Free Republic

The conference representing the New York Catholic bishops in public policy issues is criticizing Planned Parenthood for reportedly requesting $35 million in emergency state funding amid federal Medicaid freezes. “The abortion industry in New York is looking increasingly like an irresponsible and spoiled adolescent, spending its generous allowance too fast,” Kristen Curran, director of government relations for the New York State Catholic Conference, said in an Aug. 6 statement. “New Yorkers should ask them: What happened to the $35 million you already got?” Curran said. CatholicVote reported in August 2024 that the conference questioned the abortion giant’s use of state...

Daily Readings from the USCCBFrom whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.” Matthew 17:25–27Prior to this minor miracle, Jesus had just told His disciples for the second time about...

11 August 2025 Saint Clare, Virgin on Monday of week 19 in Ordinary Time Daniel Island (Charleston), South Carolina: Saint Clare of Assisi ChurchReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingDeuteronomy 10:12-22The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lordsMoses said to the people: ‘Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Only this: to fear the Lord your God, to follow all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your...

10 August 202519th Sunday in Ordinary Time Virgin Mary Altar in the Saint Lawrence Church in Denkendorf, GermanyReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingWisdom 18:6-9You made us glorious by calling us to youThat night had been foretold to our ancestors, so that,once they saw what kind of oaths they had put their trust in,they would joyfully take courage.This was the expectation of your people,the saving of the virtuous and the ruin of their enemies;for by the same act with which you took vengeance on our foesyou made us glorious by calling us to you.The devout children of worthy men...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.” Luke 12:35–37Vigilance, hard work, determination, attentiveness, fidelity—these are some of the qualities that Jesus is speaking about. To “gird your loins” means that you are immediately prepared for some challenging...

By Dr. John BergsmaMy father once served as the chaplain for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. (U.S. Navy chaplains also serve the Marines and the Coast Guard). I have fond memories of that beautiful seaside city. In any event, perhaps the only bit of Coast Guard culture that I absorbed during my dad’s tour of duty was the motto: Semper Paratus, “Always Prepared,” which seems an appropriate summation of the theme of this Sunday’s Readings, which stress vigilance in the Christian life. In fact, these Readings feel like something we might get in November, closer to...

9 August 2025 Saturday of week 18 in Ordinary Time Church of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) in Lubliniec, PolandReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingDeuteronomy 6:4-13You shall love the Lord your God with all your heartMoses said to the people: ‘Listen, Israel: the Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your heart. You shall repeat them to your children and say them over to...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThen the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:19–20A man came up to Jesus, fell on his knees before Him and begged Jesus to cure his son who was possessed by a demon. The man explained that Jesus’ disciples had tried to...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” Matthew 16:26Would you like to “gain the whole world?” Many people daydream about becoming exceptionally rich and being able to purchase everything they ever wanted. Others dream of doing heroic acts that thrust them into the public spotlight and lead to public admiration. Still, others dream of having great power in this world and being a person of great importance. Though none of these are bad in and of themselves,...

8 August 2025 Saint Dominic, Priest on Friday of week 18 in Ordinary Time St Dominic's priory church, San Francisco.Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingDeuteronomy 4:32-40'Did ever a people before you hear the voice of the living God, and remain alive?'Moses said to the people: ‘Put this question to the ages that are past, that went before you, from the time God created man on earth: Was there ever a word so majestic, from one end of heaven to the other? Was anything ever heard?...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThen Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Matthew 16:22–23What a shocking statement this must have been that was spoken by Jesus to Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus said. In the paragraph before this, Peter professed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus in turn told Peter that he...

7 August 2025 Thursday of week 18 in Ordinary Time St. Albert of Trapani Catholic Church, Houston, TexasReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingNumbers 20:1-13Moses makes water flow from the rock at MeribahThe sons of Israel, the whole community, arrived in the first month at the desert of Zin. The people settled at Kadesh. It was there that Miriam died and was buried. There was no water for the community, and they were all united against Moses and Aaron. The people challenged Moses: ‘We would rather have died,’ they said, ‘as our brothers died before the Lord! Why...

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, today announced a $25,000 humanitarian fund donation for the rehabilitation of the Holy Family Church and community in Gaza. The donation will be given to the Archdiocese of New York to facilitate the distribution of the dedicated funds. “We are deeply saddened by the deaths, injuries, and structural damage at the Holy Family Church in Gaza and stand in solidarity with our Catholic brothers and sisters,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “We pray for the full recovery of the injured and the safety of all peoples affected by...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThen Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Mark 9:5–7Just prior to the Transfiguration, Jesus began to reveal to His disciples that He would suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders, be killed and then rise on the third day. This...

Wednesday 6 August 2025 The Transfiguration of the Lord Feast Oakdale, MN Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).When a Feast of the Lord is celebrated on a weekday there is only one reading before the Gospel, which may be chosen from either the first or second reading.(This rule is not followed in the United States, so two separate readings are shown here).First readingDaniel 7:9-10,13-14His robe was white as snowAs I watched:Thrones were set in placeand one of great age took his seat.His robe was white as snow,the hair of his head as pure as wool.His throne was a...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Matthew 14:27–29Peter and the other disciples were frightened. They were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, the wind was strong, and the waves were crashing. This scene took place “during the fourth watch of the night,” which meant the time was early in the morning, between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m., when it was still dark. Jesus had been alone on a mountain...

5 August 2025 Tuesday of week 18 in Ordinary Time St. Ulrich's and St. Afra's Abbey, AugsburgReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingNumbers 12:1-13'How have you dared to speak against my servant Moses?'Miriam, and Aaron too, spoke against Moses in connexion with the Cushite woman he had taken. (For he had married a Cushite woman.) They said, ‘Has the Lord spoken to Moses only? Has he not spoken to us too?’ The Lord heard this. Now Moses was the most humble of men, the humblest man on earth. Suddenly, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam,...

4 August 2025 Saint John Mary Vianney, Priest on Monday of week 18 in Ordinary Time St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Houston, TX BReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingNumbers 11:4-15The sons of Israel complain in the desertThe sons of Israel began to wail, ‘Who will give us meat to eat?’ they said. ‘Think of the fish we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic! Here we are wasting away, stripped of everything; there is nothing but manna for us...

3 August 2025 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Nicodemus and St. Joseph of Arimathea Church, Ramla, the Holy Land Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingEcclesiastes 1:2,2:21-23Vanity of vanities; all is vanityVanity of vanities, the Preacher says. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity! For so it is that a man who has laboured wisely, skilfully and successfully must leave what is his own to someone who has not toiled for it at all. This, too, is vanity and great injustice; for what does he gain for all the toil and strain that he has undergone under the sun?...

Daily Readings from the USCCBTaking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full. Matthew 14:19–20An important aspect of this miracle that is easy to miss is that Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes through His disciples’ instrumentality. He did this by inviting them to assist in the distribution of the loaves and in the gathering of the fragments...