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When Israel was a child

[1] When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.

[3] Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them up in my arms;
but they did not know that I healed them.
[4] I led them with cords of compassion,
with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one
who eases the yoke on their jaws,
and I bent down to them and fed them.

[8ab] How can I give you up, O Ephraim!
How can I hand you over, O Israel!
[8e] My heart recoils within me,
my compassion grows warm and tender.

[9] I will not execute my fierce anger,
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come to destroy.

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

11:1-11. The second part of the hook of Hosea ends with this very touching pas-
sage summing up, once again, the relationship between God and his people: the
Lord is faithful, whereas Israel is not; but the Lord, true to his nature (v. 9), pro-
claims that he will bless Israel once more. The Christian reader will immediately
notice in v. 1 a line that is applied to Jesus in the New Testament (Mt 2: 15).

What is new about this poem is the fact that whereas previously God’s faithful-
ness was described as being like that of a husband, here God is depicted as a
father: “God’s love for Israel is compared to a father’s love for his son (Hos 11:11).
His love for his people is stronger than a mother’s for her children. God loves his
people more than a bridegroom his beloved (Is 62:4-5); his love will he victorious
over even the worst infidelities and will extend to his most precious gift: ‘God so
loved the world that he gave his only Son’ (Jn 3:16)” (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 219).

With the exception of v. 10, the oracle is placed on the lips of the Lord, to under-
score God’s relationship with his people. From the very first (v. 1), the Lord loved
Israel as his own son, and from the first Israel rebelled (v. 2); the Lord reared him
(v. 3), showing every sign of attention (v. 4: literally “cords of man” as distinct
from the reins used for animals), but Israel is bent on forsaking his Lord (v. 7).
Then, in a burst of anger, the Lord decides to chastise his people; they shall be-
come slaves once more (vv. 5-6). But this anger does not last long, because,
“even when the Lord is exasperated by the infidelity of his people and thinks of
finishing with it, it is still his tenderness and generous love for those who are his
own which overcomes his anger” (Bl. John Paul II, Dives in misericordia, 4).

This oracle shows the full extent of God’s paternal affection. In the opening chap-
ters God’s love for Israel was compared with the distraught, impassioned love of
a husband for his unfaithful wife; here it is depicted as a father’s love for his son:
he cannot not love him, even if the son proves ungrateful. The very thought of a-
bandoning Israel breaks God’s heart (cf. v. 8). What the prophet is doing here is
telling us something about God’s “psychology”: God’s love for his people, and
ultimately for every human being, exceeds human loves — parental and spousal
(these, in fact, are only partial reflections of divine love): “God is pure spirit in
which there is no place for the difference between the sexes. But the respective
‘perfections’ of a man and woman reflect something of the infinite perfection of
God: those of a mother and those of a father and husband” (Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 370).

This oracle of salvation is rounded off by the final verses. God forgives Israel; it
is only right that he should: he is God (v. 9). The wonderful thing about this pas-
sage is that God’s forgiveness comes before Israel’s conversion: his initial love,
and the later reconciliation, are initiatives of God. Conversion (vv. 11-12) stems
from God’s prior love.

St Matthew’s Gospel (2:15) sees the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 being fulfilled in
the flight into Egypt and subsequent return: according to the evangelist, Jesus,
in his life, embodies the history of his people, and in him God fulfils his ancient
promises to renew the people of Israel.

*********************************************************************************************
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: Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19

St Paul’s Mission

[8] To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to
preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to make all men
see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;
that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known
to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. [11] This was according
to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, [12] in
whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him.

The Apostle’s Prayer

[14] For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every
family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] what according to the riches of his
glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the
inner man, [17] and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have power to comprehend with all
the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know
the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you maybe filled with all the
fullness of God.

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

1-21. Christ’s saving work on behalf of the Gentiles, calling them to be with the
Jews, living stones in the edifice of the Church, leads the Apostle once again to
overflow in prayer (vv. 14-21). But first he considers his own position and what
Christ has done in him by making him a minister or servant of the Mystery of
Christ (vv. 2-13). He witnesses to the revelation he himself has received, which
made this Mystery known to him (vv. 2-5); and he goes on to give a summary
of the Mystery, emphasizing the call of the Gentiles to the Church through the
preaching of the Gospel (v. 6); he then explains that his mission is precisely to
preach the Mystery of Christ to the Gentiles (vv. 7-13).

8. Humble abandonment to the action of God in his soul leads St Paul to regard
himself as the very lowest of Christians (cf. 1 Cor 15:9); his only credit is the
grace God has given him. This grace includes the revelation of “the Mystery”
and also the mission to proclaim it (cf. note on Phil 1:7).

He sees the gifts which Christ extends to all, the Gentiles included, as an inex-
haustible source of riches (cf. 1:18; 2:7; 3:16). In this present life no one can ful-
ly grasp the marvels God has done (cf. Job 5:9) or plumb the depths of God’s
mercy as manifested in Jesus Christ (cf. note on Col 2:2-3).

Every generation can and should discover in the mystery of Christ “full aware-
ness of (man’s) dignity, of the heights to which he is raised, of the surpassing
worth of his own humanity, and of the meaning of his existence” (Bl. John Paul
II, “Redemptor Hominis”, 11). The Church’s mission is precisely this: “the revea-
ling of Christ to the world, helping each person to find himself in Christ, and hel-
ping the contemporary generations of our brothers and sisters the peoples, na-
tions, states, mankind, developing countries and countries of opulence — in short,
helping everyone to get to know ‘the unsearchable riches of Christ’, since these
riches are for every individual and are everybody’s property” (”ibid.”).

9. The Apostle establishes a close parallel between God’s plan of Redemption
and the very act of creation (cf. 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 1:4). This saving design, hidden
until now, is what has been revealed by Christ; it enables us to grasp God’s infi-
nite love for men, for it shows that creation itself is part of God’s plan of salvation.
For if “all things were created” (Col 1:16) in and for and with Christ, the “Myste-
ry” of which he is speaking was already latent in the very creation of the world.
Hence God’s eternal plan, which envisages man’s salvation, affects the very act
of creation and includes the incarnation of the Son of God.

Bl. John Paul II said this in “Redemptor Hominis”, 8: “The Redeemer of the world!
In him has been revealed in a new and more wonderful way the fundamental truth
concerning creation to which the Book of Genesis gives witness when it repeats
several times, ‘God saw that it was good’ (cf. Gen 1 “passim”). The good has its
source in Wisdom and Love. In Jesus Christ the visible world which God created
for man (cf. Gen 1:26-30) — the world which, when sin entered, ‘was subjected
to futility’ (Rom 8:19-22) — recovers again its original link with the divine source
of Wisdom and Love.”

10-12. This text shows that the apostolic ministry of preaching has a universal,
cosmic, impact. Thanks to the Church’s preaching of “the mystery”, it is made
known not only to mankind but also to the principalities and powers of the heav-
ens. This preaching reveals the hidden, eternal plans of salvation whereby Jews
and Gentiles, by being converted to Christ, come to have an equal place in the
Church, and this fact in turn reveals the “mystery” of salvation even to the angels
(cf. 1 Pet 1 :12), who come to realize the harmony that lies in God’s various in-
terventions in the course of history, from the Creation to the Redemption, inclu-
ding the history of the people of Israel.

The “principalities” and “powers” refer to the angelic powers which, according to
Jewish belief, were the promulgators and guardians of the Law and whose mis-
sion included the government of men. But these “powers” did not know what
God’s plans were until they were carried out by Christ and his Church. In this
passage St Paul does not say anything about whether these powers are good or
evil (cf. note on 1:21). What he does re-assert, very clearly, is Christ’s suprema-
cy over all these powers, and the Church’s role in bringing all creation to recog-
nize that Christ is Lord of all. Therefore, the powers in the heavenly places no
longer have any mastery over the Christian: through faith in Christ he acquires
the freedom of a son of God and is able to address God confidently.

St Jerome, St Thomas and others interpret “the principalities and powers” as be-
ing good angels, like the “thrones” and “dominions” (cf. Col 1:16) and “virtues”
(”powers”: cf. Eph 1:21). If we add to these titles appearing in St Paul’s letters
those to be found in other books of Sacred Scripture — cherubim, seraphim, arch-
angels and angels—we get the nine angelic hierarchies known to tradition. The
names simply reflect the qualities with which angels are endowed: they are spiri-
tual beings, personal and free; they are incorporeal and because they are pure
spirits, they have intellect, will and power far in excess of man’s.

14. St Paul now continues the prayer which he interrupted in v. 1, to entreat the
Father to let Christians understand as deeply as possible the divine plan for sal-
vation implemented in Christ (vv. 16-l9).

“I bow my knees”: the Jews generally prayed standing up. Only at moments of
special solemnity did they kneel or prostrate themselves in adoration. The Apos-
tle, by introducing this almost liturgical reference, is expressing the intensity of
his prayer, and the humility which inspires it.

Bodily gestures—genuflections, bowing of the head, beating the breast, et cetera
—which accompany prayer should be sincere expressions of devotion. They allow
the entire person, body and soul, to express his love for God. “Those who love
acquire a refinement, a sensitivity of soul, that makes them notice details which
are sometimes very small but which are important because they express the love
of a passionate heart” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 92).

15. To “take a name” from something means to derive one’s being or existence
from it, and the word translated here as “family” (”patria” in Greek) means a grou-
ping of individuals who are descended from a common father; it could be trans-
lated as “paternity”, as the New Vulgate does.

The Apostle is saying that every grouping which is regarded as a family, whether
it be on earth (like the Church or the family), or in heaven (like the Church trium-
phant and the choirs of angels), takes its name and origin from God, the only Fa-
ther in the full meaning of the word. Thus, the word “Father” can be correctly
used to designate not only physical but also spiritual fatherhood.

The parenthood of married people is an outstanding example of the love of God
the Creator. They are cooperators in that love, and, in a certain sense, its inter-
preters (cf. Vatican II, “Gaudium Et Spes”, 50). Hence, “when they become pa-
rents, spouses receive from God the gift of a new responsibility. Their parental
love is called to become for the children the visible sign of the very love of God,
‘from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named”’ (Bl. John Paul II,
“Familiaris Consortio”, 14).

16-17. The strengthening of the inner man through the Spirit means growth in
faith, charity and hope, which is what the Apostle prays for here (cf. vv. 16-19).

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”
(Heb 11:1); it is, then, a virtue whereby the Christian in this life anticipates, im-
perfectly, the object of his hope — that perfect union with God which will take
place in heaven.

Love follows from knowledge: one cannot love someone one does not know.
And so, when goodness is known, it comes to be loved. Thus, the knowledge of
God, which faith provides, is followed by the love of God, which stems from chari-
ty. Charity, for its part, is the basis of the Christian’s spiritual life. “The spiritual
edifice cannot stay standing—the same is true of a tree without roots, or a house
without a foundation, which can easily be toppled—unless it be rooted and groun-
ded in love” (St Thomas Aquinas, “Commentary on Eph, ad loc.”).

18. St Paul asks God to give Christians understanding of the “mystery of Christ”,
which essentially is the outcome of his love. In referring to the vast dimensions
of this mystery he uses an enigmatic phrase — “the breadth and length and
height and depth”. These and similar terms were used by Stoic philosophy to
designate the cosmos as a whole. Here they express the immense scale of the
“mystery” which embraces the entire plan of salvation, the actions of Christ and
the activity of the Church. St Augustine interpreted these words as referring to
the cross, the instrument of salvation which Christ used to show the full extent
of his love (cf. “De Doctrina Christiana”, 2, 41).

St Paul may indeed be trying to sum up all the richness of the “mystery” of
Christ in a graphic way — in terms of a cross whose extremities reach out in all
four directions seeking to embrace the whole world. The blood which our Lord
shed on the cross brought about the Redemption, the forgiveness of sins (cf.
Eph 1:7). It did away with hostility, reconciling all men and assembling them into
one body (cf. Eph 2:15-16), the Church. Therefore the cross is an inexhaustible
source of grace, the mark of the true Christian, the instrument of salvation for all.
When, through the action of Christians, the cross of Christ is made present at all
the crossroads of the world, then is that “mystery” implemented whose purpose
it is to “unite all things in Christ” (cf. Eph 1:10).

19. Christ’s love for us is infinite; it is beyond our grasp, because it is of divine
dimensions (cf. Jn 15:9 and note on Jn 15:9-11).

Knowledge of the history of salvation and of the “mystery” of Christ is ultimately
what gives us a notion of the scale of God’s love. Therefore, it is the basis of the
Christian life: “We know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love,
and he who abides in love abides in God” (1 Jn 4:16). Eternal life will consist in
enjoying the love of God without any type of distraction. During his life on earth,
the believer receives a foretaste of this joy to the degree that he abides in the
love of Christ (cf. Jn 15:9), that is, is rooted and grounded in love (v. 17). How-
ever, this knowledge of Christ is always very imperfect compared with that in
heaven.

It is worth pointing out that the “knowledge” (”gnosis”) which St Paul is speaking
about is not simply intellectual cognition but rather a kind of knowledge which
permeates one’s whole life. It does not consist so much in knowing that God is
love as in realizing that we are personally the object, the focus, of God’s love: he
loves us one by one, as good parents love their children.

*********************************************************************************************
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: John 19:31-37

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

[31] Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from re-
maining on the cross of the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews
asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
[32] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who
had been crucified with him; [33] but when they came to Jesus and saw that he
was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers pierced
his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. [35] He who
saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the
truth—that you also may believe. [36] For these things took place that the scrip-
ture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” [37] And again another
scripture says, “They shall look on him whom they have pierced.”

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

31-33. Jesus dies on the Preparation day of the Passover—the Parasceve—that
is, the eve, when the paschal lambs were officially sacrificed in the Temple. By
stressing this, the evangelist implies that Christ’s sacrifice took the place of the
sacrifices of the Old Law and inaugurated the New Alliance in his blood (cf. Heb
9:12).

The Law of Moses required that the bodies should be taken down before nightfall
(Deut 21:22-23); this is why Pilate is asked to have their legs broken, to bring on
death and allow them to be buried before it gets dark, particularly since the next
day is the feast of the Passover.

On the date of Jesus’ death see “The Dates of the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ”
in the “The Navarre Bible: St. Mark”, pp. 48ff.

34. The outflow of blood and water has a natural explanation. Probably the water
was an accumulation of liquid in the lungs due to Jesus’ intense sufferings.

As on other occasions, the historical events narrated in the fourth Gospel are la-
den with meaning. St. Augustine and Christian tradition see the sacraments and
the Church itself flowing from Jesus’ open side: “Here was opened wide the door
of life, from which the sacraments of the Church have flowed out, without which
there is no entering in unto life which is true life. [...] Here the second Adam with
bowed head slept upon the cross, that thence a wife might be formed of him,
flowing from his side while he slept. O death, by which the dead come back to
life! is there anything purer than this blood, any wound more healing!” (St. Augus-
tine, “In Ioann. Evang., 120, 2).

The Second Vatican Council, for its part, teaches: “The Church—that is, the king-
dom of Christ—already present in mystery, grows visibly through the power of God
in the world. The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and
water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus” (Vatican II, “Lumen
Gentium”, 3).

“Jesus on the cross, with his heart overflowing with love for men, is such an elo-
quent commentary on the value of people and things that words only get in the
way. People, their happiness and their life, are so important that the very Son of
God gave himself to redeem and cleanse and raise them up” (St. J. Escrivá,
“Christ Is Passing By”, 165).

35. St John’s Gospel presents itself as a truthful witness of the events of our
Lord’s life and of their spiritual and doctrinal significance. From the words of John
the Baptist at the outset of Jesus’ public ministry (1:19) to the final paragraph of
the Gospel (21:24-25), everything forms part of a testimony to the sublime phe-
nomenon of the Word of Life made Man. Here the evangelist explicitly states that
he was an eyewitness (cf. also Jn 20:30-31; 1 Jn 1:1-3).

36. This question refers to the precept of the Law that no bone of the paschal
lamb should be broken (cf. Ex 12:46): again St John’s Gospel is telling us that
Jesus is the true paschal Lamb who takes away the sins of the world (cf. Jn
1:29).

37. The account of the Passion concludes with quotation from Zechariah (12:10)
foretelling the salvation resulting from the mysterious suffering and death of a
redeemer. The evangelist thereby evokes the salvation wrought by Jesus Christ
who, nailed to the Cross, has fulfilled God’s promise of redemption (cf. Jn 12:32).
Everyone who looks upon him with faith receives the effects of his Passion. Thus
the good thief, looking at Christ on the cross, recognized his kingship, placed
his truth in him and received the promise of heaven (cf. Lk 23:42-43).

In the liturgy of Good Friday the Church invites us to contemplate and adore the
cross: “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which was nailed the salvation of the
world”, and from the earliest times of the Church the Crucifix has been the sign
reminding Christians of the supreme point of Christ’s love, when he died on the
Cross and freed us from eternal death.

“Your Crucifix. — As a Christian, you should always carry your Crucifix with you.
And place it on your desk. And kiss it before going to bed and when you wake
up: and when your poor body rebels against your soul, kiss it again” (St. J. Es-
criva, “The Way”, 302).

*********************************************************************************************
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

Hosea 11:1,3-4,8-9 ©

Listen to the word of the Lord:

When Israel was a child I loved him,

and I called my son out of Egypt.

I myself taught Ephraim to walk,

I took them in my arms;

yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them.

I led them with reins of kindness,

with leading-strings of love.

I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek;

stooping down to him I gave him his food.

Ephraim, how could I part with you?

Israel, how could I give you up?

How could I treat you like Admah,

or deal with you like Zeboiim?

My heart recoils from it,

my whole being trembles at the thought.

I will not give rein to my fierce anger,

I will not destroy Ephraim again,

for I am God, not man:

I am the Holy One in your midst

and have no wish to destroy.

Canticle

Isaiah 12 ©

The rejoicing of a redeemed people

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Truly, God is my salvation,

I trust, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength, my song,

he became my saviour.

With joy you will draw water

from the wells of salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name!

Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples!

Declare the greatness of his name.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Sing a psalm to the Lord

for he has done glorious deeds;

make them known to all the earth!

People of Zion, sing and shout for joy,

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Second reading

Ephesians 3:8-12,14-19 ©

I, Paul, who am less than the least of all the saints have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed. Through all the ages, this has been kept hidden in God, the creator of everything. Why? So that the Sovereignties and Powers should learn only now, through the Church, how comprehensive God’s wisdom really is, exactly according to the plan which he had had from all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is why we are bold enough to approach God in complete confidence, through our faith in him; This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name:

Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.

Gospel Acclamation

1Jn4:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

This is the love I mean:

God’s love for us when he sent his Son

to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.

Alleluia!

Or	Mt11:29

Alleluia, alleluia!

Shoulder my yoke and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart.

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 19:31-37 ©

It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath – since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it – trustworthy evidence, and he knows he speaks the truth – and he gives it so that you may believe as well. Because all this happened to fulfil the words of scripture:

Not one bone of his will be broken;

and again, in another place scripture says:

They will look on the one whom they have pierced.

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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

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The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

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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: II 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 Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]

~ 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.

June Devotion: The Sacred Heart

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion." These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

The devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make reparation for our ingratitude to God.

INVOCATION

O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was the characteristic note of the piety of Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302), Benedictine nun and renowned mystic. She was, in fact, the first great exponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart. In our efforts to honor the Heart of Jesus we have this prayer as a model for our own:
Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, 0 my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude

FOR THE CHURCH

O most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.

A PRAYER OF TRUST

O God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
Roman Missal

ACT OF LOVE

Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine;
pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrong-doing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.
Cardinal Merry del Val

MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART
Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought its mercy was ever abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present ourselves before Thee, crushed beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our requests. 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

Only for Love: The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood [Catholic Caucus]

Catholic Word of the Day: LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART, 10-19-09
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart Today
The Biblical Foundation of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Heart to Heart (Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion) [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]
(June) The Month of the Sacred Heart {Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]
The Heart of the World (On the Sacred Heart of Jesus) (Catholic Caucus)
The Sacred Heart Is The Holy Eucharist(Catholic Caucus)
The Origin of the Sacred Heart Badge

Importance of Devotion to the Sacred Heart
An Awesome Homily on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Father Edmond Kline
Catholic Prayer and Devotion: June the Month of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Devotions: Sacred Heart of Jesus
Pope Urges Jesuits to Spread Sacred Heart Devotion
Homilies preached by Father Altier on the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Meditation and Devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Daily Recomendation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus powerful prayer!
The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist
The Love of the Sacred Heart

On the Sacred Heart - "We Adore God's Love of Humanity"
HAURIETIS AQUAS (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart) - Encyclical by Pope Pius XII
Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sacred Heart a Feast of God's Love, Says John Paul II
The Sacred Heart of Jesus: Symbol of Combativity and the Restoration of Christendom
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus-The Early Church, Middle Ages up to St. Margaret Mary
See this Heart
‘God Will Act and Will Reign’
About Devotion To The Sacred Heart:The Story Of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Rediscover Feast of Sacred Heart, John Paul II Tells Youth

"Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth."

- Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary

Our Lord also made 12 promises to St. Margaret Mary for those that are devoted to His Sacred Heart.

I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
I will give peace in their families.
I will console them in all their troubles.
They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
Tepid souls shall become fervent.
Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.
I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at the last hour.

June 2015

Pope's Intentions

Universal: Immigrants and refugees -- That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come.

Evangelization: Vocations -- That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life.

Daily Gospel Commentary

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Solemnity - Year B

Commentary of the day
Saint Bonaventure (1221-1274), Franciscan, Doctor of the Church
The Tree of Life, 29-30, 47, (Breviary)

This is the heart which so loved the world

      Take thought now, redeemed man, and consider how great and worthy is he who hangs on the cross for you… Arise, then, beloved of Christ! Imitate the dove ‘that nests in a hole in the cliff’ (Jr 48:28), keeping watch at the entrance ‘like the sparrow that finds a home’(Ps 84:4). There like the turtledove hide your little ones, the fruit of your chaste love. Press your lips to the fountain, ‘draw water from the wells of your Saviour; for this is the spring flowing out of the middle of paradise, dividing into four rivers’, inundating devout hearts, watering the whole earth and making it fertile.

      Run with eager desire to this source of life and light, all you who are vowed to God’s service. Come, whoever you may be, and cry out to him with all the strength of your heart. “O indescribable beauty of the most high God and purest radiance of eternal light! Life that gives all life, light that is the source of every other light, preserving in everlasting splendour the myriad flames that have shone before the throne of your divinity from the dawn of time!

     Eternal and inaccessible fountain, clear and sweet stream flowing from a hidden spring, unseen by mortal eye! None can fathom your depths nor survey your boundaries, none can measure your breadth, nothing can sully your purity. From you flows ‘the river which gladdens the city of God’(Ps 46:5) and makes us cry out with joy and thanksgiving in hymns of praise to you, for we know by our own experience that ‘with you is the source of life, and in your light we see light’ (Ps 36:10).

It was a divine decree that permitted one of the soldiers to open his sacred side with a lance. This was done so that the Church might be formed from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death on the cross, and so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘They shall look on him whom they pierced’. The blood and water which poured out at that moment were the price of our salvation. Flowing from the secret abyss of our Lord’s heart as from a fountain, this stream gave the sacraments of the Church the power to confer the life of grace, while for those already living in Christ it became a spring of living water welling up to life everlasting.

– Saint Bonaventure