January 23, 2014

Thursday of the Second week in Ordinary Time

When David and Saul approached
(on David’s return after slaying the Philistine),
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
“They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship.”
And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
But Saul’s son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him:
“My father Saul is trying to kill you.
Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;
get out of sight and remain in hiding.
I, however, will go out and stand beside my father
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know.”

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
“Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you,
but has helped you very much by his deeds.
When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,
and the LORD brought about a great victory
for all Israel through him,
you were glad to see it.
Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood
by killing David without cause?”
Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore,
“As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.”
So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Gospel Mk 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

From: 1 Samuel 18:6-9, 19:1-7

Saul’s Jealousy of David

[6] As they were coming home, when David returned from slaying the Philistine,
the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King
Saul, with timbrels, with songs and with instruments of music. [7] And the wo-
men sang to one another as they made merry, “Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.” [8] And Saul was very angry, and this saying dis-
pleased him; he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me
they have ascribed thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?”
[9] And Saul eyed David from that day on.

David Flees

[1] And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should
kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. [2] And Jonathan
told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you; therefore take heed to yourself in
the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself; [3] and I will go out and
stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father
about you; and if I learn anything I will tell you.” [4] And Jonathan spoke well of
David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant
David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been
of good service to you; [5] for he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philis-
tine, and the LORD wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced;
why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” [6]
And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the LORD lives,
he shall not be put to death.” [7] And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan
showed him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was
in his presence as before.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

118:6-16. Saul’s admiration of David after the defeat of Goliath soon turned into
envy and jealousy. The more the people’s regard and enthusiasm for David grew
(to the point of composing a chant in his honor: cf. 21:12; 29:5), the more jea-
lous the king became. Saul’s attempt on David’s life (cf. 19:9-10) confirms Saul’s
malice and baseness. The key to this episode is provided by the text: “The Lord
was with (David) and had departed from Saul” (v. 12; cf. 18:28). David’s succes-
ses (18:5, 14-15) are due to his skill but above all to God, who protects him.

19:1-24. David’s flight from the court of Saul allows the writer to include some
episodes (not interconnected) which serve to highlight the difference between
the baseness of Saul, and David’s generosity and shrewdness. At a formal go-
vernment meeting (vv. 1-7) Saul proposes that David be killed. The only oppo-
sing voice is that of Jonathan, who stands up for his best friend. Friendship tri-
umphs. Then in an informal situation at home Saul’s viciousness leads him to
throw his spear at his shield-bearer, but David proves too quick. These two epi-
sodes are repeated — the first, at greater length in chapter 20, and the second,
almost word for word, in 18:10-11. The sacred writer includes them here in pas-
sing, the more to contrast the two men.

The third episode takes place in David’s own house (vv. 11-17). Michal, his wife,
cleverly arranges a trick to help David escape and frustrate her father’s plans.
Saul can see that even his own daughter has abandoned him and is on David’s
side. On the “image” (”teraphim”), see the note on Judges 17:5.

The last event (vv. 18-24) also has its parallel (10:10-12); both passages justify
the popular saying recorded in v. 24: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” How-
ever, in this context the episode is a sort of legal suit in which Samuel is the
witness and God the judge the verdict is in David’s favor, and Saul is condemned.
Samuel who in his time anointed both of them and later came out in favor of Da-
vid and against Saul (cf. 13:13-14), can now see that the Lord himself with his
spirit is thwarting the evil intentions of Saul and preventing him from reaching Da-
vid’s base. At Gibe-ah (cf. 1 Sam 10:9ff) a prophetical ecstasy was a method the
Lord used to make known his plans for Saul, but now, here at Ramah, the ecsta-
sy paralyzes Saul, leaves him naked for a whole day and prevents him from do-
ing away with David. This is the final proof, solemnized by the presence of Sa-
muel that David is the one who enjoys the Lord’s protection, whereas Saul has
been rejected.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 3:7-12

Cures Beside the Sea of Galilee

[7] Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Gali-
lee followed; also from Judea [8] and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the
Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing all that He did,
came to Him. [9] And He told His disciples to have a boat ready for Him; [10] for
He had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon Him to touch
Him. [11] And whenever the unclean spirits beheld Him, they fell down before Him
and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” [12] And He strictly ordered them not to
make Him known.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

10. During our Lord’s public life people were constantly crowding round Him to
be cured (cf. Luke 6:19; 8:45; etc). As in the case of many other cures, St. Mark
gives us a graphic account of what Jesus did to these people (cf. Mark 1: 31,41;
7:31-37; 8:22-26; John 9:1-7, 11, 15). By working these cures our Lord shows
that He is both God and man: He cures by virtue of His divine power and using
His human nature. In other words, only in the Word of God become man is the
work of our Redemption effected, and the instrument God used to save us was
the human nature of Jesus—His Body and Soul—in the unity of the person of the
Word (cf. Vatican II, “Sacrosanctum Concilium”, 5).

This crowding round Jesus is repeated by Christians of all times: the holy human
nature of our Lord is our only route to salvation; it is the essential means we must
use to unite ourselves to God. Thus, we can today approach our Lord by means
of the sacraments, especially and pre-eminently the Eucharist. And through the
sacraments there flows to us, from God, through the human nature of the Word,
a strength which cures those who receive the sacraments with faith (cf. St Tho-
mas Aquinas, “Summa theologiae”, III, q. 62, a. 5).

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass

First reading

1 Samuel 18:6-9,19:1-7 ©

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.

Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants of his intention to kill David. Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, held David in great affection; and so Jonathan warned David; ‘My father Saul is looking for a way to kill you,’ he said ‘so be on your guard tomorrow morning; hide away in some secret place. Then I will go out and keep my father company in the fields where you are hiding, and will talk to my father about you; I will find out what the situation is and let you know.’

So Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father; he said, ‘Let not the king sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you, and what he has done has been greatly to your advantage. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it yourself and rejoiced; why then sin against innocent blood in killing David without cause?’ Saul was impressed by Jonathan’s words and took an oath, ‘As the Lord lives, I will not kill him.’ Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought him to Saul, and David attended on him as before.

Psalm

Psalm 55:2-3,9-14 ©

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

Have mercy on me, God, men crush me;

they fight me all day long and oppress me.

My foes crush me all day long,

for many fight proudly against me.

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

You have kept an account of my wanderings;

you have kept a record of my tears;

(are they not written in your book?)

Then my foes will be put to flight

on the day that I call to you.

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

This I know, that God is on my side.

In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I shall not fear;

what can mortal man do to me?

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

I am bound by the vows I have made you.

O God, I will offer you praise

for you have rescued my soul from death,

you kept my feet from stumbling

that I may walk in the presence of God

and enjoy the light of the living.

In God I trust: I shall not fear.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Jn6:63,68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;

you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Or	cf.2Tim1:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death

and he has proclaimed life through the Good News.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 3:7-12 ©

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeside, and great crowds from Galilee followed him. From Judaea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, Transjordania and the region of Tyre and Sidon, great numbers who had heard of all he was doing came to him. And he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, to keep him from being crushed. For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding forward to touch him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he warned them strongly not to make him known.

Jesus, High Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

Pray the Rosary

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: 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 who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: 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.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light
(Thursdays) see Rosarium Virginis Mariae
1. Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan (II Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 3:17 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Gratitude for the gift of Faith]
2. Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana (John 2:1- 12) [Spiritual fruit - Fidelity]
3. Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to conversion (Mark 1:15, Mark 2:3-13; Luke 7:47- 48, John 20:22-23) [Spiritual fruit - Desire for Holiness]
4. Jesus' Transfiguration (Luke 9:35 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Spiritual Courage]
5. Jesus' institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery. (Luke 24:13-35 and parallels, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) [Spiritual fruit - Love of our Eucharistic Lord]

A Prayer for our Free Nation Under God
God Save Our Country web site (prayer warriors)
Prayer Chain Request for the United States of America
Pray for Nancy Pelosi
Prayer and fasting will help defeat health care reform (Freeper Prayer Thread)
Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Non-stop Rosary vigil to defeat ObamaCare

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8"

PLEASE JOIN US -

Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.

Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")

Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."

Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."

Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."

Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."

Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!

January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

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

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

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

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. 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

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Phil:2:10-11

The Most Holy Name
The Power of Jesus’ Name
What does IHS stand for? The meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus [Catholic Caucus]
Litany Of The Holy Name of Jesus
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Jesus, The Name above all Names
Devotion to the Holy Name (of Jesus) [Catholic Caucus]
Lessons In Iconography : The Chi Rho - Christ
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Excerpt from a Sermon) (Catholic Caucus)
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

St. Bernard on the Most Holy Name of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Saving the day in His Holy Name: St. Genevieve gets a reprieve [Catholic Caucus]
The Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
The Holy Name of Jesus

St. Marianne Cope OSF, nursed the terminally ill St/Fr. Damien de Veuster on his deathbed. She answered the call of the Hawaiians who needed help with setting up a home for the lepers, particularly the young girls and women. St. Marianne Cope established the Bishop Home for women on Molokai. Later she encouraged the establishment of a similar home for men and boys, the Baldwin Home on Molokai. This home was run by the saintly Br. Joseph Dutton and beginning in 1895 was staffed by four brothers of the Missionary Society of the Sacred Hearts from Louvain, Belgium, the same monastery that St Damien had come from. My grandfather’s first cousin was one of these missionary brothers.

Sr. Marianne Cope died in 1918 in Hawaii at the age of 80 years.

Surprisingly no other missionaries to Molokai caught leprosy. Perhaps because by the end of the 19th century, there was more knowledge of diseases and transmission, etc. and better hygiene was utilized.

Fr. Damien went to Molokai as the sole missionary to a group of abandoned lepers. He was not only a priest, but an excellent carpenter and built many homes and enlarged the chapel. Perhaps that made him vulnerable to the disease as it would have caused small abrasions to his hands when doing this type of work, thus allowing the mycobacterium leprae to enter his system.

God rest all the souls who gave their lives to better the plight of the lepers on Molokai.

Daily Gospel Commentary

Thursday of the Second week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Julian of Norwich (1342-after 1416), recluse
Revelations of divine love, ch. 36

"Those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him"

And so long as we are in this life, whenever we in our folly revert to the contemplation of those who are damned, our Lord tenderly teaches us and blessedly calls us, saying in our souls: “Leave me alone, my beloved child, attend to me. I am enough for you, and rejoice in your saviour and in your salvation.” And I am sure that this is our Lord working in us. The soul which is pierced with this by grace will see it and feel it. And even though this deed may truly be accepted as done for men in general, still this does not exclude particular men...

And furthermore, he gave special understanding and teaching about the working and revelation of miracles, thus: “It is known that I have performed miracles in time past, many, most great and wonderful, glorious and splendid, and what I have done I always go on doing, and I shall in times to come.” It is known that before miracles come sorrows and anguish and trouble, and that because we ought to know our own weakness and the harm that we have fallen into through sin, to humble us and make us cry to God for help and grace. And afterwards great miracles come, and that is from God's great power great power and wisdom and goodness, showing his might and the joys of heaven, so much as this may be in this passing life, and that is for the strengthening of our faith, and as this may increase our hope in love. Therefore it pleases him to be known and worshipped in miracles. Then this is his intention: He wishes us not to be oppressed because of the sorrows and travails which come to us, for it has always been so before the coming of miracles!

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Saint Vincent, Deacon & Martyr

Saint Vincent, Deacon & Martyr
Optional Memorial
January 23rd
[In the Dioceses of the United States]

Saint Vincent (+304) was born in Huesca, Spain. He was deacon of the Church of Saragossa and suffered martyrdom in Valencia in the persecution under Diocletian.

Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
mercifully pour out your Spirit upon us,
so that our hearts may possess that strong love
by which the Martyr Saint Vincent
triumphed over all bodily torments.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:17-22
Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

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