Our Lady of Sorrows feast day, 9/15

7 sorrows of Mary:

1. Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
2. Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
6. Body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
7. Burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS

O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and the death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforward all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object. Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate Mother of God. Amen.

~Saint Bonaventure

Memorial Tribute

It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the veteran, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin will be draped by the flag.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

Testing the Spirits [1 Jn 4:1-6]

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the onw who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world, They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belons to the world, and the world listens to them. We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. [NAB]

Pope Benedict XVl is in Malta today!

The Pope, who is here to celebrate the 1950th anniversary of St. Paul’s shipwreck off the island, pointed out that “some might consider Saint Paul’s arrival in Malta by means of a humanly unforeseen event to be a mere accident of history. The eyes of faith, however, enable us to recognize here the workings of divine Providence.” He then highlighted the central and important role Malta has gone on to play in the history of Europe and in the defense of Christianity.

The Last Supper

The Lord's Supper according to Matthew, Mark & Luke
Mt 26,26.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessings, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Mk 14,22.

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body."

Lk 22,19.

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me."

Psalm 139: The All-knowing and Ever-present God

You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! Psalm 139:13-14.

Prayer for Pardon and Mercy

A Song of Ascents
Out of the depths I call to you, LORD;
Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

Psalms 130,1-2.

Isaiah, 1,27

Zion shall be redeemed by judgement, and her repentant ones by justice.

P.S. Zion's defiant persistence in sin has demanded a divine judgment, by which her survivors will be cleansed and will return to God in justice.

Ash Wednesday, 2/17/2010

'“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”

Mk 1:15

Bishop Fulton Sheen died 30 yrs ago today...

From The Catholic Thing...

On December 9, 1979, Archbishop Fulton Sheen died in the Lord. He was buried beneath the main altar at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where he had preached for many years. In a nation that still harbored anti-Catholic sentiments, Sheen gave Catholicism a public face that made the Church and its teachings acceptable to millions of Americans.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen, God love you – and pray for us.

Nearer, My God, to Thee (lyrics)

Nearer, My God, to Thee

Text: Sarah F. Adams, 1805-1848
Music: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872
Tune: BETHANY, Meter: 64.64.6664


Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I'd be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

29th Week in Ordinary Time Prayers (weekdays)

I call upon you, God, for you will answer me; bend your ear and hear my prayer. Guard me as the pupil of your eye; hide me in the shade of your wings. (Ps 17:6,8)

Almighty and ever-living God, our source of power and inspiration, give us strength and joy in serving you as followers of Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord our God, Father of all, you guard us under the shadow of your wings and search into the depths of our hearts. Remove the blindness that cannot know you and relieve the fear that would hide us from your sight.

Lord God, may the gifts we offer bring us your love and forgiveness and give us freedom to serve you with our lives.

See how the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope in his love, that he may rescue them from death and feed them in time of famine. (Ps 33:18-19)

The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mk 10:45)

Lord, may this eucharist help us to remain faithful. May it teach us the way to eternal life.

Prayer of the Week

If you, O Lord, laid bare our guilt, who could endure it? But you are forgiving, God of Israel. (Ps 130:3-4)

Lord, our help and guide, make your love the foundation of our lives. May our love for you express itself in our eagerness to do good for others.

Father in heaven, the hand of your loving kindness powerfully yet gently guides all the moments of our day. Go before us in our pilgrimage of life, anticipate our needs and prevent our falling. Send your Spirit to unite us in faith, that sharing in your service, we may rejoice in your presence.

The rich suffer want and go hungry, but nothing shall be lacking to those who fear the Lord. (Ps 34:11)

When the Lord is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 Jn 3:2)

Almighty Father, may the body and blood of your Son give us a share in his life, for he is Lord forever and ever.

Amen...

Prayer before Mass

Go and preach to all nations: baptize them and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you, says the Lord. (Mt 28:19-20)

Personal Responsibility & God is Light

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his ways, says the Lord God.
(Ezekiel 18:30)

God is Light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
(1 John 1:5)

Light is to be understood as truth and goodness, darkness is error and depravity. (NAB footnote, St. Joseph personal size ed, 1992)

In the Bible...

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Thus evening came, and morning followed - the first day.

Genesis 1:1-6

Catholic Catechism for Adults, Ch 2,

God Comes to Meet Us.
God reveals a plan of loving goodness. CCC, Nos. 50-67
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. USCC Bishops, 2006 ed.

Meditation

Jesus Christ is the definitive revelation of God:
Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father's one, perfect, and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one. St. John of the Cross, among others, commented strikingly on Hebrews 1:1-2: "In giving us his Son, his only Word (for he possesses no other), he spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word - and he has no more to say...because what he spoke before to the prophets in parts, he has now spoken all at once by giving us the All Who is His Son. Any person questioning God or desiring some vision or revelation would be guilty not only of foolish behavior but also of offending him, by not fixing his eyes entirely upon Christ and by living with the desire for some other novelty."

CCC, no.65, citing St.John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, 2, 22, 3-5

Prayer

Your word, Lord, stands forever; it is firm as the heavens. Through all generations your truth endures; fixed to stand firm like the earth. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.

Psalm 119:89-90; 105

Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue.

2 Pt 1:5

Catholic Catechism for Adults, Ch 1

My Soul Longs for you, O God (Ps 42:2)
The Human Quest for God. CCC, Nos. 27-43
from US Catholic Catechism for Adults, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Meditation

Where did I find you, that I came to know you? You were not within my memory before I learned of you. Where, then, did I find you before I came to know you, if not within yourself, far above me?...Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!...Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. [O eternal truth, true love and beloved eternity. You are my God. To you I sigh day and night.]...You were with me but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you; now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burn for your peace.

St. Augustine, The Confessions, bk.10, chap.26,27.37

Prayer

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My being thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I go and see the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
as they ask daily, "Where is your God?"
Those times I recall as I pour out my soul,
When I went in procession with the crowd,
I went with them to the house of God,
Amid loud cries of thanksgiving,
with the multitude keeping festival.
Why are you downcast, my soul;
why do you groan within me?
Wait for God, whom I shall praise again,
my savior and my God.

Ps 42:2-6

God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love.

St. Augustine

First Saturday of the month, July 4, 2009

Independence Day
Fr. Ignatius at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in his homily emphasize our Christian roots as a nation and this prayer:
On this holiday, we give thanks for the good things God gives us and we ask for the grace to share them with the world.
We lift up our hearts, O God, on this day of celebration in gratitude for the gift of being Americans.
We rejoice with all those who share in the great dream of freedom and dignity for all.
With flags and feasting, with family and friends, we salute those who have sacrificed that we might have the opportunity to bring to fulfillment our many God-given gifts. As we deny all prejudice a place in our hearts, may we also clearly declare our intention to work for the time when all people, regardless of race, religion or sex, will be granted equal dignity and worth. Come, O gracious God, who led your children Israel from slavery, keep us free from all that might hold us n bondage.
Bless our country and join our simple celebration that we may praise you, our Source of freedom, the One in whom we place our trust. Amen

Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 16:34