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From: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25

Joash’s infidelity

[17] Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and did obei-
sance to the king; then the king hearkened to them. [18] And they forsook the
house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols.
And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt. [19] Yet he sent
prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord; these testified against
them, but they would not give heed.

[20] Then the Spirit of God took possession of Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the
priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why
do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper?
Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” [21] But they con-
spired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones
in the court of the house of the Lord. [22] Thus Joash the king did not remember
the kindness which Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his
son. And when he was dying, they said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”

[23] At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They
came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from
among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. [24] Though
the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their
hand a very great army, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their
fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

[25] When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his ser-
vants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the
priest, and slew him on his bed. So he died; and they buried him in the city of
David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

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

24:1-27. The account of the reign of Joash is written with a clearly pedagogical
purpose; we divide it into two stages, to help show the religious message it
contains.

The first stage (vv. 1-16) is all about the collection of monies to pay for the re-
storation of the temple (it follows the parallel passage of 2 Kings 12:1-17). Du-
ring these years the real protagonist is Jehoiada the priest, who implemented
the king’s initiatives to do with rebuilding the temple and returning it to its origi-
nal splendour (v. 13). When Jehoiada died, he was buried in the city of David,
that is to say, he was accorded royal honours.

The second stage was marked by disloyalty to the Lord and by idolatry. The
military defeats and conspiracies were forms of punishment for the king’s trans-
gressions (vv. 17-26). Joash’s worst crime was the shameful execution of the
son of Jehoiada, the prophet Zechariah (not the same person as the last of the
minor prophets), who had dared to denounce the king’s crimes. For this sin the
king himself will lose his life at the hands of conspirators (v. 25). Once again we
can see that God does not leave crimes unavenged.

This Zechariah is probably the prophet Jesus referred to as a prime example of
an innocent victim sacrificed by his own people: “that upon you may come all the
righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the innocent Abel to the blood of
Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and
the altar” (Mt 23:35). The fact that Jesus calls him “son of Barachiah” instead of
“son of Jehoiada” could be because different genealogies were being used, or else
there may have been some error in the transmission of the text. Anyway, given
that the book of Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew Bible, Jesus is saying
that all innocent victims, from the first (Abel) to the last (Zechariah), are figures of
the Christian martyrs and share in the redemption Christ effected by his death on
the cross: “Moreover, my brothers, you must not think that all those good men
who suffered persecution at the hands of the wicked – including those who were
sent to announce the coming of the Lord – were not members of Christ’s body.
Any man who belongs to the city of which Christ is the king must be a servant of
Christ. That city runs from the blood of the innocent Abel to the blood of Zecha-
riah. And on from there, from the blood of John [the Baptist], through that of the
apostles and martyrs and all those who were faithful to Christ: these people to-
gether make up the city of which we speak” (St Augustine, Enarrationes in
Psalmos, 61, 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: Matthew 6:24-34

Trust in God’s Fatherly Providence (Continuation)

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [24] “No one can serve two masters; for either he
will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

[25] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or
what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they
neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds
them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being an-
xious can add one cubit to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about
clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin;
[29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
[30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow
is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?
[31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we
drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek all these things; and
your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first His King-
dom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.

[34] “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious
for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”

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

24. Man’s ultimate goal is God; to attain this goal he should commit himself en-
tirely. But in fact some people do not have God as their ultimate goal, and instead
choose wealth of some kind—in which case wealth becomes their god. Man can-
not have two absolute and contrary goals.

25-32. In this beautiful passage Jesus shows us the value of the ordinary things
of life, and teaches us to put our trust in God’s fatherly providence. Using simple
examples and comparisons taken from everyday life, He teaches us to abandon
ourselves into the arms of God.

27. The word “span” could be translated as “stature”, but “span” is closer to the
original (cf. Luke 12:25). A “cubit” is a measure of length which can metaphori-
cally refer to time.

33. Here again the righteousness of the Kingdom means the life of grace in man
—which involves a whole series of spiritual and moral values and can be summed
up in the notion of “holiness”. The search for holiness should be our primary pur-
pose in life. Jesus is again insisting on the primacy of spiritual demands. Com-
menting on this passage, Pope Paul VI says: “Why poverty? It is to give God,
the Kingdom of God, the first place in the scale of values which are the object of
human aspirations. Jesus says: ‘Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness’.

And He says this with regard to all the other temporal goods, even necessary
and legitimate ones, with which human desires are usually concerned. Christ’s
poverty makes possible that detachment from earthly things which allows us to
place the relationship with God at the peak of human aspirations” (”General Au-
dience”, 5 January 1977).

34. Our Lord exhorts us to go about our daily tasks serenely and not to worry
uselessly about what happened yesterday or what may happen tomorrow. This
is wisdom based on God’s fatherly providence and on our own everyday experi-
ence: “He who observes the wind will not sow; and he who regards the clouds
will not reap” (Eccles 11:4).

What is important, what is within our reach, is to live in God’s presence and
make good use of the present moment: “Do your duty ‘now’, without looking back
on ‘yesterday’, which has already passed, or worrying over ‘tomorrow’, which may
never come for you” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 253).

*********************************************************************************************
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

2 Chronicles 24:17-25 ©

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came to pay court to the king, and the king now turned to them for advice. The Judaeans abandoned the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, for the worship of sacred poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. He sent them prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but when these gave their message, they would not listen. The spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, ‘God says this, “Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord to no good purpose? You have deserted the Lord, now he deserts you.”’ They then plotted against him and by order of the king stoned him in the court of the Temple of the Lord. King Joash, forgetful of the kindness that Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, had shown him, killed Jehoiada’s son who cried out as he died, ‘The Lord sees and he will avenge!’

When a year had gone by, the Aramaean army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem, and executed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king at Damascus all that they had plundered from them. Though the Aramaean army had by no means come in force, the Lord delivered into its power an army of great size for having deserted him, the God of their ancestors.

The Aramaeans treated Joash as he had deserved, and when they retired they left him a very sick man; and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the Citadel of David, though not in the tombs of the kings.

Psalm

Psalm 88:4-5,29-34 ©

I will keep my love for him always.

‘With my chosen one I have made a covenant;

I have sworn to David my servant:

I will establish your dynasty for ever

and set up your throne through all ages.

I will keep my love for him always.

‘I will keep my love for him always;

with him my covenant shall last.

I will establish his dynasty for ever,

make his throne endure as the heavens.

I will keep my love for him always.

‘If his sons forsake my law

and refuse to walk as I decree

and if ever they violate my statutes,

refusing to keep my commands;

then I will punish their offences with the rod,

then I will scourge them on account of their guilt.

I will keep my love for him always.

‘But I will never take back my love,

my truth will never fail.’

I will keep my love for him always.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt4:4

Alleluia, alleluia!

Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Alleluia!

Or	2Co8:9

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Christ was rich,

but he became poor for your sake,

to make you rich out of his poverty.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 6:24-34 ©

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.

‘That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it. Surely life means more than food, and the body more than clothing! Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life? And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith? So do not worry; do not say, “What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?” It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’

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.

June Devotion: The Sacred Heart

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion." These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

The devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make reparation for our ingratitude to God.

INVOCATION

O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was the characteristic note of the piety of Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302), Benedictine nun and renowned mystic. She was, in fact, the first great exponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart. In our efforts to honor the Heart of Jesus we have this prayer as a model for our own:
Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, 0 my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude

FOR THE CHURCH

O most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.

A PRAYER OF TRUST

O God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
Roman Missal

ACT OF LOVE

Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine;
pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrong-doing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.
Cardinal Merry del Val

MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART
Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought its mercy was ever abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present ourselves before Thee, crushed beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our requests. 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

Only for Love: The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood [Catholic Caucus]

Catholic Word of the Day: LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART, 10-19-09
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart Today
The Biblical Foundation of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Heart to Heart (Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion) [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]
(June) The Month of the Sacred Heart {Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]
The Heart of the World (On the Sacred Heart of Jesus) (Catholic Caucus)
The Sacred Heart Is The Holy Eucharist(Catholic Caucus)
The Origin of the Sacred Heart Badge

Importance of Devotion to the Sacred Heart
An Awesome Homily on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Father Edmond Kline
Catholic Prayer and Devotion: June the Month of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Devotions: Sacred Heart of Jesus
Pope Urges Jesuits to Spread Sacred Heart Devotion
Homilies preached by Father Altier on the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Meditation and Devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Daily Recomendation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus powerful prayer!
The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist
The Love of the Sacred Heart

On the Sacred Heart - "We Adore God's Love of Humanity"
HAURIETIS AQUAS (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart) - Encyclical by Pope Pius XII
Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sacred Heart a Feast of God's Love, Says John Paul II
The Sacred Heart of Jesus: Symbol of Combativity and the Restoration of Christendom
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus-The Early Church, Middle Ages up to St. Margaret Mary
See this Heart
‘God Will Act and Will Reign’
About Devotion To The Sacred Heart:The Story Of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Rediscover Feast of Sacred Heart, John Paul II Tells Youth

"Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth."

- Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary

Our Lord also made 12 promises to St. Margaret Mary for those that are devoted to His Sacred Heart.

I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
I will give peace in their families.
I will console them in all their troubles.
They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
Tepid souls shall become fervent.
Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.
I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at the last hour.

June 2014 Year A
Pope's Intentions
Universal: That the unemployed may receive support and find the work they need to live in dignity.

For Evangelization: That Europe may rediscover its Christian roots through the witness of believers.

Daily Gospel Commentary

Saturday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Julian of Norwich (1342-after 1416), recluse
Revelations of divine love, ch 85

"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself"

And in this sight I marvelled highly. For notwithstanding our simple living and our blindness here, yet endlessly our courteous Lord beholds us in this working, rejoicing; and of all things, we may please him best by wisely and truly believing, and enjoy with him and in him. For just as truly as we shall be in the bliss of God without end, praising and thanking him, so truly we have been in the foresight of God, loved and known in his endless purpose from the beginning of time.

In which love without beginning he made us; and in the same love he keeps us and never suffers us to be hurt in any way by which our bliss might be lost. And therefore when the Doom is given and we are all brought up above, then shall we clearly see in God the secret things which are now hidden from us. Then shall none of us be stirred to say: “Lord, if it had been otherwise, then it would have been well;” but we shall all say with one voice: “Lord, blessed may you be, for it is thus, it is well; and now we truly see that all things are done as you ordained before anything was made.

There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials.
-- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

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 Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious
Memorial
June 21st

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga in Glory
Oil on canvas
58.1 x 44.6 cm
The Courtauld Institute Gallery

An Italian Jesuit,, Saint Aloysius died as a result of his devoted and heroic nursing of those stricken with the plague. He was declared a protector of young students by Pope Benedict XIII and patron of Catholic Youth by Pope Pius XI.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
O God, giver of heavenly gifts,
who in Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
joined penitence to a wonderful innocence of life,
grant, through his merits and intercession,
that, though we have failed to follow him in innocence,
we may imitate him in penitence.
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.
First Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Gospel Reading: Matthew22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, to test Him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

Prayer of Self-Commendation to Mary
O Holy Mary, my Lady, into your blessed trust and safe keeping and into the depths of yur mercy, I commend my soul and body this day, every day of my life, and at the hour of my death. To you I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life. By your most holy intercession and by your merits, may all my actions be directed and disposed according to your will and the Will of your divine Son. Amen. by Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Saint Aloysius: Lover of the Eucharist
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga: Patron Of Youth

Information: St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Feast Day: June 21

Born: 9 March 1568 at castle of Castiglione delle Stivieri in Montau, Lombardy, Italy

Died: 21 June 1591 at Rome

Canonized: 31 December 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

Major Shrine: Church of Sant'Ignazio, Rome (his tomb)

Patron of: Young students, Christian youth, Jesuit novices, People with AIDS and their caregivers