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August Devotion: The Immaculate Heart

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The physical heart of Mary is venerated (and not adored as the Sacred Heart of Jesus is) because it is united to her person: and as the seat of her love (especially for her divine Son), virtue, and inner life. Such devotion is an incentive to a similar love and virtue.

This devotion has received new emphasis in this century from the visions given to Lucy Dos Santos, oldest of the visionaries of Fatima, in her convent in Tuy, in Spain, in 1925 and 1926. In the visions Our Lady asked for the practice of the Five First Saturdays to help make amends for the offenses given to her heart by the blasphemies and ingratitude of men. The practice parallels the devotion of the Nine First Fridays in honor of the Sacred Heart.

On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII made a solemn Act of Consecration of the Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart. Let us remember this devotion year-round, but particularly through the month of August.

INVOCATIONS

O heart most pure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, obtain for me from Jesus a pure and humble heart.

Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.

ACT OF CONSECRATION
Queen of the most holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own, on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy mother's heart. In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the mystical body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities. Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss! Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long desired coming of peace on earth. O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ.

Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquillity of order. Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Savior of the world: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."

Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ's one fold, under the one true Shepherd. Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing torrent of immorality; arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.

Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation, so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God .and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting "Magnificat" of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace. — Pope Pius XII

IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE HEART
O heart of Mary, mother of God, and our mother; heart most worthy of love, in which the adorable Trinity is ever well-pleased, worthy of the veneration and love of all the angels and of all men; heart most like to the Heart of Jesus, of which thou art the perfect image; heart, full of goodness, ever compassionate toward our miseries; deign to melt our icy hearts and grant that they may be wholly changed into the likeness of the Heart of Jesus, our divine Savior. Pour into them the love of thy virtues, enkindle in them that divine fire with which thou thyself dost ever burn. In thee let Holy Church find a safe shelter; protect her and be her dearest refuge, her tower of strength, impregnable against every assault of her enemies. Be thou the way which leads to Jesus, and the channel, through which we receive all the graces needful for our salvation. Be our refuge in time of trouble, our solace in the midst of trial, our strength against temptation, our haven in persecution, our present help in every danger, and especially) at the hour of death, when all hell shall let loose against u its legions to snatch away our souls, at that dread moment; that hour so full of fear, whereon our eternity depends. An,; then most tender virgin, make us to feel the sweetness of thy motherly heart, and the might of thine intercession with Jesus, and open to us a safe refuge in that very fountain of mercy, whence we may come to praise Him with thee in paradise, world without end. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Sacred Heart Of Jesus

Sacred Heart Of Jesus image

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary image

Blessed be the Most Loving Heart and Sweet Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the most glorious Virgin Mary, His Mother, in eternity and forever. Amen.

....Only the Heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way ----From the Catechism. P:1439

From the depth of my nothingness, I prostrate myself before Thee, O Most Sacred, Divine and Adorable Heart of Jesus, to pay Thee all the homage of love, praise and adoration in my power.
Amen. - - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The prayer of the Church venerates and honors the Heart of Jesus just as it invokes his most holy name. It adores the incarnate Word and his Heart which, out of love for men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins. Christian prayer loves to follow the way of the cross in the Savior's steps.-- >From the Catechism. P: 2669

The Salutation to the Heart of Jesus and Mary

An Offering of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Novena Prayer to Sacred Heart of Jesus

Prayer to the Wounded Heart of Jesus

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

Meditation & Novena Prayer on the Sacred Heart

Beads to the Sacred Heart

Novena Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Daily Offering to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Exaltation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin

The Holy Heart of Mary Is, After the Heart of Jesus, the Most Exalted Throne of Divine Love
Let us recollect that God has given us the feast of the most pure Heart of the Blessed Virgin so that we may render on that day all the respect, honor and praise that we possibly can. To enkindle this spirit within us let us consider our motivating obligations.

The first is that we ought to love and honor whatever God loves and honors, and that by which He is loved and glorified. Now, after the adorable Heart of Jesus there has never been either in heaven or on earth, nor ever will be, a heart which has been so loved and honored by God, or which has given Him so much glory as that of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Never has there been, nor will there ever be a more exalted throne of divine love. In that Heart divine love possesses its fullest empire, for it ever reigns without hindrance or interruption, and with it reign likewise all the laws of God, all the Gospel maxims and every Christian virtue.

This incomparable Heart of the Mother of our Redeemer is a glorious heaven, a Paradise of delights for the Most Holy Trinity. According to St. Paul, the hearts of the faithful are the dwelling place of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself assures us that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost take up Their abode in the hearts of those who love God. Who, therefore, can doubt that the Most Holy Trinity has always made His home and established the reign of His glory in an admirable and ineffable manner in the virginal Heart of her who is the Daughter of the Father, the Mother of the Son, the Spouse of the Holy Ghost, who herself loves God more than all other creatures together?

How much then are we not obliged to love this exalted and most lovable Heart?

— St. John Eudes

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

Saturdays and the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

The Brown Scapular (Catholic Caucus)

The History of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Catholic Caucus)

Homilies preached by Father Robert Altier on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Marian Associations Unite to Celebrate Immaculate Heart

Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, AUGUST 22ND

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

AUGUST 2008

General:
That the human family may learn to respect God’s plan for the world and become ever more aware that Creation is God’s great gift.

Mission:
That the answer of the entire people of God to the common calling to holiness and mission may be promoted and fostered by means of careful discernment of charisms and constant commitment to spiritual and cultural formation

From: Jeremiah 20:7-9

Jeremiah’s fifth “confession”

[7] O Lord, thou has deceived me,
and I was deceived;
though art stronger than I,
and thou hast prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all the day;
and every one mocks me.

[8] For whenever I speak, I cry out,
I shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For the word of the Lord has become for me
a reproach and derision all day long.

[9] If I say, “I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
shut up in my bones,
and I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

20:7-18. This last, very dramatic “confession” is one of the most impressive pa-
ssages in prophetical literature. It (especially vv. 14-18) has features in common
with Job 3:1-10. It could have been uttered around 605-604 BC when Jeremiah
was being persecuted by King Jehoiakim. Despite all his efforts, Jeremiah feels
that he has failed; he believes in God – but could it be that he never received a
special call? It is a time of inner crisis for Jeremiah. He laments his vocation,
for it has led to his persecution (vv. 7-9); then he makes an act of trust in God
despite the harassment he is suffering (vv. 10-13); the passage ends with a se-
ries of imprecations (vv. 14-18).

The prophet confides his feelings to God and complains about his calling (v.
7a). It looks as if God has misled him (v. 7b): the prophet has made enemies
on every side. When he proclaims the word of God no one listens: reproach
and derision are the only response he gets (v. 10). He would like to walk away.
Yet he cannot, for God is like a “burning fire” in his heart (v. 9). Despite all his
difficulties, his zeal for the Lord wins the day: it only goes to prove that those
who have experienced desire to make him known to others – to those who once
knew him and have forgotten him, and to those who have never heard of him.
That is the message that Theodoret of Cyrus takes from this passage, recalling
the example of St. Paul: “The same happened to St. Paul as he stood in silence
in Athens. His soul burned within him when he saw the terrible idolatry that was
practiced in that city (cf. Acts 17:16). The prophet had the same experience”
(Interpretatio in Jeremiam, 20, 9). And when Origen reads this passage and
asks himself whether God could ever deceive someone, he explains: “We are
little children, and we must be treated as little children. God, therefore, en-
trances us in order to form us, although we may not be aware of this captivation
before the appropriate time comes. God does not deal with us as people who
have already left childhood, who can no longer be led by sweet words but only
by deeds” (Homiliae in Jeremiam, 19, 15).

In spite of everything, Jeremiah is sure that God will never forsake him (v. 11).
>From what he says, we can see that there is an inner tension between his ex-
perience of all kinds of sufferings (vv. 14-18) and the conviction that God will
never leave him (vv. 12-13). What he says in v. 18 could suggest that he is ut-
terly depressed, but what he is doing is baring his soul to someone whom he
loves and trusts entirely, even in the midst of total darkness and a sense of
powerlessness. Events will show this to be the case: Jeremiah did not give
up his ministry but persevered in it to the end of his life. He admits his limita-
tions but he stays true to God: this bears out what the Lord will tell St. Paul
when he feels the situation is beyond him: “My power is made perfect in your
weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).

Meditating on this “confession” of Jeremiah, St John of the Cross concludes that
sometimes God’s purposes are impossible to understand: “It is very difficult to
attempt to understand fully the words and deeds of God, or even to decide what
they may be, without falling often into error or becoming very confused. The pro-
phets who were entrusted with the word of God knew this well; their task of pro-
phesying to the people was a daunting one, for the people could not always see
what was spoken coming to pass. Therefore, they mocked and laughed at the
prophets, as Jeremiah says: I have become a laughingstock all the day; every
one mocks me (20:7). Although the prophet speaks as though resigned to his
fate, in the voice of a weak man who is unable to bear any longer the vicissi-
tudes of God, he makes clear the difference between the prophecy and its fulfil-
lment and the common sense that the divine sayings contain, because he
knows that the prophets were often taken as mischief-makers” (Ascent of
Mount Carmel, 2, 20, 6).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Romans 12:1-2

Solidarity in the Mystical Body

[1] I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
worship.[2] Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal
of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and accep-
table and perfect.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

1. In the New Testament Christians are clearly called to offer sacrifices to God—
no longer sacrifices of animals, as in the Old Law, but offerings of themselves.
This new kind of worship must take a spiritual form, as Jesus told the Samaritan
woman, rather than a purely material form: it must be something living, holy, not
merely external and formal, and pleasing to God (cf. Jn 4:23). “It is by the apo-
stolic preaching of the Gospel that the people of God is called together and
gathered so that all who belong to this people, sanctified as they are by the Holy
Spirit, may offer themselves ‘a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God’ (Rom
12:1)” (Vatican II, “Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 2).

The basis of this priestly meaning of Christian life is to be found in the sacrament
which makes us members of Christ’s body: “Through Baptism all of us have been
made priests of our lives, ‘to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ’ (1 Pet 2:5). Everything we do can be an expression of our obedience
to God’s will and so perpetuate the mission of the God-man” (St. J. Escriva,
“Christ Is Passing By”, 96).

Every day the Christian can and should offer himself along with Christ in the Holy
Mass: “If the oblation whereby the faithful in this Sacrifice offer the divine victim
to the heavenly Father is to produce its full effect [...] they must also offer them-
selves as victim, desiring intensely to make themselves as like as possible to
Jesus Christ who suffered so much, and offering themselves as a spiritual victim
with and through the High Priest himself” (Pius XII, “Mediator Dei”, 25). From
this it follows that the whole Christian life and the struggle which it implies are
imbued with deep priestly significance: “If I renounce everything I possess, if I
carry the cross and follow Christ, I have offered a holocaust on the altar of God,
or if I burn up my body in the fire of charity [...] I have offered a holocaust on the
altar of God [...]; if I mortify my body and abstain from all concupiscence, if the
world is crucified unto me and not me unto the world, then I have offered a holo-
caust on the altar of God and I am become a priest of my own sacrifice” (Origen,
“In Lev. Hom.”, 9, 9).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus Foretells His Passion and Resurrection

[21] From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jeru-
salem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and
be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] And Peter took Him and began to
rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” [23] But
He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me;
for you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

[24] Then Jesus told His disciples, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and follow Me. [25] For whoever would save his life
will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it
profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man
give in return for his life? [27] For the Son of Man is to come with His angels in
the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man for what he has done.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

23. Jesus rejects St. Peter’s well-intentioned protestations, giving us to under-
stand the capital importance of accepting the cross if we are to attain salvation
(cf. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25). Shortly before this (Matthew 16:17) Jesus had pro-
mised Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon”; now He reproves him: “Get behind me,
Satan.” In the former case Peter’s words were inspired by the Holy Spirit,
whereas what he says now comes from his own spirit which he has not yet
sloughed off.

24. “Divine love, `poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to
us’ (Romans 5:5), enables lay people to express concretely in their lives the spirit
of the Beatitudes. Following Jesus in His poverty, they feel no depression in want,
no pride in plenty; imitating the humble Christ, they are not greedy for vain show
(cf. Galatians 5:26). They strive to please God rather than men, always ready to
abandon everything for Christ (cf. Luke 14:26) and even to endure persecution in
the cause of right (cf. Matthew 5:10), having in mind the Lord’s saying? `If any
man wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and fol-
low Me’” (Matthew 16:24) (”Apostolicam Actuositatem”, 4).

25. A Christian cannot ignore these words of Jesus. He has to risk, to gamble,
this present life in order to attain eternal life: “How little a life is to offer to God!”
(St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 420).

Our Lord’s requirement means that we must renounce our own will in order to
identify with the will of God and so to ensure that, as St. John of the Cross com-
ments, we do not follow the way of those many people who “would have God will
that which they themselves will, and are fretful at having to will that which He wills,
and find it repugnant to accommodate their will to that of God. Hence it happens
to them that oftentimes they think that that wherein they find not their own will
and pleasure is not the will of God; and that, on the other hand, when they them-
selves find satisfaction, God is satisfied. Thus they measure God by themselves
and not themselves by God” (”Dark Night of the Soul”, Book 1, Chapter 7, 3).

26-27. Christ’s words are crystal-clear: every person has to bear in mind the Last
Judgment. Salvation, in other words, is something radically personal: “He will
repay every man for what he has done” (verse 27).

Man’s goal does not consist in accumulating worldly goods; these are only means
to an end; man’s last end, his ultimate goal, is God Himself; he possesses God
in advance, as it were, here on earth by means of grace, and possesses him fully
and forever in Heaven. Jesus shows the route to take to reach this destination—
denying oneself (that is, saying no to ease, comfort, selfishness and attachment
to temporal goods) and taking up the cross. For no earthly—impermanent—good
can compare with the soul’s eternal salvation. As St. Thomas expresses it with
theological precision, “the least good of grace is superior to the natural good of
the entire universe” (”Summa Theologiae”, I-II, q. 113, a. 9).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Mass Readings

First reading	Jeremiah 20:7 - 9 ©
You have seduced me, the Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered me: you were the stronger. I am a daily laughing-stock, everybody’s butt. Each time I speak the word, I have to howl and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’ The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long. I used to say, ‘I will not think about him, I will not speak in his name any more.’ Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones. The effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it.

First reading

Jeremiah 20:7 - 9 ©

You have seduced me, the Lord, and I have let myself be seduced;
you have overpowered me: you were the stronger.
I am a daily laughing-stock,
everybody’s butt.
Each time I speak the word, I have to howl
and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’
The word of the Lord has meant for me
insult, derision, all day long.
I used to say, ‘I will not think about him,
I will not speak in his name any more.’
Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones.
The effort to restrain it wearied me,
I could not bear it.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 62

Second reading	Romans 12:1 - 2 ©
Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.

Second reading

Romans 12:1 - 2 ©

Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.

Gospel	Matthew 16:21 - 27 ©
From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’ Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? ‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’

Gospel

Matthew 16:21 - 27 ©

From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’
Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’

It’s All About the Cross and the Resurrection

August 30th, 2008 by Fr. Paul Grankauskas

People seem to like it when Our Lord says things like, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” or, “Judge not.” It seems they are taken to mean Catholics have no business speaking out against sin and immorality because that is being too judgmental.

Christians are supposed to be “nice” because Christ was “nice.” We are supposed to just accept and tolerate everything. After all, Christ dined with tax collectors and sinners.

True, but the Gospels are quite clear: Our Lord came to call sinners to repentance. Funny how when we quote Christ we forget what Jesus says to His disciples in this week’s Gospel reading: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”

Our Lord says this just after announcing that in Jerusalem He will suffer, die and rise again. He makes it clear that, even with the great miracles He has already wrought, the cross remains at the center of His salvific mission. The hour of the cross is the hour for which He came into the world. At the beginning of His public ministry, Satan tried steering Him away from the cross. Now He is trying it again.

Peter, who has just been called the rock upon which Christ would build His Church, reacts to Jesus’ announcement by saying he will not allow these terrible things to happen to his master. On the face of it, it seems an appropriate thing to do. Who wants to see a loved one suffer? But Peter does not yet understand the meaning of Christ’s suffering and death. Our Lord knows that Peter’s desire to save Him would be an obstacle to a divine plan, hence the rebuke: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

No sooner does Jesus make it clear that the cross is the center of His life then He says to His disciples that, if they wish to follow Him, they, too, must embrace the cross. This is meant not just for those first apostles, many of whom would indeed die for their faith. It is meant for any of us who would call ourselves His disciples.

What does taking up the cross mean?

On the one hand, it means that we must die to our sins. We cannot make excuses for them. We cannot get bent out of shape when someone tries to correct our sinful actions. We cannot pretend that God does not care if I am living in sin. The Scriptures are quite clear: God hates iniquity. Our Lord makes it quite clear that we must put our attachment to - our love for - sin to death.

On the other hand, taking up the cross means also responding faithfully to the demands and duties of our vocations. Our Lord was on a mission. Satan was trying to turn Him away from it. That dynamic is still at work today. Husbands and wives take up a cross when they vow to be faithful to one another in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, in prosperity or adversity. Fulfilling those vows means giving up or putting on hold personal plans and dreams (i.e., careers or travel) because the family comes first. It is a vocation that is meant to foster love, but Satan has modern means of trying to derail God’s plans for that holy state: pornography and a modern tendency to view children as burdens instead of gifts.

A priest takes up the cross when he takes the vow of celibacy and dedicates himself to serving the people of God. He is called to be a man of prayer. Satan sometimes seeks to derail that by planting those insidious thoughts that tell us we do not have time for prayer. There is too much we have to do. He can also derail a vocation by instilling in us a desire to be served rather than a desire to serve. In other words, he would have us turn the priestly vocation completely on its head.

In other words, to take up the cross means that we must be ready to do God’s will and not our own. We must be ready to root out sin because we know God loves each one of us. If we say we love Him, too, then we cannot cling to those things that we know offend our Beloved. We must be faithful in the vocations to which we have been called. Both of these mean that the cross will not simply be taken up once, but daily.

This is not to say that the Christian life is simply about toil and drudgery. Christ’s prediction of His passion was followed with the promise of glory. He would die, but He would rise again. If we are willing to die to sin and remain faithful to God’s will for us, then not only shall we die with Christ, but we shall also rise to new life with Him. Taking up the cross means that I am willing to let God tear down whatever is keeping me from Him, whatever obstacles are keeping me from really knowing His love for me and me from loving Him completely, so that God can build me up into the person He wants me to be.

Fr. Paul Grankauskas is parochial vicar at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax, Virginia.

(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

The Work of God

Year A

- 22nd Sunday in ordinary time

If anyone wants to be a follower of mine

Matthew 16:21-27

21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you."
23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27 "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
(NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

22nd Sunday in ordinary time - If anyone wants to be a follower of mine

When I revealed to the apostles that I was going to undergo great suffering and then be put death, they were all dejected, they suffered in silence without really understanding what it meant.

Just a while before, I had told Peter that he was the rock on which I would found my Church. He was very enthusiastic about the role he was going to play, he was thinking of all the human power and glory that could be derived from that, he got carried away in his thoughts. My revelation upset him very much since he could not conceived that a man of my power and holiness could be destined to suffer and die the way I had predicted. He took me aside trying to find an alternate solution to the situation.

I said to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

I am the man of suffering depicted by Isaiah in chapter 53, I am the sacrificial lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. It was by my suffering and death that I overcame sin, death and the devil. It is also by my wounds that you are healed, therefore it was necessary the Son of God suffered great torment to pay for the debt incurred by the sins of the whole world.

After my suffering there came the victory of my resurrection, by which you will obtain faith in me to be able to take up my cross, deny yourselves and follow me.

To be a true follower of mine, you must deny yourself. By this you must live a life that conforms to my word, you must live for heaven while you exist in the world, you must reject all those attractive pleasures that can ruin your soul, you must keep away from danger and resist temptation by drawing wisdom from my teachings.

You must carry the cross daily which means that you must accept my will, there will be things that you want which you don’t need, there will be things you need which you don’t want, only God knows what is best for you. The Divine Will will be manifested in your daily life, if you don’t resist the cross you will actually enjoy the journey to your heavenly home.

You must follow me with your cross, the road is narrow and steep and you are bound to suffer and fall on the way to Calvary. You must undergo the martyrdom of dying to yourself in order to be borne again for me only. You must crucify all your passions and your sinfulness; you must crucify yourself to me in order to be separated from the evil of the world.

It is only then, that by losing your life you will find it, by walking your way with me you will arrive to your destination, and by following me through your journey you will glorify my Heavenly Father and me.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Catholic homilies - gospel inspirations - list

Sunday, August 31, 2008
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27

Perfect love means putting up with other peoples shortcomings, feeling no surprise at their weakness, finding encouragement even in the slightest evidence of good qualities in them.

-- St. Therese of Lisieux

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Office of Readings and Invitatory Psalm

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 103 (104)
Hymn to God the Creator
Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord, my God, how great you are! You are robed in majesty and splendour; you are wrapped in light as in a cloak. You stretch out the sky like an awning, you build your palace upon the waters. You make the clouds your chariot, you walk upon the wings of the wind. You make the breezes your messengers, you make burning fire your minister. You set the earth upon its foundation: from age to age it will stand firm. Deep oceans covered it like a garment, and the waters stood high above the mountains; but you rebuked them and they fled; at the sound of your thunder they fled in terror. They rise to the mountains or sink to the valleys, to the places you have decreed for them. You have given them a boundary they must not cross; they will never come back to cover the earth. You make springs arise to feed the streams, that flow in the midst of the mountains. All the beasts of the field will drink from them and the wild asses will quench their thirst. Above them will nest the birds of the sky, from among the branches their voices will sound. 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.

Psalm 103 (104)

Hymn to God the Creator

Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord, my God, how great you are!
You are robed in majesty and splendour;
you are wrapped in light as in a cloak.

You stretch out the sky like an awning,
you build your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot,
you walk upon the wings of the wind.
You make the breezes your messengers,
you make burning fire your minister.

You set the earth upon its foundation:
from age to age it will stand firm.
Deep oceans covered it like a garment,
and the waters stood high above the mountains;
but you rebuked them and they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they fled in terror.
They rise to the mountains or sink to the valleys,
to the places you have decreed for them.
You have given them a boundary they must not cross;
they will never come back to cover the earth.

You make springs arise to feed the streams,
that flow in the midst of the mountains.
All the beasts of the field will drink from them
and the wild asses will quench their thirst.
Above them will nest the birds of the sky,
from among the branches their voices will sound.

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.

Psalm 103 (104)
From your palace you water the mountains, and thus you give plenty to the earth. You bring forth grass for the cattle, and plants for the service of man. You bring forth bread from the land, and wine to make man’s heart rejoice. Oil, to make the face shine; and bread to make man’s heart strong. The trees of the Lord have all that they need, and the cedars of Lebanon, that he planted. Small birds will nest there, and storks at the tops of the trees. For wild goats there are the high mountains; the crags are a refuge for the coneys. He made the moon so that time could be measured; the sun knows the hour of its setting. You send shadows, and night falls: then all the beasts of the woods come out, lion cubs roaring for their prey, asking God for their food. When the sun rises they come back together to lie in their lairs; man goes out to his labour, and works until evening. 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.

Psalm 103 (104)

From your palace you water the mountains,
and thus you give plenty to the earth.
You bring forth grass for the cattle,
and plants for the service of man.
You bring forth bread from the land,
and wine to make man’s heart rejoice.
Oil, to make the face shine;
and bread to make man’s heart strong.

The trees of the Lord have all that they need,
and the cedars of Lebanon, that he planted.
Small birds will nest there,
and storks at the tops of the trees.
For wild goats there are the high mountains;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys.

He made the moon so that time could be measured;
the sun knows the hour of its setting.
You send shadows, and night falls:
then all the beasts of the woods come out,
lion cubs roaring for their prey,
asking God for their food.
When the sun rises they come back together
to lie in their lairs;
man goes out to his labour,
and works until evening.

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.

Psalm 103 (104)
How many are your works, O Lord! You have made all things in your wisdom, and the earth is full of your creatures. The sea is broad and immense: sea-creatures swim there, both small and large, too many to count. Ships sail across it; Leviathan lives there, the monster; you made him to play with. All of them look to you to give them their food when they need it. You give it to them, and they gather; you open your hand, they are filled with good things. But turn away, and they are dismayed; take away their breath, and they die, once more they will turn into dust. You will send forth your breath, they will come to life; you will renew the face of the earth. Glory be to the Lord, for ever; let the Lord rejoice in his works. He turns his gaze to the earth, and it trembles; he touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; as long as I exist, I will sing songs to God. May my praises be pleasing to him; truly I will delight in the Lord. Let sinners perish from the earth, let the wicked vanish from existence. Bless the Lord, my soul! 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.

Psalm 103 (104)

How many are your works, O Lord!
You have made all things in your wisdom,
and the earth is full of your creatures.
The sea is broad and immense:
sea-creatures swim there, both small and large,
too many to count.
Ships sail across it;
Leviathan lives there, the monster;
you made him to play with.

All of them look to you
to give them their food when they need it.
You give it to them, and they gather;
you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
But turn away, and they are dismayed;
take away their breath, and they die,
once more they will turn into dust.
You will send forth your breath, they will come to life;
you will renew the face of the earth.

Glory be to the Lord, for ever;
let the Lord rejoice in his works.
He turns his gaze to the earth, and it trembles;
he touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
as long as I exist, I will sing songs to God.
May my praises be pleasing to him;
truly I will delight in the Lord.

Let sinners perish from the earth,
let the wicked vanish from existence.
Bless the Lord, my soul!

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.

Reading	Jeremiah 11:18 - 12:13 ©
The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’ But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence, who probe the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you. You have right on your side, O Lord, when I complain about you. But I would like to debate a point of justice with you. Why is it that the wicked live so prosperously? Why do scoundrels enjoy peace? You plant them, they take root, and flourish, and even bear fruit. You are always on their lips, yet so far from their hearts. You know me, O Lord, you see me, you probe my heart, it is in your hands. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter-house, reserve them for the day of butchery. How long will the land be in mourning, and the grass wither all over the countryside? The animals and birds are dying as a result of the wickedness of the inhabitants. For they say, ‘God does not see our behaviour.’ If you find it exhausting to race against men on foot, how will you compete against horses? If you are not secure in a peaceful country, how will you manage in the thickets along the Jordan? Yes, even your own brothers and your own family play you false. Behind your back, they too criticise you openly. Put no reliance on them when they seem to be friendly. I have abandoned my house, left my heritage, I have delivered what I dearly loved into the hands of its enemies. For me my heritage has become a lion in the forest, it roars at me ferociously: so I now hate it. Or is my heritage a speckled bird for the birds to flock on her thus from all directions? Come on, all you wild beasts, gather round, fall on the quarry! Many shepherds have laid my vineyard waste, have trampled down my inheritance, reducing my pleasant inheritance to a deserted wilderness. They have made it a mournful, desolate place, desolate before me. The whole land has been devastated and no one takes it to heart. The devastators have arrived on all the bare heights of the desert (for the Lord wields a sword that devours): from end to end of the land there is no peace for any living thing. Wheat they have sown, thorns they reap: they have worn themselves out, to no profit. They are disappointed in their harvests, through the fury of the Lord.

Reading

Jeremiah 11:18 - 12:13 ©

The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’
But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence,
who probe the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.

You have right on your side, O Lord,
when I complain about you.
But I would like to debate a point of justice with you.
Why is it that the wicked live so prosperously?
Why do scoundrels enjoy peace?
You plant them, they take root,
and flourish, and even bear fruit.
You are always on their lips,
yet so far from their hearts.
You know me, O Lord, you see me,
you probe my heart, it is in your hands.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter-house,
reserve them for the day of butchery.
How long will the land be in mourning,
and the grass wither all over the countryside?
The animals and birds are dying
as a result of the wickedness of the inhabitants.
For they say,
‘God does not see our behaviour.’

If you find it exhausting to race against men on foot,
how will you compete against horses?
If you are not secure in a peaceful country,
how will you manage in the thickets along the Jordan?
Yes, even your own brothers and your own family play you false.
Behind your back, they too criticise you openly.
Put no reliance on them when they seem to be friendly.

I have abandoned my house,
left my heritage,
I have delivered what I dearly loved
into the hands of its enemies.
For me my heritage has become
a lion in the forest,
it roars at me ferociously:
so I now hate it.
Or is my heritage a speckled bird
for the birds to flock on her thus from all directions?
Come on, all you wild beasts, gather round,
fall on the quarry!
Many shepherds have laid my vineyard waste,
have trampled down my inheritance,
reducing my pleasant inheritance
to a deserted wilderness.
They have made it a mournful, desolate place,
desolate before me.
The whole land has been devastated
and no one takes it to heart.

The devastators have arrived
on all the bare heights of the desert
(for the Lord wields a sword that devours):
from end to end of the land
there is no peace for any living thing.
Wheat they have sown, thorns they reap:
they have worn themselves out, to no profit.
They are disappointed in their harvests,
through the fury of the Lord.

Reading	From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
The Lord has had pity on us
Happy are we if we do the deeds of which we have heard and sung. Our hearing of them means having them planted in us, while our doing them shows that the seed has borne fruit. By saying this, I wish to caution you, dearly beloved, not to enter the Church fruitlessly, satisfied with mere hearing of such mighty blessings and failing to do good works. For we have been saved by his grace, says the Apostle, and not by our works, lest anyone may boast; for it is by his grace that we have been saved. It is not as if a good life of some sort came first, and that thereupon God showed his love and esteem for it from on high, saying: “Let us come to the aid of these men and assist them quickly because they are living a good life.” No, our life was displeasing to him. He will, therefore, condemn what we have done but he will save what he himself has done in us. We were not good, but God had pity on us and sent his Son to die, not for good men but for bad ones, not for the just but for the wicked. Yes, Christ died for the ungodly. Notice what is written next: One will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. Perhaps someone can be found who will dare to die for a good man; but for the unjust man, for the wicked one, the sinner, who would be willing to die except Christ alone who is so just that he justifies even the unjust? And so, my brothers, we had no good works, for all our works were evil. Yet although men’s actions were such, God in his mercy did not abandon men. He sent his Son to redeem us, not with gold or silver but at the price of his blood poured out for us. Christ, the spotless lamb, became the sacrificial victim, led to the slaughter for the sheep that were blemished – if indeed one can say that they were blemished and not entirely corrupt. Such is the grace we have received! Let us live so as to be worthy of that great grace, and not do injury to it. So mighty is the physician who has come to us that he has healed all our sins! If we choose to be sick once again, we will not only harm ourselves, but show ingratitude to the physician as well. Let us then follow Christ’s paths which he has revealed to us, above all the path of humility, which he himself became for us. He showed us that path by his precepts, and he himself followed it by his suffering on our behalf. In order to die for us – because as God he could not die – the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The immortal One took on mortality that he might die for us, and by dying put to death our death. This is what the Lord did, this the gift he granted to us. The mighty one was brought low, the lowly one was slain, and after he was slain, he rose again and was exalted. For he did not intend to leave us dead in hell, but to exalt in himself at the resurrection of the dead those whom he had already exalted and made just by the faith and praise they gave him. Yes, he gave us the path of humility. If we keep to it we shall confess our belief in the Lord and have good reason to sing: We shall praise you, God, we shall praise you and call upon your name.

Reading

From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

The Lord has had pity on us

Happy are we if we do the deeds of which we have heard and sung. Our hearing of them means having them planted in us, while our doing them shows that the seed has borne fruit. By saying this, I wish to caution you, dearly beloved, not to enter the Church fruitlessly, satisfied with mere hearing of such mighty blessings and failing to do good works. For we have been saved by his grace, says the Apostle, and not by our works, lest anyone may boast; for it is by his grace that we have been saved. It is not as if a good life of some sort came first, and that thereupon God showed his love and esteem for it from on high, saying: “Let us come to the aid of these men and assist them quickly because they are living a good life.” No, our life was displeasing to him. He will, therefore, condemn what we have done but he will save what he himself has done in us.
We were not good, but God had pity on us and sent his Son to die, not for good men but for bad ones, not for the just but for the wicked. Yes, Christ died for the ungodly. Notice what is written next: One will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. Perhaps someone can be found who will dare to die for a good man; but for the unjust man, for the wicked one, the sinner, who would be willing to die except Christ alone who is so just that he justifies even the unjust?
And so, my brothers, we had no good works, for all our works were evil. Yet although men’s actions were such, God in his mercy did not abandon men. He sent his Son to redeem us, not with gold or silver but at the price of his blood poured out for us. Christ, the spotless lamb, became the sacrificial victim, led to the slaughter for the sheep that were blemished – if indeed one can say that they were blemished and not entirely corrupt. Such is the grace we have received! Let us live so as to be worthy of that great grace, and not do injury to it. So mighty is the physician who has come to us that he has healed all our sins! If we choose to be sick once again, we will not only harm ourselves, but show ingratitude to the physician as well.
Let us then follow Christ’s paths which he has revealed to us, above all the path of humility, which he himself became for us. He showed us that path by his precepts, and he himself followed it by his suffering on our behalf. In order to die for us – because as God he could not die – the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The immortal One took on mortality that he might die for us, and by dying put to death our death. This is what the Lord did, this the gift he granted to us. The mighty one was brought low, the lowly one was slain, and after he was slain, he rose again and was exalted. For he did not intend to leave us dead in hell, but to exalt in himself at the resurrection of the dead those whom he had already exalted and made just by the faith and praise they gave him. Yes, he gave us the path of humility. If we keep to it we shall confess our belief in the Lord and have good reason to sing: We shall praise you, God, we shall praise you and call upon your name.

Hymn	Te Deum
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

Hymn

Te Deum

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal –
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power –
The cherubim, the seraphim –
unceasingly, they cry:
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”

The glorious choir of Apostles –
The noble ranks of prophets –
The shining army of martyrs –
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
– Father of immeasurable majesty,
– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.

You, Christ:
– You are the king of glory.
– You are the Father’s eternal Son.
– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.
– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.
– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.
– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.

And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.

Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

Concluding Prayer
God of power and might, all that is perfect belongs to you. Fill us with love of your name: increase our zeal and nourish what is good in us; watch over us and preserve what you have nourished. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Matthew 16:21-27

View NAB Reading at USCCB.org | Wrong date? Set time zone.

Can you imagine being in Peter’s position? Jesus just called you the rock on which he would build his church, and then, seconds later, he is chastising you and calling you “Satan.”

What happened?

What we are seeing here is the real-time working of the Holy Spirit in Peter’s life. Through Jesus’ teaching, Peter was laying new foundations for the way he would think and act—but those foundations took time to build. And today’s reading shows him at a point when he grasped that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but not that this Messiah was destined to be a suffering servant.

How hard it must have been for Peter to hear Jesus speak so abruptly! But ultimately, how freeing it proved to be! Peter didn’t have to keep thinking only as an ordinary human being, with just a few flashes of revelation here and there. This encounter showed him that he could learn how to think with God all the time. It showed that he could always ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom—and that the Spirit would answer him.

Ultimately, Peter was able to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and lead the church because he let his mind be renewed. He learned how to hear God’s voice and receive direction from God, and that enabled him to remain strong and peaceful in times of tribulation. He wasn’t doing it all on his own; he had divine help to guide him and reassure him every step of the way.

Peter is a wonderful example of what the Holy Spirit can do when we let him work in us. Sometimes it is hard to submit our thoughts and attitudes to the Lord, but the rewards are well worth the effort. After all, what could be better than being transformed into a beloved—and loving—servant of Christ!

“Holy Spirit, come and renew my way of thinking. I want to become a vessel of your grace and power, and I know I cannot do this on my own. Spirit, make your thoughts my thoughts and your desires my desires!”

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-6,8-9;  Romans 12:1-2

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings (on USCCB site):
» August 31, 2008
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Collect: Almighty God, every good thing comes from you. Fill our hearts with love for you, increase our faith, and by your constant care protect the good you have given us. 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. Amen.

« August 31, 2008 »

Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost #cal_links li { padding: 0px; }

ACTIVITIES
- » Confession Catechesis
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Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 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? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom" (Matt. 16:24-28).

Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 20:7-9 in which we hear Jeremiah giving voice to this internal anguish of mind; he hates what he has to say to his people, yet he is compelled by God to say it.

The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 12:1-2 in which he tells the Roman Christians (converts, for the most part, from paganism) that they must prove themselves worthy of this great favor, they must live truly Christian lives.

The Gospel is from Matt. 16:21-27. From all eternity this was God's plan for mankind. But because sin had entered into the world before the Incarnation took place, the Son of God in his human nature had to suffer the violent death of the cross at the hands of sinners. In this very suffering he became the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, as the second-Isaiah had foretold in his "suffering servant" prophecies (Is. 53: 1-7; 42: 1-9 etc). His death, because he was God as well as man, was a sacrifice, an atonement, of infinite value, and therefore obtained forgiveness from the Father for all the sins of the human race.

In foretelling his sufferings and death, which took place some months later, Christ intended to prepare his disciples and other followers for what he knew would be for them a severe crisis of faith. He also took occasion from it to remind his disciples, and all others who would follow him, of what their attitude to suffering and death should be. He told them, and us too, that we must be ever ready to accept sufferings in this life, and even an untimely death if that should be demanded of us, rather than deny our Christian faith.

To prove their loyalty to their faith in Christ thousands of Christians in the early Church, and thousands more during persecutions in later centuries, gladly took him at his word and went joyfully to their martyrdom. It is to be hoped that, aided by God's grace, we would all be ready to imitate their example, if called on to prove our fidelity to Christ and our Christian faith. But at the moment what Christ expects and asks of us is that we should bear the sufferings and hardships of daily life cheerfully and gladly for his sake.

This daily carrying of our Christian cross can be, and is for many, a prolonged martyrdom. Poverty, ill-health, cruelty and hardheartedness met with in the home and in one's neighbors, are heavy crosses which only a truly Christian shoulder can bear. But, if we were offered health, happiness, peace, wealth and power for the next fifty or seventy years on this earth, in exchange for an eternal heaven after death, what rational one among us would accept that offer?

Christians know that this life is a period of training, which makes us ready hereafter to receive the eternal reward which Christ has won for us. Every trainee knows that one must endure certain hardships and sufferings in order to merit graduation into one's chosen profession or trade. On our Christian graduation day we shall, please God, hear the welcome words : "Well done good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater, come and join in your Master's happiness" (Mt. 25: 21). May God grant that every one of us will hear these words of welcome.

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 117 (118)
A cry of rejoicing and triumph
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, and his kindness is for ever. Now let Israel say, he is good and his kindness is for ever. Now let the house of Aaron say it too: that his kindness is for ever. Now let all who fear the Lord say it too: that his kindness is for ever. In my time of trial I called out to the Lord: he listened, and led me to freedom. The Lord is with me, I will fear nothing that man can do. The Lord, my help, is with me, and I shall look down upon my enemies. It is good to seek shelter in the Lord, better than to trust in men. It is good to seek shelter in the Lord, better than to trust in the leaders of men. All the nations surrounded me, and in the Lord’s name I slew them. They crowded in and besieged me, and in the Lord’s name I slew them. They surrounded me like swarms of bees, they burned like a fire of dry thorns, and in the Lord’s name I slew them. They chased and pursued me, to make me fall, and the Lord came to my help. The Lord is my strength and my rejoicing: he has become my saviour. A cry of joy and salvation in the dwellings of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has triumphed! The Lord’s right hand has raised me up; the Lord’s right hand has triumphed.” I shall not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord. The Lord chastised me severely but did not let me die. Open the gates of righteousness: I will go in, and thank the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; it is the upright who enter here. I will thank you, for you listened to me, and became my saviour. The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner-stone. It was the Lord who did this – it is marvellous to behold. This is the day that was made by the Lord: let us rejoice today, and be glad. Lord, keep me safe; O Lord, let me prosper! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, he shines upon us! Arrange the procession, with close-packed branches, up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, I will give thanks to you; my God, I will give you praise. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, and his kindness is for ever. 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.

Psalm 117 (118)

A cry of rejoicing and triumph

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
and his kindness is for ever.

Now let Israel say, he is good
and his kindness is for ever.
Now let the house of Aaron say it too:
that his kindness is for ever.
Now let all who fear the Lord say it too:
that his kindness is for ever.

In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:
he listened, and led me to freedom.
The Lord is with me,
I will fear nothing that man can do.
The Lord, my help, is with me,
and I shall look down upon my enemies.

It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
better than to trust in men.
It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
better than to trust in the leaders of men.

All the nations surrounded me,
and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They crowded in and besieged me,
and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They surrounded me like swarms of bees,
they burned like a fire of dry thorns,
and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They chased and pursued me, to make me fall,
and the Lord came to my help.
The Lord is my strength and my rejoicing:
he has become my saviour.

A cry of joy and salvation
in the dwellings of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has triumphed!
The Lord’s right hand has raised me up;
the Lord’s right hand has triumphed.”

I shall not die, but live,
and tell of the works of the Lord.
The Lord chastised me severely
but did not let me die.
Open the gates of righteousness:
I will go in, and thank the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;
it is the upright who enter here.

I will thank you, for you listened to me,
and became my saviour.

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the corner-stone.
It was the Lord who did this –
it is marvellous to behold.
This is the day that was made by the Lord:
let us rejoice today, and be glad.

Lord, keep me safe;
O Lord, let me prosper!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, he shines upon us!
Arrange the procession, with close-packed branches,
up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, I will give thanks to you;
my God, I will give you praise.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
and his kindness is for ever.

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.

Canticle	Daniel 3
Let every creature praise the Lord
Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers, praised and exalted for ever. Blessed is the holy name of your glory praised above all things and exalted for ever. Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory praised and glorious above all things for ever. Blessed are you who gaze on the depths, seated on the cherubim, praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven praised and glorious for ever. Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. 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.

Canticle

Daniel 3

Let every creature praise the Lord

Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers,
praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed is the holy name of your glory
praised above all things and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory
praised and glorious above all things for ever.
Blessed are you who gaze on the depths,
seated on the cherubim,
praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven
praised and glorious for ever.
Bless the Lord, all his works,
praise and exalt him for ever.

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.

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord in his sanctuary, praise him in his mighty firmament. Praise him for his mighty deeds, praise him for all his greatness. Praise him with trumpet-blasts, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and pipes, praise him with cymbals resounding, praise him with cymbals of jubilation. All that breathes, praise the Lord! 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.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,
praise him in his mighty firmament.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for all his greatness.

Praise him with trumpet-blasts,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipes,
praise him with cymbals resounding,
praise him with cymbals of jubilation.

All that breathes, praise the Lord!

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.

Short reading	Ezekiel 36:25 - 27 ©
I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances.

Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. 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.

Canticle

Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages:
to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies –
in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven.
Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us
to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death;
to lead our feet in the path of peace.

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.

Prayers and Intercessions

?

Let us give thanks to our Saviour who came down into this world as God in our midst. Let us cry out to him: - Christ, king of glory, be our light and our joy!
Christ our Lord, you are the light dawning from on high, the first-fruits of the resurrection that is to come:: may we not remain in shadow but follow you and walk in the light of true life.
Make us perceive your goodness in every created thing,: so that we see your glory wherever we look.
Lord, do not let evil defeat us today,: but may we, armed with goodness, defeat evil ourselves.
You were baptized in Jordan and anointed with the Holy Spirit:: make us give thanks to that same Spirit today.

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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

God of power and might, all that is perfect belongs to you.
Fill us with love of your name:
increase our zeal and nourish what is good in us;
watch over us and preserve what you have nourished.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

Regnum Christi

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
August 31, 2008

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

For what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world but forfeits his life?

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew Reinhardt, Consecrated Member of Regnum Christ

Matthew 16: 21-27
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For he who wants to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will he give in return for his life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, your words, “be perfect just as your heavenly father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48), have challenged saints and sinners for 2000 years, and they challenge me today. Lord, I ask you to grant me the grace to follow the steps to holiness by denying myself (purgative way), taking up my cross (illuminative way), and following you (unitive way).

Petition: Lord, place in the depth of my soul a great desire to become a saint by denying myself, taking up my cross and following you.

1. The Purgative Way
Christ presents three ways to Christian perfection in today’s Gospel: “If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” The first step, self-denial, is called “the purgative way” by some theologians. Have you ever noticed that in order to advance, a time of purging is necessary? The championship football teams have to work hard during the hot August two-times-a-day practices. The expecting mother has nine months of discomfort before bringing a new life into the world. Even the Church offers Advent and Lent as a time to purify ourselves before celebrating the mysteries of our faith. The same could be said for our striving for holiness; we must be purged and purified in many ways. It is essential that we hate sin and avoid it at all cost by fighting temptation. Our sentiments, passions, memory and imagination must be placed under the rule of our faith, intellect and will. Beginning a prayer life requires effort, fight and constancy. There is no task more difficult than that of the purification process on our journey to reaching holiness. At the same time there is no greater happiness or fulfillment experienced by those souls who venture to deny themselves so that Christ may reign more fully in them each day.

2. The Illuminative Way
A second step in the spiritual life can be summarized as “take up his cross.” A soul in this step has achieved a certain measure of self-control over the force of his passions, avoids any grave sins, and has deep convictions regarding the truths of our faith. Their present task is to progress in good, strengthening themselves especially in charity. They seek to adorn themselves with Christ’s virtues and to make Christ the center of their thoughts, affections and actions. These souls could be compared to an experienced mother who is raising the youngest of her children or an athlete who has the fundamentals down and is playing at peak performance. How happy and balanced our lives are when we arrive to this level in our spiritual life. Christ invites us to this level of friendship with him; all we have to do is say yes, work hard, and trust in God’s grace.

3. Unitive Way
The third step in the spiritual life, the unitive way, can be described by Christ’s words: “Follow me.” Once we go through the purification of our own body and soul and are steeped in the practice of virtue, we are ready to be among the closest followers of Christ, the saints! In this level we are detached from created things, and our primary focus is on the presence of the Creator who dwells in our hearts. Love of God becomes the driving force in our life and we can say with our Lord, “I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29). Deep union with God in prayer, never resisting grace, and perfect mastery over ourselves bring us to see crosses and difficulties with great joy. So have many souls arrived to this state of heaven on earth: John Paul II, Mother Teresa and so many unknown husbands and wives, students and scholars, businessmen and housewives who have taken Christ’s call seriously and followed him above all else. “For what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world but forfeits his life?”

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I ask you for the courage to continue to follow your call to holiness. Help me to know where it is you want me to become more like you, and give me the strength to form myself into the saint of which you have always dreamed. Mother Mary, I entrust my spiritual life into your maternal care. Guide me as you guided your son.

Resolution: I will invite someone to go to Sunday Mass today.

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest
The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool.” From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes. Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn. The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.” The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings. He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls; he will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high. 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.

Psalm 109 (110)

The Messiah, king and priest

The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool.”

From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes.
Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.”
The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls;
he will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high.

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.

Psalm 113B (115)
Praise of the true God
Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your own name give the glory, because of your kindness and faithfulness. Why should the nations say: “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens, and what he wills, he does. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, they have eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear, they have nostrils but do not smell. They have hands but they do not feel, they have feet but they do not walk; no voice comes from their throats. Their makers will be like them, and all who put their trust in them. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. All who fear the Lord trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. The Lord has remembered us and he will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron – he will bless all who fear the Lord. May the Lord add to your numbers and to those of your children. May the Lord bless you, the Lord who made heaven and earth. The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth he has given to men. It is not the dead who will praise you, O Lord, nor those who go down into the silence; but we, who live, will bless the Lord, now and for ever. 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.

Psalm 113B (115)

Praise of the true God

Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your own name give the glory,
because of your kindness and faithfulness.
Why should the nations say:
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens,
and what he wills, he does.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths but do not speak,
they have eyes but do not see.
They have ears but do not hear,
they have nostrils but do not smell.
They have hands but they do not feel,
they have feet but they do not walk;
no voice comes from their throats.
Their makers will be like them,
and all who put their trust in them.

The house of Israel trusts in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
All who fear the Lord trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.

The Lord has remembered us and he will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron –
he will bless all who fear the Lord.

May the Lord add to your numbers
and to those of your children.
May the Lord bless you,
the Lord who made heaven and earth.

The heavens are the Lord’s,
but the earth he has given to men.
It is not the dead who will praise you, O Lord,
nor those who go down into the silence;
but we, who live, will bless the Lord,
now and for ever.

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.

Canticle	(Apocalypse 19)
The wedding of the Lamb
Alleluia. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgements are true and just. Alleluia. Alleluia. Praise our God, all his servants, and you who fear him, small and great. Alleluia. Alleluia. For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty: let us rejoice and exult and give him glory. Alleluia. Alleluia. The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his spouse has made herself ready. Alleluia. 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.

Canticle

(Apocalypse 19)

The wedding of the Lamb

Alleluia.
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgements are true and just.
Alleluia.

Alleluia.
Praise our God, all his servants, and you who fear him, small and great.
Alleluia.

Alleluia.
For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty: let us rejoice and exult and give him glory.
Alleluia.

Alleluia.
The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his spouse has made herself ready.
Alleluia.

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.

Short reading	2 Thessalonians 2:13 - 14 ©
We feel that we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctifying Spirit and by faith in the truth. Through the Good News that we brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. 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.

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

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.

Prayers and Intercessions

?

Christ gives eternal salvation to those who come to God through him: he lives and intercedes for us for ever. Filled with this belief we give him praise and honour and humbly beg him: - Lord, remember your people.
As the sun is setting we call on you, the Sun of righteousness that never sets:: may all mankind be bathed in your light for ever.
Uphold the Covenant that you sealed with your holy blood:: sanctify your Church and make her pure.
Remember, Lord, your people:: your people, in whom you dwell.
Guide travellers on straight and peaceful paths:: may they arrive safely where they are going.
Accept, Lord, the souls of the deceased:: give them forgiveness and everlasting glory.

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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

God of power and might, all that is perfect belongs to you.
Fill us with love of your name:
increase our zeal and nourish what is good in us;
watch over us and preserve what you have nourished.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

Homily of the Day

The Only Truly Safe Investment In The World

August 30th, 2008 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Jer 20:7-9 / Rom 12:1-2 /Mt 16:21-27

Not so long ago, when computers were not half as smart as they are today, a group of experts developed a computer program to translate texts from one language to another. After extensive work, they were sure they had it right, so they typed in the very first text ever to be translated by a computer. It was a familiar text from scripture: “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the computer printed out the translation which read as follows: “The liquor’s still good, but the meat’s gone bad.”

Life is a struggle, from beginning to end, and few things ever come easy. At the beginning of life we strain hard to stand upright without anybody holding onto us. At the end of life we’re back to the very same task. And in between, the struggles are laid end to end: raising kids, making a marriage, finding our life’s work, taking care of those who need us, becoming faithful friends, finding the money to do what needs to be done.

A lot of struggling is done right out there in plain view. But the real struggle is always inside us: the struggle with fear which is always there whispering in our ear, “Don’t get in too deep; you might lose or get hurt. Save your strength for later.”

At every fork in the road, fear tells us not to invest: in this moment, or in this person, or in whatever is at hand because there’s no guarantee we’ll win, no guarantee that our kids will be good, that our spouse will be faithful, or that our good work will bear fruit. “No guarantee,” says that evil little voice inside, “so, stand pat; sit on your hands. Better safe than sorry.”

Jesus responds to that lying little voice with a warning in Sunday’s Gospel: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

God has given every one of us some very clear life assignments. They’re spelled out in our gifts and in the circumstances of our lives. Will we accept God’s assignments and do the important work he’s given us? Will we succeed in building our piece of his kingdom? Only if we invest everything we’ve got — for the long term. But by ourselves that’s impossible, because our fears are just too great.

However, we do have an alternative, and that is to look straight into our Lord’s eyes — there on the cross — and ask ourselves if he can be trusted. The answer is so obvious. The cross says it all. So, trust him! Invest your whole heart in every moment. And remember that, in the end, the only absolutely safe and sure investment in all the world is working as his full time partner. You can count on it!

One Bread, One Body

<< Sunday, August 31, 2008 >>

22nd Sunday Ordinary Time
Saint of the Day

Jeremiah 20:7-9
Romans 12:1-2
View Readings

Psalm 63
Matthew 16:21-27

BODY-LANGUAGE

"I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God." —Romans 12:1

We must offer our bodies as sacrifices to God. We are also called to offer our "bodies to God as weapons for justice" (Rm 6:13). We must know that our bodies are temples "of the Holy Spirit, Who is within" (1 Cor 6:19). Our bodies are sacrifices, weapons, and temples. Because our bodies are sacrifices, we must deny ourselves and let God consume us (see Heb 12:29). We must give God our best so as not to offer defective sacrifices (see Mal 1:7-8).

Because our bodies are weapons, we must not be "bloated with indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares" (Lk 21:34). We should fight by wielding the "sword of the Spirit" (Eph 6:17), and the spiritual weapons of prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB). We must be in shape to "fight the good fight" of evangelization (1 Tm 1:18).

Because our bodies are temples, they should be holy, clean, peaceful, and joyous. We need to repent of our sins, go to Confession, and enthrone Jesus as Lord of our lives and our bodies. Although our bodies are weak and fragile, they are precious in God's eyes. If we use them to glorify Him, He will glorify our bodies and raise them from the dead (see Phil 3:21). "So glorify God in your body" (1 Cor 6:20).

Prayer: Father, I am custom-made to please You. I o