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Today's Mass readings...

Today's Readings : Hebrews 2:14-18 Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Christ too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and...

When one is close to Jesus, doing the will of the Father, it is a closeness that can only be described in famililial terms. Saint Francis also spoke about the "family" of God. In his Letter To The Faithful, he says, "To all those who love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul and mind, with their whole strength (cf. Mk 12:30) and love their neighbors as themselves (cf. Mt 22:39) and hate their bodies with their vices and sins, and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and produce worthy fruits of penance:...

Simeon's prayer is a hallmark of the Catholic Church's night prayers (compline). In it is the assurance that we have seen our salvation and if we were to pass in the night it would be well. read more...

December 25, 2006 Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass During the Day Psalm: Monday 51 Reading 1Is 52:7-10 How beautiful upon the mountainsare the feet of him who brings glad tidings,announcing peace, bearing good news,announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,(Your God is King!( Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,together they shout for joy,for they see directly, before their eyes,the LORD restoring Zion.Break out together in song,O ruins of Jerusalem!For the LORD comforts his people,he redeems Jerusalem.The LORD has bared his holy armin the sight of all the nations;all the ends of the earth will beholdthe salvation of our God. Responsorial...

by Mary Anne Moresco Other Articles by Mary Anne Moresco The Sunday Celebration: Do I Come to Worship? 09/21/06 “The Mass is a moment of reflection and encounter with God, rather than a form of entertainment,” said Francis Cardinal Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship, in an interview from Rome. In This Article...Keeping God in SightTaking StockDirecting Our Hearts and Minds Keeping God in Sight When the Roman Curia member specifically responsible for the liturgy raises this topic to us, it is advisable that we sit up and take notice, to stop for a moment of...

If you are looking for an orthodox Catholic appointment calendar, look no farther! This 128-page "week-at-a-glance" appointment calendar: *Lists all the indulgenced works of the Church on a week-by-week basis, *Highlights the twenty-two special days when a partial indulgence becomes plenary to honor a day, *Has scholarly notes on the history of indulgences, *Contains the conditions for earning both partial and plenary indulgences, *Gives the complete text of over nearly two dozen different indulgenced prayers, *Carries weekly reminders for Friday fasts and Saturday confession *Provides the Scriptural supports for one dozen different apologetics topics: The Eucharist, Marian dogma and doctrines,...

May 16, 2004 Sixth Sunday of Easter Psalm: Sunday 23 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel When the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated the following Sunday, the second reading and Gospel from the Seventh Sunday of Easter may be read on the Sixth Sunday of Easter.Reading IActs 15:1-2, 22-29 Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved." Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the...

December 7, 2003Second Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday 52 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading IBar 5:1-9 Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;put on the splendor of glory from God forever:wrapped in the cloak of justice from God,bear on your head the mitrethat displays the glory of the eternal name.For God will show all the earth your splendor:you will be named by God foreverthe peace of justice, the glory of God's worship. Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;look to the east and see your childrengathered from the east and the westat the word of the...

November 30, 2003First Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading IJer 33:14-16 The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promiseI made to the house of Israel and Judah.In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot;he shall do what is right and just in the land.In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;this is what they shall call her:"The LORD our justice." Responsorial PsalmPs 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.Your...

July 3, 2003 Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle Psalm: Thursday 29 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IEph 2:19-22 Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Responsorial PsalmPs 117:1bc, 2...

July 2, 2003 Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Wednesday 29 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IGn 21:5, 8-20a Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Isaac grew, and on the day of the child's weaning Abraham held a great feast. Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham playing with her son Isaac; so she demanded of Abraham: "Drive out that slave and her son! No son of that slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!" Abraham was greatly...

July 1, 2003 Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Tuesday 29 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IGn 19:15-29 As dawn was breaking, the angels urged Lot on, saying, "On your way! Take with you your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of Sodom." When he hesitated, the men, by the LORD's mercy, seized his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters and led them to safety outside the city. As soon as they had been brought outside, he was told:...

December 25, 2002Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)Mass at Dawn Psalm: Wednesday Week 2 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Families Schools Adults Reading IIs 62:11-12 See, the LORD proclaimsto the ends of the earth:say to daughter Zion,your savior comes!Here is his reward with him,his recompense before him.They shall be called the holy people,the redeemed of the LORD,and you shall be called "Frequented, "a city that is not forsaken. Responsorial PsalmPs 97:1, 6, 11-12. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;let the many islands be glad.The...

July 9, 2002Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Tuesday Week 31 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IHos 8:4-7, 11-13 Thus says the Lord:They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;they established princes, but without my approval.With their silver and gold they madeidols for themselves, to their own destruction.Cast away your calf, O Samaria!my wrath is kindled against them;How long will they be unable to attaininnocence in Israel?The work of an artisan,no god at all,Destined for the flames—such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind;The stalk of...

July 3, 2002 Feast of Thomas, apostle Psalm: Wednesday Week 30 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I Eph 2:19-22 Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Responsorial Psalm Ps...

June 16, 2002Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalm: Sunday Week 28 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading IEx 19:2-6a In those days, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai and pitched camp.While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain,Moses went up the mountain to God.Then the LORD called to him and said,"Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob;tell the Israelites:You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptiansand how I bore you up on eagle wingsand brought you here to myself. Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant,you...

June 12, 2002Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Wednesday Week 27 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I1 Kgs 18:20-39 Ahab sent to all the children of Israeland had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel. Elijah appealed to all the people and said,"How long will you straddle the issue?If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him."The people, however, did not answer him.So Elijah said to the people,"I am the only surviving prophet of the Lord,and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.Give us two young bulls.Let them choose one, cut it into...

June 5, 2002Memorial of Boniface, bishop and martyr Psalm: Wednesday Week 26 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I2 Tm 1:1-3, 6-12 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of Godfor the promise of life in Christ Jesus,to Timothy, my dear child:grace, mercy, and peace from God the Fatherand Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God,whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. For this reason, I remind you to stir into flamethe gift of God that you have through the imposition of...

May 30, 2002Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Thursday Week 25 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12 Beloved:Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milkso that through it you may grow into salvation,for you have tasted that the Lord is good.Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beingsbut chosen and precious in the sight of God,and, like living stones,let yourselves be built into a spiritual houseto be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrificesacceptable to God through Jesus Christ. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a...