For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

Alleluia Ping

Please FReepmail me to get on/off the Alleluia Ping List.

From: Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32

Individual responsibility

[1] The word of the Lord came to me again: [2] What do you mean by repeating
this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’’? [3] As I live, says the Lord God, this
proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. [4] Behold, all souls are mine;
the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins
shall die.

[5] If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right — [6] if he does not eat
upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not
defile his neighbour’s wife or approach a woman in her time of impurity, [7] does
not oppress any one, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery,
gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, [8] does not
lend at interest or take any increase, withholds his hand from iniquity, executes
true justice between man and man, [9] walks in my statutes, and is careful to
observe my ordinances — he is righteous, he shall surely live, says the Lord God.

[10] “If he begets a son who is a robber a shedder of blood, […] [13] shall he then
live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominable things; he shall surely
die: his blood shall be upon himself.

[30] “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,
says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be
your ruin. [31] Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have com-
mitted against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you
die, O house of Israel? [32] For I have no pleasure in the death of any one, says
the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

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

18:1-32. Here Ezekiel uses the father-son relationship as a key to this ongoing
explanation of the catastrophe of the fall of Jerusalem and the exile. In the pre-
vious chapters he showed that the Lord did not give up on his special love for Is-
rael; punish her he will, because she deserves it, but the broken Covenant will
be re-established. Now he repeats a lesson that the exiles must learn: the Lord
is not being very cruel or unjust towards them; nor is he whenever he allows peo-
ple to suffer.

Traditional teaching put more emphasis on solidarity and unity among the people
— in terms of both space (all its parts formed one Israel) and time (all generations
made up the same people). Thus, it defined the Lord as just and merciful when
he rewarded or punished successive generations for the things their forebears did
(cf. Ex 34:6-7 and note). But Ezekiel breaks new ground by asserting the princi-
ple of individual retribution/responsibility: the exiles have been punished for their
own sins, not those of their forebears. This explanation for suffering is a very
considerable advance, but the focus is still a narrow one.

The book of Job, too, tackles the question of the suffering of the blameless, and
the answer it gives does not go far enough. Not until the New Testament will the
full picture emerge in the light of Jesus’ death on the cross. Christ suffers for the
sins of men, he dies in order to redeem us, and he shows that suffering of every
sort, even the suffering of the innocent, has a redemptive value: “When we consi-
der once more the central mysteries of our faith, we are surprised to see how
very human gestures are used to express the deepest truths: the love of God the
Father who gives up his Son, and the Son’s love which calmly leads him to Cal-
vary. God does not approach us in power and authority. No, he ‘takes the form
of a servant, being born in the likeness of man’. Jesus is never distant or aloof,
although sometimes in his preaching he seems very sad, because he is hurt by
the evil men do. However, if we watch him closely, we will note immediately that
his anger comes from love. It is a further invitation for us to leave infidelity and
sin behind. “’Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” says the Lord God,
“and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?’” These words explain
Christ’s whole life. They allow us to understand why he has come to us with a
heart made of flesh, a heart like ours. This is a convincing proof of his love and
a constant witness to the mystery of divine charity” (St J. Escrivá, Christ Is
Passing By, 162).

18:1-20. To counter the spiteful adage about the sour grapes and the teeth on
edge (cf. Jer 31:29), Ezekiel offers a practical case involving three generations —
a righteous father (vv. 5-9) who has a violent son (vv. 10-13), who in turn has a
son who is righteous (vv. 14-20). The moral in each case is the same: “The soul
that sins shall die” (v. 20; cf. v. 9); “the righteousness of the righteous shall be
upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (v. 20; cf.
9). Any possible confusion about personal or communal guilt for sin is addressed
by the Catechism in the following way: “God’s threat to inflict his punishment un-
to the third and fourth generation should be understood not as proof that children
will suffer for the sins of their parents, but that the need for penance and expia-
tion is fundamental [...l. Therefore, there is no contradiction between this threat
and the words of the prophet: the soul that sins shall die (Ezek 18:4). St Grego-
ry, whose teaching follows in the line of what all the Fathers taught, tells us:
‘Every man who sins as his father did shares in his father’s guilt. But the man
who has no part in his father’s iniquity bears none of his fault. The evil son of the
evil father will pay not only for his own sins, but for those of his father as well, be-
cause he added his own sins to his father’s sins against the Lord; it is just, in
the eyes of a strict judge, that he who followed in the footsteps of his evil father
should pay for the sins of his father in this life” (Roman Catechism, 3, 2, 31-32).

The sins listed here (idolatry, adultery, uncleanness, oppression, greed: vv. 6-8;
11-13; 15-17) are meant to include all the Lord’s commandments, especially
those written in what is known as the “Deuteronomic code” (Deut 12:1 26:15)
and the “law of holiness” (Lev 17:1-26:46). In Ezekiel’s time people were familiar
with the Decalogue and with standard lists of virtues (cf. Ps 15:2-4; Is 33:15-16;
Jer 22:3-5; Mic 6:8) and sins (cf. 22:6-12). The New Testament, too, uses simi-
lar lists (cf. 1 Cor 5:11; Eph 5:5) as a memory aid in moral instruction. So, one
can see that Ezekiel was familiar with teaching methods that were in use in the
temple. Following this tradition, the Church has always argued that the most ef-
fective means be used in catechetical teaching: “so that the faithful, according
to their talents, ability and state in life, can learn Catholic doctrine most effec-
tively and put it into practice” (Code of Canon Law, 779).

18:21-32. These verses reply to a question that may arise from the doctrine of
personal retribution: If the sinner must live with the consequences of his sins,
what is the purpose of repentance? Ezekiel takes the question very much to
heart, and his reply includes one of the most beautiful summaries of divine mer-
cy: “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked …, and not rather that he
should turn from his way and live?” (v. 23; cf. 33:11). It is true that the explana-
tion of divine justice and punishment develops over a long period until the New
Testament is reached; even so, from the very beginning of divine Revelation,
there is never any doubt but that God is always ready to forgive. Over the cen-
turies, Christian spirituality has written beautiful pages filled to overflowing with
heartfelt trust in God’s mercy. As an example, we will quote a prayer by a Chris-
tian writer of the Armenian Church: “You are the Lord of Mercy. Have mercy on
me, a sinner, who beseeches you with sighs and tears. [...] O kind and merciful
Lord! You are patient with sinners, for you have said: if a wicked man turns away
from all his sins which he has committed … none of the transgressions which
he has committed shall he remembered against him (Ezek 18:21-22). Look, see
how I have come before you and fallen at your feet: your guilty servant pleads for
your mercy. Do not recall my sins, nor spurn me because of my wickedness.
[…] You are the Lord of goodness and mercy: you forgive all sin” (John Manda-
kuni, Oratio, 2-3).

Of course, God’s forgiveness is closely interwoven with personal conversion.
Therefore, it is not surprising to find these verses of Ezekiel being quoted in con-
nexion with the need for the sacrament of penance: “at all times, the practice of
penance in order to obtain grace and attain righteousness was necessary for all
those who fell into mortal sin, even those who sought to he washed clean by the
waters of baptism, so that, when sinfulness had been purged and set to rights,
they would detest any offence against God through their hatred of sin and the
sorrow of their souls. Thus says the Prophet: Repent and turn from all your trans-
gression, lest iniquity be your ruin (Ezek 18:30)” (Council of Trent, Session 14,
1). There is also a need for genuine contrition: “Contrition, which is the most im-
portant element of penance, is a sorrow of the soul, a hatred of all the sins that
have been committed, and a desire not to sin again in the future. This sense of
contrition has always been a fundamental condition of forgiveness; the man who
falls into sin after his baptism can only receive pardon if he is contrite, trusts in
the mercy of God, and fulfills all the other conditions that are binding in this sa-
crament. This Council declares that contrition encompasses not only the end
of sin and the beginning of new life, but the reparation of the old, sinful life, as it
was written: Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have commit-
ted against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! (Ezek 18:31)”
(Council of Trent, Session 14, 4).

*********************************************************************************************
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 19:13-15

Jesus Blesses the Children

[13] Then the children were brought to Him (Jesus) that He might lay His hands
on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; [14] but Jesus said, “Let
the children come to Me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the King-
dom of Heaven.” [15] And He laid His hands on them and went away.

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

13-14. Once again (see Matthew 18:1-6) Jesus shows His special love for children,
by drawing them close and blessing them. The Church, also, shows special con-
cern for children by urging the need for Baptism:”That this law extends not only to
adults but also to infants and children, and that the Church has received this from
Apostolic tradition, is confirmed by the unanimous teaching and authority of the
Fathers.

“Besides, it is not to be supposed that Christ the Lord would have withheld the
Sacrament of grace of Baptism from children, of whom He said: ‘Let the little chil-
dren come to Me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of
Heaven’, whom also He embraced, upon whom He imposed hands, to whom He
gave His blessing” (”St. Pius V Catechism”, II, 2, 32).

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

Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32 ©

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:

‘Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: “The fathers have eaten unripe grapes; and the children’s teeth are set on edge”?

‘As I live – it is the Lord who speaks – there will no longer be any reason to repeat this proverb in Israel. See now: all life belongs to me; the father’s life and the son’s life, both alike belong to me. The man who has sinned, he is the one who shall die.

‘The upright man is law-abiding and honest; he does not eat on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the House of Israel, does not seduce his neighbour’s wife or sleep with a woman during her periods. He oppresses no one, returns pledges, never steals, gives his own bread to the hungry, his clothes to the naked. He never charges usury on loans, takes no interest, abstains from evil, gives honest judgement between man and man, keeps my laws and sincerely respects my observances–such a man is truly upright. It is the Lord who speaks.

‘But if anyone has a son prone to violence and bloodshed, then this son shall certainly not live; having committed all these appalling crimes he will have to die, and his blood be on his own head.

House of Israel, in future I mean to judge each of you by what he does–it is the Lord who speaks. Repent, renounce all your sins, avoid all occasions of sin! Shake off all the sins you have committed against me, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why are you so anxious to die, House of Israel? I take no pleasure in the death of anyone–it is the Lord who speaks. Repent and live!’

Psalm

Psalm 50:12-15,18-19 ©

A pure heart create for me, O God.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

A pure heart create for me, O God.

Give me again the joy of your help;

with a spirit of fervour sustain me,

that I may teach transgressors your ways

and sinners may return to you.

A pure heart create for me, O God.

For in sacrifice you take no delight,

burnt offering from me you would refuse,

my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.

A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

A pure heart create for me, O God.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Col3:16a,17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,

find a home with you;

through him give thanks to God the Father.

Alleluia!

Or	Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 19:13-15 ©

People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Perpetual Novena for the Nation (Ecumenical)

Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

US bishops ask parishes to pray for Iraq on August 17

7 Powerful Ways to Pray for Christians Suffering in the Middle East

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.

August Devotion -- The Immaculate Heart [of Mary]

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

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

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

INVOCATIONS

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

Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sacred Heart Of Jesus

Sacred Heart Of Jesus image

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary image

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

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

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

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

The Salutation to the Heart of Jesus and Mary

An Offering of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Novena Prayer to Sacred Heart of Jesus

Prayer to the Wounded Heart of Jesus

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

Meditation & Novena Prayer on the Sacred Heart

Beads to the Sacred Heart

Novena Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Daily Offering to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Exaltation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin

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

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

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

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

— St. John Eudes

On the Critics of Pope Francis’ Consecration to the Immaculate Heart (Catholic Caucus)
Pope consecrates world to immaculate heart of Mary
Pope at Mass: Learning from Mary to keep the Word of God
Today: Immaculate Heart of Mary [DEVOTIONAL]

The Immaculate Heart of Mary [Devotional] Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Saturdays and the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Brown Scapular (Catholic Caucus)
The History of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Catholic Caucus)
Homilies preached by Father Robert Altier on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Marian Associations Unite to Celebrate Immaculate Heart
Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, AUGUST 22ND
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

August 2014
Pope's Intentions
Universal: That refugees, forced by violence to abandon their homes, may find a generous welcome and the protection of their rights.
For Evangelization: That Christians in Oceania may joyfully announce the faith to all the people of that region.

Daily Gospel Commentary

Saturday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), founder of the Missionary Sisters of Charity
No Greater Love, p. 63

"Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The path of loving trust means:

- Having an absolute, unconditional, and unwavering confidence in God our loving Father, even when everything seems to be a total failure.
- Looking to Him alone as our help and protector.
- To stop doubting and being discouraged, “casting all our worries and cares on the Lord” (Ps 54[55],22), and walking in total freedom.
- To be daring and absolutely fearless of any obstacle, knowing that “nothing is impossible to God” (Lk 1,37).
- Having total reliance on our Heavenly Father with the spontaneous abandonment of little children, totally convinced of our utter nothingness but trusting to the point of rashness, with courageous confidence in his fatherly goodness.

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.

But even though, according to nature, your most holy and happy soul is separated from your most blessed and stainless body and the body as usual is delivered to the tomb, it will not remain in the power of death and is not subject to decay. For just as her virginity remained inviolate while giving birth, when she departed her body was preserved from destruction and only taken to a better and more divine tabernacle, which is not subject to any death . . . Hence I will call her holy passing not death, but falling asleep or departure, or better still, arrival. . . . Your stainless and wholly immaculate body has not been left on earth; the Queen, the Mistress, the Mother of God who has truly given birth to God has been translated to the royal palaces of heaven.

-- Saint John Damascene

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 Stephen of Hungary

Saint Stephen of Hungary
Optional Memorial
August 16th

Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Herm of Saint Stephen, King of Hungary
Bronze
Cathedral Treasury, Zagreb

(969-1038) He ruled as king of Hungary with great wisdom and was an excellent model of justice and piety. He organized the evangelization of his country.

Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
Grant your Church, we pray, almighty God,
that she may have Saint Stephen of Hungary,
who fostered her growth while a king on earth,
as her glorious defender in heaven.
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: Deuteronomy 6:3-9
Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them; that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 14-30 [or Matthew 25:14-23]
Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' [He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.