Posted on 07/08/2020 10:02:04 PM PDT by Salvation
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. Athanasius
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, |
My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. . . . For I am God and not man. (Hosea 11:8, 9)
Well, of course hes God and not manisnt that obvious? Still, our ideas about God can be colored by our experience of human relationships. We are parents or children; we are friends or siblings. We have been disappointed or angered or pleased by all of them. That can lead us to think that God will react to situations in the same way any of us would. But God likes to surprise us.
When Hosea prophesied in Israel around 750 BC, many of Gods people were comfortable and prosperousso much so that they had started drifting toward the idols that their neighbors and trading partners believed in. Now, if God were a man and not God, the peoples infidelity could have moved him to abandon them or revoke their status as his chosen people. Their betrayal could have justified a harsh response. But he is God, not man. He offers relationship and redemption, not revenge and recrimination.
This is how God relates to you too. His heart is filled with love for you; he wants to draw you into an ever-deepening relationship with him. Why would he reject you? As Pope Francis once said, Jesus never strikes. Jesus cleanses with tenderness, mercy, love.
Do we need to be cleansed? Of course. But how will Jesus go about it? Perhaps our experience of having been hurt or rejected in the past can lead us to expect Jesus to condemn us as well. But he wont; he came to save us, not to condemn us (John 3:17).
Try something different today as you reflect on this passage. Think of the worst thing youve ever done. Now, imagine that Jesus is sitting with you, looking into your eyes. Can you see the mercy and compassion there? What if he raised your face to his cheek or kissed you on the forehead as you might do to a child? Even if you didnt feel especially repentant, it wouldnt take long for your heart to melt in the face of such tenderness.
Let Jesus disarm you with his compassion today. Let him move you to repent. Let him cleanse you with his mercy.
Jesus, your love cant be explained in human terms. Thank you, Lord, for embracing me!
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16
Matthew 10:7-15
Daily Marriage Tip for July 9, 2020:
Marriage is a school of love and virtue. Which virtues have you grown most in during your marriage?
In His last will and testament, Jesus left us, His disciples, shalom-peace (Jn 14:27). This is not exactly what we mean by “peace” today. Jesus left us shalom, that is, godly order and harmony. As Jesus’ disciples, we can put together the pieces of our lives in a divinely ordained harmony, which is truly an exquisite masterpiece of God’s creation.
By God’s grace, we not only receive God’s shalom-peace but also have the privilege to share with the Lord in making this peace (Mt 5:9). We do this especially by sharing in Jesus’ sufferings (see Phil 3:10), for shalom-peace is made “through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:20).
Finally, we are not only recipients and makers of shalom-peace but also givers of peace. As members of the Church gifted by Jesus with peace, we can bless people, homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces with shalom (Mt 10:12). If those to whom we offer peace are receptive, then shalom will come to them (Mt 10:13). Otherwise, it will return to us (Mt 10:13).
Be men and women of shalom-peace in every way. Be disciples of Jesus, our Peace (Eph 2:14).
Prayer: Father, take the pieces of my life and make a masterpiece of peace.
Promise: I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; yet, though I stooped to feed My child, they did not know that I was their Healer. Hos 11:4
Praise: St. Augustine, a martyr, epitomizes many killed in China for their Catholic Faith. In all, the Church honors 120 Chinese martyrs who perished between 1648 and 1930.
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