2023

2 Corinthians 3:17

Verse:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” - 2 Corinthians 3:17

Morning Offering

Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, one God in three Persons, I firmly believe that You are here present; I adore You with the most profound humility; I praise You and give You thanks with all my heart for the favors You have bestowed on me. Your Goodness has brought me safely to the beginning of this day. Behold, O Lord, I offer You my whole being and in particular all my thoughts, words and actions, together with such crosses and contradictions as I may meet with in the course of this day. Give them, O Lord, Your blessing; may Your divine Love animate them and may they tend to the greater honor and glory of Your Sovereign Majesty. Amen.

Source:

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=131

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Saint Paul Miki

Daily Saints

Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers, and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits, and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans, and servants, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his Church.

Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were finally canonized in 1862.

Source:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-paul-miki-and-companions/

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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gosples & Readings

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Is 58:7-10

Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Response– The just man is a light in darkness to the upright

Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R– The just man is a light in darkness to the upright

He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
R– The just man is a light in darkness to the upright

His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R– The just man is a light in darkness to the upright

Second Reading: 1 Cor 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.

Alleluia:

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia, alleluia!

Gospel: Mt 5: 13-16

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."

Sources:

The Readings and Gospel were sourced from:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020523.cfm

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2 Chronicles 7:14

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14

A Prayer for Special Intentions

Almighty and loving Father,
I thank you for giving St. Gerard to us
as a most appealing model and powerful friend.
By his example,
he showed us how to love and trust You.
You have showered many blessings
on those who call upon him.
For Your greater glory and my welfare,
please grant me the favours
which I ask in his name.

(Mention your needs here...)

And you, my powerful patron,
intercede for me before the throne of God.
Draw near to that throne
and do not leave it until you have been heard.
O good saint,
to you I address my feverent prayers;
graciously accept them
and let me experience in some way
the effects of your powerful intercession.

Amen.

Sources:

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=1117

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Saint Agatha of Sicily

Daily Saints

Saint Agatha of Sicily is one of several virgin martyrs who are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of Christian antiquity.

According to the 13th-century Golden Legend (III.15) by Jacobus de Voragine, 15-year-old Agatha, from a rich and noble family, made a vow of virginity and rejected the amorous advances of the Roman prefect Quintianus, who thought he could force her to turn away from her vow and marry him. His persistent proposals were consistently spurned by Agatha. This was during the persecutions of Decius, so Quintianus, knowing she was a Christian, reported her to the authorities. Quintianus himself was governor of the district.

Agatha died in prison, probably in the year 251 according to the Legenda Aurea. Agatha is the patron saint of Catania, Molise, Malta, San Marino, Gallipoli in Apulia, and Zamarramala, a municipality of the Province of Segovia in Spain. She is also the patron saint of breast cancer patients, martyrs, wet nurses, bell-founders, and bakers, and is invoked against fire, earthquakes, and eruptions of Mount Etna.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_of_Sicily
D'Arrigo, Santo. Il Martirio di Santa Agata (Catania) 1985
Delaney, John P. (1980). Dictionary of Saints (Second ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-13594-7.

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Proverbs 19:14

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” - Proverbs 19:14

A Prayer for Church Unity

Almighty and eternal God,
You have promised that there will someday be but one fold and one Shepherd.
Hasten that day, we pray You,
in Your most merciful kindness and generosity.
Pour the light of Your grace
into the minds of our non-Catholic friends
so that they may see the truth,
and fully realize that the truth is one and undivided.
Give them also the strength of will
needed to follow in the direction of the light You give them.

Let us, their neighbors and friends,
not be a hindrance to their conversion by our bad example.
Rather let Your goodness be made clear to them by the virtue of our lives.
Then may they finally all be brought to You,
the Light that enlightens every man who comes into the world.

Amen.

Sources:

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=3243

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Saint John de Britto

Daily Saints

Saint John de Britto, also known as Arul Anandar, was the scion of a powerful aristocratic Portuguese family.

He joined the Jesuits in 1662, studying at the famous University of Coimbra. He travelled to the missions of Madurai, in Southern India, present-day Tamil Nadu, in 1673 and preached the Christian religion in the region of the Maravar country

John de Britto’s preaching led to the conversion of Thadiyathevan, a Maravar prince who had several wives. When Thadiyathevan was required to dismiss all his wives but one, a serious problem arose. One of the wives was a niece of the neighbouring king, the Raghunatha Kilavan Sethupathi, the King of Ramnad, who took up her quarrel and began a general persecution of Christians.[4] Britto and the catechists were taken and carried to the capital, Ramnad. Thence he was led to Orur, some 30 miles northward along the coast, where he was executed on 4 February 1693.
Saint John de Britto was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and martyr, often called “the Portuguese St Francis Xavier” by Indian Catholics. He is also called the John the Baptist of India.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_de_Britto
2011 Census of India. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
de Britto, Fernando Pereira (brother of John de Britto) (1852) [History of the birth, life and martyrdom of Blessed John de Britto of the Society of Jesus, Martyr of Asia, and Protomartyr of the Madura Mission]
Roberts, Holly Harlayne (2004-09-01). Vegetarian Christian Saints: Mystics, Ascetics & Monks. New York: Anjeli Press. p. 198

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James 3:18

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” - James 3:18

A Prayer for Healing

Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to you. Allow Your healing Hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others; touch my heart with Your courage and infinite Love for all; touch my mind with Your Wisdom, and may my mouth always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in all my needs, and help me to lead others to You by my example.
Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which you have created, now and forever.
Amen.

Sources:

Original Source of Prayer : https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=1325

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Saint Lawrence of Canterbury

Daily Saints

Saint Lawrence of Canterbury was part of the Gregorian mission originally dispatched from Rome in 595 to convert the Anglo-Saxons from their native paganism to Christianity; he landed at Thanet, Kent, with Augustine in 597.

Saint Lawrence of Canterbury was the second Archbishop of Canterbury, serving from about 604 to 619. He was consecrated archbishop by his predecessor, Augustine of Canterbury, during Augustine’s lifetime, to ensure continuity in the office. While archbishop, he attempted unsuccessfully to resolve differences with the native British bishops by corresponding with them about points of dispute. Laurence faced a crisis following the death of King Æthelberht of Kent, when the king’s successor abandoned Christianity; he eventually reconverted.

Saint Lawrence died on 2 February 619, and was buried in the abbey of St Peter and Paul in Canterbury.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_of_Canterbury
Blair World of Bede p. 85
Lapidge "Laurentius" Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon Englan
Brooks "Laurence" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Stenton Anglo-Saxon England p. 106
Hindley Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons p. 36

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Matthew 5:14

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” - Matthew 5:14

Blessing of Grapes

Bless, O Lord, these new fruits of the vine which Thou hast brought to maturity by the dew of heaven, by plentiful rains, and by tranquil and favorable weather. Thou hast given us this fruit for our use that we may receive it with thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

Sources:

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=384

Matthew 5:14 Read More »

Verse:

Morning Offering

Source:

Source:

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Is 58:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 1 Cor 2:1-5

Alleluia:

Gospel: Mt 5: 13-16

Sources:

Verse:

A Prayer for Special Intentions

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Verse:

A Prayer for Church Unity

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Verse:

A Prayer for Healing

Sources:

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Verse:

Blessing of Grapes

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