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30 July 2024 Tuesday of week 17 in Ordinary TimeRelics of St Peter Chrysologus, Cathedral of Saint Cassian, Imola, ItalyReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II).First readingJeremiah 14:17-22We confess our wickedness; you, God, are our hopeThe Lord said to me:Say this word to the people:‘Tears flood my eyesnight and day, unceasingly,since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people,a most grievous injury.If I go into the countryside,there lie men killed by the sword;if I go into the city,I see people sick with hunger;even prophets and priestsplough the land: they are at their wit’s end.’‘Have you rejected Judah...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Matthew 13:43This passage concludes Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Weeds in the Field. Recall that in this parable there were good seeds sown in a field. The Sower is the Son of Man, Jesus, and the seed He sows are the children of the Kingdom, which includes all those who are in a state of grace. The field is the whole world. Thus, Jesus is saying that He has sent His followers, each one...

Daily Readings from the USCCBMany of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” John 11:19–22Today’s memorial is relatively new within our Church. In the year 2021, Pope Francis replaced the Memorial of Saint Martha with this memorial in honor of all...

COMMENTARY: With only four months until the election, the Catholic GOP VP nominee must begin to right the ship immediately to avoid joining the list of historically ignominious picks that includes former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Vice President Dan Quayle.

29 July 2024 Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus on Monday of week 17 in Ordinary Time Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Chicago's South SideReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingJeremiah 13:1-11Let this evil people become good for nothingThe Lord said this to me, ‘Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it round your waist. But do not dip it in water.’ And so, as the Lord had ordered, I bought a loincloth and put it round my waist. A second time the word of the...

Contract the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by phone at +41 21 621 61 11 Contact them through their website at www.olympics.com/ioc/contact-us Write to them at: Maison Olympique 1007 Lausanne Switzerland In his homily during Mass today (7/28/24) at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, talks about the controversy surrounding the Olympic Opening Ceremony, what happened and what you can do.

28 July 2024 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Basilica of St Victor in MilanReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II).First reading2 Kings 4:42-44They will eat, and have some left overA man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’, Elisha said. But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’ He...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThen Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” John 6:11–12The people who were present for this miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish had to journey to be there. First, they followed Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and then they followed Him up a mountain in a remote area. This is...

I am a Catholic. I am proud of that fact. I am also fervently against Kamala Harris. The Biden/Harris administration has consistently ruled against Christians. Our country is a Judeo-Christian country with morals and values that must be kept. Please join with me to put a stop to the assault against our core values. I stand strong and will do my best to prevent further degradation of our country's moral compass. I say - Catholics against Kamala!

27 July 2024 Saturday of week 16 in Ordinary Time Dom St Pantaleon altar, Ravello, ItalyReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II).First readingJeremiah 7:1-11Reform your behaviour and I will stay here with you, says the LordThe word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord: ‘Go and stand at the gate of the Temple of the Lord and there proclaim this message. Say, “Listen to the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who come in by these gates to worship the Lord. The Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: Amend your behaviour and your actions...

God could have made us with solar cells in our skin, so all we would have to do is lie in the sun to get the energy we need for life. But he didn't. In his divine plan, God created us as creatures that need to eat. The first command he ever gave us concerned food: what to eat and what not to eat. We turned away from him by an act of eating. And now, since the coming of Christ, we can turn back to him by an act of eating. Our need to eat reminds us that we...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.” Matthew 13:24–25This parable begins in a very good way. It states that good seed was sown. In other words, the pure Gospel was preached into good soil. This should be understood as any situation where the preacher is truly effective and where the Gospel reaches many ears and is planted in many hearts. This...

Kamala Harris would ‘eliminate religious freedom,’ has ‘extreme’ anti-Catholic agenda: Catholic leadersKamala Harris, who was ranked the most liberal senator in the US, has an ‘extremist’ pro-abortion, pro-LGBT record and would likely ‘persecute’ Catholics, as the Biden-Harris administration has already done, Michael Hichborn and other Catholics leaders warned.A Kamala Harris presidency would be a threat to the religious freedoms of Catholics and the lives of preborn babies, Catholics leaders are warning.Vice President Kamala Harris is currently the Democratic Party’s choice to run for president in 2024. Barring any last-minute changes, the Democrats will formally nominate her in the first week...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:22–23Today, Jesus clarifies for His disciples the meaning of His parable told to the crowds. He explains the meaning of the seed sown on the path, on the rocky ground, among the thorns and on the rich...

Thursday 25 July 2024 Saint James, Apostle Feast Inside the St James's Apostle Church, High altar, Castile, La Mancha Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II).First reading2 Corinthians 4:7-15Such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from usWe are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” Matthew 20:22–23Saint James was the brother of the beloved disciple John and the son of Zebedee and Salome. Jesus called both James and John while they were working with their father, mending their fishing...

Daily Readings from the USCCBOn that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables… Matthew 13:1–3Why did Jesus speak in parables? In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes on to teach the familiar “Parable of the Sower.” Immediately after that parable in today’s Gospel, the disciples do ask Jesus this question. They ask, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus responds to them,...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:48–50These questions of Jesus were posed by Him to a crowd of people who were inside a house where He was teaching. His mother and brothers arrived outside asking to speak to Him. First of all, it should be noted that the word “brothers” in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and other languages did not necessarily...

23 July 2024 Tuesday of week 16 in Ordinary Time St. Bridget's Church Gdańsk, PolandReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II).First readingMicah 7:14-15,18-20Have pity on us one more timeWith shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture,the flock that is your heritage,living confined in a forestwith meadow land all around.Let them pasture in Bashan and Gileadas in the days of old.As in the days when you came out of Egyptgrant us to see wonders.What god can compare with you: taking fault away,pardoning crime,not cherishing anger for everbut delighting in showing mercy?Once more have pity on us,tread down our faults,to...

Daily Readings from the USCCBMary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. John 20:11–12Early in His ministry, Jesus cast seven demons out of Mary of Magdala. As a result, she became an exceptionally faithful follower of Jesus. She was most likely one of His followers who provided for Jesus and the disciples out of her own resources as they traveled. She listened to His teachings, witnessed His miracles,...