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EPISTLE II Cor. 9:6-10 Brethren: He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for "God loveth a cheerful giver." And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: as it is written, "He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever." And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Animals In The Bible Gnats New International Version (NIV) 16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,’ and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.” (Exodus 8) 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.(Matthew 23

August 10, 2014Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a At the mountain of God, Horeb,Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him,“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountainsand crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire—but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire...

It is often said that God sometimes works in mysterious ways. Sometimes, however, He doesn’t. Sometimes the answer is so much simpler than anyone thought. But amazing nonetheless. Father Steve Mattson of the Church of the Resurrection parish can recall praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet in front of Lansing Michigan’s last free standing abortion clinic. He recalls praying fervently for the closing of the clinic. He didn’t know how it could happen but he prayed nonetheless. Fr. Mattson prays for many things including helping out his local Catholic schools by attracting a group of Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of...

This release just arrived in my in box: The chairman of the Committee of International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asked the U.S. bishops to invite the people of their dioceses to pray for peace in Iraq on Sunday, August 17. Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, made the request, August 6, sending the bishops the text of a prayer written by the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Iraq, His Beatitude Louis Rafael Sako.Bishop Pates recounted the struggles of Christians and others in Iraq who have faced the destruction, burning and looting of...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Animals In The Bible Frogs New International Version (NIV) 1 [a]Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country. 3 The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs....

August 9, 2014Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Hb 1:12-2:4 Are you not from eternity, O LORD,my holy God, immortal?O LORD, you have marked him for judgment,O Rock, you have readied him punishment!Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil,and the sight of misery you cannot endure.Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silencewhile the wicked man devoursone more just than himself?You have made man like the fish of the sea,like creeping things without a ruler.He brings them all up with his hook,he hauls them away with his net,He gathers them...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Animals In The Bible Fox New International Version (NIV) 4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails..(Judges 15:4) 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”(Nehemiah 4:3) 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) 32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I...

Beulah Bondi’s prayer at the return of her son whom she supposed dead youtube.com/watch?v=GzVFgnlCOY0&feature=youtu.beFrom “Of Human Hearts” (1938). James Steward is a selfish son who accepts his mother’s aid for becoming a successful surgeon, without any real gratitude. President Lincoln, the closest thing to God in the American pantheon, calls the surgeon to Washington, chastises him for his selfishness and commands him to write to his Mother (Bondi) every week or face court-marshal. Here is her prayer at the return of her son whom she supposed dead: We thank Thee, Father, for this and all Thy bounty. Teach us to...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) ----

August 8, 2014Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest    Reading 1 Na 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 See, upon the mountains there advancesthe bearer of good news, announcing peace!Celebrate your feasts, O Judah,fulfill your vows!For nevermore shall you be invadedby the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed.The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob,the pride of Israel,Though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined the tendrils. Woe to the bloody city, all lies,full of plunder, whose looting never stops!The crack of the whip, the rumbling sounds of wheels;horses a-gallop, chariots bounding, Cavalry charging, the flame of the sword, the flash of the spear,the...

...The Oklahoma Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City is planning on hosting a “black Mass” on September 21st. His Grace Paul Coakley, the Archbishop of Oklahoma City, has called upon all of the Catholics of his diocese to join in prayer against this event. The full text of the letter can be read here: "In spite of repeated requests, there has been no indication that the City intends to prevent this event from taking place. ... Since it seems this event will not be cancelled, I am calling on all Catholics of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to counteract...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation Isaiah 54:17 Stand Firm New International Version (NIV) 17     no weapon forged against you will prevail,    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,    and this is their vindication from me,”declares the Lord.

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Animals In The Bible Fly New International Version (NIV) As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,    but the heart of the fool to the left.3 Even as fools walk along the road,    they lack sense    and show everyone how stupid they are.(Ecclesiates 10)

August 7, 2014Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Jer 31:31-34 The days are coming, says the LORD,when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers:the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant, and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Animals In The Bible Flea New International Version (NIV) 14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?(1 Samuel 24:14) 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.”(1 Samuel 26:20)

August 6, 2014Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord    Reading 1 Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 As I watched: Thrones were set upand the Ancient One took his throne.His clothing was bright as snow,and the hair on his head as white as wool;his throne was flames of fire,with wheels of burning fire.A surging stream of fireflowed out from where he sat;Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,and myriads upon myriads attended him.The court was convened and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw: One like a Son of man coming,on the clouds of heaven;When...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation Deuteronomy 31:6 Stand Firm New International Version (NIV) Why, my soul, are you downcast? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Animals In The Bible Fish New International Version (NIV) 18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.(Exodus 7:18) 17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.(Jonah 1:17) 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. (Matthew 14:17) 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out...