March 23, 2015

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Reading 1 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah;
her pious parents had trained their daughter
according to the law of Moses.
Joakim was very rich;
he had a garden near his house,
and the Jews had recourse to him often
because he was the most respected of them all.

That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges,
of whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon:
from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.”
These men, to whom all brought their cases,
frequented the house of Joakim.
When the people left at noon,
Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments.

One day, while they were waiting for the right moment,
she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only.
She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.
Nobody else was there except the two elders,
who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
“Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids,
“and shut the garden doors while I bathe.”

As soon as the maids had left,
the two old men got up and hurried to her.
“Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us;
give in to our desire, and lie with us.
If you refuse, we will testify against you
that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.”

“I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned.
“If I yield, it will be my death;
if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord.”
Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden,
they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.
At the accusations by the old men,
the servants felt very much ashamed,
for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.

When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day,
the two wicked elders also came,
fully determined to put Susanna to death.
Before all the people they ordered:
“Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
the wife of Joakim.”
When she was sent for,
she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.

In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head.
Through tears she looked up to heaven,
for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
The elders made this accusation:
“As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls
and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.
A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime,
we ran toward them.
We saw them lying together,
but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we;
he opened the doors and ran off.
Then we seized her and asked who the young man was,
but she refused to tell us.
We testify to this.”
The assembly believed them,
since they were elders and judges of the people,
and they condemned her to death.

But Susanna cried aloud:
“O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me.”

The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
“I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?”
He stood in their midst and continued,
“Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”

Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
“Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age.”
But he replied,
“Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”

After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
“How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together.”
“Under a mastic tree,” he answered.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two.”
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him,
“Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you,
lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.”
“Under an oak,” he said.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both.”

The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

Or Dn 13:41c-62

The assembly condemned Susanna to death.

But Susanna cried aloud:
“O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me.”

The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
“I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
All the people turned and asked him,
“What is this you are saying?”
He stood in their midst and continued,
“Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”

Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
“Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age.”
But he replied,
“Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”

After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
“How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together.”
“Under a mastic tree,” he answered.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two.”
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah,
beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.”
“Under an oak,” he said.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,”
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both.”

The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

Verse Before the Gospel Ez 33:11

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion, that he may live.

Gospel Jn 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

From: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-64

The two corrupt elders

[1] There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. [2] And he took
a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hillkiah, a very beautiful woman and one
who feared the Lord. [3] Her parents were righteous, and had taught their daugh-
ter according to the law of Moses. [4] Joakim was very rich, and had a spacious
garden adjoining his house; and the Jews used to come to him because he was
the most honoured of them all.

[5] In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning
them the Lord had said: “Iniquity came forth from Babylon, from elders who were
judges, who were supposed to govern the people.” [6] These men were frequently
at Joakim’s house, and all who had suits at law came to them.

[7] When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband’s gar-
den to walk. [8] The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking
about, and they began to desire her. [9] And they perverted their minds and
turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous judg-
ments.

Susanna condemned to death

[15] Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as before
with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was very hot, [16]
And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and were
watching her. [17] She said to her maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut
the garden doors so that I may bathe.”

[19] When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and said:
[20] “Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love with
you; so give your consent, and lie with us. [21] If you refuse, we will testify a-
gainst you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your
maids away.”

[22] Susanna sighed deeply, and said, “I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do
this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands. [23] I
choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of
the Lord.”

[24] Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted a-
gainst her. [25] And one of them ran and opened the garden doors. [26] When
the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the
side door to see what had happened to her. [27] And when the elders told their
tale, the servants were greatly ashamed for nothing like this had ever been said
about Susanna.

[28] The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joa-
kim, the two elders came, full of their wicked plot to have Susanna put to death.
[29] They said before the people, “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
who is the wife of Joakim.” [30] So they sent for her. And she came, with her
parents, her children, and all her kindred.

[33] But her family and friends and all who saw her wept.

[34] Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands
upon her head. [35] And she, weeping, looked up toward heaven, for her heart
trusted in the Lord. [36] The elders said, “As we were walking in the garden a-
lone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed
the maids. [37] Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay
with her. [38] We were in a corner of the garden and when we saw this wicked-
ness we ran to them. [39] We saw them embracing, but we could not hold the
man, for he was too strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out.
[40] So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she
would not tell us. These things we testify.”

[41] The assembly believed them because they were elders of the people and
judges; and they condemned her to death.

[42] Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O eternal God, who
dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before they come to be.”
[43] Thou knowest that these men have borne false witness against me. And
now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have wickedly in-
vented against me!”

[44] The Lord heard her cry.

Daniel intervenes

[45] And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy
spirit of a young lad named Daniel; [46] and he cried with a loud voice, “I am in-
nocent of the blood of this woman.”

[47] All the people turned to him, and said, “What is this that you have said?”
[48] Taking his stand in the midst of them, he said, “Are you such fools, you
sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination
and without learning the facts? [49] Return to the place of judgment. For thes
men have borne false witness against her.”

[50] Then all the people returned in haste. And the elders said to him, “Come, sit
among us and inform us, for God has given you that right.” [51] And Daniel said
to them, “Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them.”

[52] When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and
said to him, “You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come home,
which you have committed in the past, [53] pronouncing unjust judgments, con-
demning the innocent and letting the guilty go free, though the Lord said, “Do not
put to death an innocent and righteous person.” [54] Now then, if you really saw
her, tell me this: Under what tree did you see them being intimate with each o-
ther?” He answered, “Under a mastic tree.” [55] And Daniel said, “Very well! You
have lied against your own head for the angel of God has received the sentence
from God and will immediately cut you in two.”

[56] Then he put him aside, and commanded them to bring the other. And he
said to him, “You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you
and lust has perverted your heart. [57] This is how you both have been dealing
with the daughters of Israel, and they were intimate with you through fear; but a
daughter of Judah would not endure your wickedness. [58] Now then, tell me: Un-
der what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?” He answered,
“Under an evergreen oak.” [59] And Daniel said to him, “Very well! You also have
lied against your own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw
you in two, that he may destroy you both.”

[60] Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those
who hope in him. [61] And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own
mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; [62] and they did to
them as they had wickedly planned to do to their neighbour; acting in accor-
dance with the law of Moses, they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was
saved that day.

[63] And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and so did
Joakim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful was found in
her. [64] And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the peo-
ple.

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Commentary:

13:1-14:42. These chapters which, as we have said, are to be found only in the
Greek manuscripts, form an endpiece to the book of Daniel that has been pas-
sed down to the Church. It fits in with the rest of the book because it, too, has
Daniel as the main protagonist; but here he is not an interpreter of dreams or a
seer of visions: he is a judge raised up by God to save the innocent (chap. 13),
a wise man who shows how ridiculous it is to worship idols, as pagans do (chap.
14). Taken together, these two chapters set at the end of the book show that life
goes on and that God ensures that justice is done, and that he exposes idols for
what they are.

13:1-64. The episode of Daniel in the lions’ den, and this story of Susanna, with
its well-drawn characters and scenarios, are the two most popular passages in
the book of Daniel. The Susanna story is set in a Jewish community, and it
forms an independent narrative; it probably existed on its own originally, indepen-
dent of the other stories in the book. The version of Theodotion puts it at the start
of the book, to act as an introduction to Daniel, whose name in fact means “God
is my judge”. There are notable differences between the Septuagint and Theodo-
tion texts; in the latter, the emphasis is put on Susanna’s innocence; in the for-
mer, it is on the wickedness of the two elders. Throughout the book of Daniel we
have been shown that Daniel knows the secrets about the End; in the story of
Susanna we see that he can read men’s hearts and judge accordingly.

Some Fathers of the Church read this story as an allegory. St Hippolytus, for
example, writes: “Susanna suffered at the hands of the elders what we still suf-
fer today from the kings of Babylon. Susanna is a figure of the Church; Joakim,
of Christ. The garden beside their house is an image of the dwelling-place of the
faithful, who are planted like fruitful trees in the Church. Babylon is the power of
this world. The two elders stand for the two enemies of the Church — the Jews
and the pagans. The words, [they] were judges, who were supposed to govern
the people, mean that they handed down unjust sentences against the just”
(”Commentarium in Danielem”, 1, 15).

13:1-14. This passage describes the context of the story — a well-to-do Jewish
family, all God-fearing people. Susanna could be taken as a symbol of Israel.
And then there are two wicked judges, who are supposed to give the people lea-
dership. These two elders may have some link with the two false prophets who
committed adultery and who are denounced in Jeremiah 29:21-23. The point is
clearly made that what leads them astray is lust. A work attributed to St John
Chrysostom comments on this passage: “If no passion undermines and corrupts
it, the soul will remain clean and unstained. But if he does not guard his eyes,
and looks at whatever he wants around him in the world, [Ã¢â‚¬Â¦] the poison of desire
will enter through a man’s sight and strike to the bottom of his heart; and he who
was once a sober and modest man will be overwhelmed by a whirlwind of pas-
sions” (”De Susanna”, col. 591).

13:15-44. The dramatic tension reaches its climax with the sentence passed on
Susanna. Faced with the dilemma of saving her life by sinning against the Lord,
or by dying by staying faithful to her husband and to God, Susanna opts for the
second course of action. She is a model for the people in the trials they have to
endure. She cannot prove her innocence to the people, but she can certainly as-
sert it to God, who knows all hidden things; and then she waits (v. 42). “How of-
ten does the trickery of those moved by envy and intrigue force many noble
Christians into the same corner? They are offered only one choice — offend God
or ruin their reputation. The only acceptable and upright solution is, at the same
time, highly painful. Yet they must decide: ‘Let me rather fall into your power
through no act of mine, than commit sin in the Lord’s sight’” (St. Josemaria Es-
criva, “Christ is Passing By”, 68).

13:45-64. Nothing can be hidden from God (”He is a great eye, ever watchful:
nothing that happens in the world can be hidden from him”: St Hippolytus, “Com-
mentarium in Danielem”, 1, 33) and his judgments are just and true. Here he
acts by rousing the spirit of prophecy (here called “the holy spirit”) in Daniel, who
as a young man is very different to the elders. Daniel criticizes the people for be-
ing taken in so easily by the elders, and he convinces them to reopen the case.
He tries to discover the truth, without being overawed by the seniority of the two
judges. He uses a simple trick to divine the truth. All come to see that Susanna
is a virtuous woman, true to her husband. She thus becomes a symbol of Israel’s
faithfulness to her God. In the earlier part of the book Daniel was esteemed by fo-
reign kings; now the text shows that his own people, too, hold him in high regard.
This is a further reason for accepting the revelations made through him.

*********************************************************************************************
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: John 8:1-11

The Adulterous Woman

[2] Early in the morning He (Jesus) came again to the temple; all the people
came to Him, and He sat down and taught them. [3] The scribes and the Pha-
risees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the
midst [4] they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of
adultery. [5] Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you
say about her?” [6] This they said to test Him, that they might have some charge
to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground.
[7] And as they continued to ask Him, He stood up and said to them, “Let him
who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. “[8] And once
more He bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground. [9] But when they
heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was
left alone with the woman standing before Him. [10] Jesus looked up and said to
her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” [11] She said, “No
one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.”

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

1-11. This passage is absent from many ancient codices, but it was in the Vul-
gate when the Magisterium, at the Council of Trent, defined the canon of Sacred
Scripture. Therefore, the Church regards it as canonical and inspired, and has
used it and continues to use it in the liturgy. It is also included in the New Vul-
gate, in the same position as it occupied before.

St. Augustine said that the reason doubts were raised about the passage was
that it showed Jesus to be so merciful that some rigorists thought it would lead
to a relaxation of moral rules—and therefore many copyists suppressed it from
their manuscripts (cf. “De Coniugiis Adulterinis”, 2, 6).

In commenting on the episode of the woman caught in adultery Fray Luis de Gra-
nada gives these general considerations on the mercy of Christ: “Your feelings,
your deeds and your words should be akin to these, if you desire to be a beauti-
ful likeness of the Lord. And therefore the Apostle is not content with telling us to
be merciful; he tells us, as God’s sons, to put on ‘the bowels of mercy’ (cf. Colos-
sians 3:12). Imagine, then, what the world would be like if everyone arrayed them-
selves in this way.

“All this is said to help us understand to some degree the great abundance of
the goodness and compassion of our Savior, which shine forth so clearly in
these actions of His, for [...] in this life we cannot know God in Himself; we can
know Him only through His actions. [...] But it should also be pointed out that
we should never act in such a way in view of God’s mercy, that we forget about
His justice; nor should we attend to His justice forgetting about His mercy; for
hope should have in it an element of fear, and fear an element of hope” (”Life of
Jesus Christ”, 13, 4).

1. We know that on a number of occasions our Lord withdrew to the Mount of
Olives to pray (cf. John 18:2; Luke 22:39). This place was to the east of Jerusa-
lem; the Kidron Valley (cf. John 18:1) divided it from the hill on which the temple
was built. It had from ancient times been a place of prayer: David went there to
adore God during the difficult period when Absalom was in revolt (2 Samuel 15:
32), and there the prophet Ezekiel contemplated the glory of Yahweh entering
the temple (Ezekiel 43:1-4). At the foot of the hill there was a garden, called
Gethsemane or “the place of the oil-press”, an enclosed plot containing a plan-
tation of olive trees. Christian tradition has treated this place with great respect
and has maintained it as a place of prayer. Towards the end of the fourth centu-
ry a church was built there, on whose remains the present church was built.
There are still some ancient olive trees growing there which could well derive
from those of our Lord’s time.

6. The question put by the scribes and Pharisees has a catch: our Lord had of-
ten shown understanding to people they considered sinners; they come to Him
now with this case to see if He will be equally indulgent—which will allow them to
accuse Him of infringing a very clear precept of the Law (cf. Leviticus 20:10).

7. Jesus’ reply refers to the way stoning was carried out: those who witnessed
the crime had to throw the first stones, and then others joined in, to erase the
slur on the people which the crime implied (cf. Deuteronomy 17:7). The question
put to Jesus was couched in legal terms; He raises it to the moral plane (the ba-
sis and justification of the legal plane), appealing to the people’s conscience. He
does not violate the law, St. Augustine says, and at the same time He does not
want to lose what He is seeking—for He has come to save that which was lost:
“His answer is so full of justice, gentleness and truth. [...] O true answer of Wis-
dom. You have heard: Keep the Law, let the woman be stoned. But how can sin-
ners keep the Law and punish this woman? Let each of them look inside himself
and enter the tribunal of his heart and conscience; there he will discover that he
is a sinner. Let this woman be punished, but not by sinners; let the Law be ap-
plied, but not by its transgressors” (St. Augustine, “In Ioann. Evang.”, 33, 5).

11. “The two of them were left on their own, the wretched woman and Mercy.
But the Lord, having smitten them with the dart of justice, does not even deign
to watch them go but turns His gaze away from them and once more writes on
the ground with His finger. But when the woman was left alone and they had all
gone, He lifted up His eyes to the woman. We have already heard the voice of
justice; let us now hear the voice of gentleness. I think that the woman was the
more terrified when she heard the Lord say, ‘Let him who is without sin among
you be the first to throw a stone at her,’ [...] fearing now that she would be pu-
nished by Him, in whom no sin could be found. But He, who had driven away
her adversaries with the tongue of justice, now looking at her with the eyes of
gentleness asks her, ‘Has no one condemned you?’ She replies, ‘No one, Lord.’
And He says, ‘Neither do I condemn you; I who perhaps you feared would punish
you, because in Me you have found no sin.’ Lord, can it be that You favor sin-
ners? Assuredly not. See what follows” ‘Go and sin no more.’ Therefore the Lord
also condemned sin, but not the woman’ (St. Augustine, “In Ioann. Evang.”, 33,
5-6).

Jesus, who is the Just One, does not condemn the woman; whereas these peo-
ple are sinners, yet they pass sentence of death. God’s infinite mercy should
move us always to have compassion on those who commit sins, because we
ourselves are sinners and in need of God’s forgiveness.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States

Readings at Mass

EITHER:

First reading

Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 ©

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim. He had married Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and she was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses. Joakim was a very rich man, and had a garden attached to his house; the Jews would often visit him since he was held in greater respect than any other man. Two elderly men had been selected from the people that year to act as judges. Of such the Lord said, ‘Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.’ These men were often at Joakim’s house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come to them. At midday, when everyone had gone, Susanna used to take a walk in her husband’s garden. The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradually began to desire her. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and forgetting its demands of virtue. So they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual, accompanied only by two young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted to bathe in the garden. There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place. She said to the servants, ‘Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.’

Hardly were the servants gone than the two elders were there after her. ‘Look,’ they said ‘the garden door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in and let us! Refuse, and we will both give evidence that a young man was with you and that was why you sent your maids away.’ Susanna sighed. ‘I am trapped,’ she said ‘whatever I do. If I agree, that means my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you. But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.’ Then she cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame on her, and one of them ran to open the garden door. The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what was happening; once the elders had told their story the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of this sort had ever been said of Susanna.

Next day a meeting was held at the house of her husband Joakim. The two elders arrived, in their vindictiveness determined to have her put to death. They addressed the company: ‘Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.’ She was sent for, and came accompanied by her parents, her children and all her relations. All her own people were weeping, and so were all the others who saw her. The two elders stood up, with all the people round them, and laid their hands on the woman’s head. Tearfully she turned her eyes to heaven, her heart confident in God. The elders then spoke. ‘While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this woman arrived with two servants. She shut the garden door and then dismissed the servants. A young man who had been hiding went over to her and they lay down together. From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towards them. Though we saw them together we were unable to catch the man: he was too strong for us; he opened the door and took to his heels. We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was. She refused to tell us. That is our evidence.’

Since they were elders of the people, and judges, the assembly took their word: Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’

The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, ‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’ At which all the people turned to him and asked, ‘What do you mean by these words?’ Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, ‘Are you so stupid, sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.’

All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, ‘Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.’ Daniel said, ‘Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.’ When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘You have grown old in wickedness,’ he said ‘and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, “You must not put the innocent and the just to death.” Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?’ He replied, ‘Under a mastic tree.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.’ He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’ He replied, ‘Under a holm oak.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.’

Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.

OR:

Alternative First reading

Daniel 13:41-62 ©

Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’

Psalm

Psalm 22:1-6 ©

If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

with these you give me comfort.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.

Gospel Acclamation

2Co6:2

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Now is the favourable time:

this is the day of salvation.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Or	Ezk33:11

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

I take pleasure, not in the death of a wicked man

– it is the Lord who speaks –

but in the turning back of a wicked man

who changes his ways to win life.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Gospel

John 8:1-11 ©

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

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 ]

Or:

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: II 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.

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:

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 Sorrowful Mysteries
(Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]

March Devotion: Saint Joseph

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Due to the solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19, this month is devoted to this great saint, the foster father of Christ. "It greatly behooves Christians, while honoring the Virgin Mother of God, constantly to invoke with deep piety and confidence her most chaste spouse, Saint Joseph. We have a well grounded conviction that such is the special desire of the Blessed Virgin herself." --Pope Leo XIII

FOR OUR WORK
Glorious Saint Joseph, pattern of all who are devoted to toil, obtain for me the grace to toil in the spirit of penance, in order thereby to atone for my many sins; to toil conscientiously, putting devotion to duty before my own inclinations; to labor with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honor to employ and to develop, by my labor, the gifts I have received from Almighty God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties; to work above all with a pure intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone, and of my empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of thee, 0 Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.

FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH
O Joseph, virgin-father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray every day for us to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that we, being defended by the power of His grace and striving dutifully in life, may be crowned by Him at the hour of death.

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

St. Joseph
St. Joseph was an ordinary manual laborer although descended from the royal house of David. In the designs of Providence he was destined to become the spouse of the Mother of God. His high privilege is expressed in a single phrase, "Foster-father of Jesus." About him Sacred Scripture has little more to say than that he was a just man-an expression which indicates how faithfully he fulfilled his high trust of protecting and guarding God's greatest treasures upon earth, Jesus and Mary.

The darkest hours of his life may well have been those when he first learned of Mary's pregnancy; but precisely in this time of trial Joseph showed himself great. His suffering, which likewise formed a part of the work of the redemption, was not without great providential import: Joseph was to be, for all times, the trustworthy witness of the Messiah's virgin birth. After this, he modestly retires into the background of holy Scripture.

Of St. Joseph's death the Bible tells us nothing. There are indications, however, that he died before the beginning of Christ's public life. His was the most beautiful death that one could have, in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Humbly and unknown, he passed his years at Nazareth, silent and almost forgotten he remained in the background through centuries of Church history. Only in more recent times has he been accorded greater honor. Liturgical veneration of St. Joseph began in the fifteenth century, fostered by Sts. Brigid of Sweden and Bernadine of Siena. St. Teresa, too, did much to further his cult.

At present there are two major feasts in his honor. On March 19 our veneration is directed to him personally and to his part in the work of redemption, while on May 1 we honor him as the patron of workmen throughout the world and as our guide in the difficult matter of establishing equitable norms regarding obligations and rights in the social order.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

St. Joseph is invoked as patron for many causes. He is the patron of the Universal Church. He is the patron of the dying because Jesus and Mary were at his death-bed. He is also the patron of fathers, of carpenters, and of social justice. Many religious orders and communities are placed under his patronage.

Patron: Against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; Austria; Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; California; Belgium; Bohemia; bursars; cabinetmakers; Canada; Carinthia; carpenters; China; Church; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliament) dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence, Italy; happy death; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; Korea; laborers; Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; Mexico; Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; Diocese of San Jose, California; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Styria, Austria; travelers; Turin Italy; Tyrol Austria; unborn children Universal Church; Vatican II; Viet Nam; Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people.

Symbols: Bible; branch; capenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod.

Prayer to St. Joseph

Pope Pius X composed this prayer to St. Joseph, patron of working people, that expresses concisely the Christian attitude toward labor. It summarizes also for us the lessons of the Holy Family's work at Nazareth.

Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who devote their lives to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in order thereby to atone for my many sins; to work conscientiously, setting devotion to duty in preference to my own whims; to work with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties; to work above all with a pure intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill spent, of talents wasted, of good omitted, and of vain complacency in success, which is so fatal to the work of God.

All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of you, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death, Amen.

Litany of Saint Joseph
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious Son of David, pray for us.
Light of the Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Faithful Protector of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most courageous, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of working men, pray for us.
Ornament of the domestic life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of the family, pray for us.
Consoler of the miserable, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. He hath made him master of His house.
R. And ruler of all His possessions.

Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may have him for our intercessor in Heaven, whom on earth we venerate as out most holy Protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Was St. Joseph a tzadik?
St. Joseph: Patron saint of three Popes [Catholic Caucus]
St. Joseph and the Staircase
St. Joseph, Foster Father, Novena [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Patron of a “Happy Death” A Special Role for St. Joseph [Catholic/Orhtodox Caucus]
Lists Every Catholic Should be Familiar With: The 7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph
Catholic Group Blasts Pelosi For Invoking St. Joseph on Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
THE SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOYS OF ST. JOSEPH
Joseph, Mary and Jesus: A Model Family
Season of Announcement - Revelation to Joseph

In hard times, don't forget about the humble carpenter Joseph
Saint Joseph: Complete submission to the will of God (Pope Benedict XVI) (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
St. Joseph as Head of the Holy Family (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
St. Joseph, Patron of a Peaceful Death [Catholic Caucus]
Octave: St. Joseph, A 'Man’s Man', Calling Men to Jesus
St. Teresa de Avila's Devotion to St. Joseph (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Men's National Day of Prayer, MARCH 15, 2008, The Solemnity of St. Joseph (Catholic Caucus)
The Role and Responsibility of Fatherhood - St. Joseph as Model
St. Joseph - Foster Father of Jesus
Some divine intervention in real estate-[Bury St. Joseph Statues in Ground]

Many Turn To Higher Power For Home Sales
St. Joseph the Worker, Memorial, May 1
Catholic Devotions: St. Joseph the Worker
Nothing Will Be Denied Him (St. Joseph)
The Heart of a Father [St. Joseph]
St. Joseph's DAY
Quemadmodum Deus - Decree Under Blessed Pius IX, Making St. Joseph Patron of the Church
Father & Child (Preaching on St. Joseph)
March 19 - Feast of St. Joseph - Husband of Mary - Intercessor of civil leaders
St. Joseph's Spirit of Silence

St. Joseph's Humility (By St. Francis de Sales)
St. Joseph [Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary], Solemnity, March 19
St Joseph’s Paternal Love
The Heart of St. Joseph
MORE THAN PATRON OF HOMES, IT'S TIME FOR ST. JOSEPH TO GAIN HIGHEST OF RECOGNITION [Fatherhood]
The Importance of Devotion to St. Joseph
St. Francis de Sales on St. Joseph (Some Excerpts for St. Joseph's Day 2004)
St. Joseph: REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS (Guardian Of The Redeemer)
(Saint) Joseph the Patriarch: A Reflection on the Solemnity of St. Joseph
How I Rediscovered a "Neglected" Saint: Work of Art Inspires Young Man to Rediscover St. Joseph

Novena to Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath, Amen.

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (mention your intention)

St. Joseph Novena

O good father Joseph! I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows and joys, to obtain for me what I ask.

(Here name your petition).

Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers, everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Be near to me in my last moments, that I may eternally sing the praises of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

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