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.