Monday, August 24, 2009

Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time

On the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, we continue with John's Gospel and the Bread of Life discussion, with many of the disciples finding Jesus' call to be nourished on his body and blood as tough to swallow. And they leave him. Peter speaks for the others: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
This week, we can go from hearing these wonderful readings to listening to Jesus with our hearts. It is great to begin this week asking for the grace to reflect throughout the day on how we will enter "the narrow gate", by how we go about our day, interact with people, or return home from work. Then we can reflect on how we can humble ourselves and what that means for our day to day choices.
Today (Monday) is the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle, with its own special readings, from Revelation and John's Gospel. Thursday is the Memorial of Saint Monica. On Friday we remember Monica's son Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church. Saturday is the Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, with the story of John's beheading, from Mark's Gospel.
We could ask for the grace to go deeper than the externals and rules and get to the heart of our faith - loving others with the same compassion and love that Jesus shows us.
We can begin each day praying
"Lord, help me humble myself today, put myself last in caring for my family, in doing my job with a more selfless sense of service.
Help me forgive people who aren't performing well or behaving well.
Help me see the way You give me life in this surrender, in this freedom to spend brief moments today in talking with You, friend-to-Friend, in heart-felt connection with You, for others."
Amen
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Let us always remember the Poor Souls


Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen

Prayer for the Conversion of Scandinavia


300 Days, once a day. (See Instructions.) 54 Leo XIII, April 18, 1885.


O good Jesus , prostrate at Thy feet, we humbly implore Thee, by thy most Sacred Wounds and by the Precious Blood which Thou didst shed for the salvation of the whole world, that Thou wouldst deign to cast a look of pity on the peoples of Scandinavia, seduced from the Faith for so many centuries, and plunged in the darkness of heresy, separated from thy Church, deprived of the participation of the adorable Sacrament of thy Body and Blood, and of the other sacraments instituted by Thee, as the refuge of souls in life and in death.


Remember, O Redeemer of the world, that for these souls too Thou didst suffer bitter death, with the loss of all thy blood. Bring back, O good Shepherd, these wandering sheep ofthine to the one fold and to the healthy pastures of thy Church, so that they may form with us one flock , tended by Thee, and by thy Vicar on earth, the supreme Pontiff, whom, in the person of the Apostle St Peter, Thou didst commission to feed thy sheep and thy lambs. Graciously hear, O good Jesus, the prayers which we offer Thee with the most lively trust in the love of thy Sacred Heart, and to thy most Holy Name be praise, glory, and honor, world without end. Amen.

The Raccolta ( Collection of Indulgenced Prayers and Good Works )

The Raccolta ( Collection of Indulgenced Prayers and Good Works ) - 1910

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