Posted on 07/08/2014 9:47:34 PM PDT by Salvation
July 9, 2014
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Israel is a luxuriant vine
whose fruit matches its growth.
The more abundant his fruit,
the more altars he built;
The more productive his land,
the more sacred pillars he set up.
Their heart is false,
now they pay for their guilt;
God shall break down their altars
and destroy their sacred pillars.
If they would say,
“We have no king”—
Since they do not fear the LORD,
what can the king do for them?
The king of Samaria shall disappear,
like foam upon the waters.
The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,
the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars.
Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”
“Sow for yourselves justice,
reap the fruit of piety;
break up for yourselves a new field,
for it is time to seek the LORD,
till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (4b) Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel Mt 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”>
The Martyrs of Orange
Feast Day: July 09
Born/Died: Eighteenth century
During the French Revolution, thirty-two nuns were put in prison at Orange in France. These sisters were from different religious orders. There were sixteen Ursuline sisters, thirteen Sisters Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament, two Bernardine sisters and one Benedictine sister.
These nuns were told that they had to take an oath of loyalty to the leaders of the French Revolution. The sisters who knew and believed that the oath was against God and the Church refused to sign it. They were immediately taken to the Orange jail.
Some of the sisters knew each other, while others did not. In the prison, the nuns got together and formed a community in that dark, damp room. They prayed together at particular times during the day. They cheered up and comforted each other and formed strong bonds, as the early persecuted Christian Church had.
On July 6, the first sister was taken to trial and condemned to the guillotine. She never returned. Every day another sister, some days two sisters, were taken to be killed. No one knew who would be next. The group became smaller and smaller, but the remaining sisters prayed especially for those who would die that day. Then they would sing a hymn of praise to God called the Te Deum.
By the end of July, 1794, thirty-two sisters had been sentenced to death by the people's court at Orange, France and died as martyrs for their faith in Jesus. When the French Revolution was over, the judges of Orange were found guilty and punished for what they had done.
The thirty-two sisters called the martyrs of Orange were declared "blessed" by Pope Pius XI in 1925.
Reflection: In times of difficulty, how am I able to both give and receive support within my faith community?
Wednesday, July 9
Liturgical Color: Green
Today the Church honors St. Denis,
bishop and martyr. He became the first
bishop of Paris, converting many to the
Church. This angered local officials and
led to his beheading in 250 A.D.
What is more important, society or the individual?
In God's sight every individual matters in the first place as a person and only then as a social being.
Society can never be more important than the individual person. Men may never be means to a societal end. Nevertheless, social institutions such as the State and the family are necessary for the individual; they even correspond to his nature.
How can the individual be integrated into society in such a way that he nevertheless can develop freely?
The individual can develop freely in society if the "principle of subsidiarity" is observed.
The principle of subsidiarity, which was developed as part of Catholic Social Teaching, states: What individuals can accomplish by their own initiative and efforts should not be taken from them by a higher authority. A greater and higher social institution must not take over the duties of a subordinate organization and deprive it of its competence. Its purpose, rather, is to intervene in a subsidiary fashion (thus offering help) when individuals or smaller institutions find that a task is beyond them. (YOUCAT questions 322-323)
Dig Deeper: CCC section (1883-1885) and other references here.
Part 3: Life in Christ (1691 - 2557)
Section 1: Man's Vocation Life in the Spirit (1699 - 2051)
Chapter 2: The Human Community (1877 - 1948)
Article 1: The Person and Society (1878 - 1896)
I. THE COMMUNAL CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN VOCATION ⇡
Socialization also presents dangers. Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co-ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good."7
7.
CA 48 § 4; cf. Pius XI, Quadragesimo anno I,184-186.
God has not willed to reserve to himself all exercise of power. He entrusts to every creature the functions it is capable of performing, according to the capacities of its own nature. This mode of governance ought to be followed in social life. The way God acts in governing the world, which bears witness to such great regard for human freedom, should inspire the wisdom of those who govern human communities. They should behave as ministers of divine providence.
The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to all forms of collectivism. It sets limits for state intervention. It aims at harmonizing the relationships between individuals and societies. It tends toward the establishment of true international order.
Daily Readings for:July 09, 2014
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: O God, who in your wonderful providence have strengthened your Church through the confession of the Martyrs Saint Augustine Zhao and companions, grant that your people, faithful to the mission entrusted to it, may enjoy ever greater freedom and witness to the truth before the world. 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.
RECIPES
o Sweet-Sour Pork or Spareribs
ACTIVITIES
o Parents are the First Teachers
o Relating the Bible to Liturgy
PRAYERS
o July Devotion: The Precious Blood
o Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
o Prayer to St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
LIBRARY
o China's First Saint | Desmond O'Grady
o Evangelization of Asia is service of love | Pope John Paul II
o Message To Catholic Church in China | Pope John Paul II
o Our Lady of China | Zsolt Aradi
o The Emerging Church in China | Annie Lam
· Ordinary Time: July 9th
· Optional Memorial of St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and companions, Chinese martyrs
Old Calendar: St. Maria Goretti, virgin & martyr; St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More (Hist)
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese diocesan priest who was martyred with his 119 companions in 1815. Among their number was an eighteen year old boy, Chi Zhuzi, who cried out to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: "Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian."
Traditionally today is the feast of St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr. Her optional memorial is new to the USA liturgical calendar and is celebrated on July 9.
Historically today is also the feast of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher. Their feasts are currently celebrated on June 22.
Augustine Zhao Rong and companions
Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s. Depending on China's relations with the outside world, Christianity over the centuries was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly.
The 120 martyrs in this group died between 1648 and 1930. Most of them (eighty-seven) were born in China and were children, parents, catechists or laborers, ranging from nine years of age to seventy-two. This group includes four Chinese diocesan priests.
The thirty-three foreign-born martyrs were mostly priests or women religious, especially from the Order of Preachers, the Paris Foreign Mission Society, the Friars Minor, Jesuits, Salesians and Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese soldier who accompanied Bishop John Gabriel Taurin Dufresse (Paris Foreign Mission Society) to his martyrdom in Beijing. Augustine was baptized and not long after was ordained as a diocesan priest. He was martyred in 1815.
Beatified in groups at various times, these 120 martyrs were canonized in Rome on October 1, 2000.
Excerpted from Saint of the Day, Leonard Foley, O.F.M.
Things to Do:
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 10:6)
Have you ever dreamed of being a missionary to some faraway, exotic place? You could travel the world and tell people about the Lord, while setting up hospitals and schools for those in need. But we all know how the reality of daily life keeps us anchored in one place. So much for missionary zeal!
Today’s Gospel reminds us, however, that missionary work does not begin with people halfway around the world. It starts with our next-door neighbors. We see Jesus telling his disciples to go to the people who look and act like them, people who speak the same language and share the same customs. Who knows? The disciples might have been on a first-name basis with some of them!
This is how God wants to work with us as well. He is calling us to go to the “lost sheep” in our neighborhoods. This does not lessen the call, and it by no means narrows your field of work. There are plenty of people in your own town who need friendship and comfort. Many have lost hope or been crushed by misfortune or economic hardship. Think of the young people struggling to find their way in life or the elderly widower whose loss of his wife has left him isolated and bitter. So many people! So much need!
You don’t have to learn another language or travel very far. You know many of the obstacles that these people are facing, since you probably face some of them yourself.
Today, ask the Lord to help you see the “lost sheep” in your own corner of the world. Ask him, also, to show you how to channel your desires and passions into missionary efforts. Maybe you feel a pang in your heart whenever you think about the lonely people in nursing homes. Maybe you feel a kinship with couples whose marriages are struggling. Maybe the cry of the homeless resonates in your mind. If you experience anything like this, it may well be the Spirit sending you out. He may be showing you your own special mission field!
Jesus tells each of us, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). How is he calling you?
“Lord, send me to your lost sheep today.”
Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Psalm 105:2-7
Daily Marriage Tip for July 9, 2014:
Your family is a community. This means that when one person changes a behavior for good or for ill it impacts everyone. If you smile, do a favor, give a compliment, it lifts everyones spirit. If you complain or nag, it pulls your beloved down too.
Choosing an Apostle. | ||
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July 9, 2014. Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
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Matthew 10:1-7 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Introductory Prayer: Lord, I bring myself into your presence knowing the zeal of your heart for souls. The glory of your heavenly Father can shape my own heart. I am confident that, just as the Twelve lit the flame of their love for their mission from the furnace of your divine love, I can ignite all that is lukewarm and tepid in my own soul today. I desire to fulfill more perfectly the mission you have given me. Petition: Lord, grant me the grace to be generous and trustful concerning your plan for me. 1. Jesus Needs Apostles: A condition for the Kingdom to grow is that it have protagonists. Christ refuses to be a one-man show. We honor and bow before the divine choice expressed in Christ’s desire to let his victory be realized through others, beginning with the Twelve. In the Twelve we find the model of every call of Christ to build his Kingdom, to spread the faith by word and deed. If there is no response to his call, there is no Kingdom. Have I meditated on my call often? Do I see it linked to my family and to my workplace? Have I responded to it? 2. The Calling: Many were on the mountain that day. Many were drawn to him and longed to be close to him, but only 12 received the explicit call to be Apostles. The sense of predilection is in every vocation and every mission from God. What we are chosen for in life, no one else can fulfill it. We are called by name, meaning that Christ knows us well when he calls, including all our defects and weaknesses. He did not ask the Twelve for their preferences, look at their SAT scores, or scrutinize their résumés. The choice of God, revealed in prayer, is sovereign and omnipotent in action. The Twelve cannot think there has been some mistake or some miscalculation. The voice of God, who neither deceives nor can be deceived, is speaking. 3. A Free Response: Christ called freely, and in freedom the Twelve responded. He did not bring down angels from heaven to overwhelm them to cooperate, he merely prayed to the Father. As Lord of the harvest, he has called each one of us. Our vocation as an apostle, is not a question of our wanting to be one. It is not a question of our talents or compelling feelings for this or that, but of our faith-driven awareness of God asking and our responding. Why are we where we are now in our vocation in life? In our particular marriage? In a particular lay movement? We can never know fully, for only God knows the depths of his own wisdom. This is the first mystery of the Kingdom that touches each one of us personally: God called, he willed it, and we said “yes.” This is the only answer an apostle must seek. Anything else slows down the mission and interrupts the dialogue of love and service to the mission. Conversation with Christ: Lord, I want to affirm that all my work today is going to be my response to your call to be your disciple and a light to others in this world. I resolve never to doubt the special and perfect nature of your plan for me. May my heart always be confident and generous in responding to your voice. Resolution: I will take the hardest part of my day and embrace it with greater joy out of love for the one who has called me. |
Matthew | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Matthew 10 |
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1. | AND having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities. | Et convocatis duodecim discipulis suis, dedit illis potestatem spirituum immundorum, ut ejicerent eos, et curarent omnem languorem, et omnem infirmitatem. | και προσκαλεσαμενος τους δωδεκα μαθητας αυτου εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν πνευματων ακαθαρτων ωστε εκβαλλειν αυτα και θεραπευειν πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν |
2. | And the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, | Duodecim autem Apostolorum nomina sunt hæc. Primus, Simon, qui dicitur Petrus : et Andreas frater ejus, | των δε δωδεκα αποστολων τα ονοματα εστιν ταυτα πρωτος σιμων ο λεγομενος πετρος και ανδρεας ο αδελφος αυτου ιακωβος ο του ζεβεδαιου και ιωαννης ο αδελφος αυτου |
3. | James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, | Jacobus Zebedæi, et Joannes frater ejus, Philippus, et Bartholomæus, Thomas, et Matthæus publicanus, Jacobus Alphæi, et Thaddæus, | φιλιππος και βαρθολομαιος θωμας και ματθαιος ο τελωνης ιακωβος ο του αλφαιου και λεββαιος ο επικληθεις θαδδαιος |
4. | Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. | Simon Chananæus, et Judas Iscariotes, qui et tradidit eum. | σιμων ο κανανιτης και ιουδας ισκαριωτης ο και παραδους αυτον |
5. | These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not. | Hos duodecim misit Jesus, præcipiens eis, dicens : In viam gentium ne abieritis, et in civitates Samaritanorum ne intraveritis : | τουτους τους δωδεκα απεστειλεν ο ιησους παραγγειλας αυτοις λεγων εις οδον εθνων μη απελθητε και εις πολιν σαμαρειτων μη εισελθητε |
6. | But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. | sed potius ite ad oves quæ perierunt domus Israël. | πορευεσθε δε μαλλον προς τα προβατα τα απολωλοτα οικου ισραηλ |
7. | And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. | Euntes autem prædicate, dicentes : Quia appropinquavit regnum cælorum. | πορευομενοι δε κηρυσσετε λεγοντες οτι ηγγικεν η βασιλεια των ουρανων |
(*) "ιακωβος ο του ζεβεδαιου και ιωαννης ο αδελφος αυτου" begins verse 3 in the translations
I am traveling tomorrow, back on Sunday. If I skip a day or two, I’ll catch up.
Please say a prayer for a successful trip.
Blessings to you on this trip. May it prove itself in your own generosity.
July 9, 2014
St. Leo Mangin was a Jesuit missionary to China during the Boxer Revolution where many Catholics in 1898 were persecuted and killed. St. Leo’s courage led him to be martyred for the faith. He died in the village of Zhujiahe while praying in the parish church with his fellow Jesuits. St. Augstine Zhao Rong on the other hand, was a Chinese soldier who was baptized and later became a diocesan priest. He was martyred in Beijing in 1815.
It is a special grace to receive from God, this special strength and dedication to love Christ to the point of death. We are afraid of death, and therefore afraid to be martyrs. In fact, nowadays, the word martyr has a negative connotation. We hear many who say that in this day and age, it is not fashionable to be a martyr. In fact, it is pointless, useless and stupid. And yet without the martyrdom of St. Leo and St. Augustine, many would not have the possibility of knowing Christ. If today we enjoy the company of Christ in our lives, it is because of all the martyrs who knew that death was overcome with the resurrection of Christ and therefore they chose death instead of renounce their faith. Faith is the most precious thing we could ever hope to keep until our last breath.
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