Posted on 07/18/2020 12:18:55 AM PDT by Salvation
St. Michael the Archangel
~ 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 PriestsO my God, help those priests who are faithful to remain faithful; to those who are falling, stretch forth Your Divine Hand that they may grasp it as their support. In the great ocean of Your mercy, lift those poor unfortunate ones who have fallen, that being engulfed therein they may receive the grace to return to Your Great Loving Heart. Amen. Precious Blood of Jesus, protect them!
The Most Precious Blood of Jesus
July is traditionally associated with the Precious Blood of Our Lord. It may be customary to celebrate the votive Mass of the Precious Blood on July 1.
The extraordinary importance of the saving Blood of Christ has ensured a central place for its memorial in the celebration of this cultic mystery: at the centre of the Eucharistic assembly, in which the Church raises up to God in thanksgiving "the cup of blessing" (1 Cor 10, 16; cf Ps 115-116, 13) and offers it to the faithful as a "real communion with the Blood of Christ" (1 Cor 10, 16); and throughout the Liturgical Year. The Church celebrates the saving Blood of Christ not only on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, but also on many other occasions, such that the cultic remembrance of the Blood of our redemption (cf 1 Pt 1, 18) pervades the entire Liturgical Year. Hence, at Vespers during Christmastide, the Church, addressing Christ, sings: "Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo redempti sumus sanguine, ob diem natalis tui hymnum novum concinimus." In the Paschal Triduum, the redemptive significance and efficacy of the Blood of Christ is continuously recalled in adoration. During the adoration of the Cross on Good Friday the Church sings the hymn: "Mite corpus perforatur, sanguis unde profluit; terra, pontus, astra, mundus quo lavanturflumine", and again on Easter Sunday, "Cuius corpus sanctissimum in ara crucis torridum, sed et cruorem roesum gustando, Deo vivimus (194).
Catholic Word of the Day: LITANY OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD, 09-25-12
ST. GASPAR: Founder of the Society of the Precious Blood
Mass in the Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (London, 9/18)
Devotion to the Drops of Blood Lost by our Lord Jesus Christ on His Way to Calvary (Prayer/Devotion)
Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood
Catholic Word of the Day: PRECIOUS BLOOD, 12-03-11
The Traditional Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Catholic Caucus)
Devotion to the Precious Blood
DOCTRINE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,And More on the Precious Blood
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
NOTHING IS MORE POTENT AGAINST EVIL THAN PLEADING THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
-- St. Thomas of Villanova
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28) "Blessed are you among women, |
When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. (Matthew 12:15)
We all know about the fight or flight reaction. Its triggered when a person encounters a dangerous situation, and it energizes that person to either combat the threat or flee from it. In todays Gospel, Jesus learns of a plot against his life and seems to choose flight. He leaves the synagogue and withdraws from the town.
Jesus certainly doesnt fight these Pharisees, but he doesnt flee either. He chooses to avoid confrontation and press on to advance his mission. He continues preaching the good news to Jews and Gentiles alikeand he cured them all (Matthew 12:15). He shows patience rather than confronting his detractors, probably hoping they will come to believe in him. And so by withdrawing, he fulfills Isaiahs words about the Servant of the Lord. Lets take a look at what that means for us.
He will not contend or cry out (Matthew 12:19; Isaiah 42:2). Jesus could have corrected these Pharisees on the spot. He had all the authority and wisdom to win every argumentbut he didnt. He simply backed away. Jesus knew their hearts; he gave them time. Sometimes Jesus message causes us to struggle, as it did those Pharisees. But Jesus will give us space too. He doesnt contend with us or heap condemning words on us. He is patient; he allows us time to learn his ways.
A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench (Matthew 12:20; Isaiah 42:3). Jesus must have felt angry when the Jewish leaders rejected him. But he didnt want to crush what little openness they had. We too might feel bruised when God shows us our sin. Our faith might be smoldering too, rather than blazing brightly. How comforting that Jesus does not reject us in our brokenness or abandon us because of our weak faith! He wants only to bring us closer to himself. He is ready to heal our wounds and strengthen our faith.
Today, the same Jesus who was patient with the Pharisees waits for you. Open your heart to him.
Jesus, heal my bruises and fan my smoldering wick into flame.
Micah 2:1-5
Psalm 10:1-4, 7-8, 14
The popular poem, “Footsteps,” expresses the anguish of the psalmist: “Why, O Lord, do You stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress?” (Ps 10:1) We look to God for help, and He seems to withdraw from us (see Mt 12:15). We are oppressed and in dire straits, and cry out to God for aid. Yet instead of strong action, God seems to do nothing and things get worse for us (see Ps 10:8-11). Why does it sometimes seem that God is withdrawing from us (see Mt 12:15) in our time of great need? Even Jesus Himself felt as if God had abandoned Him in His ultimate agony on the cross (Mk 15:34).
As the above poem mentions, Jesus is carrying us in these situations even though all we can perceive is that He has abandoned us. We feel like saying: “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” (Is 49:14). However, God’s response to us is: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you” (Is 49:15).
When Job in his misery questioned God’s care for him, God did not answer Job. Instead, He granted Job something better: a vision of His glory (Jb 38:1). Job was then content in His suffering because He knew God was with him. Only after that did God restore Job (Jb 42:10).
No, God is not hiding. He is Emmanuel, God with us (Mt 1:23). Pray: Lord, “I do believe! Help my lack of trust!” (Mk 9:24)
Prayer: Father, help me to be patient and hopeful in time of suffering. I will hope in silence for [Your] saving help (Lam 3:26).
Promise: I will endow Him with My Spirit and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. Mt 12:18
Praise: St. Camillus was a soldier and gambler. Converting to Christ, he served the dying as both layman and priest.
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