Thursday, November 29, 2012

A Morning Prayer

Living Lord,
you have watched over me,
and put your hand on my head
during the long dark hours of night.
Your holy angels have protected me
from all harm and pain.
To you, Lord, I owe life itself.
Continue to watch over me
and bless me during the hours of the day.
- Jacob Boehme

Prayers for Thursday

 I found this at one of the Catholic sites I frequent and thought best to share with all of you!
 
 
 
Mathew 6 :25-33

Our Mother asked us to read this passage each thursday. Douay Rheims...

Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment?
26 Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?
27 And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature by one cubit?
28 And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.
29 But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.
30 And if the grass of the field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?
31 Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?
32 For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.
33 Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.

She also asked us to pray for priests on Thursdays.

O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
for Your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for Your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;
for Your tempted priests;
for Your dying priests'
for the souls of your priests in Purgatory.
but above all, I recommed to You the priests who baptized me;
the priests who absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I assisted;
and who gave me Your body and blood in Holy Communion;
for priests who taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way (especially...).
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.
Amen

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Novena of the Miraculous Medal

Our Mother appeared to St Catherine Laboure today!
back in the 1800's though!

miraculous medal

Novena of the Miraculous Medal
O Immaculate Virgin Mary,
Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother,
penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal,
we your loving and trustful children implore you to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this novena,
if they be beneficial to our immortal souls,
and the souls for whom we pray.
(Here form your petition)

You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son who hates iniquity.
Obtain for us then a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory.
Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin and at length attain to that blessed abode where you are the Queen of angels and of men.
Amen.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A Prayer for Today

Eternal Father,
it is your will that all should be saved.
Great is your mercy.
Your Son Jesus Christ died for all.
Teach all people to recognize you and love you.
With deep faith in Christ's death
and resurrection we pray:
'Send forth, O Lord, laborers into your vineyard
and spare your people.'
O Holy Spirit,
through the infinite merits of our Lord Jesus Christ,
enkindle in all hearts
your ardent love that can do all things,
that all may be one fold and one shepherd,
and that all may arrive in heaven
to sing your divine mercy. Amen.
- St. Vincent Pallotti

Sunday, November 25, 2012

A Prayer to start the day

Lord Jesus Christ,
who are called the prince of peace,
who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,
who so often said, “Peace to you,”
grant us peace.
Make all men and women witnesses
of truth, justice, and brotherly love.
Banish from their hearts
whatever might endanger peace.
Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee
and defend the great gift of peace.
May all peoples of the earth
become as brothers and sisters.
May longed-for peace blossom forth
and reign always over us all.
Bl. Pope John XXIII

The Solemnity of Christ the King

Reading 1 Dn 7:13-14

As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5

R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

Reading 2 Rv 1:5-8

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

Gospel Jn 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Morning Prayer


My God, I love you above all else
and you I desire as my final goal.
Always and in all things,
with my whole heart and strength
I seek you.
If you do not give yourself to me,
you give nothing.
If I do not find you,
I find nothing.
Grant me, therefore,
most loving God,
that I may always love you
for yourself above all things,
and seek you in all things
in the present life,
so that finally I may
find you and keep you
for ever in the world to come.

— Thomas Bradwardine

Friday, November 23, 2012

Pope: Faith is reasonable, leads to joyful life


Vatican City, Nov 21, 2012 / 12:38 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI continued his series of teachings on faith by examining how it is “reasonable and not in conflict with science.”

People from all over the world gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Nov. 21 to hear the Pope’s catechesis, which he delivers every Wednesday.

“The Catholic faith is reasonable and also nurtures trust in human reason," he told the audience of thousands. "It's crucial for people to open up to faith and know God and his plan of salvation in Jesus Christ."

Pope Benedict explained that there is a fruitful link between understanding and believing, which is rooted in the harmonious relationship between science and faith. Scientific research, he added, leads to knowledge of the truth about man and the cosmos.

“Also important are investigations to discover the secrets of our planet and the universe, with the knowledge that man is the crown of creation, not to exploit it foolishly but to keep it and make it habitable,” he said.

“Faith,” the Pope reflected, “enables an authentic knowledge of God that involves the whole person: it is a knowledge that gives a new taste to life, a joyful way of being in the world. It's expressed in the gift of self for others in fraternity that makes solidarity."

Turning to the love of God, Pope Benedict said that it allows us to know the whole of reality, beyond the narrow perspectives of individualism and subjectivism which disorientate consciences.

“God isn't absurd, if anything He is a mystery. The mystery isn't irrational but an overabundance of a sense of meaning and truth,” he said.

The Pope compared the experience to a person looking directly at the sun and seeing only darkness.

“But who would say that the sun isn't bright, when it's the source of light? Faith allows us to look at the 'sun' that is God, because it welcomes His revelation in history.”

"At the same time God's grace illumines reason and opens new, immeasurable and infinite horizons."

After giving his catechesis, the Pope greeted the thousands of participants in several languages.

He also offered a ''cordial greeting'' to the participants of the Catholic and Muslim cooperation conference, and the English and Welsh Catholic charity CAFOD, in gratitude for 50 years of work.

Psalm 119:14,24,72,103,111,131


n the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
Your testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.
The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Your testimonies are my heritage for ever; yes, they are the joy of my heart.
With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Grant Me O Lord





"Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you."


St. Thomas Aquinas

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Jesus Christ is constant in transient world, Pope says


VATICAN CITY,
November 18 (CNA/EWTN News) .

  During his Sunday Angelus remarks at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI said that the Sunday gospel reading about the passing of the world is a reminder that Jesus Christ is the focus and source of all creation.

“Everything passes, but the Word of God does not change, and each of us is responsible for his behavior before it,” Pope Benedict said Nov. 18, from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. “It is upon this that we shall be judged.”

Jesus does not act as a visionary who gives forecasts and dates, the Pope explained. Rather, he wants to show his disciples “the right path to walk on, today and tomorrow, to enter into eternal life.”

The Pope emphasized the centrality of Jesus in his comments to English-speaking pilgrims.

“Jesus tells us that although heaven and earth will pass away, His words will remain,” he said. “Let us pledge ourselves to build our lives more and more on the solid foundation of His holy word, the true source of life and joy.”

The Pope focused his remarks on the Sunday gospel reading from St. Mark, a passage he said is “probably the most difficult text of the Gospels.”

The reading “speaks of a future beyond our categories” and uses images and words taken from the Old Testament.

But above all, the Pope said, the reading “integrates a new center:” Jesus Christ himself and “the mystery of his person, and of his death and resurrection.”

The Word of God is “the source of all creation” and its creative power is “focused in Jesus Christ, the word made flesh.”

Jesus’ words are the “true firmament” that directs the thoughts and the path of mankind.

Even though Jesus uses the apocalyptic images of a darkened sun and moon, falling stars and the shaking of the heavens, these images are set against the backdrop of his statement that the Son of Man, Jesus himself, is coming “with power and great glory.”

“He is the true event that, in the midst of the turmoil of the world, remains the firm and stable center,” Pope Benedict said.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Morning Prayer


O Lord, love me intensely,
love me often and long!
For the more often you love me,
the purer I become.
The more intensely you love me,
the more beautiful I become.
the longer you love me,
the holier I become. Amen.

— St. Mechtild of Magdeburg

Sunday, November 18, 2012

A Little Better

Well this week I struggled but slowly unwound and have come to grips where my problem lies and now I am working at it. How soon things will work out not sure but I will have to exercise patience.
 Funny how one when has problems it is always easy to blame everything and everybody else but so hard to look inward to find the real problem.
 It has been an interesting year for me and with the switch of Hungarian Churches it has been hard but somewhat rewarding. The Hungarian church we now attend is a bit different but very well run and has 3 excellent priest. Although one of  them is 94 years old but he is such a good priest so well prepared and so good at putting together the readings into his homily and providing great background and some great education in the faith and what this all should mean to us. Truly an uplifting experience.
 For me it is like going home, it is the parish where I was baptized, had my first communion at. My wedding and my parents wedding were there.
 I also see some people that I have known for years.
 Yes I also have been pressed into service here as well and help with the collections on Sunday. The only thing that bothers me in all this is from our former Hungarian parish considering how involved we were in parish life with the exception of one person no one has ever bothered too call us to find out what is happening why are not coming are we coming back? Nothing kind of bothersome but I have learned through the years to let go and move on. Life is too short. I thank God for the wonders he gives me and the churches I can go to to listen to and learn from his word and to show my love to him.
 God Bless!

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time


Reading 1 Dn 12:1-3

In those days, I Daniel,
heard this word of the Lord:
"At that time there shall arise
Michael, the great prince,
guardian of your people;
it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
everyone who is found written in the book.

"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;
some shall live forever,
others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

"But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Reading 2 Heb 10:11-14, 18

Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.
GOSPEL Mk 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.

"But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Pope: World's spiritual poverty heightens need for Christian unity

VATICAN CITY, November 15 (CNA/EWTN News) .- Christians must not allow their divisions to keep them from working together to evangelize a world enduring a “crisis of faith,” Pope Benedict XVI told the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.

The failure to do so, he said, “goes against the will of Christ, and is a scandal in the world.”

The council, which is meeting Nov. 15 –19, will address the theme of “The Importance of Ecumenism for New Evangelization.” The theme dovetails with the topic of overcoming Christian divisions, which was widely-discussed topic at last month’s synod of bishops on the New Evangelization.

Speaking in the Clementine Room of the Apostolic Palace on Nov. 15, the Pope stressed the necessity of having theological dialogue with Christians who do not hold the Catholic faith, in order to give a credible witness to Christ in a world suffering a crisis of faith and spiritual poverty.

“Even if we do not see the possibility of the restoration of full communion in the near future, (other faiths) enable us to understand the wealth of experience, spiritual life and theological reflections that become a stimulus for a deeper testimony,” the Pope said.

The aim of ecumenism is a “visible unity between divided Christians,” he told the assembly, and the Lord must be invoked to make even an imperfect unity possible.

And even if Christians’ unity is imperfect, it is still needed to evangelize a culture gone awry, especially in the Western world.

“We cannot follow a truly ecumenical path while ignoring the crisis of faith affecting vast areas of the world, including those where the proclamation of the Gospel was first accepted and where Christian life has flourished for centuries,” he told council members.

The situation has grown so bad that many people no longer regard the absence of God in their lives as a vacuum to be filled. This presents a situation all Christians must address, discovering common ground that overcomes their denominational divisions.

The essential unity of Christians needs to be emphasized in order to bear witness to God before the world. This, he said, consists in faith in the Trinity – a faith received at baptism which all Christians can profess together “in hope and charity.”

A truly ecumenical spirit, the Pope noted toward the end of his remarks, demands abandonment to the will of God in order to bring others to belief in him.

“In the final analysis,” Pope Benedict concluded, “ecumenism and new evangelization both require the dynamism of conversion, understood as the sincere desire to follow Christ and to fully adhere to the will of the Father.”

Starting on the afternoon of Nov. 17, council participants will deliberate on the work of last month’s synod and explore the progress of ecumenical work in different parts of the world.

Council president Cardinal Kurt Koch will give the opening address.

In a Nov. 13 interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal Koch said he hopes the council meeting will foster Christian unity and aid evangelization efforts.

“The credibility of the message of the Gospel depends on unity,” he said. “The division of the Church in the world is the biggest obstacle to the missionary activity in the world.”

The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity was founded by Pope John XXIII during the Second Vatican Council and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary





20121114_8447.jpg


In her short life Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. This choice endeared her in the hearts of the common people throughout Europe.

   At the age of 14 Elizabeth was married to Louis of Thuringia (a German principality), whom she deeply loved; she bore three children. Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice and service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest in the land, who came to her gate.

   After six years of marriage, her husband died in the Crusades, and she was grief-stricken. Her husband’s family looked upon her as squandering the royal purse, and mistreated her, finally throwing her out of the palace. The return of her husband’s allies from the Crusades resulted in her being reinstated, since her son was legal heir to the throne.

   In 1228 Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order, spending the remaining few years of her life caring for the poor in a hospital which she founded in honor of St. Francis. Elizabeth’s health declined, and she died before her 24th birthday in 1231. Her great popularity resulted in her canonization four years later.

Morning Prayer


O God, worthy of infinite love,
I have nothing which can
adequately measure your dignity,
but such is my desire towards you,
that if I had all that you have,
I would gladly and thankfully
give it all to you.
O Love, O God,
you loved me first,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you. Amen.

- St. Gertrude the Great

Friday, November 16, 2012

Psalm 119:1-2,10-11,17-18


Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
I have laid up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and observe your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Psalm 146:5-10


Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;  who keeps faith for ever;
who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.  The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;  the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign for ever, your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise the LORD!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Psalm 23:1-6


The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil;  for you are with me;  your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;  and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Struggling

a It has been a long time since I blogged anything personal. Usually just put items up such as daily prayer that I saw and wished to share or items from the Vatican etc. but nothing from me.
 Truthfully I am struggling in my everyday life with what am I to do towards the Lord. I prayer I read the scripture but I am still unsure about where I am. I did read a blog recently which has helped by reminding me how simple it is to be with our Lord but still I am confused and sometimes in despair as to how to live what to do to make God happy. Maybe we are supposed to struggle? Not sure but I feel I have to march on and maybe just maybe I will find what I want.
 Certainly with the everyday demands the secular world gives us with work and just everyday life we must find no we must make time and accept god but at times I find it difficult and a battle. Certainly I hope I can come out of this funk to nourish my soul. Please pray for me! God Bless!

For Today


"Lord Jesus, fill my heart with love, gratitude and generosity. Make me a faithful and zealous servant for you. May I generously pour out my life in loving service for you and for others, just as you have so generously poured yourself out in love for me."


Psalm 37:3-4,23,27,29,39a

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
The steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose way he delights;
Depart from evil, and do good; so shall you abide for ever.
The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell upon it for ever.
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Remembrance Day






Today up here in Canada it is Remembrance Day. The day to honour our fallen soldiers past and present and to never forget what they did so we can live in a great country and to live free. The efforts they put forth enabled  Canada to grow and open up to all nationalities of the world and allow her to welcome them to build one of the peaceful law abiding great nations of the world.
 So please take a minute to today to remember our fallen soldiers and to Thank God for men and women such as the ones who gave the ultimate for the God and country.

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time


Reading 1 1 Kgs 17:10-16

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
"Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die."
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
'The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2 Heb 9:24-28

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Gospel Mk 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."

Morning Prayer


Lord, if your people
still have need of my services,
I will not avoid the toil.
Your will be done.
I have fought the good fight
long enough.
Yet if you bid me continue
to hold the battle line
in defense of your camp,
I will never beg to be excused
because of failing strength.
I will do the work you entrust to me.
While you command,
I will fight beneath your banner.

— St. Martin of Tours

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Saint Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church






St. Leo is a patron saint that few people really know or appreciate in comparison to other better known saints. However, he is not some dusty artifact of the past to be explored only in a moment of idle curiosity. St. Leo is a saint whose importance may well yet be achieved. The ancient world of the early Fifth century reflects the life of our own century. The troubles of the world in a complex tangle of politics and the controversies that consume so much energy of the faith are similar in both his world and our own.

The world of St. Leo was one of peace and solidity based upon the seemingly unstoppable Roman Empire. It had existed for centuries and most people assumed it would continue to exist. However, it was a world torn by outside threats of invasions, weakened by infighting and civil wars. The gap between the wealthy and the poor was extreme. The political situation was explosive and the inability of the government to provide a unity and moral direction was a serious weakness. For the common people, however, they focused on their daily needs and tried to raise their families the best they could. Sounds like the world of our own century where there are so many wars, and now that we have peace with communism, the world seems more unstable and volatile. Who can forecast where the next fifty years will take us. In this country, most people simply assume that our nation will continue as it is forever.

The church was also filled with controversy and infighting. Different beliefs had polarized many within the church into opposing camps. Their arguments centered on the identity of Jesus with each possible belief leading to tremendous implications and applications of faith. Note the following description;

"From the very beginning of his pontificate the strength of Leo the Great was tested and proved. Heresies rose from every direction: Persia, Spain, Constantinople, Greece--the names continue like a roll call of nations. There were Marcian, Pelagianism, Priscillianism, Nestorianism, Euthychianism, Arianism, Donatism, Apollinarianism, and many more. The words mean little to us. We smile at the strange sounds of the list and are impressed that one man should have known what they all meant and, besides, know how to refute them.

The names of Nestorius and Eutyches evoke little response today, but in the fifth century they were more deadly than the invading barbarians, for they caused spiritual violence. In denying the mystery of the Incarnation and the union of the divine and human natures of Christ, they shook Christianity to its very foundations. But Leo fought, and Leo won his battles.

His writings were like strong armor against the heresies of his day and even against those of the future. Leo forcefully reiterated the teaching of the Church on the mystery of the Incarnation. He was very explicit in stating the extent of the pope's supremacy and used that power with absolute authority, wielding the weapons of excommunication and banishment when necessary. Leo wrote letters unceasingly, and the 140 of them that we have are classed among the basic dogmatic writings of the Church. Because of these works, Pope Benedict XIV, in 1744, bestowed on Leo I the title of Doctor of the Church." Taken from Welcome to the Catholic Church produced by Harmony Media, Inc

It was also a time of physical violence. The Vandals had marched through the western Roman Empire across modern day France and Spain to settle in their own new kingdom of North Africa. The Emperor in the west was weak and ineffectual against the onslaughts of barbarian invasions. In 452, Attila the Hun, called the 'Scourge of God', marched down through Italy toward the city of Rome. The Emperor and his generals fled the city and left it and it's people to his mercy. A general and future Emperor, Marcian, came from the east to help form defense of the city, but it was not nearly enough to withstand the power of Attila. The people cried for help and the one person who was willing to stay with them and defend them was the Church and it's leader, Pope Leo.

Pope Leo had not wanted or expected to ever be a Bishop, or for that matter, a Pope. He was a deacon and a diplomat, expecting only to serve the Church and it's needs. He was respected as a good man and holy in his prayer. He was known to be able to reconcile opponents and be able to listen to different sides of a story. His ability to ease tensions and find good alternatives to conflict had won him notice. In fact, he had been sent by the Pope to France to settle a dispute when a messenger arrived with astonishing news. The Pope had died and the Bishops had been unable to elect a replacement from their own ranks; instead, they had chosen Deacon Leo as the next Pope. This is one of the few times that a man was chosen who was not already a Bishop or even a priest to serve the Church as Pope. Leo was quickly ordained and then consecrated Bishop of Rome. He worked amid the needs of the Church and was known for charitable deeds for the poor. When Attila threatened the city and the government of Rome had fled, Leo looked with pity on the poor and told them to pray and reform their lives, to be holy and beg for forgiveness of their sins. If they would do this then he would intercede for them to Attila.

Armed only with the word of God and aided by a few deacons, Pope Leo met Attila at the Milvan bridge north of Rome. Surprisingly, Attila listened to Leo, accepted a promise of tribute from the city, and then ordered his troops to withdraw to the north. His generals were perplexed and upset at his decision since the richest prize in the world lay at their feet. When they challenged Attila on why he was withdrawing from the city of Rome, he said that he had to, that Leo was guarded by the giants in the sky. No one else had seen them but Attila saw the patrons of the city of Rome, St. Peter and St. Paul, leading the armies of heaven and he fell back from the city in awe.

Pope Leo was welcomed and hailed in the city. People saw that the church, and not their government, was their true friend and benefactor. They rejoiced in their good fortune and blessings. Pope Leo warned them to stay true and faithful to their promise and that if they did not remain faithful the outcome in the future might be different. But, people are people, and many began to change their minds now that the threat was past. Attila, for his part, began to rethink his decision and announced that after his wedding night he would gather his army and once again march on Rome. That night, he died of a nosebleed in his sleep. The people, too, began to fall away from Church and to live as they had before. Twenty years later, Gaiseric, King of the Vandals, sailed from North Africa and besieged the city of Rome. People again appealed to Pope Leo for intervention. He must have felt in his heart a great sorrow, for they had once been saved but had refused to change. He knew they would not be so blessed again.

Pope Leo went to Gaiseric and asked him to turn away from sacking the city. Gaiseric refused, but he did promise to respect the church and the sanctity of those within it. People were allowed to find refuge in the churches and, for the most part, those inside were not hurt or hindered. However, for several weeks the Vandals killed and enslaved the rest, took loot and booty, burned large portions of the city and then sailed away to their strongholds in North Africa. To many people it seemed as if the world had come to an end.

Once again, Pope Leo intervened and helped to restore order. The glory of the Roman Empire in the west was no more, but the city and remaining Roman areas had a strength and vitality of their own. The government might have collapsed but the Church grew and flourished. Ironically, much of what is know or continues to exist from the Roman empire to our world today comes from the tradition and practice of the Roman Catholic world nourished by Pope Leo and his successors. Note the following;

"The pope immediately undertook the task of repairing the damage that had been done. He sent priests to minister to the captives in Africa and restored, as far as he could, the vessels and ornaments of the devastated churches. He was never discouraged. He had trust in the promises of God. If Christ would be with the Church all days, then there was no cause for fear. In the twenty-one years of his pontificate Leo I won the love and veneration of rich and poor, emperors and barbarians, clergy and lay people alike."
Taken from Welcome to the Catholic Church produced by Harmony Media, Inc.

Pope Leo wrote many letters and instructions in his lifetime. 140 of these letters and numerous sermons he preached exist to this day. He is known as one of the prime witnesses for the Primacy of the Pope and his authority to lead the Catholic Church. This was a controversial fact and in great dispute in his day. One of his greatest writings is known as the "Tome of St. Leo" and was a defense of the belief that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. This defense of the Incarnation of Jesus also had implications on the Church's understanding of Mary. The Church Council of Ephesus had debated the identity of Jesus and it's discussion was based on the role of Mary, was she "Christokos", i.e., the mother of Jesus the man, or was she "Theotokos", i.e., the mother of God. The sway in the Council was about to declare that she could only be the mother of the human part of Jesus, but this would imply a split in the reality of Jesus. For this to be a fact, Jesus would have only been human until his birth when at that moment the divine took form in the newborn human. Thankfully, the people of Ephesus intervened and refused to allow the Bishops to conclude their vote. They had a powerful attachment to Mary as she had spent her last years of life on this world in their city. The Council was deadlocked until delegates from Leo arrived and announced by his letter that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. This belief, would later become a formal part of our Nicene Creed. When the letter was read the delegates declared that truly "St. Peter speaks though Leo."

These facts led to debate and controversy about the role and value of Pope Leo. A formal validation of his role in the church came in 1754 when the Church canonized Pope Leo and declared him, in honor of his extensive writings and instructions, to be both a Saint and Doctor of the Catholic Church. It is interesting, that today in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, many of the same aspects are true today. Both had a devotion and desire to be of great service to the people, both have intervened and worked miracles against oppressive governments in favor of ordinary people. Both are defenders of the Church and strong witnesses for the Papacy and it's role in Church affairs. Both have faced threats and controversy and yet both of them found strength in the Lord Jesus and expressed their devotion to His Mother Mary. In many ways, in their life and ministry, they are 'Her' children and have been and continue to be positive and powerful influences for good in a world filled with uncertainty and disorder.

A Morning Prayer


Make us peacemakers, O God,
that we may be called children of God
and joint heirs with Christ.
May we never suffer calamities,
never fear temptation.
When the struggle is over,
may we rest in the peace of God,
the peace of utter tranquility,
through our Lord, who with the Father
and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns
forever and ever. Amen.

— Pope St. Leo the Great

THE NICENE CREED IS THE PRAYER FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH


IT IS BY BELIEVING WITH THE HEART THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED, AND BY MAKING THE DECLARATION WITH YOUR LIPS THAT YOU ARE SAVED.

MAY THE YEAR OF FAITH LEAD ALL BELIEVERS TO LEARN BY HEART THE CREED AND TO SAY IT EVERY DAY AS A PRAYER, SO THAT THE BREATHING AGREES WITH THE FAITH.

From the Pastoral Aid for the Year of Faith

The Profession of Faith
I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

Friday, November 9, 2012

A Prayer for Today


Set our hearts on fire
with love for you,
O Christ our God,
that in its flame
we may love you
with all our heart,
with all our mind,
with all our soul
and with all our strength,
and our neighbors as ourselves,
so that, keeping your commandments,
we may glorify you
the giver of all good gifts.

- Eastern Orthodox Church

Thursday, November 8, 2012

A Prayer and A Psalm

"Lord Jesus, let your light dispel the darkness that what is lost may be found and restored. Let your light shine through me that others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you. May I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."


Psalm 105:1-7

O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!
Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

PRAYER FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI


The following prayer is recommended to be said each day for Pope Benedict
XVI
during "The Year of Faith" and throughout his reign as the Vicar of Christ.


Lord, look kindly on our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and strengthen him
with all the graces necessary to perform his duties as Your Vicar here on
earth.
Guard and protect him from all evil. Grant him excellent health of mind and
body. Empower him to transform the world through Your most Holy Being.
Empower
him to convert sinners and warm the chilled heart that has grown cold. Bless
the
Holy See over which he presides in Your place so that they may all be one as
You
prayed at Your Last Supper. Enkindle the fire of Your love in him and in all
the
faithful so that together we may work towards fulfilling Your Most Holy Will
for
us and the whole world. Amen.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Prince Saint Imre (1007 - 1031)

Here is another Hungarian Saint I wish to share with all of you,

Prince Saint Imre (1007 - 1031)


He was the son of King St. Stephen I of Hungary and Giselle of
Bavaria. He is assumed to be the second son of Stephen; he was
named after his uncle, St. Henry II, and was the only of Stephen's sons who reached
adulthood. Imre was educated in a strict and ascetic spirit by the bishop of Csanád, St.
Gerhard (St. Gellért) from the age of 15 to 23. He was intended to be the next monarch
of Hungary. He married in the year 1022. The identity of his wife is disputed. Some say it
was Irene, a relative of Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos, or a female
member of the Argyros family to which Byzantine emperor Romanos III Argyros
belonged. Other says it was Patricissa of Croatia. Another possible person may have
been Adelaide/Rixa of Poland or one of her unnamed sisters.
On September 2 1031, at age 24, Imre was killed by a boar while hunting. It is assumed
that this happened in Hegyközszentimre (presently Sintimreu). He was buried in the
church of Székesfehérvár. Several wondrous healings and conversions happened at his
grave, so on 5th November 1083 King Ladislaus I unearthed Imre's bones in a big
ceremony, and Imre was canonised for his pious life and purity along with his father and
Bishop Gerhard by Pope Gregory VII.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Pope: saints connect us with eternity, fullness of life


VATICAN CITY, November 1 (CNA/EWTN News) .- Pope Benedict said that the solemnity of All Saints should help people reflect on the link between the Church on earth and the heavenly Church “that celebrates the never-ending feast.”

“In the saints we see the victory of love over selfishness and death: we see that following Christ leads to life, eternal life, and gives meaning to the present, every moment that passes, because it is filled with love and hope,” the Pope said Nov. 1 from the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square.

“Only faith in eternal life makes us truly love the history and the present, but without attachment, with the freedom of the pilgrim, who loves the earth because his heart is in Heaven,” he said.

Pope Benedict recalled that the feast of All Saints reminds us of the communion of saints, “a reality that begins here on earth and that reaches its fulfillment in heaven.”

The earthly dimension of the communion of saints is founded on Christ and the Church, he explained, adding that Christians should be open to that holy community and strive to sprout “upwards towards heaven.”

Pope Benedict then reflected on how all the saints, those canonized but especially also those known only to God, have “lived intensely” this dynamic connection between heaven and earth.

“In each of them, in a very personal way, Christ was present, thanks to his Spirit which acts through the Word and the Sacraments. In fact, being united to Christ, in the Church, does not negate ones’ personality, but opens it, transforms it with the power of love, and confers on it, already here on earth, an eternal dimension,” he said.

“This insertion in Christ also opens us, as we have said, to communion with all the other members of his Mystical Body which is the Church, a communion that is perfect in 'Heaven,' where there is no isolation, no competition or separation.”

The feast of All Saints is also related to the end of time, the Pope emphasized.

“In today's feast, we look forward to the beauty of this life fully open to the gaze of love of God and neighbor, in which we are sure to reach God and one another in God.”

Following his address the pontiff greeted the English-speaking pilgrims and told them that today’s feast “reminds us of our eternal destiny, where we will dwell, as Saint Thomas Aquinas says, in true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy and gladness without end.”

Pope Benedict concluded his address by asking Mary to pray that we receive the grace “to strongly believe in eternal life and feel ourselves in true communion with our deceased loved ones.”

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time


Reading 1 Dt 6:2-6

Moses spoke to the people, saying:
"Fear the LORD, your God,
and keep, throughout the days of your lives,
all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you,
and thus have long life.
Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them,
that you may grow and prosper the more,
in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers,
to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
Reading 2 Heb 7:23-28

Brothers and sisters:
The levitical priests were many
because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,
but Jesus, because he remains forever,
has a priesthood that does not pass away.
Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
He has no need, as did the high priests,
to offer sacrifice day after day,
first for his own sins and then for those of the people;
he did that once for all when he offered himself.
For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests,
but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,
appoints a son,
who has been made perfect forever.
Gospel Mk 12:28b-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
'He is One and there is no other than he.'
And 'to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself'
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
"You are not far from the kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Some Prayers for Sunday

"We love you, O our God; and we desire to love you more and more. Grant to us that we may love you as much as we desire, and as much as we ought. O dearest friend, who has so loved and saved us, the thought of whom is so sweet and always growing sweeter, come with Christ and dwell in our hearts; that you keep a watch over our lips, our steps, our deeds, and we shall not need to be anxious either for our souls or our bodies. Give us love, sweetest of all gifts, which knows no enemy. Give us in our hearts pure love, born of your love to us, that we may love others as you love us. O most loving Father of Jesus Christ, from whom flows all love, let our hearts, frozen in sin, cold to you and cold to others, be warmed by this divine fire. So help and bless us in your Son."
(Prayer of Anselm, 1033-1109)


To you, St. Martin de Porres,
we prayerfully lift up our hearts
filled with serene confidence and devotion.
Mindful of your unbounded
and helpful charity to all levels of society
and also of your meekness and humility of heart,
we offer our petitions to you.
Pour out upon our families
the precious gifts of your generous intercession;
show to the people of every race and every color
the paths of unity and of justice;
implore from our Father in heaven
the coming of his kingdom,
so that through mutual benevolence in God
people may increase the fruits of grace
and merit the rewards of eternal life. Amen.
- Anonymous

Jesus Christ, where else can I turn each day but to you? One day, I will make that final turn to you, and it will last for all eternity. Yet as in everything else, you set the pace, you take the initiative, and you are the protagonist. You will turn and look my way first and I, as I strive daily to do, will respond and gaze back into your eyes. This moment of prayer is a rehearsal for that final turn to you. Amen.

Lord, teach me to walk the way of generous love.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Tech-savvy priest ‘sells’ Catholicism

I found this article at The Catholic Register and thought it interesting to share with you. Please read and enjoy!



Written by: Tristan Bronca, Youth Speak News
Friday, 26 October 2012 10:41



THORNHILL, ONT. - A financial analyst turned priest, Fr. Mario Salvadori is marketing an unorthodox and unapologetic formula of evangelization — and youth are flocking to it.
Salvadori, the only priest at Thornhill’s St. Joseph the Worker parish, jokes that he has “more degrees than a thermometer.” He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science, a master’s degree in theology and a master’s in business administration. Before he was a priest, Salvadori was a businessman. In many ways, he still is.
“I used to be able to sell a glass of water to a drowning man,” he said. “Now I sell Jesus Christ.”
His congregation in this Toronto suburb seems to be buying it.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Vlad Mamaradlo, the lay minister Salvadori hired to work with youth. Mamaradlo said every Mass is standing room only. “Even the foyer is full.”
And in the five years since Salvadori joined the parish, he’s paid off a $1.3-million renovation and $600,000 more off the mortgage.
Salvadori’s success stems from his approach to Mass. For him, evangelization is no different than marketing. “It’s just a different word,” he said. He and Mamaradlo look at Catholicism as a product they are selling. Something that, they say, the Church has failed to sell.
“In society, people are given options,” Mamaradlo said, “so let’s give them options.”
What Salvadori has given them is a refreshing twist on the traditional Mass. When he ordered the church renovation back in 2009, he made sure it would accommodate his style for delivering just that.
“We’re competing against 60-inch TVs, iPods and every other stimulation that’s out there,” Mamaradlo said.
So, Salvadori brought the technology to Mass. Every homily, his laptop is plugged into the pulpit, at the ready to bring up a clip on the two huge screens on either side of him.
He invites guest speakers and tackles current and controversial topics that many priests tend to shy away from — topics that weigh heavily on everyday life. One homily he delivered in May included a clip of U.S. President Barack Obama speaking about gay marriage. That homily has collected more than 300 views on YouTube as have some of his other videos posted on the site.
There are other options too, opportunities to connect with the congregation outside the now lessthan-traditional construct of Mass. There are trips downtown to feed the homeless, youth groups, parish events, even retreats in the United States that young people can sign up for.
Mamaradlo’s role as a paid youth minister is rare in Canada. It is part of a model Salvadori discovered in the United States. Seventeen other people were interviewed, flying in from places like Montreal and Philadelphia, in hopes of landing the position.
In fact, Salvadori runs the entire parish based on the U.S. model. He was first exposed to it 18 years ago when he attended a conference in Steubenville, Ohio.
“The first thing that stunned me was that they used video,” he said. “I remember thinking ‘Wow, you can do this in the Catholic Church?’ ”
When Salvadori came to St. Joseph with plans to use the technology, he was met with that same sense of uncertainty. Then, only days after ordering the renovation, the Pope spoke out in approval, advocating the use technology to evangelize youth.
The initial reluctance at the parish is not the only resistance he’s encountered. Salvadori is known for a direct and unbending approach to Catholicism that can sometimes be hard to swallow.
“Just look at some of the comments he’s got on YouTube,” Mamaradlo said.
For example, a few weeks ago Salvadori asked the entire congregation to call one MP to voice their support for an anti-abortion motion. When the motion was denied he called it a “sin of omission” and asked everyone who didn’t call to complete a penance.
Salvadori doesn’t shy away from this criticism — he welcomes it. When asked about this, his voice perked, as if he wasn’t the only priest in a parish who’d been running around all day before a 9:45 p.m. interview.
“Many words have been used to describe me, but nobody has ever used the ‘B’ word,” he said. In more than 15 years and after hundreds of good and bad e-mails from parishioners, no one has ever described a Mass with Salvadori as “boring.”
(Bronca, 21, is a fourth-year journalism student at Carleton University in Ottawa.)

Eucharist

"Any time spent before the Eucharistic presence,
be it long or short,
is the best-spent time of our lives."


St. Catherine of Genoa

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)


Reading 1 Wis 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Reading 2 Rom 5:5-11

Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.


Gospel Jn 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds:
"Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."

Morning Prayer


Lord,
welcome into your calm
and peaceful kingdom
those who have departed
out of this present life
to be with you.
Grant them rest
and a place with the spirits of the just;
and give them the life that knows no age,
the reward that passes not away,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

— St. Ignatius Loyola

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Prayer for Today


Into your hands, O Lord,
and into the hands of your holy angels,
I commit and entrust this day my soul,
my relations, my benefactors,
my friends and my enemies,
and all your people.
Keep us, O Lord,
throughout this day
by the merits and intercessions
of blessed virgin Mary and all the saints.


- St. Edmund of Abingdon

Morning Prayer


We thank you, O God,
for the saints of all ages,
for those who in times of darkness
kept the lamp of faith burning,
for the great souls
who saw visions of larger truth
and dared to declare it,
for the multitude of quiet and gracious souls
whose presence has purified
and sanctified the world,
and for those known and loved by us,
who have passed
from this earthly fellowship
into the fuller light of life with you,
where you live and reign,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever. Amen.

— Anonymous

Solemnity of All Saints


Reading 1 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14

I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels
who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
"Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,
one hundred and forty-four thousand marked
from every tribe of the children of Israel.

After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:

"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb."

All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:

"Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"
I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."
He said to me,
"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Reading 2 1 Jn 3:1-3

Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Gospel Mt 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."