Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 10-02-05

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 10-02-05 | New American Bible

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October 2, 2005
Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Sunday 43

Reading I
Is 5:1-7

Let me now sing of my friend,
my friend's song concerning his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside;
he spaded it, cleared it of stones,
and planted the choicest vines;
within it he built a watchtower,
and hewed out a wine press.
Then he looked for the crop of grapes,
but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard:
What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know
what I mean to do with my vineyard:
take away its hedge, give it to grazing,
break through its wall, let it be trampled!
Yes, I will make it a ruin:
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
but overgrown with thorns and briers;
I will command the clouds
not to send rain upon it.
The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;
he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!
for justice, but hark, the outcry!

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20

R. (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
A vine from Egypt you transplanted;
you drove away the nations and planted it.
It put forth its foliage to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Why have you broken down its walls,
so that every passer-by plucks its fruit,
The boar from the forest lays it waste,
and the beasts of the field feed upon it?
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
O LORD, God of hosts, restore us;
if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Reading II
Phil 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel
Mt 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times."
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

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Alleluia Ping!

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From: Philippians 4:6-9

Exhortation to Perseverance and Joy (Continuation)

---

[6] Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be
with you.

---

Commentary:

5-7. "The Lord is at hand": the Apostle reminds the faithful of the
nearness of our Lord; he wants to encourage them to rejoice and to be
understanding towards one another. These words must surely have brought
to their minds the exclamation "Marana tha" (Come, Lord), which was
often in the lips at liturgical celebrations (cf. note on 1 Cor
16:21-24). In the sort of hostile environment that many of them lived
in, they needed to put their hope in their Savior, Jesus Christ, who
will come from heaven to judge the living and the dead (cf. Phil 3:20;
1 Thess 4:16ff; 2 Thess 1:5). St Paul does not mean to specify when the
"Parousia" or second coming of Christ will take place (cf.
"Introduction to St Paul's Epistles to the Thessalonians" in "The
Navarre Bible: Thessalonians; EB", 414-461; note on Mt 24:36). Like the
first Christians, we should make sure it does not catch us unprepared.

Besides, the Lord is always near us, always caring for us in his
providence (cf. Ps 119:151). There is no reason for us to feel ill at
ease. He is our Father, he is near to all who call on him (cf. Ps
145:18); he listens to our prayers, ever ready to instruct us and to
give us whatever we need to overcome difficulties that arise. All that
he asks is that we trustingly tell him our situation, speaking to him
with the simplicity of a child.

Constant dialogue with God in prayer is, as St Paul suggests, a good
way to prevent anything robbing us of peace of soul, for prayer
"regulates our affections", St Bernard teaches, "directs our actions,
corrects our faults, guides our conduct, beautifies and orders our
life; it brings with it knowledge of things divine and things human
also. It determines what we ought to do and reflects on what we have
done, in such a way that our heart never becomes wanton or in need of
discipline" ("Book of Consideration", I, 7).

8-9. The Christians soul is never closed or indifferent to noble human
aspirations. "Redeemed by Christ and made a new creature by the Holy
Spirit, man can, indeed he must, love the things of God's creation: it
is from God that he has received them, and it is as flowing from God's
hand that he looks upon them and reveres them. Man thanks his divine
benefactor for all these things, he uses them and enjoys them in a
spirit of poverty and freedom: thus he is brought to a true possession
of the world, as having nothing yet possessing everything: 'All
[things] are yours; and you are Christ's; and Christ is God's' (1 Cor
3:22-23)" (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 37).

The Second Vatican Council has highlighted the permanent relevance of
St Paul's teaching in this and in other passages: "In the pursuit of
this aim priests will be helped by cultivating those virtues which are
rightly held in high esteem in human relations. Such qualities are
goodness of heart, sincerity, strength and constance of mind, careful
attention to justice, courtesy and others which the apostle Paul
recommends [...] (Phil 4:8)" ("Presbyterorum Ordinis", 3).

In the same connection, in a passage where it is encouraging the
apostolate of the laity the Council says: "Catholics should strive to
cooperate with all men of good will in the promotion of all that is
true, just, holy, all that is worthy of love (cf. Phil 4:8)"
("Apostolicam Actuositatem", 14).

Earthly realities and the noble things of this world have a divine
value; they are good; they help man to reach God. For, as St. Irenaeus
wrote, "through the Word of God, everything comes under the influence
of the work of Redemption; the Son of God has been crucified on behalf
of all, and has traced the sign of the cross on all things" ("Proof of
the Apostolic Preaching"). "We cannot say that there are things--good,
noble or indifferent--which are exclusively worldly. This cannot be
after the Word of God has lived among the children of men, felt hunger
and thirst, worked with his hands, experienced friendship and obedience
and suffering and death" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 112).
Therefore, "your daily encounter with Christ takes place where your
fellow men, your yearnings, your work and your affections are. It is in
the midst of the most material things of the earth that we must
sanctify ourselves, serving God and all mankind" ([St] J. Escriva,
"Conversations", 113).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

From: Matthew 21:33-43

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

---

(Jesus told the chief priests and the elders,) [33] "Hear another
parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a
hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it
out to tenants, and went into another country. [34] When the season of
fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit;
[35] and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another,
and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other servants, more than the
first; and they did the same to them. [37] Afterward he sent his son
to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' [38] But when the tenants
saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us
kill him and have his inheritance.' [39] And they took him and cast
him out of the vineyard, and killed him. [40] When therefore the owner
of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" [41] They
said to Him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let
out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their
seasons."


[42] Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: `The
very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the
corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes'!
[43] Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from
you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."

---

Commentary:


33-46. This very important parable completes the previous one. The
parable of the two sons simply identifies the indocility of Israel;
that of the wicked tenants focuses on the punishment to come.


Our Lord compares Israel to a choice vineyard, specially fenced, with a
watchtower, where a keeper is on the look-out to protect it from
thieves and foxes. God has spared no effort to cultivate and embellish
His vineyard. The vineyard is in the charge of tenant farmers; the
householder is God, and the vineyard, Israel (Isaiah 5:3-5: Jeremiah
2:21; Joel 1:7).


The tenants to whom God has given the care of His people are the
priests, scribes and elders. The owner's absence makes it clear that
God really did entrust Israel to its leaders; hence their
responsibility and the account He demands of them.


The owner used to send his servants from time to time to collect the
fruit; this was the mission of the prophets. The second despatch of
servants to claim what is owing to the owner--who meet the same fate as
the first--refers to the way God's prophets were ill-treated by the
kings and priests of Israel (Matthew 23:37; Acts 7:42; Hebrews
11:36-38). Finally he sent his son to them, thinking that they would
have more respect for him; here we can see the difference between Jesus
and the prophets, who were servants, not "the Son": the parable
indicates singular, transcendental sonship, expressing the divinity of
Jesus Christ.


The malicious purpose of the tenants in murdering the son and heir to
keep the inheritance for themselves is the madness of the leaders in
expecting to become undisputed masters of Israel by putting Christ to
death (Matthew 12:14; 26:4). Their ambition blinds them to the
punishment that awaits them. Then "they cast him out of the vineyard,
and killed him": a reference to Christ's crucifixion, which took place
outside the walls of Jerusalem.


Jesus prophesies the punishment God will inflict on the evildoers: He
will put them to death and rent the vineyard to others. This is a very
significant prophecy. St. Peter later repeats to the Sanhedrin: "This
is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become
the head of the corner" (Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:4). The stone is Jesus
of Nazareth, but the architects of Israel, who build up and rule the
people, have chosen not use it in the building. Because of their
unfaithfulness the Kingdom of God will be turned over to another
people, the Gentiles, who WILL give God the fruit He expects His
vineyard to yield (cf. Matthew 3:8-10; Galatians 6:16).


For the building to be well-built, it needs to rest on this stone. Woe
to him who trips over it! (cf. Matthew 12:30; Luke 2:34), as first Jews
and later the enemies of Christ and His Church will discover through
bitter experience (cf. Isaiah 8:14-15).


Christians in all ages should see this parable as exhorting them to
build faithfully upon Christ and make sure they do not fall into the
sin of this Jewish generation. We should also be filled with hope and
a sense of security; for, although the building--the Church--at some
times seem to be breaking up, its sound construction, with Christ as
its cornerstone, is assured.

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

Sunday, October 2, 2005
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:9, 12-16, 19-20 Philippians 4:6-9 Matthew 21:33-43 The faults of children are not always imputed to the parents, especially when they have instructed them and given good example. Our Lord, in His wonderous Providence, allows children to break the hearts of devout fathers and mothers. Thus the decisions your children have made don't make you a failure as a parent in God's eyes. You are entitled to feel sorrow, but not necessarily guilt. Do not cease praying for your children; God's grace can touch a hardened heart. Commend your children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When parents pray the Rosary,at the end of each decade they should hold the Rosary aloft and say to her,"With these beads bind my children to your Immaculate Heart", she will attend to their souls. -- St. Louise de Marillac

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Truths to Remember

by Fr. Paul Scalia

Other Articles by Fr. Paul Scalia

Truths to Remember

10/01/05

They say the memory is the first to go. Well, that may or may not be true in the natural life. But it is certainly true in the supernatural life. Once we fail to remember the Lord and His works, our spiritual and moral life begins to founder.

Thus Scripture is full of the commands "remember" and "do not forget." The Ten Commandments likewise begin, not with a commandment, but with a reminder: "I am the Lord your God" (Ex 20:2). After all, if we forget that truth, then we should not hope to keep the commandments.

The parable of the wicked tenants (Mt 21:33-43) presents Israel’s tragic failure to remember. The parable’s landowner represents God, and the vineyard he built is Jerusalem, or Israel in general. The tenants — Israel’s leaders — failed to remember that He was the One Who made their vineyard. They had, as Isaiah warned, "forgotten the God of [their] salvation" (Is 17:10). Their forgetfulness caused them in turn to resent His commands. They beat and even killed his servants — that is, the prophets sent to remind them of God. The landowner’s son — our Lord Himself — they killed outside the vineyard. He came into the world to collect the harvest, but received instead the full brunt of their resentment.

We face the same danger as the wicked tenants: forgetfulness. When forgetfulness creeps in — when we forget that it is He Who made us and redeemed us — then we begin to view ourselves as independent from Him. We fall into a false sense of self-sufficiency. We grow to resent His commands as inconveniences, intrusions and violations of our autonomy. His messengers become annoying to us, and we dismiss them, reject them or persecute them. Unchecked, such resentment gradually becomes hatred for anything that threatens our independence — hatred even for our Lord Himself.

The Church constantly guards us against this forgetfulness. As a good mother she forever reminds us of the Lord, His works and His law. Although in our more childish moments we might regard it as nagging, she persistently says, in effect, "Take heed lest you forget the Lord" (Dt 6:12). Through her priests and bishops she puts our Lord’s teachings before us always. She points to what He has already accomplished, reminding us that it was He Who established us as His vineyard. At the same time she looks to the future and makes us "remember" that moment when He will come again and gather His harvest.

Mother Church fulfills this apostolate to the memory most especially in the liturgy. In the cycle of the liturgical year she walks us through the life of Christ. Year after year she causes us to remember His Incarnation, birth, life, Passion, death and Resurrection. We revisit His words and deeds over and over again. Furthermore, in the Mass she actually makes present our Lord’s greatest work — His Sacrifice on the Cross. She does not just recall or recollect His Sacrifice. Rather, she makes His Sacrifice truly present, so that we can conform our lives to it. And she does this in obedience to His command: "Do this in memory of Me."

If the memory is the first to go, it must also be the first to guard. Our Lord has established the Church as His continuing presence in the world. She is the constant reminder and living memory of Who He was and what He did. Let us then heed her teachings and follow her instructions, lest we fall into that dark and dangerous forgetfulness of God.


Fr. Scalia is parochial vicar of St. Rita parish in Alexandria, Virginia.

(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

[Coleus]

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Feast of Guardian Angels

Pope John XXIII - Meditation for the Feast of the Guardian Angels

 

October 2

Feast of the Guardian Angels

 

Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not just for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death.

The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but not directly drawn from it. Jesus' words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

Devotion to the angels began to develop with the birth of the monastic tradition. St. Benedict gave it impetus and Bernard of Clairvaux, the great 12th-century reformer, was such an eloquent spokesman for the guardian angels that angelic devotion assumed its current form in his day.

A feast in honor of the guardian angels was first observed in the 16th century. In 1615, Pope Paul V added it to the Roman calendar.

Comment:

The concept of an unseen companion has given rise to many childish titters about leaving room for an angel in a crowded seat and teacher-induced terrors about the danger of sudden death for a child who fails to honor the angel with prayer. But devotion to the angels is, at base, an expression of faith in God's enduring love and providential care extended to each person day in and day out until life's end.

Quote:

"May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy cit, the new and eternal Jerusalem." (Rite for Christian Burial)

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LIFECHAIN; LIFECHAINSUNDAY;

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Thanks for that addition to the thread. How many times have we ALL prayed to our guadian angel to be with us?

For more on the archangels, check out this Daily Readings thread.

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Thanks for the link on the LIFECHAIN today. I will join ours later this afternoon.

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And also say ONE Rosary today for the unborn!

[Ciexyz]

Faith-sharing ping.

[Ciexyz]

Kudos to our unseen guardian angels who protect us in times of trouble!

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Catholic Culture

Collect: Father, your love for us surpasses all our hopes and desires. Forgive our failings, keep us in your peace and lead us in the way of salvation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Activities: » Parents are the First Teachers Prayers: » Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

October 02, 2005 Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit" (Mt 21:42-43). The feast of the Guardian Angels is ordinarily celebrated today but is superceded by the Sunday liturgy. Every person on earth has a guardian angel who watches over him and helps him to attain his salvation. Angelical guardianship begins at the moment of birth; prior to this, the child is protected by the mother's guardian angel. It continues throughout our whole life and ceases only when our probation on earth ends, namely, at the moment of death. Our guardian angel accompanies the soul to purgatory or heaven, and becomes our coheir in the heavenly kingdom. Read more about your Guardian Angel here. Sunday Readings The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 5:1-7. Under the image of a wine-grower who had done everything he could to make his vineyard fertile and productive, the prophet describes God's care for and interest in his Chosen People. The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 4:6-9. St. Paul is encouraging his converts to put their full trust in God. The Gospel is from Matthew 21:33-43. There are two leading thoughts that come to the mind of any true believer on hearing this parable: the infinite goodness, patience and mercy of God in his dealings with mankind, and the unsounded depths of wickedness and ingratitude to which men can sink. To his Chosen People of the Old Testament, God had given a fertile and fully-equipped vineyard — his revelation, his protection, a homeland of their own in Canaan, and all this in order to prepare them for the future Messiah, who would bring them an eternal home in God's own kingdom. All he asked in return was their cooperation. But they had other plans; they wanted their kingdom on earth. Yet God was patient with them; again and again he pardoned their infidelities. He sent them prophet after prophet to recall them to their senses, but they maltreated these messengers of God and refused to heed their warnings. Then "the fullness of time" came and he sent his divine Son on earth in human form. He took his human nature from one of their race, lived among them and preached his gospel of love and peace to them. He tried to soften their hard hearts, and made them the final offer of the Father's mercy and pardon. But instead of accepting God's offer of mercy the chief priests and elders only made it an occasion of an even greater sin. To their crimes of infidelity and injustice they added the murder of God's Messiah and Son. In God's plan of love and mercy the tragedy of Calvary turned out to be the great "triumph of failure." That death brought life to the world and opened the gates of God's eternal kingdom for all nations and races. The Gentiles rallied around the standard of Christ. A new vineyard was set up in which all men could work for their Father in heaven and for their own eternal interests. We Christians today are the successors of the first Gentile followers of Christ. We too have been called to work in God's vineyard. Are we working honestly and devotedly? Are we producing the grapes and the wine that our divine Master expects of us? If our answer is "yes, I am living a true Christian life, I am working for God's honor and glory and for my own eternal salvation," then we can say a heartfelt "thank you" to our merciful Father, and ask him to keep us ever on this right path. But if our answer is "no," then let us pay heed to today's lesson. What happened to the chief priests and elders can and will happen to unfaithful Christians if they persevere in their infidelity and disobedience. But we can still put ourselves right with God. Let us do it today — tomorrow may be too late. Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

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Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	God Always Forgives, but Time Can Run Out
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Sunday, October 2, 2005

Is 5:1-7 / Phil 4:6-9 / Mt 21:33-43

Many centuries ago in the days of the desert hermits, a soldier approached a wise old monk with a question: "Father, do you think God really forgives sinners?"

The monk thought for quite a while and then responded with a question: "Tell me," he said, "if your cloak were torn, would you throw it away?"

"Of course not," said the soldier. "I'd mend it and wear it again."

"Yes," smiled the old monk. "And if YOU care for your CLOAK that well, will not GOD be even more careful with his own CHILDREN?"

+ + +

Of course he will! Over and over God tries to mend us and put us back together and help us get our lives right. That's what all those messengers are about in Sunday's Gospel: God, calling out to us in so many different ways, urging us to stop wandering about, urging us instead to look at the gifts he's lent us and to start using them — all of them — while there's still time.

Now there's a strange thing about our gifts: Because they've always been there, we tend to take them for granted and in fact may not even notice them. And because they've always been there, we tend to think of them as our own and not just a loan — which leads in turn to the ultimate illusion: Thinking we've got unlimited time and can afford to fool around and squander our gifts. How often our little inner voice whispers, "I've got lots more where that came from. Lots more life and all the rest too."

When we say that out loud, we can hear how foolish and arrogant it is, this illusion of unlimited time. But that IS what's being said in the fog inside our heads a lot of the time. And that's what Jesus is trying to help us face up to before it's too late.

This is what the parable is about: God never gives up on us. Never. He keeps sending us messengers because his love never runs out. But eventually our time runs out. Then we ARE whatever our use of our gifts has made us. We are whatever a lifetime's worth of daily choices has added up to. And that is what we carry home to our Father. That and nothing else — just our selves.

Jesus is begging us as a brother not to waste another minute worrying about God and whether God will forgive us and give us another chance. He will — he always does, as long as there's time. He's begging us instead to look at our gifts, all of them, to pick them up with confidence, to make something with them, and to carry them where they're needed — while there's still time.
That is Jesus' urgent plea to us this day. By God's grace may we say "Yes."

 

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Pope John XXIII - Meditation for the Feast of the Guardian Angels - 2 October 1959

According to the teaching of the Roman catechism, we must remember how admirable was the intention of divine Providence in entrusting to the angels the mission of watching over all mankind, and over individual human beings, lest they should fall victims to the grave dangers which they encounter. In this earthly life, when children have to make their way along a path beset with obstacles and snares, their fathers take care to call upon the help of those who can look after them and come to their aid in adversity. In the same way our Father in heaven has charged his angels to come to our assistance during our earthly journey which leads us to our blessed fatherland, so that, protected by the angels' help and care, we may avoid the snares upon our path, subdue our passions and, under this angelic guidance, follow always the straight and sure road which leads to Paradise...

Everyone of us is entrusted to the care of an angel.

That is why we must have a lively and profound devotion to our own Guardian Angel, and why we should often and trustfully repeat the dear prayer we were taught in the days of our childhood.

May we never fail in this devotion to the angels! During our earthly pilgrimage we may often run the risk of having to face the natural elements in turmoil, or the wrath of men who may seek to do us harm. But our Guardian Angel is always present. Let us never forget him and always remember to pray to him.

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Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

From an early age, children should learn the importance of praying for religious vocations in the world.

Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world! We humbly beg of Thee to manifest in Thy Church the Spirit Whom Thou didst so abundantly bestow upon Thy Apostles. Call, we pray Thee, very many to Thy priesthood and to the religious life. And may zeal for Thy glory and the salvation of souls inflame those whom Thou hast chosen; may they be saints in Thy likeness, and may Thy Spirit strengthen them. O Jesus, give us priests and religious according to Thine own Heart!

O Mary, Mother of Jesus! Obtain for fervent souls the grace to hear and the courage to follow Thy divine Son in the path of religious perfection.

Queen of Apostles, pray for us. Queen of Virgins, pray for us.

— CARDINAL SPELLMAN'S PRAYER BOOK

[Smartass]

My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Psalm 34:2

Thought...

We have no basis to boast in our own might. We can't preserve our lives. We can't topple kingdoms. We can't see the edge of the distant edge of the heavens.
We can't determine the future or change
the past. So what do we have in which we
can boast? God! We are living proof of his grace and mercy -- he saved us when we didn't deserve it, he rescued us from sin and death when we had no power to
preserve our lives. Those in sorrow,
brokenness, and night can look at us
and rejoice because we are living proof
God saves the sinner, raises up the
disheartened, and mends the broken.
Praise the LORD for his glory.
Praise the LORD for his grace.

Prayer...

Father, thank you! Thank you for all
that you have done for me. Let others
see your work in me and understand
that you can do a great thing in them,
as well. In Jesus' precious name I pray.
Amen.



Deus vobiscum

[Smartass]

[Salvation]

Padre Pio and the Guardian Angel