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From: Colossians 1:24-2:3

Paul’s response to his calling

[24] Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what
is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, [25]
of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to
me for you, to make the word of God fully known, [26] the mystery hidden for
ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints. [27] To them God
chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory
of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [28] Him we proclaim,
warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present
every man mature in Christ. [29] For this I toil, striving with all the energy which
he mightily inspires within me.

St. Paul’s concern for the faithful

[1] For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at Laodicea,
and for all who have not seen my face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding
and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, [3] in whom are hid all the trea-
sures of wisdom and knowledge.

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

24. Jesus Christ our Lord perfectly accomplished the work the Father gave him
to to (cf. Jn 17:4); as he said himself when he was about to die, “It is finished”,
it is accomplished (Jn 19:30).

>From that point onwards objective redemption is an accomplished fact. All men
have been saved by the redemptive death of Christ. However, St Paul says that he
completes in his flesh “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”; what does he mean
by this? The most common explanation of this statement is summarized by St Al-
phonsus as follows: “Can it be that Christ’s passion alone was insufficient to save
us? It left nothing more to be done, it was entirely sufficient to save all men. How-
ever, for the merits of the Passion to be applied to us, according to St. Thomas
(Summa theologiae, III, q. 49, a. 3), we need to cooperate (subjective redemption)
by patiently bearing the trials God sends us, so as to become like our head,
Christ” (St Alphonsus, Thoughts on the Passion, 10).

St Paul is applying this truth to himself. Jesus Christ worked and strove in all
kinds of ways to communicate his message of salvation, and then he accomp-
lished the redemption by dying on the Cross. The Apostle is mindful of the Mas-
ter’s teaching and so he follows in his footsteps (cf. 1 Pet 2:21), takes up his
cross 9cf. Mt 10:38) and continues the task of bringing Christ’s teaching to all
men.

Faith in the fact that we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, John Paul II says,
gives a person “the certainty that in the spiritual dimension of the work of Redemp-
tion he is serving, like Christ, the salvation of his brothers and sisters. Therefore
he is carrying out an irreplaceable service. In the Body of Christ, which is cease-
lessly born of the Cross of the Redeemer, it is precisely suffering permeated by
the spirit of Christ’s sacrifice that is the irreplaceable mediator and author of the
good things which are indispensable for the world’s salvation. It is suffering, more
than anything else, which clears the way for the grace which transforms human
souls. Suffering, more than anything else, makes present in the history of
humanity the force of the Redemption” (Salvifici doloris, 27).

26-27. The “mystery”, now revealed, is God’s eternal plan to give salvation to men,
both Jews and Gentiles, making all without distinction co-heirs of glory and mem-
bers of a single body which is the Church (cf. Eph 3:6), through faith in Jesus
Christ (cf. Rom 15:25-26).

In Christ, who has brought salvation to Gentile and Jew, the “mystery” is fully
revealed. His presence in Christians of Gentile origin is in fact a very clear mani-
festation of the supernatural fruitfulness of the “mystery” and an additional ground
for Christians’ hope. Thanks to this presence people who do not form part of
Israel are enabled to attain salvation. Previously subject to the power of darkness
and slaves of sin (vv. 13-14), the have now died to sin through Baptism (cf. Rom
6:2-3) and Christ, through grace, dwells in their hearts (on the salvific “mystery”,
cf. notes on Eph 1:13-14 and Eph 1:9, and “Introduction to the letters of St Paul”
in The Navarre Bible: Romans and Galatians, pp. 32-33).

In his infinite love Christ lives in us through faith and grace, through prayer and
the sacraments. Also, “he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he
has promised ‘where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the
midst of them’ (Mt 18:20)” (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7).

“Christ stays in his Church, its sacraments, its liturgy, its preaching – in all that
it does. In a special way Christ stays with us in the daily offering of the Blessed
Eucharist […]. The presence of Christ in the host is the guarantee, the source
and the culmination of his presence in the world.

“Christ is alive in Christians. Our faith teaches us that man, in the state of grace,
is divinized – filled with God. We are men and women, not angels. We are flesh
and blood, people with sentiments and passions, with sorrows and joys. And this
divinization affects everything human; it is a sort of foretaste of the final resurrec-
tion” (St. J. Escriva, Christ is passing by, 102-103).

28. “In all wisdom”: St Paul is exhorting and teaching each and every one, com-
municating wisdom, the true teaching of Jesus Christ. The text clearly shows St
Paul’s conviction that he is a faithful transmitter of teachings revealed by God.
Possessed of such wisdom he is confident that he can lead his disciples to
Christian perfection.

2-3. The term “mystery”, which St Paul uses on other occasions (cf. 1:26; Eph
1:9), refers in this verse expressly to Christ: Christ is the complete manifestation
of the divine plan or “mystery” designed to bring about the salvation of mankind.
The name Jesus means Saviour and indicates his principal mission – to save
the people of Israel (and through them all mankind) from their sins (cf. Mt 1:21).

The assertion that in Christ “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”
is based on the fact that Christ – God made man – is the incarnation of divine
Wisdom itself, for Wisdom is one of the names applied in Sacred Scripture to
the second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Hence St Athanasius’ comment that
“God no longer chose to make himself known, as in times past, by the reflection
and shadow of wisdom to be seen in created things: he determined that Wisdom
itself, in person, should become incarnate, should be made man and suffer death
on the cross, so that from then on all the faithful might attain salvation through
faith grounded on the cross” (Oratio II contra Arianos).

The infinite richness of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ means that medi-
tation on his life and his teachings is an inexhaustible source of nourishment for
the life of the soul. “There are great depths to be fathomed in Christ. For he is
like an abandoned mine with many recesses containing treasures, of which, for
all that men try to fathom them, the end and bottom is never reached; rather in
each recess men continue to find new veins of new riches on all sides” (St. John
of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, 37, 3).

*********************************************************************************************
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: Luke 6:6-11

The Cure of a Man with a Withered Hand

[6] On another Sabbath, when He (Jesus) entered the synagogue and taught, a
man was there whose right hand was withered. [7] And the scribes and the Pha-
risees watched Him, to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they
might find an accusation against Him. [8] But He knew their thoughts, and He
said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he
rose and stood there. [9] And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the
Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” [10] And He
looked around on them all, and said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did
so, and his hand was restored. [11] But they were filled with fury and discussed
with one another what they might do to Jesus.

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

10. The Fathers teach us how to discover a deep spiritual meaning in apparently
casual things Jesus says. St. Ambrose, for example, commenting on the phrase
“Stretch out your hand,” says: “This form of medicine is common and general.
Offer it often, in benefit of your neighbor; defend from injury anyone who seems
to be suffering as a result of calumny; stretch your hand out also to the poor man
who asks for your help; stretch it out also to the Lord asking Him to forgive your
sins; that is how you should stretch your hand out, and that is the way to be
cured” (”Expositio Evangelii sec. Lucam, in loc”.).

11. The Pharisees do not want to reply to Jesus’ question and do not know how
to react to the miracle which He goes on to work. It should have converted them,
but their hearts were in darkness and they were full of jealousy and anger. Later
on, these people, who kept quiet in our Lord’s presence, began to discuss Him
among themselves, not with a view to approaching Him again but with the pur-
pose of doing away with Him. In this connection St. Cyril comments: “O Phari-
see, you see Him working wonders and healing the sick by using a higher power,
yet out of envy you plot His death” (”Commentarium in Lucam, in loc.”).

*********************************************************************************************
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.

Readings at Mass

First reading

Colossians 1:24-2:3 ©

It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints. It was God’s purpose to reveal it to them and to show all the rich glory of this mystery to pagans. The mystery is Christ among you, your hope of glory: this is the Christ we proclaim, this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ. It is for this I struggle wearily on, helped only by his power driving me irresistibly.

Yes, I want you to know that I do have to struggle hard for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for so many others who have never seen me face to face. It is all to bind you together in love and to stir your minds, so that your understanding may come to full development, until you really know God’s secret in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

Psalm

Psalm 61:6-7,9 ©

In God is my safety and glory.

In God alone be at rest, my soul;

for my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock, my stronghold,

my fortress: I stand firm.

In God is my safety and glory.

Take refuge in God, all you people.

Trust him at all times.

Pour out your hearts before him

for God is our refuge.

In God is my safety and glory.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps118:105

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is a lamp for my steps

and a light for my path.

Alleluia!

Or	Jn10:27

Alleluia, alleluia!

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,

says the Lord,

I know them and they follow me.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 6:6-11 ©

On the sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ And he came out and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I put it to you: is it against the law on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?’ Then he looked round at them all and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus.

The Light of Faith (Lumen Fidei)[Catholic Caucus]

Year of Faith: Does God Command Evil Actions in the Bible? Part II (Part I linked
Francis "Lights" Up – Pope's First Encyclical Due Friday
Pope: Homily at Mass for Evangelium Vitae Day [full text]
Adoration with Pope energizing Catholics worldwide
Parishes Worldwide Prepare for Eucharistic Adoration Hour (June 2 at 11 am ET)
Pope [Francis] at Pentecost: Newness, harmony and mission
Audience: Do not be ‘part-time’ Christians
Pope Francis: Regina caeli
Pope to welcome 70,000 youths, confirm 44 (this Sunday) [Catholic Caucus]
Pope Francis’ General Audience focused on women. Feminists aren’t going to be happy

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio's "Letter On the Year of Faith" (Crossing Threshold of Faith)
Pope Francis – the real deal – has Audience with Cardinals
Benedict XVI's Final General Audience
On Ash Wednesday
On God As Creator of Heaven and Earth
On Abraham's Faith
On Christ As Mediator Between God and Man
On the Incarnation
On God the Almighty Father
Year of Faith: Indulgences and Places of Pilgrimage [Ecumenical]
On the Identity of Jesus

On the Faith of Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ
Father Cantalamessa's 1st Advent Sermon (Catholic Caucus)
On The Unfolding of God's Self-Revelation
On the Beauty of God's Plan of Salvation
On Bearing Witness to the Christian Faith
On the Splendor of God's Truth
On the Knowledge of God
Archbishop Chaput says Year of Faith holds solution to relativism
Following the Truth: The Year Of Faith – 10 Things You Should Know [Catholic Caucus]
Papal Encyclical on Faith Announced

On the Desire for God
On the Ecclesial Nature of Faith
On the Nature of Faith
Catechism's benefits explained for Year of Faith (Catholic Caucus)
A Life of Faith: Papal Theologian Speaks on the Grace of Faith
ASIA/LAOS - "Year of Faith" amid the persecutions of Christians forced to become "animists"
From no faith to a mountain-top of meaning: Father John Nepil (Catholic Caucus)
Living the Year of Faith: How Pope Benedict Wants You to Begin [Catholic Caucus]
Share Your Faith in This Year of Faith: Two keys to help you do it.
On A New Series of Audiences for The Year of Faith

Pope will deliver year-long teaching series on restoring faith
Pope Benedict XVI Grants Plenary Indulgence to Faithful [Catholic Caucus]
Pope, at Marian shrine, entrusts Year of Faith, synod to Mary (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Church Calls for Public Prayers in Offices on Fridays
Highlights in the Plan for Year of Faith: Traditional Events Will Take on Special Perspective
Catholic Church calls for public prayers in offices on Fridays
Vatican Unveils Logo for Year of Faith [Catholic Caucus]
Miami Prelate Recalls Pope's Visit to Cuba, Looks to Year of Faith [Catholic Caucus]
The World-Changing Year of Faith [Catholic Caucus]
Vatican to Issue Recommendations for Celebrating Year of Faith

Perpetual Novena for the Nation (Ecumenical)

Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

Jesus, High Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

Pray the Rosary

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: 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 who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: 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.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) [Spiritual fruit - Humility]
2. The Visitation (Luke 1: 39-56) [Spiritual fruit - Love of Neighbor]
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20) [Spiritual fruit - Poverty of Spirit]
4. The Presentation (Luke 2:21-38) [Spiritual fruit - Purity of mind & body]
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) [Spiritual fruit - Obedience ]

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+

A Prayer for our Free Nation Under God
God Save Our Country web site (prayer warriors)
Prayer Chain Request for the United States of America
Pray for Nancy Pelosi
Prayer and fasting will help defeat health care reform (Freeper Prayer Thread)
Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Non-stop Rosary vigil to defeat ObamaCare

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8"

PLEASE JOIN US -

Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.

Our Blessed Lady's Sorrows

Sea of Sorrow

Oh! on what a sea of sorrow
Was the Virgin-Mother cast,
When her eyes with tears o'erflowing
Gazed upon her Son aghast,
From the bloodstained gibbet taken,
Dying in her arms at last.

In her bitter desolation,
His sweet mouth, His bosom too,
Then His riven side beloved,
Then each hand, both wounded through,
Then His feet, with blood encrimsoned,
Her maternal tears bedew.

She, a hundred times and over,
Strains Him closely to her breast
Heart to Heart, arms arms enfolding,
Are His wounds on her impressed:
Thus, in sorrow's very kisses,
Melts her anguished soul to rest.

Oh, dear Mother! we beseech thee,
By the tears thine eyes have shed,
By the cruel death of Jesus
And His wounds' right royal red,
Make our hearts o'erflow with sorrow
From thy heart's deep fountainhead.

To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Now we bend on equal knee:
Glory, sempiternal glory,
To the Most High Trinity;
Yea! perpetual praise and honor
Now and through all ages be.

Novena Prayer To Our Sorrowful Mother

Most Blessed and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who didst stand generously beneath the cross, beholding the agony of thy dying Son; by the sword of sorrow which then pierced thy soul, by the sufferings of thy sorrowful life, by the unutterable joy which now more than repays thee for them; look down with a mother's pity and tenderness, as I kneel before thee to compassionate thy sorrows, and to lay my petition with childlike confidence in thy wounded heart. I beg of thee, O my Mother, to plead continually for me with thy Son, since He can refuse thee nothing, and through the merits of His most sacred Passion and Death, together with thy own sufferings at the foot of the cross, so to touch His Sacred Heart, that I may obtain my request,
For to whom shall I fly in my wants and miseries, if not to thee, O Mother of mercy, who, having so deeply drunk the chalice of thy Son, canst most pity us poor exiles, still doomed to sigh in this vale of tears? Offer to Jesus but one drop of His Precious Blood, but one pang of His adorable Heart; remind Him that thou art our life, our sweetness, and our hope, and thou wilt obtain what I ask, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hail Mary
Virgin Most Sorrowful, pray for us
(Seven times each)

Mary, most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, accept the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into thy Heart, pierced by so many swords, do thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as the companion of thy sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for the redemption of the world. With thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly suffer all the trials, contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please Our Lord to send me. I offer them all to thee in memory of thy sorrows, so that: every thought of my mind and every beat of my heart may be an act of compassion and of love for thee. And do thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me, reconcile me to thy Divine Son, Jesus; keep me in His grace and assist me in my last agony, so that I may be able to meet thee in Heaven and sing thy glories.

Most holy Virgin and Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy Divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never ending joy at His triumph, obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the adversities of Holy Church and the Sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litany of the Seven Sorrows

For private use only.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary,
Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, etc.
Mother crucified,
Mother sorrowful,
Mother tearful,
Mother afflicted,
Mother forsaken,
Mother desolate,
Mother bereft of thy Child,
Mother transfixed with the sword,
Mother consumed with grief,
Mother filled with anguish,
Mother crucified in heart,
Mother most sad,
Fountain of tears,
Abyss of suffering,
Mirror of patience,
Rock of constancy,
Anchor of confidence,
Refuge of the forsaken,
Shield of the oppressed,
Subduer of the unbelieving,
Comfort of the afflicted,
Medicine of the sick,
Strength of the weak,
Harbor of the wrecked,
Allayer of tempests,
Resource of mourners,
Terror of the treacherous,
Treasure of the faithful,
Eye of the Prophets,
Staff of the Apostles,
Crown of Martyrs,
Light of confessors,
Pearl of virgins,
Consolation of widows,
Joy of all Saints,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Look down upon us, deliver us, and save us from all trouble,
in the power of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let Us Pray.
Imprint, O Lady, thy wounds upon my heart, that I may read therein sorrow and love
--- sorrow to endure every sorrow for thee, love to despise every love for thee. Amen.

Conclude with the Apostles Creed, Hail Holy Queen, and three Hail Marys,
in honor of the Most Holy Heart of Mary.

Stabat Mater Dolorosa

Stabat mater dolorosa
iuxta Crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.

Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.

O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta,
mater Unigeniti!

Quae maerebat et dolebat,
pia Mater, dum videbat
nati poenas inclyti.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari
Christi Matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriendo desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum.

Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.

Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.

Iuxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,
fac me Cruce inebriari,
et cruore Filii.

Flammis ne urar succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.

Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.

Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria. Amen.

Prayer To Our Lady of Sorrows, by St. Bridget

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, who didst endure a martyrdom of love and grief beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! Thou didst cooperate in the benefit of my redemption by thine innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His only begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins. I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner. Oh, make use of the unfailing intercession of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son, that I may steadfastly amend my life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins, and that, persevering till death in His grace. I may obtain eternal life through the merits of His Cross and Passion. Amen.

Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori's Prayer To The Mother Of Sorrows

O, my Blessed Mother, it is not one sword only with which I have pierced thy heart, but I have done so with as many as are the sins which I have committed. O, Lady, it is not to thee, who art innocent, that sufferings are due, but to me, who am guilty of so many crimes. But since thou hast been pleased to suffer so much for me, by thy merits, obtain me great sorrow for my sins, and patience under the trials of this life, which will always be light in comparison with my demerits; for I have often deserved Hell.
Amen.

Stabet Mater Dolorosa (catholic/orthodox caucus)
[CATHOLIC/ORTHODOX CAUCUS] Spirituality: Our Lady of Sorrows
The Seven Swords Rosary Of Our Lady Of Sorrows [Catholic Caucus] Prayer and Meditation
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows [Catholic Caucus] Prayer/Devotion
Our Lady of Sorrows, part I: "Her Martyrdom was longer and greater than that of all the martyrs"

Lists Every Catholic Should be Familiar With: The 7 Sorrows (Dolours) and 7 Joys of Our Lady
The Seven Dolors (Sorrows) of Mary [Catholic/Orthodox Devotional]
Apparition in Africa: Our Lady of Sorrows [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Catholic Caucus Devotional]
Feast of Our Lady/Mother of Sorrows
Homilies on Our Lady of Sorrows
Starkenburg:Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine
Our Mother of Sorrows
ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI, OF THE DOLOURS OF MARY, The Glories [Sorrows] of Mary
Our Lady of Sorrows - Sep 15

September 2013

Pope's Intentions

Value of Silence. That people today, often overwhelmed by noise, may rediscover the value of silence and listen to the voice of God and their brothers and sisters.

Persecuted Christians. That Christians suffering persecution in many parts of the world may by their witness be prophets of Christ's love.

Daily Gospel Commentary

Monday of the Twenty-third week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Saint Athanasius (295-373), Bishop of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church
Against the pagans, 40 ; SC 18

Healing on the sabbath day symbolizes creation's consummation

This world is very good, as it has been done, and as we see it taking place, since that is what He wills; and this we can hardly refuse to believe. For if the movement of creation were irrational and the universe were borne along without plan, a man might fairly disbelieve what we say. But if it subsist in reason and wisdom and skill and is perfectly ordered throughout, it follows that he that is over it and has ordered it is none other than the Reason and Word of God...

Being the good Word of the Good Father he produced the order of all things, combining one with another things contrary, and reducing them to one harmonious order. He, being “the Power of God and Wisdom of God” (1Cor 1,24), causes the heavens to revolve and has suspended the earth and made it fast, though resting upon nothing, by his own will (cf Heb 1,3). Illumined by him, the sun gives light to the world, and the moon has her measured period of shining. By reason of him the water is suspended in the clouds, the rains shower upon the earth and the sea is kept within bounds, while the earth bears grasses and is clothed with all manner of plants (cf Ps 104[103])...

But the reason why the Word, the Word of God, has united Himself with created things is truly wonderful... For the nature of created things... is of a fleeting sort, and weak and mortal, if composed of itself only. But the God of all is good and exceeding noble by nature,— and therefore is kind... Seeing, then, that all created nature, as far as its own laws were concerned, was fleeting and subject to dissolution, lest it should come to this and... be broken up again into nothingness... he did not leave it to be tossed in a tempest in the course of its own nature. But because God is good he guides and settles the whole Creation by his own Word... lest that should come to it which would have come but for the maintenance of it by the Word — namely, dissolution—for “He is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all Creation, for through him and in him all things consist, things visible and things invisible, and He is the Head of the Church” (Col 1,15-18).

Monday, September 09, 2013
St. Peter Claver, Priest (Memorial)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:

Colossians 1:24 -- 2:3
Psalm 62:6-7, 9
Luke 6:6-11

In this dark vale of tears, I wish solely to feed upon this secret manna, this delicious substance.

-- St Cajetan

Just A Minute (Listen)
Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click.

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.

Saint Peter Claver, Priest and Religious

Saint Peter Claver,
Priest and Religious
Memorial
September 9th

unknown artist

History:
The son of a Catalonian farmer, was born at Verdu, in 1581. He obtained his first degrees at the University of Barcelona. At the age of twenty he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Tarragona. While he was studying philosophy at Majorca in 1605, Alphonsus Rodriguez, the saintly door-keeper of the college, learned from God the future mission of his young associate, and thenceforth never ceased exhorting him to set out to evangelize the Spanish possessions in America. Peter obeyed, and in 1610 landed at Cartagena, where for forty-four years he was the Apostle of the slaves. Early in the seventeenth century the masters of Central and South America afforded the spectacle of one of those social crimes which are entered upon so lightly. They needed laborers to cultivate the soil which they had conquered and to exploit the gold mines. The natives being physically incapable of enduring the labors of the mines, it was determined to replace them with slaves brought from Africa. The coasts of Guinea, the Congo, and Angola became the market for slave dealers, to whom native petty kings sold their subjects and their prisoners. By its position in the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena became the chief slave-mart of the New World. A thousand slaves landed there each month. They were bought for two, and sold for 200 écus. Though half the cargo might die, the trade remained profitable. Neither the repeated censures of the pope, nor those of Catholic moralists could prevail against this cupidity. The missionaries could not suppress slavery, but only alleviate it, and no one worked more heroically than Peter Claver.

During his life he baptized and instructed in the Faith more than 300,000 slaves. He died September 8, 1654. He was beatified July 16, 1850, Pius IX, and canonized January 15, 1888, by Leo XIII. His feast is celebrated on the ninth of September. On July 7, 1896, he was proclaimed the special patron of all the Catholic missions especially missions to Blacks. Alphonsus Rodriguez was canonized on the same day as Peter Claver.

(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition )

Collect:
O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves
and strenghtened him with wonderful charity and patience
as he came to their help,
grant, through his intercession,
that, seeking the things of Jesus Christ,
we may love our neighbor in deeds and in truth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

[Readings for the day are from the Common of Pastors (missionaries)]

LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT PETER CLAVER.

Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us!
Lord, have mercy on us

Christ hear us
Christ graciously hear us!

God, the Father of heaven Have mercy on us!
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us!
God, the Holy Spirit Have mercy on us!
Holy Trinity, One God Have mercy on us!

Holy Mary, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Peter Claver, pray for us.

Peter Claver, worthy son of St. Ignatius, pray for us.
Peter Claver, priest of God and servant to the Church, pray for us.
Peter Claver, generous imitator of St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.
Peter Claver, brilliant light of the New Word, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who exchanged the riches of this world for evangelical poverty, pray for us.
Peter Claver, apostle to blacks brought to the New World, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who by vow made thyself slave of the slaves, pray for us.
Peter Claver, refuge of the miserable, pray for us.
Peter Claver, great wonder worker, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who cured the sick and consoled the afflicted, pray for us.
Peter Claver, Liberator of slaves unto the freedom of the children of God, pray for us. Peter Claver, model of evangelical industry, pray for us.
Peter Claver, tender father of the poor and orphans, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who made thyself all things to all in order to gain them for Christ, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who in all trials of this life didst put thy trust in God, pray for us.
Peter Claver, who wished to be accounted as nothing and forgotten by men, pray for us. Peter Claver, who sought no other wisdom but the folly of the Cross, pray for us.
Peter Claver, shining example of humility and self renunciation, pray for us.
Peter Claver, perfect example of obedience and subjection, pray for us.
Peter Claver, intrepid apostle, powerful in word and deed, pray for us.
Peter Claver, martyr for Christ for the salvation of souls, pray for us.
Peter Claver, zealous lover of the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, pray for us. Peter Claver, imitator of the suffering Savior, pray for us.
Peter Claver, powerful protector of all who invoke thee, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
Spare us O Lord!

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
Graciously hear us O Lord!

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us!

Christ, hear us
Christ, graciously hear us

Lord, have mercy on us
Lord, hear our prayer.

O God, who to bring the poor to the knowledge of Thy most Holy Name, you gave to thy priest, St. Peter Claver, an admirable spirit of abnegation and heroic charity. Grant us through his intercession, not to seek our own satisfaction but the glory of Thy Divine son, that we may be able to love our neighbor in sincerity and truth, through Christ our Lord. Amen!

--

Miracle of St. Peter Claver, Saint Louis, MO Connection
Source - http://www.shrineofstjoseph.org/miracle.html

Ignatius Strecker came to America from Germany in 1853. He, his wife, and daughter settled in St. Joseph’s Parish in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a temperate, conscientious, religious man. Ignatius was devoted to his family, which eventually numbered nine children. He was also a hard worker in the soap factory where he found employment.

In this factory, one day towards the end of 1861, Mr. Strecker accidentally struck his chest sharply against a pointed piece of iron. His breastbone was injured, though no outward wound was at first visible. Still there was considerable pain, a burning sensation, and some swelling. This busy workman did not pay too much attention to his injury, until after two months. The tumor-like inflammation began to grow alarmingly and there was no way to drain off the accumulating malignant matter. Doctor Joseph Heitzig, the family physician, was called in.

Certain external remedies were tried and failed to cure him. Doctor Heitzig opened up the wound with an instrument, only to find the breastbone and some ribs on the left side in a state of incipient decomposition. A series of injections failed to clear this up, as did other remedies. The patient only grew worse. Moreover, violent coughing accompanied by copious sputum pointed to tuberculosis. Fever set in, respiration became difficult, and food could not be taken. Mr. Strecker was so weakened and fatigued that he had to give up his employment and spend weeks at a time as an invalid in bed.

After nine months of steady treatment without success, Doctor Heitzig asked the family to call in Doctor William Schoenemann, considered one of the best specialists in America. After a thorough examination of some futile attempts at healing, the doctor pronounced Mr. Strecker incurable and gave him two weeks to live. Mr. Strecker did not die, but lingered on for many months. He finally turned from human remedies to place himself, with resignation, in the hands of Divine Providence. He began to prepare for death.

At this critical moment, the famous parish missionary, Father Francis Xavier Weninger, S. J. arrived at St. Joseph’s to preach a mission. After the mission, Mrs. Strecker happened to be present in the church when Father Weninger was preaching a sermon on Blessed Peter Claver. Father Weninger pointed out Peter Claver’s great intercessory power with God. After the sermon, he blessed the people with a relic of Peter Claver.

Mrs. Strecker was a woman of deep faith. She went home and begged her husband to ask Peter Claver to cure his fatal maladies. Although Mr. Strecker had never heard of Peter Claver before this, he began to invoke him and ask for his help. The next day, with the last ounce of his strength, he literally dragged himself to St. Joseph’s Church and came in just as Father Weninger was blessing the sick with the relic. With sincere faith and strong confidence he placed himself in the line of the sick. Father Weninger blessed him and allowed him to kiss the relic.

What occurred now, Ignatius always found hard to explain. He said he felt a sudden increase in courage, a strengthening of faith, and an utter assurance that he would recover his health through the intercession of Peter Claver. The relic had no sooner been applied than the external suppurating sore began to disappear. The breastbone and ribs healed rapidly and the tuberculosis of the lungs vanished – all within a week or two. In fact, the day after the blessing with the relic, Mr. Strecker was back on the job in the factory. Despite great fatigue, he could already do a reasonable day’s work.

Dr. Schoenemann was astonished. Although not a Catholic, He declared that he recognized in the cure, a miracle of God’s omnipotence. The cure was complete. There was never any relapse. Years later, Mr. Strecker died on June 4, 1880 in St. Nicholas parish, adjoining St. Joseph’s. The City Board of Health issued a certificate that he died of typhoid fever and not as a consequence of his previous illnesses. Ignatius was buried in old SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Two years after the cure, a thorough canonical investigation was made by the Most Reverend Michael O’Connor who was for many years Bishop of Pittsburgh but now a member of the Society of Jesus. The miracle was formally declared authentic in Rome by Cardinal Bianchi in 1887. This miracle was chosen as one of the required two for the canonization process of Peter Claver. He was canonized the following year and his feast is now celebrated in the universal church on September 9th.

St. Peter Claver (A Man Who Knew How To Love)
A Saint In The Slave Trade[Saint Peter Claver]