A Penitent Blogger

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me

2012-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
and teaches the humble his way.

(Today's Responsorial Psalm - 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9)

What's a body to do?

2012-01-15T10:12:00.002-05:00

The body is not for immorality,
but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body....

Avoid immorality....

....glorify God in your body.

(from today's Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20)

Third Sunday of Advent

2011-12-11T04:06:00.000-05:00

Lord God,
may we, your people,
who look forward to the birthday of Christ
experience the joy of salvation
and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Today's Collect

Finding peace while in a world of transition

2011-12-04T09:57:00.002-05:00

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord
one day is like a thousand years
and a thousand years like one day.

The Lord does not delay his promise,
as some regard "delay,"
but he is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
and then
the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar
and the elements will be dissolved by fire,
and the earth and everything done on it
will be found out.

Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought you to be,
conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening
the coming of the day of God,
because of which
the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.

But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved,
since you await these things,
be eager to be found
without spot or blemish before him,
at peace.

(today's Epistle - 2 Peter 3:8-14)

Second Sunday of Advent

2011-12-04T08:18:00.002-05:00

Almighty and merciful God,
may no earthly undertaking hinder those
who set out in haste to meet your Son,
but may our learning of heavenly wisdom
gain us admittance to his company.

Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

(Collect of the day)

Happy Advent!!

2011-11-27T00:11:00.000-05:00

It is the beginning of the season
in which we prepare for the coming of Christ
and the celebration of Christmas.

It is the beginning of another year of worship.

"Come, God-with-us!
Free your captive people
That mourns in exile,
Deprived of God's Son.

"Rejoice! Rejoice!
God-with-us
shall be born for you,
O People of God!

"Come, O Wisdom!
Who sets in place all things thus;
Come, so you may teach the path
of prudence and of glory.

"Rejoice! Rejoice!
God-with-us
Shall be born for you,
O People of God!

"Come! Come, Israel's Lord,
Who from atop Sinai
Gave people the law
In glorious majesty.

"Rejoice! Rejoice!
God-with-us
Shall be born for you,
O People of God!

Veni veni, Emmanuel
captivum solve Israel,
qui gemit in exsilio,
privatus Dei Filio.

Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!

Veni, O Sapientia,
quae hic disponis omnia,
veni, viam prudentiae
ut doceas et gloriae.

Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!

Veni, veni, Adonai,
qui populo in Sinai
legem dedisti vertice
in maiestate gloriae.

Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!

(from a previous post)

Thus says Christ the King

2011-11-20T07:44:00.003-05:00

I Myself will look after and tend my sheep.

As a shepherd tends his flock
when he finds himself among his scattered sheep,
so will I tend My sheep.

I will rescue them
from every place where they were scattered
when it was cloudy and dark.

I myself will pasture My sheep;
I myself will give them rest,
says the Lord GOD.

The lost I will seek out,
the strayed I will bring back,
the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal,
but the sleek and the strong I will destroy,
shepherding them rightly.

(from today's first reading - Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17)

Advice for dating

2011-11-13T07:37:00.000-05:00

Charm is deceptive
and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD
is to be praised.

(Proverbs 31:30 - from today's first reading)

Feeling deeply the need for God

2011-11-06T09:21:00.002-05:00

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.

Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.

I will remember you upon my couch,
and through the night-watches I will meditate on you:
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

(today's Responsorial Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8)

Those whose memory we venerate

2011-11-01T20:10:00.000-04:00

One of the things that makes the first Eucharistic Prayer special is its listing of saints.

Often, however, we hear these names rattled off like reading a telephone directory or priests taking the option of not reading all of them.

And yet each name is deep with meaning, for each was chosen by the early Church in the city of Rome, whose memory of these holy people was especially dear and in some ways still very fresh.

As the Christians of Rome heard these names, these blessed memories came back and as they gathered before the table of the Lord on earth, they felt specially united with these brothers and sisters who were already gathered before the throne of God in heaven.

These names also brought them courage, for many of these saints were marytrs, who endured great suffering rather than turn away from Christ.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints today, it is good for us to take a little time to go beyond just the names from the first Eucharistic Prayer and to look more closely at each of these heroes of our faith, our brothers and sisters who already stand before the throne of God.

* * * * *

First and foremost of these believers in Christ was

...the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ....

And, after Christ, closest to her would be...

...blessed Joseph, her Spouse ...

And then...
blessed Apostles and Martyrs...
beginning with the princes of the Apostles...

...Peter and Paul...

(and then the rest of the Eleven)

...Andrew...
(brother of Simon Peter, crucified on an X-shaped cross)

...James...
(brother of John)

...John...
(the beloved disciple, entrusted with Christ’s mother)

...Thomas...

...James...
(first bishop of Jerusalem)

...Philip...
(the disciple of John the Baptist who brought Bartholomew to Christ)

...Bartholomew...
(reportedly martyred by being skinned alive)

...Matthew...
(the tax collector called to become an apostle and evangelist)

...Simon...
(reportedly martyred by being sawed alive)

...and Jude;
(like his brother James, a relative of Christ, and who reportedly resembled the Lord)

(After the Apostles, the early Church in Rome remembered Peter’s immediate successors as their bishop: all of whom also followed him in martyrdom for Christ.)

...Linus...
(Peter’s immediate successor as Bishop of Rome – mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21)

...Cletus...
(the 3rd Pope -- also known as Anacletus – converted by St. Peter himself)

...Clement...
(the 4th Pope - wrote an important post-Apostolic letter to the Corinthians)

...Sixtus...
(Pope less than a year in the 3rd century – affirmed that baptism does not depend on virtue of minister)

...Cornelius...
(the 21st Pope – who reconciled the “fallen away”)

(...and then other martyrs whose memory was especially beloved by the Christians of Rome)

...Cyprian...
(North African bishop and theologian who worked with Cornelius)

...Lawrence...
(deacon of the Church of Rome under Sixtus – martyred by burning)

...Chrysogonus...
(an early 4th century martyr and patron of an ancient church)

...John and Paul...
(brothers and imperial servants martyred by a 4th century apostate emperor, patrons of a Roman basilica)

...Cosmas and Damian...
(twins and physicians martyred in the 4th century)]

...and all God's saints.

* * *

Then, later...

To us, also, your servants,

who, though sinners,

hope in your abundant mercies,

graciously grant some share and fellowship

with your holy Apostles and Martyrs...

with John the Baptist...

...Stephen...
(the first Christian martyr)

...Matthias...
(chosen to replace Judas as an Apostle)

...Barnabas...
(companion of St. Paul)

...Ignatius...
(bishop of Antioch, mauled by animals in the 2nd century)

...Alexander...
(martyred with his brothers and mother in 2nd century)

...Marcellinus, Peter...
(a priest and an exorcist of the Church in Rome, martyed in the early 4th century)

...Felicity, Perpetua...
(maid and noblewoman in north Africa, mauled by beasts and then beheaded)

...Agatha...
(virgin martyr - disfigured and tortured)

...Lucy...
(virgin martyr - blinded then martyred - patron saint of eyes)

...Agnes...
(virgin martyr - martyred around the age of 12)

...Cecilia...
(virgin martyr - patron of music)

...Anastasia...
(wife of a pagan - martyred in the early 4th century)

...and all your Saints:
admit us, we beseech you,
into their company,
not weighing our merits,
but granting us your pardon,
through Christ our Lord.

Happy All Saints Day!

(from a previous post)

A good Psalm for every day

2011-10-30T09:25:00.000-04:00

O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.

(The Responsorial Psalm at today's Mass, Psalm 131, but well worthwhile to repeat prayerfully EVERY day)

The true good

2011-10-23T09:57:00.002-04:00

Today’s first reading (Exodus 22:20-26) contains strong words from the Lord.

Many of us, sadly, do not really listen to these words, but rather filter them through our own political and economic viewpoints: perhaps rationalizing them away, perhaps directing them against our favorite villains.

Each of us should read these words again carefully: applying them to our own lives; getting past ideology, rationalization, and demonization; focusing on our personal imperatives of justice, charity, and what is truly good.

"You shall not molest or oppress an alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.
If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me,
I will surely hear their cry.
My wrath will flare up,
and I will kill you with the sword;
then your own wives will be widows,
and your children orphans.

"If you lend money
to one of your poor neighbors among my people,
you shall not act like an extortioner toward him
by demanding interest from him.
If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge,
you shall return it to him before sunset;
for this cloak of his
is the only covering he has for his body.
What else has he to sleep in?
If he cries out to me, I will hear him;
for I am compassionate."

Knowing how to live - no matter what

2011-10-09T09:41:00.002-04:00

I know how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.

In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed
and of going hungry,
of living in abundance
and of being in need.

I can do all things
in him who strengthens me.

(from today's Epistle - Phillipians 4:12-14, 19-20)

Focus on the good

2011-10-02T06:05:00.001-04:00

Have no anxiety at all,
but in everything,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.

Then
the peace of God
that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.

Keep on doing
what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.

Then the God of peace will be with you.

(Today's Epistle - Pillipians 4:6-9)

Be humble

2011-09-25T08:25:00.002-04:00

Do nothing out of selfishness
or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others
as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.

Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus,
Who,
though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

Because of this,
God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven
and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

(from today's Epistle - Philippians 2:1-11)

What were you thinking?

2011-09-18T09:24:00.001-04:00

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.

Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.

(today's first reading - Isaiah 55:6-9)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me - a sinner.

Pope Benedict on 10th Anniversary of 9/11

2011-09-11T20:13:00.001-04:00

To my Venerable Brother

The Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan

President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

On this day my thoughts turn to the somber events of September 11, 2001, when so many innocent lives were lost in the brutal assault on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the further attacks in Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. I join you in commending the thousands of victims to the infinite mercy of Almighty God and in asking our heavenly Father to continue to console those who mourn the loss of loved ones.

The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators' claim to be acting in God's name. Once again, it must be unequivocally stated that no circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism. Every human life is precious in God's sight and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere.

The American people are to be commended for the courage and generosity that they showed in the rescue operations and for their resilience in moving forward with hope and confidence. It is my fervent prayer that a firm commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and will create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and more secure future.

With these sentiments, I extend my most affectionate greetings to you, your brother Bishops and all those entrusted to your pastoral care, and I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and serenity in the Lord,

From the Vatican, September 11, 2011

Benedict XVI

God is our refuge and strength

2011-09-11T18:02:00.000-04:00

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof
roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake
with the swelling thereof.

There is a river,
the streams whereof
shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place
of the tabernacles
of the most High.

God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved:
God shall help her,
and that rightearly.

The heathen raged,
the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice,
the earth melted.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come,
behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease
unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow,
and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still,
and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge

(Psalm 46 - read by President Obama at this morning's September 11 commemoration)

Protection, but not vengeance

2011-09-11T17:35:00.002-04:00

Wrath and anger are hateful things,
yet the sinner hugs them tight.

The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance,
for he remembers their sins in detail.

Forgive your neighbor's injustice;
then when you pray,
your own sins will be forgiven.

Could anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the LORD?

Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,
can he seek pardon for his own sins?

If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath,
who will forgive his sins?

Remember your last days,
set enmity aside;
remember death and decay,
and cease from sin!

Think of the commandments,
hate not your neighbor;
remember the Most High's covenant,
and overlook faults.

(Today's first reading Sirach 27:30-28:7)

Warning! Warning!

2011-09-04T08:02:00.002-04:00

As Christians
in a world that enshrines selfishness and atheist mythologizing,
you and I must speak prudently,
we must speak effectively,
we must speak lovingly,
we must speak humbly,
we must speak contritely,
but we MUST speak truthfully.

As today’s first reading (Ezekiel 33:7-9) tells us:

You, son of man,
I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything,
you shall warn them for me.

If I tell the wicked,
"O wicked one, you shall surely die, "
and you do not speak out
to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.

But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.

Flooding overwhelmed the city

2011-09-03T12:01:00.001-04:00

Buildings were destroyed, food supplies wiped out, commerce annihilated, and death was everywhere.

The government at every level seemed to be helpless. Only one man stood out in the minds of the beleaguered people as someone who could get them out of this crisis...

The abbot of the local monastery.

He was subsequently chosen to be the new bishop of the city, over his strong objections.

Gregory, the Abbot of St. Andrew’s monastery, was literally dragged out of his monastery and consecrated Bishop of the flood and disease ravaged city of Rome on this very day in the year 590.

He went on to restore the city, reform and build up the Church, and write a treasure house of spiritual wisdom for the ages.

Today we celebrate the memory of Pope St. Gregory the Great.

(from an earlier post)

Do not conform yourselves to this age

2011-08-28T08:35:00.000-04:00

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.

(from today's Epistle Romans 12:1-2)

Then my mother said...

2011-08-27T08:33:00.000-04:00

"'Son, for myself, I have no longer any pleasure in anything in this life. Now that my hopes in this world are satisfied, I do not know what more I want here, or why I am here.

"'There was indeed one thing for which I wished to tarry a little in this life, and that was that I might see you a Catholic Christian before I died. My God has answered this more than abundantly, so that I see you now made his servant and spurning all earthly happiness.

"'What more am I to do here?'

"I do not well remember what reply I made to her about this. However, it was scarcely five days later--certainly not much more--that she was prostrated by fever.

"While she was sick, she fainted one day and was for a short time quite unconscious. We hurried to her, and when she soon regained her senses, she looked at me and my brother as we stood by her, and said, in inquiry, 'Where was I?'

"Then looking intently at us, dumb in our grief, she said, 'Here in this place shall you bury your mother.'

I was silent and held back my tears; but my brother said something, wishing her the happier lot of dying in her own country and not abroad.

"When she heard this, she held him fast with her eye and an anxious face, because he cherished such earthly concerns, and then gazing at me she said, 'See how he speaks.'

"Soon after, she said to us both: 'Lay this body anywhere, and do not let the care of it be a trouble to you at all. Only this I ask: that you will remember me at the Lord's altar, wherever you are.'

* * * * *

"On the ninth day of her sickness, in the fifty-sixth year of her life and the thirty-third of mine, that religious and devout soul was set loose from the body.

"I closed her eyes; and there flowed in a great sadness on my heart and it was passing into tears, when at the strong command of my mind my eyes sucked back the fountain dry, and sorrow was in me like a convulsion. [...] But she neither died unhappy nor did she altogether die.

* * * * *

"So, when the body was carried forth, we both went and returned without tears. [...] Then I slept, and when I awoke I found my grief not a little eased. And as I lay there on my bed, those true verses of Ambrose came to my mind, for You are truly...

"'Deus, creator omnium,
Polique rector, vestiens
Diem decoro lumine,
Noctem sopora gratia;

"'Artus solutos ut quies
Reddat laboris usui
Mentesque fessas allevet,
Luctusque solvat anxios.'

"'O God, Creator of us all,
Guiding the orbs celestial,
Clothing the day with lovely light,
Appointing gracious sleep by night:

"'Thy grace our wearied limbs restore
To strengthened labor, as before,
And ease the grief of tired minds
From that deep torment which it finds.'

"And then, little by little, there came back to me my former memories of Your handmaid: her devout life toward You, her holy tenderness and attentiveness toward us, which had suddenly been taken away from me--and it was a solace for me to weep in Your sight...."

Excerpts from the Confessions of Saint Augustine - Book 9, Chapters 10-12

Today the Church celebrates the memory of Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine

(from an earlier post)

The words inside the dome

2011-08-21T09:31:00.000-04:00

in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

are from today's Gospel (Matthew 16:13-20):

Tu es Petrus

et super hanc petram

aedificabo ecclesiam mean

et tibi dabo

claves regni caelorum

You are Peter
and upon this rock
I will build my Church
and to you I will give
the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

(from an earlier post)

Beyond understanding

2011-08-21T09:26:00.000-04:00

Despite our best efforts, there are many things we human beings really do not fully understand: from the origins of the Universe to the inexplicable tragedies that affect many among us.

This reality is expressed beautifully in today’s Epistle (Romans 11:33-36):

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given the Lord anything
that he may be repaid?
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.

All of this reminds us of the value of faith: a gift that comes from God Himself, as we hear in today’s Gospel:

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but my heavenly Father.

May God grant and increase the gift of faith in us all in the name of Jesus.

Short, simple, and true

2011-08-14T00:01:00.000-04:00

Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.

(from today's first reading - Isaiah 56:1, 6-7)

Don't be distracted -- DISCERN

2011-08-07T21:31:00.002-04:00

Many dramatic things are happening in the world. Dramatic things may be happening in our personal lives.

Today’s first reading (1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a) reminds us that, while we must always be prudent, we must not let dramatic things distract us from diligently seeking and carefully discerning the voice and the presence of God.

Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside
and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”

A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.

After the fire
there was a tiny whispering sound.

When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Spending wages, but unsatisfied?

2011-07-31T18:27:00.003-04:00

All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!

You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;

Come, without paying
and without cost,
drink wine and milk!

Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?

Heed Me,
and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.

Come to Me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.

I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.

(Today's first reading - Isaiah 55:1-3)

"The life of your enemies"

2011-07-24T22:06:00.001-04:00

In today’s first reading (1 Kings 3:5, 7-12), God offers Solomon whatever he wants.

Solomon famously asks for wisdom.

God is pleased by this request, because Solomon has not asked for what many might have requested.

Some would have asked for a long life.

Some would have asked for riches.

Some would have asked for the life of their enemies.

This last request resonates strongly today as we react in horror to the bombing and the mass shooting in Norway last Friday.

Was the perpetrator of this horrific crime seeking the life of his enemies? We do not really know.

As for ourselves, may we always ask God for wisdom.

Why the wicked walk among us

2011-07-17T09:12:00.001-04:00

Just after midnight this morning, a woman who is widely believed to have killed her own 2-year-old daughter walked out of jail free.

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 13:24-33) contains a parable about God allowing wicked people to survive.

Why does God let this happen? Sometimes we human beings cannot find a fully satisfying answer: the wisdom of God – who is infinite, omniscient, omnipotent, and all-loving – cannot be totally grasped by finite beings on this earth.

Today’s Gospel teaches us, however, that one of the reasons God permits the survival of the wicked is for the benefit of the good.

If you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest....

For one reason or another, sad to say, many of us are in different ways entangled in the wickedness of this world and our own sinfulness.

By the timing of His judgment, God offers all of us opportunity for repentance.

May we take that offer and repent.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.

Proclaim the Word - online and everywhere

2011-07-10T09:42:00.002-04:00

In a world that exalts falsehood and selfishness, it sometimes seems a losing battle to proclaim faithfully the truth that comes from God.

Today’s readings remind us, however, that God’s word is all-powerful and is to be proclaimed – no matter what.

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 13:1-23) presents us with the familiar Parable of the Sower.

Consider how the imagery of the Parable may reflect our own lives at different times: the hard, dry, beaten-down and vulnerable path; the rocky places in our lives – painful, treacherous, and with no room to grow; the twisted, confused, and deadly thorns that ensnare and suffocate us.

Yet even in these terrible places, the word of God comes to us – a word that will make a difference, that will have an effect, as today’s first reading (Isaiah 55:10-11) reminds us so beautifully:

For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

One of the reasons God’s word is effective is that it has its own way of finding the “good soil” in which it can take root and flourish where you and I might see only a wasteland of hard ground, rocks, and thorns.

Nonetheless, it is critically important for us to do what we can, by the grace of God, to open up even more “good soil” in our hearts and in our lives: to create more opportunities for reflection and meditation to let God’s word take root deeply within us and, while remaining faithful to our godly responsibilities, to free our minds and hearts from worldly anxiety and the lure of riches.

This can be difficult and it is easy to lose hope, especially in times of hardship, but, as Saint Paul reminds us in today’s second reading (Romans 8:18-23), the power of God’s word will conquer all – no matter how hopeless or futile things may sometimes feel.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are as nothing
compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

For creation awaits with eager expectation
the revelation of the children of God;
for creation was made subject to futility,
not of its own accord
but because of the one who subjected it,
in hope that creation itself
would be set free from slavery to corruption
and share in the glorious freedom
of the children of God.

(adapted from an earlier post)

Choose to live so as to live

2011-07-03T06:18:00.001-04:00

For if you live according to the flesh,
you will die,
but if by the Spirit
you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

(from today's Epistle - Romans 8:9, 11-13)

The Bread of Life

2011-06-26T08:51:00.003-04:00

"I am the living bread
that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread
will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh
for the life of the world."

(from today's Gospel - John 6:51-58)

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi

2011-06-26T07:52:00.001-04:00

Acclaim, O tongue, the mystery
Of the glorious Body
And of the precious Blood
That, in ransom for the world,
The fruit of a generous womb,
The King of nations, shed.

To us given, for us born
From a Virgin pure,
And, brought into the world
To spread the seed of the Word,
He ended His stay
In a wondrous way.

On the night of the Last Supper,
Reclining with his brothers,
Observing the Law fully,
The food prescribed by Law,
This food to the Twelve
He gave with His own hands.

The Word Made Flesh made true bread
Become flesh at His word,
Made wine the Blood of Christ.
And if our senses fail
To strengthen a sincere heart
Faith alone will suffice.

So great a sacrament, therefore,
Let us venerate on our knees
And the old ritual
To the new Rite yield.
May faith supply
What our senses lack.

To the Father and to the Begotten
Praise and jubilation,
Salvation, honor and power
And blessing be;
And to the One who proceeds from Both
Equally be praise.
Amen

Pange, lingua, gloriosi
Corporis mysterium
Sanguinisque pretiosi,
Quem in mundi pretium,
Fructus ventris generosi,
Rex effudit gentium.

Nobis datus, nobis natus,
Ex intacta Virgine,
Et in mundo conversatus,
Sparso verbi semine
Sui moras incolatus
Miro clausit ordine.

In supremae nocte coenae
Recumbens cum fratribus,
Observata lege plene
Cibis in legalibus,
Cibum turbae duodenae
Se dat suis manibus

Verbum caro panem verum
Verbo carnem efficit;
Fit sanguis Christi merum.
Et si sensus deficit,
Ad firmandum cor sincerum
Sola fides sufficit.

Tantum ergo sacramentum
Venereumur cernui.
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui.
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Genitori genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio.
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.

Amen.

S. Thomas Aquinas

(adapted from a post on Toward Contemplation)

Happy Trinity Sunday

2011-06-19T07:04:00.001-04:00

Brothers and sisters, rejoice.
Mend your ways, encourage one another,
agree with one another, live in peace,
and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the holy ones greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

(today's Epistle - 2 Corinthians 13:11-13)

Pentecost

2011-06-12T09:26:00.001-04:00

Veni, Sancte Spiritus
reple tuorum corda fidelium,
et tui amoris in eis accende.

V. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur.
R. Et renovabis faciem terrae.

Oremus

Deus,
qui corda fidelium
Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti.
Da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere,
et de eius semper consolatione gaudere.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Thy faithful
and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray:
O GOD,
Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise,
and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Wherever and whoever you are, ask for the Spirit

2011-06-12T09:20:00.002-04:00

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts
but the same Spirit;

there are different forms of service
but the same Lord;

there are different workings
but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.

To each individual
the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

(from today's Epistle - 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13)

Ascension

2011-06-05T09:31:00.001-04:00

The Ascension of our Lord is celebrated in many places on this day.

Reason for hope

2011-05-29T11:12:00.003-04:00

In Christ (Lord, be merciful to me - a sinner) our hope is infinite and unconquerable.

And today's world needs hope.

We should therefore heed well what Saint Peter says in today's Epistle (1 Peter 3:15-18):

Always be ready to give an explanation
to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
but do it with gentleness and reverence...

False prophets and the true way

2011-05-22T21:35:00.001-04:00

A man in California with his own little media empire said the end of the world would start yesterday, leading some believers astray and leading indirectly to much public ridicule of some Christian tenets (and in some cases, of all believers).

But our faith rests not on any mere man, and as today’s Gospel reminds us (John 14:1-12), our way is not dictated by society, real truth is not concocted by clever people, and life is infinitely greater than any on this earth can imagine.

Jesus said to him,
I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father
except through me.

Suffering for doing what is good

2011-05-15T06:23:00.003-04:00

If you are patient
when you suffer for doing what is good,
this is a grace before God.

For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example
that you should follow in his footsteps.
(from today's Epistle - 1 Peter 2:20b-25)

Conduct yourselves with reverence

2011-05-08T09:14:00.000-04:00

Conduct yourselves with reverence
during the time of your sojourning,
realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct,
handed on by your ancestors,
not with perishable things like silver or gold
but with the precious blood of Christ...

(from today's Epistle 1 Peter 1:17-21)

Happy Mothers' Day

2011-05-08T09:13:00.001-04:00

(from an earlier post)

Divine Mercy Sunday

2011-05-01T08:23:00.001-04:00

Instituted by Blessed Pope John Paul II, who was beatified on this Sunday, and inspired by Saint Faustina Kowalska.

(Image from the website www.sisterfaustina.org)

Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy
gave us a new birth to a living hope
through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God
are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the final time.

In this you rejoice,
although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold
that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Although you have not seen him
you love him;
even though you do not see him
now yet believe in him,
you rejoice
with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9

(adapted from a previous post)

Blessed!!!

2011-05-01T08:20:00.002-04:00

Today, the great Pope John Paul the second was solemnly declared to be one of the Blessed.

Ora pro nobis!

Seek what is above

2011-04-24T08:25:00.001-04:00

If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Think of what is above,
not of what is on earth.

For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.

(Colossians 3:1-4 - one of the Epistles for today)

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

2011-04-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Station Churches of Lent have come to an end, but today, on this Good Friday, it is good to call to mind yet another Church involved with stations: the Stations of the Cross, the last stations of which are within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

There, just beyond the arch to the left,
is where our Lord died.

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You
because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi,
quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran

2011-04-21T21:17:00.001-04:00

The Lenten march of the Station Churches has come to an end as Lent gives way to the celebration of the Triduum, but we are brought yet again to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran for it is here that the Bishop of Rome begins the celebration of the Triduum, and the end of Lent, with the celebration of Holy Thursday Mass at his Cathedral and the washing of the feet.

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who washed the feet of his disciples, bless you and me with abundant graces during this Triduum, so that we may follow our Lord as faithful servants.

(adapted from an earlier post)

The last two stations before the Triduum

2011-04-20T23:06:00.002-04:00

The Church of Saint Praxedes

Yesterday's Station Church.

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Today's Station Church...
for the second time in the season of Lent... and it is appropriate that the Station Church circuit comes here on the day before Holy Thursday, so that we can begin our celebration of the Lord's passion, death, and resurrection with the same mind and heart as that of Mary, the Sorrowful Mother of our Lord, so that we may share in the joy of the resurrection.

The Church of Saint Praxedes

2011-04-18T05:46:00.001-04:00

A Penitent Blogger

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me

What's a body to do?

Third Sunday of Advent

Finding peace while in a world of transition

Second Sunday of Advent

Happy Advent!!

Thus says Christ the King

Advice for dating

Feeling deeply the need for God

Those whose memory we venerate

A good Psalm for every day

The true good

Knowing how to live - no matter what

Focus on the good

Be humble

What were you thinking?

Pope Benedict on 10th Anniversary of 9/11

God is our refuge and strength

Protection, but not vengeance

Warning! Warning!

Flooding overwhelmed the city

Do not conform yourselves to this age

Then my mother said...

The words inside the dome

Beyond understanding

Short, simple, and true

Don't be distracted -- DISCERN

Spending wages, but unsatisfied?

"The life of your enemies"

Why the wicked walk among us

Proclaim the Word - online and everywhere

Choose to live so as to live

The Bread of Life

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Happy Trinity Sunday

Pentecost

Wherever and whoever you are, ask for the Spirit

Ascension

Reason for hope

False prophets and the true way

Suffering for doing what is good

Conduct yourselves with reverence

Happy Mothers' Day

Divine Mercy Sunday

Blessed!!!

Seek what is above

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The Basilica of St. John Lateran

The last two stations before the Triduum

The Church of Saint Praxedes

The Lord GOD is my help

Saint John Lateran - THE Cathedral

The Basilica of Saint John at the Latin Gate

The Church of St. Stephen on the Caelian Hill

Saint Apollinaris

Saint Marcellus

Saint Mary in Via Lata

Saint Chrysogonus

The Real Lazarus Effect

Saint Peter's Basilica

Saint Nicholas "in prison"

Saint Eusebius

Basilica of Sts. Silvester and Martin

Saint Paul's Outside the Walls

"We fear not, though the earth be shaken"

Saint Lawrence in Damaso

The Four Holy Crowned Ones on the Caelian Hill

Live as children of light

Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem

Six years ago today

La Chiesa di Santa Susanna

Saint Lawrence in Lucina

What shall we pray for this month?

Basilica of Sts. Cosmas and Damian

Old Saint Sixtus'

Saint Pudentiana

The Basilica of Saint Mark

Reason for hope - no matter what

The Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls