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From: James 1:19-27

Doers of the Word, Not Hearers Only

[19] Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to
speak, slow to anger, [20] for the anger of man does not work the righteousness
of God. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and
receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23]
For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who ob-
serves his natural face in a mirror; [24] for he observes himself and goes away
and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But he who looks into the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that
acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.

[26] If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives
his heart, this man’s religion is vain. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled be-
fore God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction,
and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

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

19-27. In the previous verse the sacred writer referred to the effectiveness of “the
word of truth”. Now he makes the point that although the Gospel has this effec-
tiveness, it is not enough just to hear it: we need to listen to it with docility (ver-
ses 19-21) and put it into practice (verses 22-27). Further on he will emphasize
this connection between faith and works (cf. 2:14-26).

19-20. These counsels occur frequently in the wisdom books of the Old Testa-
ment (cf., e.g., Proverbs 1:5; 10:19; Sirach 5:12-13; 20:5-8). To put doctrine into
practice one needs to listen to it with a good disposition (verse 21). The letter will
have more to say about prudence in speech (cf. 1:26; and especially 3:1ff).

“The anger of man does not work the righteousness of God”: a Hebrew expres-
sion meaning that someone who gives way to anger is not acting justly in God’s
eyes.

Anger is one of the “capital” sins (one of the “seven deadly sins”), capital be-
cause they lead to many other sins; anger leads particularly to the evil desire for
vengeance. Speaking of the effects of anger St. Gregory the Great explains that
it clouds one’s judgment when making decisions, makes it difficult to get on with
others, causes discord and makes it difficult to see where the truth lies. More-
over, “it deprives one of righteousness, as it is written, ‘The anger of man does
not work the righteousness of God’ (James 1:20) because when one’s mind is
not at peace, one’s critical faculty is impaired and one judges to be right what-
ever one’s anger suggests” (”Moralia”, 5, 45). This sin is avoided by the practice
of the virtue of patience, of which St. James spoke a few verses earlier (cf. 1:2-4;
also 5:7-11).

21. “First he calls”, St. Bede comments, “for the cleansing of mind and body from
vice, so that those who receive the word of salvation can live in a worthy manner.
A person who does not first turn his back on evil cannot do good” (”Super Iac. Ex-
positio, ad loc”.).

To listen docilely to the word of God one needs to try to keep evil inclinations at
bay. Otherwise, pride—deceiving itself with all sorts of false reasons — rebels a-
gainst the word of God (which it sees as a continuous reproach for a habit of sin
it is unwilling to give up).

22-25. Sacred Scripture frequently exhorts us to put the word of God into prac-
tice: “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like
a man who built his house upon the sand” (Matthew 7:26; cf., e.g., Ezekiel 33:
10-11; Matthew 12:50; Romans 2:13; James 2:14-26).

The comparison of the man looking into the mirror is a very good one: the word of
God is frustrated unless it leads to examination of conscience and a firm resolu-
tion to mend one’s ways. Those who are doers of the word will be “blessed”; our
Lord says the same thing when He describes as blessed those who “hear the
word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28).

St. James’ counsels in this passage are a clear call for the consistency a Chris-
tian must seek at all times. Bl. John Paul II comments: “These are very serious,
very severe statements; a Christian should always be genuine, should never be
content with words alone. The mission he has received is a delicate one: he
should be leaven in society, light of the world, salt of the earth. As time goes by,
the Christian becomes more and more aware of his commitment, and the difficul-
ties it entails: he discovers he has to swim against the tide, he has to bear wit-
ness to truths which are absolute, yet invisible; he has to lose his earthly life in
order to gain eternity; he needs to feel responsible not just for himself but also
for his neighbor — for whom he should light the way, and edify and save. How-
ever, he realizes that he is not alone in all this [...]. The Christian knows that not
only did Jesus Christ, the Word of God, become man to reveal saving truth and
redeem mankind; He has also chosen to stay with us on earth, mysteriously re-
newing the sacrifice of the Cross by means of the Eucharist and becoming spiri-
tual food for the soul and accompanying it on its journey through life” (”Homily”,
1 September 1979).

25. “The perfect law, the law of freedom”: that is, the good news brought by
Christ, who has made us children of God (cf. John 1:12; 1 John 3:1ff) and set us
free from every kind of servitude, both that of the Old Law (cf., e.g., Galatians 2:4
and 4:21ff...) and subjection to the devil, to sin and to death.

It can also be regarded as a law of freedom because when man obeys it he is ex-
pressing his freedom to the fullest degree (cf. John 8:31ff), and he is happy in this
life and will be blessed in the next (cf., e.g., Psalm 1:1ff; 119:1ff). Thus, when a
person sins and turns his back on this law, he becomes not a free man but a
slave: “Such a person may show that he has acted according to his preferences,”
St. Escriva explains, “but he does not speak with the voice of true freedom, be-
cause he has become a slave of his decision and he has decided for the worst,
for the absence of God, where there is no freedom to be found.

“I tell you once again: I accept no slavery other than that of God’s love. This is be-
cause, as I have told you on other occasions, religion is the greatest rebellion of
men, who refuse to live like animals, who are dissatisfied and restless until they
know their Creator and are on intimate terms with Him. I want you to be rebels,
free and unfettered, because I want you—it is Christ who wants us!—to be children
of God. Slavery or divine sonship, this is the dilemma we face. Children of God or
slaves to pride, to sensuality, to the fretful selfishness which seems to afflict so
many souls” (”Friends of God”, 37-38).

26-27. St. James now gives some examples of what doing “the word of truth”
(verse 18), that is, the Gospel, means—controlling one’s tongue, being charitable
and not letting oneself be stained by the world.

The Old Testament often refers to widows and orphans as deserving of special at-
tention (cf. Psalm 68:5; 146:9; Deuteronomy 27:19), and the first Christians made
arrangements for the care of widows in the early communities (cf. Acts 6:1ff; 9:39;
1 Timothy 5:3ff). Concern for widows and orphans is included in the works of mer-
cy (”by which the temporal or spiritual wants of our neighbor are relieved” (”St.
Pius X Catechism”, 943), which our Lord will take into account at the Last Judg-
ment (cf. Matthew 25:31-46).

“World” here has the pejorative meaning of “enemy of God and of Christians” (cf.
also 4:4; and other passages of Scripture, e.g., John 1:10; 7:7; 16:8-11; Ephe-
sians 2:2; 2 Peter 2:20); one needs to be constantly on the alert to avoid conta-
mination...

“God and the Father”: this is the literal meaning of the Greek. In New Testament
Greek the term “God” when preceded by the definite article normally means not
the divine nature but the person of the Father. In this case by adding the words
“and the Father” St. James does not mean another, distinct Divine Person: he is
simply making explicit the meaning of the term “the God”. It could also be trans-
lated by the paraphrase “before Him who is God and Father”.

*********************************************************************************************
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 8:22-26

The Curing of a Blind Man at Bethsaida

[22] And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to Him (Jesus) a
blind man, and begged Him to touch him. [23] And He took the blind man by
the hand, and led him out of the village. And when He had spit on his eyes and
laid His hands upon him, He asked, “Do you see anything?” [24] And he looked
up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.” [25] Then again He
laid His hands upon his eyes; and He looked intently and was restored, and saw
everything clearly. [26] And He sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even
enter the village.”

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

22-25. Normally the cures which Jesus worked were instantaneous; not so in
this case. Why? Because the blind man’s faith was very weak, it would seem,
to begin with. Before curing the eyes of his body, Jesus wanted the man’s faith
to grow; the more it grew and the more trusting the man became, the more sight
Jesus gave him. In this way Jesus acted in keeping with His usual pattern: not
working miracles unless there was a right predisposition, yet encouraging a good
disposition in the person and giving more grace as he responds to the grace al-
ready given.

God’s grace is essential even for desiring holy things: “Give us light, Lord. Be-
hold, we need it more than the man who was blind from his birth, for he wished
to see the light and could not, whereas nowadays, Lord, no one wishes to see
it. Oh, what a hopeless ill is this! Here, my God, must be manifested by Thy
power and Thy mercy” (St. Teresa, “Exclamations of the Soul to God”, 8).

*********************************************************************************************
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.

Readings at Mass

First reading

James 1:19-27 ©

Remember this, my dear brothers: be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to rouse your temper; God’s righteousness is never served by man’s anger; so do away with all the impurities and bad habits that are still left in you – accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. But you must do what the word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves. To listen to the word and not obey is like looking at your own features in a mirror and then, after a quick look, going off and immediately forgetting what you looked like. But the man who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and makes that his habit – not listening and then forgetting, but actively putting it into practice – will be happy in all that he does.

Nobody must imagine that he is religious while he still goes on deceiving himself and not keeping control over his tongue; anyone who does this has the wrong idea of religion. Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world.

Psalm

Psalm 14:2-5 ©

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault;

he who acts with justice

and speaks the truth from his heart;

he who does not slander with his tongue.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who does no wrong to his brother,

who casts no slur on his neighbour,

who holds the godless in disdain,

but honours those who fear the Lord.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who keeps his pledge, come what may;

who takes no interest on a loan

and accepts no bribes against the innocent.

Such a man will stand firm for ever.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps118:105

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is a lamp for my steps

and a light for my path.

Alleluia!

Or	cf.Ep1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

enlighten the eyes of our mind,

so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 8:22-26 ©

Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then putting spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked, ‘Can you see anything?’ The man, who was beginning to see, replied, ‘I can see people; they look like trees to me, but they are walking about.’ Then he laid his hands on the man’s eyes again and he saw clearly; he was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly. And Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’

Perpetual Novena for the Nation (Ecumenical)

Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

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 Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+

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.

February Devotion: The Holy Family

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of February has been primarily asociated with the Holy Family, probably due to the feast of Our Lord's presentation at the temple, celebrated on February 2. At the very outset of Christ's work on earth, God showed the world a family in which, as Pope Leo XIII teaches, "all men might behold a perfect model of domestic life, and of all virtue and holiness." The harmony, unity, and holiness which characterized this holy Family make it the model for all Christian families.

INVOCATION
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph most kind, Bless us now and in death's agony.

FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Grant unto us, Lord Jesus, ever to follow the example of Thy holy Family, that in the hour of our death Thy glorious Virgin Mother together with blessed Joseph may come to meet us and we may be worthily received by Thee into everlasting dwellings: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Roman Missal

CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY FAMILY
O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.

Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, three times.

IN HONOR OF THE HOLY FAMILY
O God, heavenly Father, it was part of Thine eternal decree that Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, should form a holy family with Mary, His blessed mother, and His foster father, Saint Joseph. In Nazareth home life was sanctified, and a perfect example was given to every Christian family. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may fully comprehend and faithfully imitate the virtues of the Holy Family so that we may be united with them one day in their heavenly glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. 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

Holy Family Chaplet

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with me in my last hour.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul
in peace with you.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Amen.

Say 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's, and 3 Glory be's.

The Holy Family Icon by Nicholas Markell

PRAYER TO
THE HOLY FAMILY
=====================================================================================

GOD our Heavenly Father, You call all peoples to be united as one family in worshipping You as the one and true God. You willed that Your Son become man, giving Him a virgin mother and a foster father to form the Holy Family of Nazareth.

WE pray: may the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, image and model of every human family unit walk in the spirit of Nazareth and grow in the understanding of its particular mission in society and the Church. May our families be living cells of love, faithfulness and unity, thus reflecting God's covenant with humanity and Christ's redeeming love for His Church.

JESUS, Mary and Joseph protect our families from all evil; keep us, who are away from home, one in love with our dear ones.

The Holy Family

"The Holy Family with the infant St. John the Baptist ( the Doni tondo )" by Michelangelo c.1506, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Parent's Prayer

Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, and Son of Mary, I thank you for the gift of life you have entrusted to my care. Help me be a parent both tender and wise, both loving and forgiving.

Mary, Holy Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and our Motherly Queen of Heaven, nourish our family with your heavenly grace. Help us to remain faithful to The Most Holy Trinity, in all our sorrows and joys.

Joseph, Earthly father to our Lord God, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.

Holy Family of Nazareth, help our family to walk in your footsteps. May we be peace-loving and peace-giving.
Amen.

Imitating the Holy Family: Four Traits that Make It Possible
[Catholic Caucus] On the Holy Family [Angelus]
Biblical Teachings on Marriage and Family. A Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Recovering God’s Plan for Marriage and Family: A Sermon on the Feast of the Holy Family

“Why were you looking for me?" (On the Feast of The Holy Family)
U.S. Postal Service Issues Holy Family Forever Stamp
On Prayer in the Life of the Holy Family
The Holy Family - held together by Love through all their problems [Ecumenical]
Feast of the Holy Family: The Christian Family is a Domestic Church
Chesterton on "The Human Family and the Holy Family"
Joseph, Mary and Jesus: A Model Family
ADVICE TO PARENTS by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
The Holy Family
St. Joseph as Head of the Holy Family (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

Feast of the Holy Family
Feast of the Holy Family (Dom Guéranger OSB)
The Feast of the Holy Family
The Holy Family vs. The Holy Innocents: A Christmas season reflection [Catholic Caucus]
Vatican creche to place Holy Family in Joseph's carpentry workshop
The Redemption and Protection of the Family [Feast of the Holy Family]
Study Backs Tradition of Loreto House - Stones in Altar Match Those in Nazareth, It Says
Unraveling Jesus' mystery years in Egypt
Gaudi’s Church of the Holy Family to be ready for worship in 2008
Imitating the Holy Family; Four Traits that Make It Possible
Lots of Graphics: Post your favorite image of the St. Mary and Child, the Holy Family...

February 2014 Year A
Pope's Intentions:
Universal: That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people.

For Evangelization: That priests, religious, and lay people may work together with generosity for evangelization.

Daily Gospel Commentary

Wednesday of the Sixth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Julian of Norwich (1342-after 1416), recluse
Revelations of divine love, ch. 52 (trans. copyright Calssics of Western Spirituality)

"Do you see anything?"

I saw that God rejoices that he is our Father, God rejoices that he is our Mother, and God rejoices he is our true spouse, and that our soul is his beloved. And Christ rejoices that he is our brother, and Jesus that he is our saviour...

During our lifetime here we have in us a marvellous mixture of both well-being and woe. We have in us our risen Jesus Christ, and we have in us the wretchedness and harm of Adam's falling... We are so afflicted in our feelings by Adam's falling in various ways, by sin and by different pains, and in this we are made dark and so blind that we can scarcely accept any comfort. But in our intention we wait for God and trust faithfully to have mercy and grace; and this is his own working in us. And in his goodness he opens the eye of our understanding, by which we have sight, sometimes more, sometimes less, according to the ability God gives us to receive. And now we are raised to the one, and now we are permitted to fall to the other.

This mixture is so marvellous in us that we scarcely know, about ourselves or about our fellow-Christians, what condition we are in, these conflicting feelings are so extraordinary. But what matters is that we say a holy “yes” to God which we make when we feel him, truly willing with all our heart to be with him, and with all our soul and all our might. And then we hate and despise our evil inclinations... And so we remain in this mixture all the days of our life.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Weekday

First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:

James 1:19-27
Psalm 15:2-5
Mark 8:22-26

With those who are perfect and walk with simplicity, there is nothing small and contemptible, if it be a thing that pleases God; for the pleasure of God is the object at which alone they aim, and which is the reason, the measure, and the reward of all their occupations, actions, and plans; and so, in whatever they find this, it is for them a great and important thing.

-- St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

Alleluia, alleluia!

Just A Minute (Listen)
Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click.

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.

Information: St. Conrad of Piacenza

Feast Day: February 19

Born: 1290, Piacenza, Province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Died: February 19, 1351, Noto, Province of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy

Patron of: cure of hernias