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To: Alex Murphy
"No, it isn't shabby at all. But I'd like to see some stats re how many of the supposedly 69+ million Catholics in America faithfully attend the daily Mass. "

Nota bena, this is officially what the Catholic Church provides for her flock, she can't "force feed it". It's got to come from the heart.

No one can say that the Catholic Church "discourages Bible reading" after reading these stats.

123 posted on 11/02/2009 11:28:47 AM PST by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")
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To: GonzoII
www.catholicnewsagency.com

The Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed (All Souls)
November 2, 2009
Psalter: Proper
Color: White


Saints:
Daily Readings:
  • First Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9

    1 But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.
    2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:
    3 And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace.
    4 And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality.
    5 Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.
    6 As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them.
    7 The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds.
    8 They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.
    9 They that trust in him, shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love shall rest in him: for grace and peace is to his elect.

  • Psalm: Psalms 23:1-6

    1 A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
    2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
    3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.
    4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
    5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
    6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

  • Second Reading: Romans 5:5-11

    5 And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.
    6 For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly?
    7 For scarce for a just man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die.
    8 But God commendeth his charity towards us; because when as yet we were sinners, according to the time,
    9 Christ died for us; much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.
    10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
    11 And not only so; but also we glory in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation.

  • Second Reading: Romans 6:3-9

    3 Know you not that all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in his death?
    4 For we are buried together with him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life.
    5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
    6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer.
    7 For he that is dead is justified from sin.
    8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ:
    9 Knowing that Christ rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have dominion over him.

  • Gospel: John 6:37-40

    37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out.
    38 Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.
    39 Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.
    40 And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.


124 posted on 11/02/2009 11:33:34 AM PST by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")
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To: GonzoII

“No one can say that the Catholic Church “discourages Bible reading” after reading these stats. “

It IS nice to see the improvement following Vatican 2, and it had already improved before then. However, at the time of the Reformation, the Bishop of Gloucester surveyed 311 deacons, archdeacons and priests, and found that 168 were unable to repeat the 10 Commandments, 31 didn’t know where the 10 Commandments came from, and 40 could neither repeat the Lord’s Prayer nor say who the author of the Prayer was!

That is worth remembering when we debate things like “Reformation Day”. The Reformers not only started new congregations (the word typically translated church in the NT), but the competition has moved the Catholic Church in the right direction...


126 posted on 11/02/2009 12:03:51 PM PST by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)
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