-in-law, poor and of humble position as I am?’ Saul’s servants then reported back what David had said. Saul replied, ‘Tell David this, “The king desires no settlement except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, for vengeance on the king’s enemies”’. Saul was planning that David should fall by the hand of the Philistines. His servants brought this message to David and he was delighted at the thought of becoming the king’s son-in-law. The time had not yet expired when David rose and set off, he and his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. David brought back their foreskins and counted them out before the king so that he could be the king’s son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. Saul now realised that the Lord was with David, and that all the House of Israel loved him; then Saul feared David all the more and became David’s lasting enemy. The leaders of the Philistines went out to battle, but every time they went out to battle David was more successful than all Saul’s officers, and his name was held in great honour. |
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| Reading | A treatise on Christian Perfection by St Gregory of Nyssa |
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| Christ should be manifest in our whole life | |
| The life of the Christian has three distinguishing aspects: deeds, words and thought. Thought comes first, then words, since our words express openly the interior conclusions of the mind. Finally, after thoughts and words, comes action, for our deeds carry out what the mind has conceived. So when one of these results in our acting or speaking or thinking, we must make sure that all our thoughts, words and deeds are controlled by the divine ideal, the revelation of Christ. For then our thoughts, words and deeds will not fall short of the nobility of their implications. What then must we do, we who have been found worthy of the name of Christ? Each of us must examine his thoughts, words and deeds, to see whether they are directed toward Christ or are turned away from him. This examination is carried out in various ways. Our deeds or our thoughts or our words are not in harmony with Christ if they issue from passion. They then bear the mark of the enemy who smears the pearl of the heart with the slime of passion, dimming and even destroying the lustre of the precious stone. On the other hand, if they are free from and untainted by every passionate inclination, they are directed toward Christ, the author and source of peace. He is like a pure, untainted stream. If you draw from him the thoughts in your mind and the inclinations of your heart, you will show a likeness to Christ, your source and origin, as the gleaming water in a jar resembles the flowing water from which it was obtained. For the purity of Christ and the purity that is manifest in our hearts are identical. Christ’s purity, however, is the fountainhead; ours has its source in him and flows out of him. Our life is stamped with the beauty of his thought. The inner and the outer man are harmonised in a kind of music. The mind of Christ is the controlling influence that inspires us to moderation and goodness in our behaviour. As I see it, Christian perfection consists in this: sharing the titles which express the meaning of Christ’s name, we bring out this meaning in our minds, our prayers and our way of life. |
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| A concluding prayer may follow here. |
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June 27, 2006
St. Cyril of Alexandria
(376?-444)
Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the Church, began his career as archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. He pillaged and closed the churches of the Novatian heretics, participated in the deposing of St. John Chrysostom and confiscated Jewish property, expelling the Jews from Alexandria in retaliation for their attacks on Christians. Cyril’s importance for theology and Church history lies in his championing the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorius. The controversy centered around the two natures in Christ. Nestorius would not agree to the title “God-bearer” for Mary. He preferred “Christ-bearer,” saying there are two distinct persons in Christ (divine and human) joined only by a moral union. He said Mary was not the mother of God but only of the man Christ, whose humanity was only a temple of God. Nestorianism implied that the humanity of Christ was a mere disguise. Presiding as the pope’s representative at the Council of Ephesus (431), Cyril condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the “God-bearer” (the mother of the one Person who is truly God and truly human). In the confusion that followed, Cyril was deposed and imprisoned for three months, after which he was welcomed back to Alexandria as a second Athanasius (the champion against Arianism). Besides needing to soften some of his opposition to those who had sided with Nestorius, Cyril had difficulties with some of his own allies, who thought he had gone too far, sacrificing not only language but orthodoxy. Until his death, his policy of moderation kept his extreme partisans under control. On his deathbed, despite pressure, he refused to condemn the teacher of Nestorius. Quote:
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| Tuesday, June 27, 2006 Feria |
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June 27, 2006    Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and doctor St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, one of the metropolitan sees of the Christian Church in the east, was one of the great defenders of the faith against the heresy of Nestorius who denied the oneness of person in Jesus Christ. At the Council of Ephesus in 431, over which he presided in the Pope's name, and at his instigation, it was defined that Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time God and man, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, His mother, is truly the Mother of God. St. Cyril died in 444. The Church venerates him as one of her great doctors. His commentary on the Gospel of St. John is one of the richest doctrinally of those left us by the Fathers of the Church. Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar the feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria was celebrated on February 9.
St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Cyril is one of the great Greek fathers of the Church. He was chosen by divine Providence to be the shield and champion of the Church against Nestorius, who denied the unity of person in Christ. If this heresy had succeeded, Mary would not be called the Mother of God. Excepting Sts. Athanasius and Augustine, his equal as a defender of orthodoxy can hardly be found in the Church's history. His greatest achievement was the successful direction of the ecumenical council at Ephesus (431), of which he was the soul (Pope Celestine had appointed him papal legate). In this council two important dogmas were defined, viz., that there is but one person in Christ, and that Mary in the literal sense of the word can be called the Mother of God (Theotokos). His successful defense of the latter doctrine is his greatest title to honor. His writings show such depth and clarity that the Greeks called him the "seal of the fathers." He died in 444 A.D., after having been bishop for thirty-two years. In Rome, the basilica of St. Mary Major stands as a most venerable monument to the honor paid Mary at the Council of Ephesus. On the arch leading into the sanctuary important incidents in the lives of Jesus and Mary are depicted in mosaic. Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch. In 1881, he was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII, and in 1944, on the fifteenth centenary of Cyril's death, Pope Pius CII issued his encyclical Orientalis Ecclesiae, commemorating Cyril's place in the history of the Church. Excerpted from The One Year Book of Saints by Rev. Clifford Stevens. Patron: Alexandria; Egypt. Symbols: Shown holding a pen; with the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus. Things to Do:
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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 100 (101) |
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| The declaration of a just ruler |
| I will sing of kindness and justice – to you, Lord, will I sing. My thoughts shall follow the way of perfection: when will you come to me, Lord? I will walk with an innocent heart through the halls of my palace. I will allow no evil thing in my sight. I will hate the man who retreats from perfection: he may not stay near me. The wicked of heart must leave me; the plotter of evil I will not acknowledge. The man who plots against his neighbour in secret: I will suppress him. The haughty of eye, the puffed-up and proud – I will not support them. I will turn my eyes to the faithful of the land: they shall sit with me. Whoever walks in the way of perfection – he shall be my servant. The haughty shall not live in my palace; the slanderer shall not stand in my sight. Each morning I will suppress all the wicked of the land. I will rid the city of the Lord of all that do evil. 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 | Daniel 3 |
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| The prayer of Azariah in the furnace | |
| Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers: your name is glorious for ever for you are just in all you have done to us. For we have sinned and done wrong, we have deserted you and done all things wrong. Do not give us up for ever, for your name’s sake we beg you, do not dissolve your covenant. Take not your loving kindness from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved; and Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one. You told them you would multiply their seed like the stars of the sky like the sand on the shores of the sea. But we, Lord, are made the least of all nations. Today we are brought low over all the earth on account of our sins. Today there is no prince no prophet, no leader, no holocaust, no sacrifice. No offering, no incense, no first-fruits offered to you – no way to obtain your mercy. But in our contrite souls, in a spirit of humility, accept us, Lord. Like a holocaust of rams and bulls, like fat sheep in their thousands, let our sacrifice be like these before you today. Bring to fruition the quest of those who follow you, for those who trust in you can never be confounded. And now we follow you with all our heart and we revere you and seek your face. 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 143 (144) |
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| For victory and peace |
| Blessed be the Lord, my help, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. The Lord is kindness and strength, my refuge and my liberator. He is my shield, and I trust in him – he places my people under his rule. Lord, what is man, that you should take notice of him? The son of man, that you should give him respect? For man is as nothing, his day is like a shadow that passes. Lord, descend from your heavens, touch the mountains so that they smoke. Brandish your lightnings and scatter my enemies, fire your arrows, sow confusion among them. Send down your power from above, raise me and free me from the flooding waters, from the power of those of foreign race, whose speeches are not to be trusted, who lift up their hands in perjury. I will sing a new song to you, God: I will sound your praise on the ten-stringed harp. You give victory to kings, you rescue David your servant from the swords of his enemies. 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 |
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| 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. |
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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. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
http://regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?rc=se-39_ca-95_te-60_id-15253
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The Road That Leads to Life Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 7:6,12-14 Introductory Prayer: Father, help us to be like Christ, your son, who loved the world and died for our salvation. Inspire us by his generous love, and guide us by his selfless example who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Petition: Jesus, lead me to the joy of selfless love. 1. The Gate Is Wide and the Road Broad That Leads to Destruction. Our Lord refers to the path leading to destruction. The choices that lead there are not necessarily sinful in themselves, yet over the course of time they begin to foster selfishness. They become a series of choices based solely on what I want (egoism) and not on what I ought to do (responsibility) or who I ought to become (vocation). Personally, I have never found it hard to choose what I find enjoyable. In fact, it comes so naturally that if I let it, that tendency can actually begin to dominate me, changing me as a person. This does not mean that everything that is enjoyable necessarily sets me upon the path to destruction. But to systematically and constantly choose merely that which I like -- which feels good, gives pleasure and avoids pain -- results in a weakened will that is only capable of choosing according to likes and not according to responsibilities, commitments and duties. In other words, a will predominantly given to loving itself is incapable of the sacrifices necessary to love others. Imagine what this habit would do to a friendship, a marriage, or a relationship with God. 2. How Narrow the Gate and Constricted the Road That Leads to Life. When love turns in on itself and becomes selfish, it begins to destroy me and the relationships I try to maintain. Selfless love, on the other hand, gives life to the soul because the human person was made to love others. As Pope John Paul II often indicated, the human person is meant to be a gift by giving oneself to others in love. For love to be selfless, it must in some way be sacrificial. We discover that in order to love another we must die to self. It is on the cross that Jesus reveals the full measure of love -- love to which you and I are called. Only in following Christ along this narrow way do we set out upon the path of life-giving love. The road is narrow, but the love is not. 3. And Those Who Find It Are Few. Perhaps this is simply because so few genuinely seek it. Contemporary society places an exorbitant amount of emphasis on individual wants masked as “rights.” “You deserve this,” and “You deserve that,” even if it is to the detriment of others who share your life. Because this mentality is ubiquitous, it is quite easy to get pulled into the whirlpool’s attractive force. For this reason, perseverance in selfless love, marriage, or commitment to the truth is no small task. It demands a strength that we must find in prayer and the sacraments. Even with these, at times the allurement of what we know is detrimental will still tug at our hearts. Therefore, we must resolve to make sacrifices in order to preserve what is good, holy and true. We can accomplish nothing without a fight, and it is a grave mistake to think that we can achieve our ideals, no matter how beautiful and noble they are, if we are not determined to fight, and fight perseveringly. Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, the joy that comes from loving you gives meaning to the fight to be faithful. As I contemplate the crucifix, I grasp in some small way how much each soul means to you. In your goodness, grant that I may learn to enter ever more fully into your love, a love that heals as it wounds. I cannot do this without the strength that comes from experiencing your love for me. Please grant that I may experience this love. Mother Most Pure, make my heart only for Jesus. Resolution: Today I will offer five small acts of self-denial for the renewal of family life in society. |
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2 Kgs 19,9-11,14-21,31-35 / Mt 7:6,12-14 One thing that life teaches anyone who is paying attention is that appearances are deceiving and things are rarely as they seem. The "perfect" marriage dissolves overnight, the dot-com millionaire goes bankrupt as you watch, the "wonder" drug ends up killing people, and the "unbeatable" candidate gets trounced at the polls. Sennacharib, the king of Assyria, was recognized as master of the world, whom nobody could defy. But as we see in today's Old Testament reading, overnight he too discovered his limits and had no option but to go home to nurse his wounds. Not one of us can be sure of our future except God, and the most foolish thing we can do is to start thinking of our life and our things as really ours. We are only stewards, and all we have is God's gift, on temporary loan — even our lives. Once we get clear about that, we can give the praise where it's due, to the Giver of all good gifts. And we can be free of the sinful self-deception that is pride, and from the endless burdens of phony image-building and compulsive face-saving. Relax in being just who you are — God's cherished child, and let the Lord who made you hold you always in the palm of His hand. When you do that, your real life will begin. |
Faith-sharing bump.
Welcome home!
great commentary, thank you for posting.
Thanks for stopping by today, Ciexyz!
You're welcome, Nihil Obstat.
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Pray for A Voice in the Desert |
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Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, small and great.
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Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA This action of the Archbishop is not related to any scandal We regret any inconvenience and humbly ask for your prayers. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn |
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 136 (137) |
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| By the rivers of Babylon |
| By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept remembering Sion. On the willow-trees of Babylon we hung up our harps. In that place they asked us, those who had captured us, to sing them a song: “Sing us”, they said, “a song of Sion”. They had brought us affliction and asked us for joy. How shall we sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land? Jerusalem, if I forget you, send my right hand to oblivion; let my tongue stick in my throat if I do not remember – if I do not rank Jerusalem the first of my joys. Remember, Lord, the Edomites on the day of Jerusalem: “Raze it”, they said, “to the ground”. Babylon’s daughter, destroyer – blessed be he that takes his revenge, that smashes your child on a rock. 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 137 (138) |
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| Thanksgiving |
| I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I will make music to you, worship before your holy temple. I will praise your name because of your mercy and faithfulness: high above all other names is the greatness of your word. Each day that I call on you, Lord, listen to me, strengthen my spirit. All the kings of the earth will proclaim your glory, Lord, when they hear your word. They will sing of the paths of the Lord, so great is his glory. For the Lord is on high but he cares for the humble; and he knows the proud from afar. If I walk in the midst of troubles, you will give me life. If my enemies rise up against me, your right hand will keep me safe. The Lord does all that I need. Lord, your kindness lasts for ever: do not forsake the work of your hands. 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 | 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. |
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| 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. |
|
| 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 |
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Petition by Concerned Roman Catholics of America
