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November 12, 2013 Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr    Reading 1 Wis 2:23–3:9 God formed man to be imperishable;the image of his own nature he made them.But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world,and they who are in his possession experience it. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;and their passing away was thought an afflictionand their going forth from us, utter destruction.But they are in peace.For if before men, indeed, they be punished,yet...

November 11, 2013 Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop    Reading 1 Wis 1:1-7 Love justice, you who judge the earth;think of the Lord in goodness,and seek him in integrity of heart;Because he is found by those who test him not, and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.For perverse counsels separate a man from God,and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceitand withdraws from senseless counsels;and when injustice...

November 10, 2013 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14 It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrestedand tortured with whips and scourges by the king,to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law. One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said:"What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors." At the point of death he said:"You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life,but the King of the world will raise us up to...

November 9, 2013 Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome    Reading 1 Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 The angel brought meback to the entrance of the temple,and I saw water flowing outfrom beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,for the façade of the temple was toward the east;the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,south of the altar.He led me outside by the north gate,and around to the outer gate facing the east,where I saw water trickling from the southern side.He said to me,“This water flows into the eastern district down upon...

November 8, 2013 Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time   Reading 1 Rom 15:14-21 I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters,that you yourselves are full of goodness,filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you,because of the grace given me by Godto be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentilesin performing the priestly service of the Gospel of God,so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable,sanctified by the Holy Spirit.In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to...

November 7, 2013 Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Rom 14:7-12 Brothers and sisters:None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.For if we live, we live for the Lord,and if we die, we die for the Lord;so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.For this is why Christ died and came to life,that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.Why then do you judge your brother or sister?Or you, why do you look down on your brother or sister?For we shall all stand before...

November 6, 2013 Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Rom 13:8-10 Brothers and sisters:Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.The commandments, You shall not commit adultery;you shall not kill;you shall not steal;you shall not covet,and whatever other commandment there may be,are summed up in this saying, namely,You shall love your neighbor as yourself.Love does no evil to the neighbor;hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1b-2, 4-5, 9 R. ( 5a) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to...

November 5, 2013 Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Rom 12:5-16ab Brothers and sisters:We, though many, are one Body in Christand individually parts of one another.Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,let us exercise them:if prophecy, in proportion to the faith;if ministry, in ministering;if one is a teacher, in teaching;if one exhorts, in exhortation;if one contributes, in generosity;if one is over others, with diligence;if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be sincere;hate what is evil,hold on to what is good;love one another with mutual affection;anticipate one...

November 4, 2013 Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop    Reading 1 Rom 11:29-36 Brothers and sisters:The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercybecause of their disobedience,so they have now disobeyed in order that,by virtue of the mercy shown to you,they too may now receive mercy.For God delivered all to disobedience,that he might have mercy upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!For who has known the mind of the Lordor who has...

November 3, 2013 Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Wis 11:22-12:2 Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balanceor a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;and you overlook people's sins that they may repent.For you love all things that areand loathe nothing that you have made;for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?But you spare all things, because they...

November 2, 2013 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)  The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day. Reading 1 Wis 3:1-9 The souls of the just are in the hand of God,and no torment shall touch them.They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;and their passing away was thought an afflictionand their going forth from us, utter destruction.But they are in peace.For if before men, indeed, they be punished,yet is their hope full of immortality;chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,because God tried themand found them...

November 1, 2013 Solemnity of All Saints    Reading 1 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,holding the seal of the living God.He cried out in a loud voice to the four angelswho were given power to damage the land and the sea,“Do not damage the land or the sea or the treesuntil we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,one hundred and forty-four thousand markedfrom every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I had...

Reclaim All Hallows’ Eve by Sean Fitzpatrick on October 31, 2013 ·  Halloween poses a serious concern to Catholic families nowadays. Besides various occult inspirations, many Catholics are uneasy with Halloween’s ostentatious glorification of ugliness and evil. Also distressing are the prevalent trends of psychosis, vulgarity, and violence.What conscientious parent would not be wary?Even with such adversity, it is still possible to align Halloween with the inheritance of Christian culture. Once Catholics consider—perhaps in desperation of the times—what Halloween can be, its restoration is arguably a duty.Though many elements of Halloween have branched into unholy and unhealthy regions, its root sleeps in...

November 1, 2013 Solemnity of All Saints   Reading 1 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,holding the seal of the living God.He cried out in a loud voice to the four angelswho were given power to damage the land and the sea,“Do not damage the land or the sea or the treesuntil we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,one hundred and forty-four thousand markedfrom every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I had...

October 31, 2013 Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time   Reading 1 Rom 8:31b-39 Brothers and sisters:If God is for us, who can be against us?He did not spare his own Sonbut handed him over for us all,how will he not also give us everything else along with him?Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?It is God who acquits us.Who will condemn?It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised,who also is at the right hand of God,who indeed intercedes for us.What will separate us from the love of Christ?Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or...

The Solemnity of All Saints Day What is the Catholic Christian Holiday All Saints Day? All Saints Day Definition and Meaning What is All Saints Day? It is when the Catholic Church and some Protestant churches commemorate every saint, known and unknown. The eve of All Saints is known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. It falls on November 1st. Prayers: All Saints Day Prayers Basic Facts/Meaning About All Saints Day Liturgical Color(s): White Type of Holiday:Solemnity, Holy Day of Obligation (West); Feast (East) Time of Year: November 1 (in Orthodox Churches, the Sunday after Pentecost) Duration: One Day...

October 30, 2013 Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Rom 8:26-30 Brothers and sisters:The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;for we do not know how to pray as we ought,but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.And the one who searches heartsknows what is the intention of the Spirit,because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. We know that all things work for good for those who love God,who are called according to his purpose.For those he foreknew he also predestinedto be conformed to the image of his Son,so that...

October 29, 2013 Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Rom 8:18-25 Brothers and sisters:I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothingcompared with the glory to be revealed for us.For creation awaits with eager expectationthe revelation of the children of God;for creation was made subject to futility,not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it,in hope that creation itselfwould be set free from slavery to corruptionand share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;and...

October 28, 2013Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles    Reading 1 Eph 2:19-22 Brothers and sisters:You are no longer strangers and sojourners,but you are fellow citizens with the holy onesand members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.Through him the whole structure is held togetherand grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;in him you also are being built togetherinto a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Responsorial Psalm PS 19:2-3, 4-5 R. (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.The heavens declare...

October 27, 2013 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Sir 35:12-14, 16-18 The LORD is a God of justice,who knows no favorites.Though not unduly partial toward the weak,yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.The one who serves God willingly is heard;his petition reaches the heavens.The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;it does not rest till it reaches its goal,nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,judges justly and affirms the right,and the Lord will not delay....