Wednesday, December 14, 2011 {St. John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
No one will have any other desire in heaven than what God wills; and the desire of one will be the desire of all; and the desire of all and of each one will also be the desire of God.
-- St Anselm

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25
6 I do this so that everyone from one end of the world to the other may know that I am the Lord and that there is no other god.
7 I create both light and darkness; I bring both blessing and disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things.
8 I will send victory from the sky like rain; the earth will open to receive it and will blossom with freedom and justice. I, the Lord, will make this happen.”

Wednesday, December 07, 2011 {St. Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If we wish to keep peace with our neighbor, we should never remind anyone of his natural defect.
-- St Philip Neri

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31
25 To whom can the holy God be compared? Is there anyone else like him?
26 Look up at the sky! Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great— not one of them is ever missing!
27 Israel, why then do you complain that the Lord doesn't know your troubles or care if you suffer injustice?

Thursday, November 10, 2011 {St. Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.
-- St. John Vianney

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Wisdom 7:22 -- 8:1
(The Nature of Wisdom)
22 because Wisdom, who gave shape to everything that exists, was my teacher. The spirit of Wisdom is intelligent and holy. It is of one nature but reveals itself in many ways. It is not made of any material substance, and it moves about freely. It is clear, clean, and confident; it cannot be harmed.  It loves what is good. It is sharp and unconquerable,
23 kind, and a friend of humanity. It is dependable and sure, and has no worries. It has power over everything, and sees everything. It penetrates every spirit that is intelligent and pure, no matter how delicate its substance may be.
24 Wisdom moves more easily than motion itself;

Saturday, October 15, 2011 {t. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is God's way to give much for little. Our Lord does not attend to how much we give, but to the generosity of our will, and for this very reason He makes much of a little.
-- St. John Chrysostom


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18
(God's Promise Is Received through Faith)
13 When God promised Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him, he did so, not because Abraham obeyed the Law, but because he believed and was accepted as righteous by God.
16 And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God's free gift to all of Abraham's descendants—not just to those who obey the Law, but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For Abraham is the spiritual father of us all:
17 as the scripture says, “I have made you father of many nations.” So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist.

Saturday, October 01, 2011 {St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven.
-- St. Camillus de Lellis


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29
(Comfort for Jerusalem)
5 Take courage, my people, you are the ones who keep Israel's name alive. 
6 You were sold to Gentile nations, but not to be destroyed. Because you made God angry, he handed you over to your enemies. 
7 When you offered sacrifices to demons instead of to God, you angered the one who made you.

Saturday, September 03, 2011 {St. Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Colossians 1:21-23
21 And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him,
23 provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.


Psalms: Psalm 54:3-4, 6, 8
3 For insolent men have risen against me, ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before them. [Selah]
4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to thee; I will give thanks to thy name, O LORD, for it is good.


Gospel: Luke 6:1-5
1 On a sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.
2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?"
3 And Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:
4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?"
5 And he said to them, "The Son of man is lord of the sabbath."


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
"On receiving the blow of death, I shall accept it from your hands with the fullest delight and joy of spirit. For this reason, my beloved Jesus, and because of the surging joy which moves me, here and now I offer my blood and body and life. May I die only for you, if you will grant me this grace, since you willingly died for me. Let me so live that you may grant me the gift of such a happy death. In this way, my God and Saviour, I will take from your hand the cup of your sufferings and call on your name: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"


-- St John de Brébeuf

Saturday, August 20, 2011 {St. Bernard, Abbot, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17
1    Now Na'omi had a kinsman of her husband's, a man of wealth, of the family of Elim'elech, whose name was Bo'az.
2    And Ruth the Moabitess said to Na'omi, "Let me go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."
3    So she set forth and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Bo'az, who was of the family of Elim'elech.
8    Then Bo'az said to Ruth, "Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my maidens.
9    Let your eyes be upon the field which they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to molest you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn."
10    Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?"
11    But Bo'az answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
4:13-17
13    So Bo'az took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.
14    Then the women said to Na'omi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next of kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel!
15    He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him."
16    Then Na'omi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.
17    And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Na'omi." They named him Obed; he was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Psalms: Psalm 128:1-5
1    Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
2    You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3    Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4    Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
5    The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12
1    Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples,
2    "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat;
3    so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.
4    They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.
5    They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
6    and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,
7    and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.
8    But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.
9    And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
10    Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ.
11    He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;
12    whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
You ought to make every effort to free yourselves even from venial sin, and to do what is most perfect.

-- St Theresa of Avila

Monday, August 01, 2011 {St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Numbers 11:4-15
4      Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving; and the people of Israel also wept again, and said, "O that we had meat to eat!
5     We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;
6     but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."
7     Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.
8     The people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it; and the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.
9     When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.
10     Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.
11     Moses said to the LORD, "Why hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? And why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou dost lay the burden of all this people upon me?
12     Did I conceive all this people? Did I bring them forth, that thou shouldst say to me, `Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries the sucking child, to the land which thou didst swear to give their fathers?'
13     Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, `Give us meat, that we may eat.'
14     I am not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy for me.
15     If thou wilt deal thus with me, kill me at once, if I find favor in thy sight, that I may not see my wretchedness."

Psalms: Psalm 81:12-17
12      So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
13     O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
14     I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.
15     Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last for ever.
16     I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
13      Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14     As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15     When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
16     Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
17     They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."
18     And he said, "Bring them here to me."
19     Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20     And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
21     And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
This is a Friend who will not terrify you, who will not abandon you. Hope in Him, and Heaven is yours!

-- St Joseph Cafasso

Monday, June 13, 2011 {St. Anthony of Padua, OFM, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Feast)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Wisdom 7:7-14 or Ephesians 4:7, 11-15
Wisdom 7:7-14
7      Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
8     I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
9     Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
10     I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases.
11     All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.
12     I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother.
13     I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth,
14     for it is an unfailing treasure for men; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.
OR 
Ephesians 4:7, 11-15
7      But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
11     And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12     to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13     until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;
14     so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles.
15     Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Psalms: Psalm 40:3-4, 10-11, 17
3      He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
4     Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods!
10     I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.
11     Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me!
17     As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me. Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God!

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20
15      And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16     He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17     And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18     they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19     So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20     And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.    

REFLECTION OF THE DAY
It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life.

-- St. John Chrysostom

Monday, May 02, 2011 {St. Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 4:23-31
23     When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24     And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
25     who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
26     The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed' --
27     for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28     to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.
29     And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,
30     while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus."
31     And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
Psalms: Psalm 2:1-9
1     Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?
2     The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his anointed, saying,
3     "Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us."
4     He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision.
5     Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6     "I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill."
7     I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.
8     Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9     You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
 Gospel: John 3:1-8
1     Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews.
2     This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."
3     Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4     Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5     Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6     That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7     Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'
8     The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."

REFLECTIONS OF THE DAY
Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

-- Ash Wednesday