Posted on 08/09/2006 9:39:56 AM PDT by Salvation
Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm: Wednesday 33
Reading 1
Jer 31:1-7
At that time, says the LORD,
I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel,
and they shall be my people.
Thus says the LORD:
The people that escaped the sword
have found favor in the desert.
As Israel comes forward to be given his rest,
the LORD appears to him from afar:
With age-old love I have loved you;
so I have kept my mercy toward you.
Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin Israel;
Carrying your festive tambourines,
you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers.
Again you shall plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria;
those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits.
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen
will call out on Mount Ephraim:
“Rise up, let us go to Zion,
to the LORD, our God.”
For thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Responsorial Psalm
Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13
R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Gospel
Mt 15: 21-28
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
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How intolerant of Jesus, to compare Canaanites to dogs!
I guess he got his point across.
First Documents Emerge From Vatican Archives, Including Letter From Edith Stein
From: Matthew 15:21-28
The Canaanite Woman
Edith Stein was born to a Jewish family at Breslau on October 12, 1891. Through her passionate study of philosophy she searched after truth and found it in reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Jesus. In 1922 she was baptized a Catholic and in 1933 she entered the Carmel of Cologne where she took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was gassed and cremated at Auschwitz on August 9, 1942, during the Nazi persecution and died a martyr for the Christian faith after having offered her holocaust for the people of Israel. A woman of singular intelligence and learning, she left behind a body of writing notable for its doctrinal richness and profound spirituality. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II at Cologne on May 1, 1987 and canonized on October 11, 1998. Her feast is celebrated by the Church on August 9 of each year.
Source: Listing of Carmelite Saints
Check out this commentary -- the emphasis is on the woman's faith:
24. What Jesus says here does not take from the universal reference of
His teaching (cf. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). Our Lord came to
bring His Gospel to the whole world, but He Himself addressed only the
Jews; later on He will charge His Apostles to preach the Gospel to
pagans. St. Paul, in his missionary journeys, also adopted the policy
of preaching in the first instance to the Jews (Acts 13:46).
25-28. This dialogue between Jesus and the woman is especially
beautiful. By appearing to be harsh He so strengthens the woman's
faith that she deserves exceptional praise: "Great is your faith!" Our
own conversation with Christ should be like that: "Persevere in
prayer. Persevere, even when your efforts seem barren. Prayer is
always fruitful" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 101).
Thank you for that little bit of info. More to come.
| First reading | Jeremiah 31:1 - 7 © |
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| When that time comes – it is the Lord who speaks – I will be the God of all the clans of Israel: they shall be my people. The Lord says this: They have found pardon in the wilderness, those who have survived the sword. Israel is marching to his rest. the Lord has appeared to him from afar: I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you. I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel. Adorned once more, and with your tambourines, you will go out dancing gaily. You will plant vineyards once more on the mountains of Samaria the planters have done their planting: they will gather the fruit. Yes, a day will come when the watchmen shout on the mountains of Ephraim, ‘Up! Let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God!’ For the Lord says this: Shout with joy for Jacob! Hail the chief of nations! Proclaim! Praise! Shout: ‘The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!’ |
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| Psalm or canticle | Jeremiah 31:10 - 13 © |
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| Listen, nations, to the word of the Lord. Tell this to the distant islands, ‘He who scattered Israel gathers him, he guards him as a shepherd guards his flock’. For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, rescued him from a hand stronger than his own. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion, they will throng towards the good things of the Lord: corn and oil and wine, sheep and oxen; their soul will be like a watered garden, they will sorrow no more. The virgin will then take pleasure in the dance, young men and old will be happy; I will change their mourning into gladness, comfort them, give them joy after their troubles. |
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| Gospel | Matthew 15:21 - 28 © |
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| Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel’. But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs’. She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table’. Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again. | |
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 38 (39) |
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| A prayer in sickness |
| I said, “I will watch my ways, I will try not to sin in my speech. I will set a guard on my mouth, for as long as my enemies are standing against me”. I stayed quiet and dumb, spoke neither evil nor good, but my pain was renewed. My heart grew hot within me, and fire blazed in my thoughts. Then I spoke out loud: “Lord, make me know my end. Let me know the number of my days, so that I know how short my life is to be”. All the length of my days is a handsbreadth or two, the expanse of my life is as nothing before you. For in your sight all men are nothingness: man passes away, like a shadow. Nothingness, although he is busy: he builds up treasure, but who will collect it? 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 38 (39) |
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| What, now, can I look forward to, Lord? My hope is in you. Rescue me from all my sins, do not make me a thing for fools to laugh at. I have sworn to be dumb, I will not open my mouth: for it is at your hands that I am suffering. Aim your blows away from me, for I am crushed by the weight of your hand. You rebuke and chastise us for our sins. Like the moth you consume all we desire – for all men are nothingness. Listen, Lord, to my prayer: turn your ear to my cries. Do not be deaf to my weeping, for I come as a stranger before you, a wanderer like my fathers before me. Turn away from me, give me respite, before I leave this world, before I am no more. 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 51 (52) |
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| Against calumny |
| Why do you take pride in your malice, you expert in evil-doing? All day long you plan your traps, your tongue is sharp as a razor – you master of deceit! You have chosen malice over kindness; you speak lies rather than the truth; your tongue is in love with every deceit. For all this, in the end God will destroy you. He will tear you out and expel you from your dwelling, uproot you from the land of the living. The upright will see and be struck with awe: they will deride the evil-doer. “Here is the man who did not make God his refuge, but put his hope in the abundance of his riches and in the power of his stratagems”. But I flourish like an olive in the palace of God. I hope in the kindness of God, for ever, and through all ages. I shall praise you for all time for what you have done. I shall put my hope in your name and in its goodness in the sight of your chosen ones. 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 | Amos 9:1 - 15 © |
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| I saw the Lord standing at the side of the altar. ‘Strike the capitals’ he said ‘and let the roof tumble down! I mean to break their heads, every one, and all who remain I will put to the sword; not one shall get away, not one escape. Should they burrow their way down to Sheol, my hand shall haul them out; should they scale the heavens, I will drag them down; should they hide on Carmel’s peak, there I will track them down and catch them; should they hide from my sight on the sea bed, I will tell the Dragon to bite them there; should they go into exile driven before their enemies, I will order the sword to slaughter them there; and my eyes will be on them for their misfortune, not their good.’ The Lord, the Lord of Hosts – he touches the earth and it melts, and all its inhabitants mourn; it all heaves, like the Nile, and subsides, like the river of Egypt. He has built his high dwelling place in the heavens and supported his vault on the earth; he summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the land. “The Lord” is his name. ‘Are not you and the Cushites all the same to me, sons of Israel? – it is the Lord who speaks. Did not I, who brought Israel out of the land of Egypt, bring the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Aramaeans from Kir? Now, my eyes are turned on the sinful kingdom, to wipe it off the face of the earth. ‘Yet I am not going to destroy the House of Jacob completely – it is the Lord who speaks. For now I will issue orders and shake the House of Israel among all the nations, as you shake a sieve so that not one pebble can fall on the ground. All the sinners of my people are going to perish by the sword, all those who say, “No misfortune will ever touch us, nor even come anywhere near us”. ‘That day I will re-erect the tottering hut of David, make good the gaps in it, restore its ruins and rebuild it as it was in the days of old, so that they can conquer the remnant of Edom and all the nations that belonged to me. It is the Lord who speaks, and he will carry this out. ‘The days are coming now – it is the Lord who speaks – when harvest will follow directly after ploughing, the treading of grapes soon after sowing, when the mountains will run with new wine and the hills all flow with it. I mean to restore the fortunes of my people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, plant vineyards and drink their wine, dig gardens and eat their produce. I will plant them in their own country, never to be rooted up again out of the land I have given them, says the Lord, your God.’ |
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| Reading | The "Epistle of Barnabas" |
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| The way of light | |
| The Way of Light is this: if any man wants to journey to his appointed home then he must put his whole heart into his work. To aid our steps on the road, illumination has been given to us as follows — love your Maker, fear your Creator, glorify him who redeemed you from death. Be simple in heart, and rich in spirit. Shun the company of those who walk in the way of death. Hate all that is not pleasing to God, hate all hypocrisy, and never desert the commandments of the Lord. Do not proclaim your own importance but keep a modest and humble mind. Do not seek to cover yourself in glory. Make no evil plans against your neighbour. Keep away from the sin of presumption. Love your neighbour more than your own life. Do not procure abortion, do not commit infanticide. Do not withhold your discipline from your son or your daughter but teach them the fear of God from their childhood onwards. Do not covet your neighbour’s goods or avariciously hold on to your own. Do not cultivate intimacy with the great but keep company with humble and virtuous men. When tribulations come upon you, receive them as you would receive good things, seeing that that nothing happens without God. Do not equivocate or speak in double meanings. Share your goods with your neighbour and do not insist that they are yours alone — for if you are sharers in that which is incorruptible, how much more must you be sharers in that which is corruptible. Do not be in a hurry to speak, for the tongue is a deadly snare. Keep your soul as pure as you can. Do not be someone who stretches out his hands to take, and but keeps them tight shut when it comes to giving. If anyone expounds the word of the Lord to you, love them as the apple of your eye. Keep the day of judgement in mind, day and night. Seek the daily company of the people of God, either labouring by word of mouth — by going among them, exhorting them and striving to save souls by the word — or labouring with your hands, earning a ransom for your sins. Do not hesitate to give, and give without grumbling: you will discover who can be generous with his rewards. Keep the commandments you have received, adding nothing and taking nothing away. Hold evil in detestation. Make your decisions fairly and uprightly. Do not cause quarrels, but rather bring together those who are in dispute and reconcile them. Confess your own sins. Do not set about prayer when you have a bad conscience. This is the Way of Light. |
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God calls each one of us to be a saint.
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August 9, 2006
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
(1891-1942)
A brilliant philosopher who stopped believing in God when she was 14, Edith Stein was so captivated by reading the autobiography of Teresa of Avila that she began a spiritual journey that led to her Baptism in 1922. Twelve years later she imitated Teresa by becoming a Carmelite, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
Born into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland), Edith abandoned Judaism in her teens. As a student at the University of Göttingen, she became fascinated by phenomenology, an approach to philosophy. Excelling as a protégé of Edmund Husserl, one of the leading phenomenologists, Edith earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1916. She continued as a university teacher until 1922 when she moved to a Dominican school in Speyer; her appointment as lecturer at the Educational Institute of Munich ended under pressure from the Nazis. After living in the Cologne Carmel (1934-38), she moved to the Carmelite monastery in Echt, Netherlands. The Nazis occupied that country in 1940. In retaliation for being denounced by the Dutch bishops, the Nazis arrested all Dutch Jews who had become Christians. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a Catholic, died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942. Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta in 1987 and canonized her in 1998. Quote:
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| Wednesday, August 9, 2006 St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr (Optional Memorial |
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Prayers:
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August 09, 2006    Optional Memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin and martyr Old Calendar: St. John Mary Vianney, confessor; St. Romanus, martyr; Vigil of St. Lawrence
Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was the feast of St. John Mary Vianney which is now celebrated on August 4 and the Vigil of St. Lawrence. It was also the commemoration of St. Romanus, a martyr who was buried on the Via Tiburtina outside the walls of Rome.
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross  A brilliant philosopher who stopped believing in God when she was fourteen, Edith Stein was so captivated by reading the autobiography of Teresa of Avila that she began a spiritual journey that led to her Baptism in 1922. Twelve years later she imitated Teresa by becoming a Carmelite, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Born into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland), Edith abandoned Judaism in her teens. As a student at the University of Gottingen, she became fascinated by phenomenology, an approach to philosophy. Excelling as a protege of Edmund Husserl, one of the leading phenomenologists, Edith earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1916. She continued as a university teacher until 1922 when she moved to a Dominican school in Speyer; her appointment as lecturer at the Educational Institute of Munich ended under pressure from the Nazis. After living in the Cologne Carmel (1934-1938), she moved to the Carmelite monastery in Echt, Netherlands. The Nazis occupied that country in 1940. In retaliation for being denounced by the Dutch bishops, the Nazis arrested all Dutch Jews who had become Christians. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a Catholic, died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942. Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta in 1987 and canonized her in 1998. Excerpted from the Saint of the Day, Leonard Foley, O.F.M.. Patron: Europe; loss of parents; martyrs. Things to Do:
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Wonder Woman’s Great Faith Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 15:21-28 Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, all things were created through you and with you. Help me to use created things only insofar as they bring me closer to you, who live and reign with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Petition: Heavenly Father, may your will be done in my life so that I can become all that you created me to be. 1. How Bad Do You Want It? Jesus’ lack of response is certainly striking in this story. Before we even read how Jesus reacts, we are drawn to feel pity for the woman whose daughter is possessed by a demon. She obviously took leave of her daughter just to get within earshot of Jesus, so we admire her devotion to her daughter and her willingness to make a sacrifice for the sake of her daughter. Don’t forget that most people don’t go around the town announcing the fact that their children are tormented by a demon. Therefore, this woman overcomes all human respect and potential embarrassment out of love for her daughter. It is clear to Jesus that this woman really wants her daughter to be healed. 2. Do You Believe? Jesus doesn’t say a word to her. He appears to be ignoring her. He is not the least bit irritated or disturbed. The apostles, on the other hand, are getting fed up with this woman and ask Jesus to send her away. They figure that she is not worthy of being healed. They are not thinking as God thinks. They are thinking with their proud hearts and nationalistic mentality. Little do they know that Jesus is going to use this woman to put them and the other bystanders to shame. Christ is actually teaching his disciples a valuable lesson: the true Israel is not a political entity. It is the nation of hearts that loves God above all else and worships him in spirit and in truth. 3. Wonder Woman. This woman was exalted by Jesus because she humbled herself before him. This is one of the great secrets of the interior life. You have to descend in order to ascend. God humbles the proud and exalts the humble. This woman was not relying on her nationality or her personal prowess in order to approach Jesus and ask for a healing. She knew that she did not deserve to be listened to on account of her virtues. But she knew that she loved her daughter and cherished her as a great gift from God. She knew that she loved God and trusted in his goodness and desire to save all people, regardless of their social status. She knew that if it were God’s will her daughter would be healed. Christ greatly admired this faith and rewarded it, after he had tested it and made the woman publicly display her faith in God. Dialogue with Christ: Lord, I am sorry for those times that I have exalted myself and tried to prove that I deserve to be listened to. May your will be done in my life. May I always approach you in humility and confidence. Resolution: I will invite somebody to come to Mass with me this week. |
This devotion has received new emphasis in this century from the visions given to Lucy Dos Santos, oldest of the visionaries of Fatima, in her convent in Tuy, in Spain, in 1925 and 1926. In the visions Our Lady asked for the practice of the Five First Saturdays to help make amends for the offenses given to her heart by the blasphemies and ingratitude of men. The practice parallels the devotion of the Nine First Fridays in honor of the Sacred Heart.
On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII made a solemn Act of Consecration of the Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart. Let us remember this devotion year-round, but particularly through the month of August.
INVOCATIONS
O heart most pure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, obtain for me from Jesus a pure and humble heart.
Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.
ACT OF CONSECRATION
Queen of the most holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own, on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy mother's heart. In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the mystical body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities. Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss! Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long desired coming of peace on earth. O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ.
Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquillity of order. Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Savior of the world: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."
Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ's one fold, under the one true Shepherd. Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing torrent of immorality; arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.
Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation, so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God .and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting "Magnificat" of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace. — Pope Pius XII
IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE HEART
O heart of Mary, mother of God, and our mother; heart most worthy of love, in which the adorable Trinity is ever well-pleased, worthy of the veneration and love of all the angels and of all men; heart most like to the Heart of Jesus, of which thou art the perfect image; heart, full of goodness, ever compassionate toward our miseries; deign to melt our icy hearts and grant that they may be wholly changed into the likeness of the Heart of Jesus, our divine Savior. Pour into them the love of thy virtues, enkindle in them that divine fire with which thou thyself dost ever burn. In thee let Holy Church find a safe shelter; protect her and be her dearest refuge, her tower of strength, impregnable against every assault of her enemies. Be thou the way which leads to Jesus, and the channel, through which we receive all the graces needful for our salvation. Be our refuge in time of trouble, our solace in the midst of trial, our strength against temptation, our haven in persecution, our present help in every danger, and especially) at the hour of death, when all hell shall let loose against u its legions to snatch away our souls, at that dread moment; that hour so full of fear, whereon our eternity depends. An,; then most tender virgin, make us to feel the sweetness of thy motherly heart, and the might of thine intercession with Jesus, and open to us a safe refuge in that very fountain of mercy, whence we may come to praise Him with thee in paradise, world without end. 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
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Sacred Heart Of Jesus |
Immaculate Heart of Mary |
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Blessed be the Most Loving Heart and Sweet Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the most glorious Virgin Mary, His Mother, in eternity and forever. Amen. ....Only the Heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way ----From the Catechism. P:1439 From the depth of my nothingness, I prostrate myself before Thee, O Most Sacred, Divine and Adorable Heart of Jesus, to pay Thee all the homage of love, praise and adoration in my power. The prayer of the Church venerates and honors the Heart of Jesus just as it invokes his most holy name. It adores the incarnate Word and his Heart which, out of love for men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins. Christian prayer loves to follow the way of the cross in the Savior's steps.-- >From the Catechism. P: 2669 |
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Jer 31:1-7 / Mt 15:21-28 In our school days and even well beyond, most of us saw the world in shades of black and white and said to ourselves as we read or heard of dreadful mistakes or grave sins, “I’d never do anything like that!” But then the years passed, and we came to appreciate the many shades of gray, and perhaps we were even guilty of some of those very things that earlier seemed so securely off limits and beyond the pale. Our guilt posed a new question: What is to become of me now? Am I to be like the career diplomat or naval officer who “blotted his copybook” and henceforth is banished from the ranks and deprived of any hope of rehabilitation? Many people would answer “yes, exactly so.” But the Lord gives his own response in today’s Old Testament reading. Using the extreme example of a woman who is beloved by her faithful husband but nevertheless has thrown herself into prostitution, the Lord promises to take her back again and even to restore her virginity! Even physically that seems impossible, but it is quite possible for God’s powerful and abiding mercy. Trust that and don’t waste another minute standing at a distance from him. No matter what has gone before, far away is not where he wants you to be! |
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 76 (77) |
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| Remembering the works of the Lord |
| I cried out loud to the Lord, cried out to God, and he turned to me. In my time of trouble I sought for God, my hands stretched out all night long, tireless in supplication. My soul will not be consoled: I think of God, and I sigh; I meditate, and my spirit fails. You have kept me awake, my eyes open; in my distress, I did not speak. I pondered on the days of old, thought through the immemorial years. In the night I meditated in my heart. I was troubled, and I asked my soul: Will God reject you for ever, will he never again take you into his favour? Has his kindness ended for ever, his word come to an end for all generations? Will God forget to show mercy, will he lock up his mercies in his anger? And I said, “I am wounded indeed, that the Most High has changed”. I will remember the works of the Lord. I will remember your wonders, from the beginning. I will ponder on all you have done, think deeply through all your great deeds. O God, your ways are holy: what god is as great as our God? You are God, you work wonders, you made known your strength to your people. By your own action you redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and of Joseph. The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed, stirred up even to their depths. The clouds poured down water, the clouds sounded their voice, your arrows shot forth. Your voice thundered in the whirlwind, your lightnings lit up the world, the earth trembled and shook. Your way led through the sea, your paths through the great waters, your steps left no trace behind them. You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron. 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 | 1 Samuel 2 |
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| The song of Hannah, mother of Samuel | |
| My heart rejoices in the Lord, my strength is raised up in the name of my God. I cry out in triumph over my enemies as I rejoice in your deliverance. No-one is like the Lord, for he is holy; no-one is like our God, for he is strong. Do not pile boasting upon boasting: keep proud words far from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of all knowledge and the judge of all actions. The bow of the mighty is broken, and the weak are clothed in strength. Those who fed well must hire themselves out, for bread; but the hungry are hungry no longer. The barren woman has given birth to many; but she who had many sons is left desolate. The Lord brings death and brings life; he leads down to the underworld and rescues from it. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he lays low and raises up. He lifts the needy from the dust and the poor from the dunghill to sit among princes to sit on the throne of glory. To the Lord belong the poles of the earth; from them he has suspended the world. He will keep safe the feet of his chosen, but the impious will be silent in the darkness – for it is not by his own strength that a man becomes strong. The Lord grinds down his enemies: he will thunder on them from the heavens. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth, give dominion to his king, and raise up the standard of his anointed one. 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 96 (97) |
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| The glory of God in his judgements |
| The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice, let the many islands be glad. Clouds and dark mist surround him, his throne is founded on law and justice. Fire precedes him, burning up his enemies all around. His lightnings light up the globe; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains flow like wax at the sight of the Lord, at the sight of the Lord the earth dissolves. The heavens proclaim his justice and all peoples see his glory. Let them be dismayed, who worship carved things, who take pride in the images they make. All his angels, worship him. Sion heard and was glad, the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgements, O Lord. For you are the Lord, the Most High over all the earth, far above all other gods. You who love the Lord, hate evil! The Lord protects the lives of his consecrated ones: he will free them from the hands of sinners. A light has arisen for the just, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice, you just, in the Lord and proclaim his holiness. 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. |
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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 |
Excellent!
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Pray for A Voice in the Desert |
The word of the Lord
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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 |
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