DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Josaphat, Bishop And Martyr

First Reading:  Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R.  Psalm 40 (39):5a

     Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord;

OR

R.  Psalm 1:2a

     But his will is in the law of the Lord,

OR

R.  cf. Psalm 92 (91):13-14

     The just shall flourish like the palm tree:...in the courts of the house of our God.

V.  Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,

     nor stood in the way of sinners,

     nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

     But his will is in the law of the Lord,

     and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

V.  And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters,

     which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.

     And his leaf shall not fall off:

     and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

V.  Not so the wicked, not so:

     but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.

     For the Lord knoweth the way of the just:

     and the way of the wicked shall perish.

Gospel Reading:  John 17:20-26

And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me; That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou hast given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, as we also are one:  I in them, and thou in me; that they may be made perfect in one: and the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast also loved me. Father, I will that where I am, they also whom thou hast given me may be with me; that they may see my glory which thou hast given me, because thou hast loved me before the creation of the world. Just Father, the world hath not known thee; but I have known thee: and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have made known thy name to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 11/12/12025.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Thirty-Second Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Philemon 7-20

For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:  For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus, Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee, Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:  But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever:  Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord? If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself. And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my account. I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also. Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 146 (145):5a; V. 7, 8-9a, 9bc-10 (DR--7bcd, 8-9a, 9b-10)

R.  Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper,

V.  (W)ho executeth judgment for them that suffer wrong:

     who giveth food to the hungry.

     The Lord looseth them that are fettered:

V.  The Lord enlighteneth the blind.

     The Lord lifteth up them that are cast down:

     the Lord loveth the just.

     The Lord keepeth the strangers,

V.  (H)e will support the fatherless and the widow:

     and the ways of sinners he will destroy.

     The Lord shall reign for ever:

     thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.  

Gospel Reading:  Luke 17:20-25

And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come? he answered them, and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:  Neither shall they say: Behold here, or behold there. For lo, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said to his disciples: The days will come, when you shall desire to see one day of the Son of man; and you shall not see it. And they will say to you: See here, and see there. Go ye not after, nor follow them:  For as the lightning that lighteneth from under heaven, shineth unto the parts that are under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

Flowery Symbol

In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

In Flanders Fields (1915)

John McCrea (1872-1918)

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Originally posted as "Poem Of The Day" on 11/11/2013.

New post created on 11/11/2022.

Veteran's Day Acknowledgement

My two brothers are veterans of the Air Force. I have other relatives who have served in various branches of the military. I personally owe them a debt of gratitude for their service to the country. To all other veterans, that gratitude, while not as personal, is nonetheless heartfelt.

Our active military personnel take the following oath (those in the National Guard take a similar oath which includes obeying orders from their state's Governor):

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

For those who have preserved our freedom, we salute you!

NOTE: I gave a Fedora Doff to a Facebook friend who posted a video on my wall which I had placed here in 2010. I no longer have that link.

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Originally posted 11/11/2010.
Re-posted 11/11/2011.
Re-posted 11/11/2012.
Updated and edited 11/11/2013.
Re-posted 11/11/2014.
Re-posted 11/11/2015.
Re-posted 11/11/2016.
Re-posted 11/11/2017.

Re-posted 11/11/2019.

Re-posted 11/11/2020.

Re-posted 11/11/2021.

Re-posted 11/11/2022.

Re-posted 11/11/2023.

Re-posted 11/11/2024.

Re-posted 11/11/2025.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Martin Of Tours, Bishop

First Reading:  Isaiah 61:1-3abcd

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me: he hath sent me to preach to the meek, to heal the contrite of heart, and to preach a release to the captives, and deliverance to them that are shut up. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God: to comfort all that mourn:  To appoint to the mourners of Sion, and to give them a crown for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of grief:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 21-22, 25 and 27

R.  The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.

V.  The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.

     I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

     For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens:

     thy truth shall be prepared in them.

V.  I have made a covenant with my elect:

     I have sworn to David my servant:

     Thy seed will I settle for ever.

     And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation.

V.  I have found David my servant:

     with my holy oil I have anointed him.

     For my hand shall help him:

     and my arm shall strengthen him.

V.  And my truth and my mercy shall be with him:

     and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

     And my truth and my mercy shall be with him:

     and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 25:31-40

And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats:  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in:  Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me. Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 11/11/2025.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Thirty-Second Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Titus 3:1-7

Admonish them to be subject to princes and powers, to obey at a word, to be ready to every good work. To speak evil of no man, not to be litigious, but gentle: shewing all mildness towards all men. For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But when the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared:  Not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost; Whom he hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour:  That, being justified by his grace, we may be heirs, according to hope of life everlasting.

 Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 23 (22):1a; V.:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R.  The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

V.  The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

     He hath set me in a place of pasture.

     He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:

     He hath converted my soul.

V.  He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.

     For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death,

     I will fear no evils, for thou art with me.

     Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.

V.  Thou hast prepared a table before me

     against them that afflict me.

     Thou hast anointed my head with oil;

     and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!

V.  And thy mercy will follow me

     all the days of my life.

     And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

     unto length of days.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 17:11-19

And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us. Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God. And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

"And All That Remains..."

In this month when we are asked to pray for the Church Suffering, there are times when the tragedy known as Death just takes too vicious a turn.

Such an event happened tonight 35 years ago.

"Does anyone know where the love of God goes/when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"

We believe He is there.

All 29 crewmen were in His arms.

A Fedora Doff to a former CatholicSingles.com member who lives in the Detroit area for the reminder.

UPDATE (11/10/2015):  It is now the 40th. year anniversary. The church bell chimes of the Maritime Sailors Cathedral will ring out their requiem again.

UPDATE (11/10/2026):  Fifty-one years ago. It is also the golden anniversary of the ballad by the late Gordon Lightfoot. There are remembrances throughout social media. I needed to re-post mine as well.

As I saw the reflections come across my Facebook page, I was struck by those who made mention of the final words of Captain Earnest M. McSorley, "We are holding our own."

Isn't it ironic.

I can only hope God is "holding His own."

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Leo The Great, Pope And Doctor Of The Church

First Reading:  Sirach 39:6-11

He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High. He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins. For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:  And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord. And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate. He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 37 (36):30a; V. 3-4, 5-6, 30-31

R.  The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom:

V.  Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land,

     and thou shalt be fed with its riches.

     Delight in the Lord,

     and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.

V.  Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him,

     and he will do it.

     And he will bring forth thy justice as the light,

     and thy judgment as the noonday.

V.  The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom:

     and his tongue shall speak judgment.

     The law of his God is in his heart,

     and his steps shall not be supplanted.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 16:13-19

And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 11/10/2025.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Thirty-Second Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Titus 2:1-8, 11-14

But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine:  That the aged men be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience. The aged women, in like manner, in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well:  That they may teach the young women to be wise, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men, in like manner, exhort that they be sober. In all things shew thyself an example of good works, in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity, The sound word that can not be blamed: that he, who is on the contrary part, may be afraid, having no evil to say of us. For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world, Looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 37 (36):39a; V. 3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29

R.  But the salvation of the just is from the Lord,

V.  Trust in the Lord, and do good,

     and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its riches.

     Delight in the Lord,

     and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.

V.  The Lord knoweth the days of undefiled;

     and their inheritance shall be for ever.

     With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed,

     and he shall like well his way.

V.  Decline from evil and do good,

     and dwell for ever and ever.

     But the just shall inherit the land,

     and shall dwell therein for evermore.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 17:7-10

But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to meat:  And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him? I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Feast Of The Dedication Of The Lateran Basilica In Rome

First Reading:  Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

And he brought me again to the gate of the house, and behold waters issued out from under the threshold of the house toward the east: for the forefront, of the house looked toward the east: but the waters came down to the right side of the temple to the south part of the altar. And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he caused me to turn to the way without the outward gate to the way that looked toward the east: and behold there ran out waters on the right side. And he said to me: These waters that issue forth toward the hillocks of sand to the east, and go down to the plains of the desert, shall go into the sea, and shall go out, and the waters shall be healed. And every living creature that creepeth whithersoever the torrent shall come, shall live: and there shall be fishes in abundance after these waters shall come thither, and they shall be healed, and all things shall live to which the torrent shall come. And by the torrent on the banks thereof on both sides shall grow all trees that bear fruit: their leaf shall not fall off, and their fruit shall not fail: every month shall they bring forth firstfruits, because the waters thereof shall issue out of the sanctuary: and the fruits thereof shall be for food, and the leaves thereof for medicine.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R.  The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most High hath sanctified his        own tabernacle.

V.  Our God is our refuge and strength:

     a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

     Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled;

     and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.

V.  The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful:

     the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.

     God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved:

     God will help it in the morning early.

V.  The Lord of armies is with us:

     the God of Jacob is our protector.

     Come and behold ye the works of the Lord:

     what wonders he hath done upon earth,

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17

(Y)ou are God's building. According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus. Know you not, that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are.

Gospel Reading:  John 2:13-22

And the pasch of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple them that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. And when he had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, he drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of the changers he poured out, and the tables he overthrew. And to them that sold doves he said: Take these things hence, and make not the house of my Father a house of traffic. And his disciples remembered, that it was written: The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up. The Jews, therefore, answered, and said to him: What sign dost thou shew unto us, seeing thou dost these things? Jesus answered, and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews then said: Six and forty years was this temple in building; and wilt thou raise it up in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen again from the dead, his disciples remembered, that he had said this, and they believed the scripture, and the word that Jesus had said.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 11/9/2025.