Posted on 03/31/2020 9:30:48 PM PDT by Salvation
King Nebuchadnezzar said:
Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
that you will not serve my god,
or worship the golden statue that I set up?
Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made,
whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe,
and all the other musical instruments;
otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace;
and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar,
There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you
in this matter.
If our God, whom we serve,
can save us from the white-hot furnace
and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
But even if he will not, know, O king,
that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up.
King Nebuchadnezzars face became livid with utter rage
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
and had some of the strongest men in his army
bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
and cast them into the white-hot furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles,
Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?
Assuredly, O king, they answered.
But, he replied, I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,
Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.
R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
They answered him, We are descendants of Abraham
and have never been enslaved to anyone.
How can you say, You will become free?
Jesus answered them, Amen, amen, I say to you,
everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever,
but a son always remains.
So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham.
But you are trying to kill me,
because my word has no room among you.
I tell you what I have seen in the Fathers presence;
then do what you have heard from the Father.
They answered and said to him, Our father is Abraham.
Jesus said to them, If you were Abrahams children,
you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God;
Abraham did not do this.
You are doing the works of your father!
So they said to him, We were not born of fornication.
We have one Father, God.
Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me,
for I came from God and am here;
I did not come on my own, but he sent me.
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From: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 (New American Bible)
Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25, 28 (Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate)
Condemnation For Those Who Will Not Worship the Golden Image (Continuation)
[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.
[19] Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shacirach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. [20] And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
The King Acknowledges the God of the Jews
[28] Nebuchadnezzar said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set at nought the kings command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”
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Commentary:
3:1-4:3 This story has a very different tone to that of the previous ones, though the scene is still the court of Babylon. It has to do with a confrontation between Jews, worshippers of the one true God, and Gentiles, who worship idols; a similar situation arises in chapter 6. Following the Greek version (which is what the Catholic Church follows and which is used in modern Catholic translations [including the RSVCE]), the passage can be divided into three parts: the first tells about the young mens refusal to worship the statue set up by the king; for this they are condemned to the fiery furnace (3:1-23); the second part, which does not exist in the Aramajc text, records the prayers that the young men say in the furnace (3:1:68: notice the italic verse-numbering in chap. 3); the third tells about the kings discovering that they are unscathed; as a result, he praises the God of Israel (3:24-4:3). The RSVCE notes to the book of Daniel on page 886 of this volume provide a concordance of verse numbers for this passage.
The entire passage shows that God can save from death those who are ready to die rather than worship idols. Early on, the king asks: Who is the God that will deliver you out of my hands? (3:15); he provides the answer himself when he says at the end: Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants (3:28).
3:16-18. The young mens answer is a model of what peoples attitude to God should be when tragedy strikes and particularly when martyrdom beckons: they should hope that God will come to their rescue, but even if he takes no action, they should stay true to him. Because of their faith, they believe that they can escape death, but they say “if he does not deliver us out of your hand” so that the king will know that they may also die in the arms of the God they love (St Cyprian, “Epistolae”, 58, 5). They do not seek to compel God to save them; they want to show that they obey his will, not the kings. That is the attitude our Lord had when his passion loomed: Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine,
be done (Lk 22:42).
3:24-4:3. At 3:24 the RSV in roman type links up again with the Aramaic text. The Greek translations introduce these verses by saying that the king heard the young men singing in the fiery furnace: hence his amazement; the Aramaic text simply says that he was astonished that they were alive (v. 24). Their deliverance reaches them in their place of torment, with the arrival of the angel to protect them. Nebuchadnezzar, looking down, on the furnace, is able to see that they are safe. To someone like the king, a believer in all sorts of gods,the fourth person who looks like a son of the gods (v. 25) must have seemed a divine being; but the author makes it clear that he is simply an angel (v. 28). It is through the angel that God manifests his providence. The divine help given to the three young men, Novatian comments, will not allow even their clothes to be singed by flame. This is just and right, for God sustains everything in the world in being and has power over all, each and every thing; therefore, he can furnish any thing or person with his help, since he is Lord of all (”De Trinitate”, 8, 43).
The Fathers saw this son of the gods as meaning Christ. Daniel knew the Son of God and saw the works of God. He saw the Son of God who cooled the fires of the furnace with dew. But when he says “Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord”, he does not include the Son among them, because he knows that He is not a creature, but the One through whom all creatures were made, and who should be praised and exalted in the Father (St Athanasius, “Epistulae Ad Serapionem”, 2, 6).
There is not a little irony in what the text says about the kings reaction: he praises the very fact that the young men disobeyed his orders, risking their lives in the process, and he rewards them for doing so. The very people that the king ordered to worship the statue set up by himself, now benefit from a decree that commands that the God of the Jews is to be respected. The young mens heroism (their readiness to accept martyrdom) and their miraculous deliverance have completely changed the kings attitude.
From: John 8:31-42
Jesus Warns the Unbelieving Jews (Continuation)
[34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave of sin. [35] The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. [36] So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. [37] I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word finds no place in you. [38] I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
[39] They answered Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did, [40] but now you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. [41] You do what your father did.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.” [42] Jesus said of them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not on My own account, but He sent Me.”
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Commentary:
30-32. Of those Jews who do believe in Him Jesus asks much more than a shallow faith resulting from superficial enthusiasm: they should be true disciples; Jesus’ words should imbue their whole life. That kind of faith will bring them to know the truth and to become really free persons.
The knowledge of the truth which Christ is speaking about is not just intellectual knowledge; it is rather the maturing in the soul of the seed of divine Revelation. That Revelation’s climax is to be found in Christ’s teaching and it constitutes a genuine communication of supernatural life (cf. John 5:24): He who believes in Jesus, and through Him in the Father, receives the wonderful gift of eternal life. Knowing the truth is, in the last analysis, knowing Christ Himself, God become man to save us; it means realizing that the inaccessible God has become man, our Friend, our Life.
This is the only kind of knowledge which really sets us free, because it removes us from a position of alienation from God—the state of sin and therefore of slavery to the devil and to all attachments of our fallen nature—and puts us on the path of friendship with God, the path of grace, of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the liberation we obtain is not just light which shows us the way; it is grace, which empowers us to keep to that way despite our limitations. “Jesus Christ meets the man of every age, including our own, with the same words: `You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’ (John 8:32). These words contain both a fundamental requirement and a warning: the requirement of an honest relationship with regard to truth as a condition for authentic freedom, and the warning to avoid every kind of illusory freedom, every superficial unilateral freedom, every freedom that fails to enter into the whole truth about man and the world. Today also, even after two thousand years, we see Christ as the One who brings man freedom based on truth, frees man from what curtails, diminishes and as it were breaks off this freedom at its root, in man’s soul, his heart and his conscience. What a stupendous confirmation of this has been given and is still being given by those who, thanks to Christ and in Christ, have reached true freedom and have manifested it even in situations of external constraint!” (John Paul II, “Redemptor Hominis”, 12).
“Christ Himself links liberation particularly with knowledge of the truth; `You will know the truth and the truth will make you free’ (John 8:32). This sentence testifies above all to the intimate significance of the freedom for which Christ liberates us. Liberation means man’s inner transformation, which is a consequence of the knowledge of truth. The transformation is, therefore, a spiritual process, in which man matures `in true righteousness and holiness’ (Ephesians 4:24). [...] Truth is important not only for the growth of human knowledge, deepening man’s interior life in this way; truth has also a prophetic significance and power. It constitutes the content of testimony and it calls for testimony. We find this prophetic power of truth in the teaching of Christ. As a prophet, as a witness to truth, Christ repeatedly opposes non-truth; He does so with great forcefulness and decision and often He does not hesitate to condemn falsehood” (John Paul II, “General Audience”, 21 February 1979).
St. Thomas Aquinas explains the meaning of these words of our Lord in this way: “In this passage, being made free does not refer to being freed of every type of wrong [...]; it means being freed in the proper sense of the word, in three ways: first, the truth of His teaching will free us from the error of untruth [...]; second, the truth of grace will liberate us from the slavery of sin: `the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death’ (Romans 8:2); third, the truth of eternity in Christ Jesus will free us from decay (cf. Romans 8:21)” (”Commentary on St. John, in loc.”).
“The truth will set you free. How great a truth is this, which opens the way to freedom and gives it meaning throughout our lives. I will sum it up for you, with the joy and certainty which flow from knowing there is a close relationship between God and His creatures. It is the knowledge that we have come from the hands of God, that the Blessed Trinity looks upon us with predilection, that we are children of so wonderful a Father. I ask my Lord to help us decide to take this truth to heart, to dwell upon it day by day; only then will we be acting as free men. Do not forget: anyone who does not realize that he is a child of God is unaware of the deepest truth about himself. When he acts he lacks the dominion and self-mastery we find in those who love our Lord above all else” ([St] J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 26).
33-34. For centuries the people of Israel were ruled by other nations (Egypt, Babylon, Persia...), and now they were under the dominion of Rome. Therefore, the Jews thought that He was referring to political bondage or dominion—which in fact they had experienced but never accepted. In addition, since they belong to the people chosen by God, they regarded themselves as free of the moral errors and aberrations of Gentile nations.
They thought that true freedom was a matter of belonging to the chosen people. Our Lord replies that it is not enough to belong to the line of Abraham: true freedom consists in not being slaves of sin. Both Jews and Gentiles were subject to the slavery of original sin and personal sin (cf. Romans 5:12; 6:20 and 8:2). Only Christ, the Son of God, can liberate man from that sorry state (cf. Galatians 4:21-51); but these Jews do not understand the redemptive work which Christ is doing and which will reach its climax in His death and resurrection
“The Savior”, St. Augustine comments, “is here explaining that we will not be freed from overlords, but from the devil; not from captivity of the body but from malice of soul” (”Sermon”, 48).
35-36. The words slave and son are reminiscent of the two sons of Abraham: Ishmael, born of the slave woman Hagar, who would be given no part in the inheritance; and Isaac, son of the free woman Sarah, who would be the heir to God’s promises (cf. Genesis 21:10-12; Galatians 4:28-31). Physical descent from Abraham is not enough for inheriting God’s promises and attaining salvation: by faith and charity one must identify oneself with Jesus Christ, the true and only Son of the Father, the only one who can make us sons of God and thereby bring us true freedom (cf. Romans 8:21; Galatians 4:31). Christ gives “power to become children of God [to those] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Thus, a person who identifies himself with Christ becomes a son of God and obtains the freedom proper to sons.
“Freedom finds its true meaning when it is put to the service of the truth which redeems, when it is spent seeking God’s infinite Love which liberates us from all forms of slavery. Each passing day increases my yearning to proclaim to the four winds this inexhaustible treasure that belongs to Christianity: `the glorious freedom of the children of God!’ (Romans 8:21). [...] Where does our freedom come from? It comes from Christ our Lord. This is the freedom with which He has ransomed us (cf. Galatians 4:31). That is why He teaches, `if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed’ (John 8:36). We Christians do not have to ask anyone to tell us the true meaning of this gift, because the only freedom that can save man is Christian freedom” ([St] J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 27 and 35).
37-41. Our Lord replies to the Jew’s objection: yes indeed, they are Abraham’s children, but only in a natural sense, according to the flesh; this is something which does not count any more; what matters now is acceptance of Jesus as the One sent by the Father. Jesus’ questioners are spiritually very far away from being true children of Abraham: Abraham rejoiced to see the Messiah (cf. John 8:56); through his faith he was reckoned righteous (cf. Romans 4:1ff), and his faith led him to act consequentially (cf. James 2:21-24); this was how he attained the joy of eternal blessedness (cf. Matthew 8:11; Luke 16:24). Although those Jews “derived from him the generation of the flesh, they had become degenerate, by not imitating the faith of him whose sons they were” (St. Augustine, “In Ioann. Evang.”, 42, 1). Those who live by faith, St. Paul says, are the true sons of Abraham and like him they will be blessed by God (cf. Galatians 3:7-9). In point of fact, the people who are arguing with our Lord have not only rejected His teaching: their own deeds indicate that they have a radically different affiliation: “You do what your father did” is a veiled accusation that they are children of the devil (cf. verse 44).
The false security Jews felt on the grounds of being descended from Abraham has its parallel in a Christian who is content with being baptized and with a few religious observances, but does not live up to the requirements of faith in Christ.
Liturgical Colour: Violet.
First reading |
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Daniel 3:14-20,24-25,28 © |
Responsorial Psalm | Daniel 3:52-56 © |
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Gospel Acclamation | Mt4:4 |
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Or: | cf.Lk8:15 |
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Gospel | John 8:31-42 © |
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John | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
John 8 |
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31. | Then Jesus said to those Jews, who believed him: If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed. | Dicebat ergo Jesus ad eos, qui crediderunt ei, Judæos : Si vos manseritis in sermone meo, vere discipuli mei eritis, | ελεγεν ουν ο ιησους προς τους πεπιστευκοτας αυτω ιουδαιους εαν υμεις μεινητε εν τω λογω τω εμω αληθως μαθηται μου εστε |
32. | And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. | et cognoscetis veritatem, et veritas liberabit vos. | και γνωσεσθε την αληθειαν και η αληθεια ελευθερωσει υμας |
33. | They answered him: We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been slaves to any man: how sayest thou: you shall be free? | Responderunt ei : Semen Abrahæ sumus, et nemini servivimus umquam : quomodo tu dicis : Liberi eritis ? | απεκριθησαν αυτω σπερμα αβρααμ εσμεν και ουδενι δεδουλευκαμεν πωποτε πως συ λεγεις οτι ελευθεροι γενησεσθε |
34. | Jesus answered them: Amen, amen I say unto you: that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. | Respondit eis Jesus : Amen, amen dico vobis : quia omnis qui facit peccatum, servus est peccati. | απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι πας ο ποιων την αμαρτιαν δουλος εστιν της αμαρτιας |
35. | Now the servant abideth not in the house for ever; but the son abideth for ever. | Servus autem non manet in domo in æternum : filius autem manet in æternum. | ο δε δουλος ου μενει εν τη οικια εις τον αιωνα ο υιος μενει εις τον αιωνα |
36. | If therefore the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. | Si ergo vos filius liberaverit, vere liberi eritis. | εαν ουν ο υιος υμας ελευθερωση οντως ελευθεροι εσεσθε |
37. | I know that you are the children of Abraham: but you seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. | Scio quia filii Abrahæ estis : sed quæritis me interficere, quia sermo meus non capit in vobis. | οιδα οτι σπερμα αβρααμ εστε αλλα ζητειτε με αποκτειναι οτι ο λογος ο εμος ου χωρει εν υμιν |
38. | I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do the things that you have seen with your father. | Ego quod vidi apud Patrem meum, loquor : et vos quæ vidistis apud patrem vestrum, facitis. | εγω ο εωρακα παρα τω πατρι μου λαλω και υμεις ουν ο εωρακατε παρα τω πατρι υμων ποιειτε |
39. | They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham. | Responderunt, et dixerunt ei : Pater noster Abraham est. Dicit eis Jesus : Si filii Abrahæ estis, opera Abrahæ facite. | απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ ητε τα εργα του αβρααμ εποιειτε [αν] |
40. | But now you seek to kill me, a man who have spoken the truth to you, which I have heard of God. This Abraham did not. | Nunc autem quæritis me interficere, hominem, qui veritatem vobis locutus sum, quam audivi a Deo : hoc Abraham non fecit. | νυν δε ζητειτε με αποκτειναι ανθρωπον ος την αληθειαν υμιν λελαληκα ην ηκουσα παρα του θεου τουτο αβρααμ ουκ εποιησεν |
41. | You do the works of your father. They said therefore to him: We are not born of fornication: we have one Father, even God. | Vos facitis opera patris vestri. Dixerunt itaque ei : Nos ex fornicatione non sumus nati : unum patrem habemus Deum. | υμεις ποιειτε τα εργα του πατρος υμων ειπον ουν αυτω ημεις εκ πορνειας ου γεγεννημεθα ενα πατερα εχομεν τον θεον |
42. | Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he sent me: | Dixit ergo eis Jesus : Si Deus pater vester esset, diligeretis utique et me ; ego enim ex Deo processi, et veni : neque enim a meipso veni, sed ille me misit. | ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους ει ο θεος πατηρ υμων ην ηγαπατε αν εμε εγω γαρ εκ του θεου εξηλθον και ηκω ουδε γαρ απ εμαυτου εληλυθα αλλ εκεινος με απεστειλεν |
This reading brings back memories of my working days. I would go to Mass during lent at the church across the street from my office. For several years, one of my co-workers happened to be the lector for this reading, and every time would stumble over the names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As hard as she tried, she could never get the pronunciation right.
It was my turn to lector and these names came up. The first two are easy. I had to look up the pronunciation of Abednego.
Pray for Pope Francis.
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Report reveals scale of Boko Haram violence inflictef on Nigerian Catholics
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After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram (Catholic Caucus)
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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.
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.
6. 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]
Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.
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.
6. 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]
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