PM: Gradual Tuesdays--10th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycle A and B.

Lord, forgive our sins, lest they should say among the Gentiles, "Where is their God?"

V. Help us, O God, our Saviour, and for the sake of your name deliver us, O Lord.

Ps. 78:9c, 10a; V. 9ab

The soul of the repentant sinner cries to God for forgiveness and mercy. Our loving Father can do no less for those who return to Him.

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not allowed my enemies to rejoice over me.

V. O Lord, my God, I have called out unto you and you have healed me; O Lord you have brought back my soul from hell; you have delivered me from among those who go down into the pit.

Ps. 29:2; V. 3, 4

The healed soul gives thanks for being saved. God shows His love and mercy to those who love Him.

PM: Introit Mondays--10th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two introits for this day; the first is for Cycles A and C.

The Lord is my light and and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? My enemies who trouble me have themselves grown weak and have fallen.

V. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.

Ps. 26: 1, 2, 3

With God by our side, we shall prevail. There is nothing in this life that should trouble us.

O Lord, if you were to take into account our iniquities, who would withstand the test? But forgiveness abides with you, O God of Israel.

V. Out of the depths have I cried to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.

Ps. 129:3, 4; V. 1, 2

This introit, also for the 28th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time, shows God as great Judge and merciful Creator. In our sorrow we turn to Him, pleading for forgiveness.

PM: Communion Fridays--Corpus Christi

There are two options; the first being for Cycle A and B.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him.

John 6:57

Perhaps the most important promise Christ makes to us. Consumed with love for us, He gives Himself for us to consume.

"This is my body which is given up for you; this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood," says the Lord. "Each time that you partake thereof, do it in memory of me."

1 Cor. 11: 24, 25

The Communion from Holy Thursday returns for our consideration. The words of consecration ring in our ears as we receive His Real Presence.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--Corpus Christi

There are two options for today's solemnity.

The Lord opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna upon them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven; man ate the bread of angels, alleluia.

Ps. 77: 23, 24, 25

As He fed the Israelites during their wandering in the desert, so does He feed us with, but with something more than manna. What the angels can only see, we can actually take within us.

Moses consecrated an altar to the Lord, and presented thereupon burnt offerings and sacrificial victims; he made an evening sacrifice as a fragrant offering to the Lord, in the presence of the Sons of Israel.

Cf. Exodus 24: 4, 5

This is one of the options for the Offertory during the 24th. Sunday in Ordinary Time. A prefiguring of the Last Supper and Calvary, this is but a shadow of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--Corpus Christi

My flesh is the true food, my blood is the true drink; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

John 6:56, 57

Jesus anticipates the Last Supper; and, therefore, His Passion. By taking and eating and drinking do we have life in Him.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--Corpus Christi

The eyes of all look towards you in hope, O Lord; and you give them their food in due season.

V. You open your hand and fill every living thing with your blessings.

Ps. 144:15; V. 16

We turn to God for everything. He responds in and with love with what we need.

PM: Introit Mondays--Corpus Christi

He fed them with the finest of wheat, alleluia; and with honey from the rock he satisfied them, alleluia, alleluia.

V. Rejoice in the honor of God our helper, shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

Ps. 80:17 and 2, 3, 11

As our earthly father would not hand us a stone when we ask for bread, so our Heavenly Father also feeds us with the best He has. He sates and slakes our soul.

PM: Communion Fridays--Trinity Sunday

There are two choices; the second is for Cycle B.

Let us bless the God of heaven and utter his praises before all who live; for he has dealt with us according to his mercy.

Tob. 12:6

He has given us His love and mercy. Now we have been given His Body and Blood.

All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth, alleluia; go therefore and teach all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, alleluia, alleluia.

Matt. 28:18, 19

This is one of the options from the Solemnity of the Ascension. We can only enter the Trinitarian life through the waters of rebirth; we can only draw others to it by our life in it.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--Trinity Sunday

Blessed by God the Father, and the only begotten Son of God, and the Holy Spirit; for he has dealt with us according to his mercy.

Cf. Tob. 12:6

We hear again the words from the Introit. It is from this spirit of gratitude we give back to God a portion of what He has given us.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--Trinity Sunday

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers; and worthy to be praised forever.

Dan. 3:52

"Alleluia" is Hebrew for "Praise God". This we should do, so that it is done "on earth as it is in heaven".

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--Trinity Sunday

There are two options available; the second is a hymn using Daniel 3:52-56 as its lyrics. The focus will be on the actual gradual.

Blessed are you, O Lord, who gaze into the depths and who are enthroned upon the Cherubim.

V. Blessed are you, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven, and worthy of praise forever.

Dan. 3:55; V. 56

The passage is from the story of the three men in the fiery furnace and how God saved them from death. Shall we not also be this grateful for the same reason?

PM: Introit Mondays--Trinity Sunday

There are two choices for this day; the first being for Cycles A and B.

Blessed be the Holy Trinity and its undivided unity; we shall ever give him thanks, for he has dealt with us according to his mercy.

V. O Lord our Governor, how admirable is your name in all the earth.

Tob. 12:6; V. Ps. 8

We give thanks to our Triune God for Who He Is and what He has done for us in his great love and mercy. Justice and kindness have met.

The love of God has been poured into our hearts, alleluia; by His spirit which dwells in us, alleluia, alleluia.

V. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his name.

Rom. 5:5; 10:11; V. Ps. 102

The Trinity is bound by Love; the Trinity is Love. As much as we are in communion with God and allow His love to work in us is the measure by which we show we are His adopted children.

Prayer To The Holy Spirit

V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful.
R. And kindle in them the fire of Your love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray:

O God, Who did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by this same Spirit, we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in Your consolation. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Originally posted 6/4/2006.
Part of post "Tongues Of Fire" posted 5/27/2007.
Re-posted 5/23/2010.
Re-posted 6/12/2011.
Re-posted 5/19/2013.
Re-posted 6/8/2014.
Re-posted 5/24/2015.

PM: Communion Fridays--Pentecost Sunday

Suddenly, a sound came from heaven like the rush of an almighty wind, in the place where they were sitting, alleluia; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and announced the great things God has done, alleluia, alleluia.

Acts 2:2, 4

The dove, a rush of wind, tongues of flame. Our visible representation for the invisible Third Person of the Blessed Trinity are symbols of God's presence in our lives.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--Pentecost Sunday

Confirm, O God, that which you have accomplished in our midst; from your holy temple which is in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to you, alleluia.

Ps. 67:29-30

The Spirit comes to complete the sanctification started by the Father through the Son. He comes "with Thy grace and heavenly aid/To fill the hearts which Thou hast made."

PM: 2nd Alleluia Wednesdays--Pentecost Sunday

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

The Spirit Whom we invoke gives us His seven gifts so that His nine fruits may come forth. Perhaps this is a prayer which needs to become part of your life.

PM: 1st. Alleluia Tuesdays--Pentecost Sunday

Send forth your Spirit and all things shall be created anew; and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Ps. 103:30

"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful; and kindle in them the fire of your love." Inviting the Paraclete into our lives is part of the remaking of ourselves as a new creation in God.

PM: Introit Mondays--Pentecost Sunday

The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world, alleluia; and that which contains all things, knows every language spoken by men, alleluia, alleluia.

V.  Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; and let those who hate him flee before his face.

Wisdom 1:7; V. Ps. 67

The Breath by which the Word of the Father came was also instrumental in creating the world. The Advocate's presence has been here since the beginning.

PM: Communion Fridays--7th. Sunday Of Easter

Father, when I was amongst them, I kept those whom you had given me, alleluia; but now I am coming to you; I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from evil, alleluia, alleluia.

John 17: 12, 13, 15

Do you hear the echo of the Lord's Prayer? The final petition of the "Our Father" carries the weight of Christ's words, perhaps making them the most important request of the entire prayer.

PM: Communion Fridays--Solemnity Of The Ascension

There are three verses, each corresponding to the Cycle of Readings.

All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth, alleluia; go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, alleluia, alleluia.

Matt. 28:18, 19

His final instruction is now given. The power He has received from the Father He gives to His disciples, in accordance to the talents we have been given.

These signs will accompany those who believe:  they will cast out demons, and when they lay their hands upon the sick, these will recover, alleluia.

Mark 16:17, 18

As we have been set apart, marked by the sign of faith, we should be distinguishable from the rest of the world. The fruits of the Spirit should be prominent in our lives.

Sing to the Lord who has ascended the highest heaven, towards the East, alleluia.

Ps. 67:33, 34

We are to give glory to Him "on earth as it is in heaven" since He was on earth and is now in heaven. As we saw Him depart, so shall we see Him return.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--7th. Sunday Of Easter

There are two options presented; the other is the Offertory for the Solemnity of the Ascension.

God has gone up amidst shouts of joy; the Lord to the sound of the trumpet.

Ps. 46:6

We rejoice at Christ's departure, giving our King the send off He deserves. It is only by His ascending to Heaven can He begin to fulfill His promises.

PM: Offetory Thursdays--Solemnity Of The Ascension

There are two options presented; the other is the Offertory for the 7th. Sunday of Easter.

Men of Galilee, why do you gaze at the sky in astonishment? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come by the very way in which you saw him go into heaven, alleluia.

Acts 1:11

Angels, God's messengers, assure us of Christ's return. We, for our part , have to continue to prepare for His Second Coming.

PM: 2nd. Alleluia Wednesdays--7th. Sunday Of Easter

Two choices are presented; the first is for Cycle A.

I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

John 16:28

One of the 1st. Alleluias from the 6th. Sunday of Easter has returned. In order to fulfill His word, the Word has to return to Him Who uttered Him with the breath of the Spirit.

I will not leave you orphans; I am going, but I will come back to you, and your hearts will be full of joy.

John 14:18

As his adopted children, God cannot abandon us. Only through sin are we cut off from His eternal inheritance.

PM: 2nd. Alleluia Wednesdays--Solemnity Of The Ascension

The Lord is in Sinai, in the holy place; ascending on high, he has led captivity captive.

Ps. 67:18, 19

God has taken His seat on the throne.Where He has gone, may we, those whom He has ransomed, soon follow.

PM: 1st. Alleluia Tuesdays--7th. Sunday Of Easter

The Lord is King over all the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Ps. 46:9

With earth as His footstool, God sits on the most important cathedra of them all. His eternal reign encompasses all.

PM: 1st. Alleluia Tuesdays--Solemnity Of The Ascension

God has gone up amidst shouts of joy, the Lord to the sound of the trumpet.

Ps. 46:6

Jesus said He was going to return to the Father. When you are God, you most certainly need a fanfare for your departure.

PM--A "Two For" Week

I had to think about what to do this week. With most of the United States celebrating the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord on the 7th. Sunday of Easter instead of  the traditional 40 days after the Resurrection, that is, on a Thursday (cf. Acts 1:1-3; remember, St. Luke strove for historical accuracy), my question was what was I going to do with both sets of Propers. Was I going to ignore the Propers for the 7th. Sunday of Easter? Was I going to do a Special Edition post of the Ascension Propers?

As you have seen, I decided to run them both concurrently. While the Communion for Ascension will fall after its traditional time, this was the best solution possible. Since I am following the liturgical calendar for the Ordinary Form, the dilemma of a celebration falling on two separate days is solved by acknowledging both the Holy Day of Obligation and the Sunday it displaces.

Double your pleasure; double your fun.

PM: Introit Mondays--7th. Sunday Of Easter

Hearken , O Lord, unto my voice which has called out to you, alleluia; my heart declared to you:  "Your countenance have I sought; I shall ever seek your countenance, O Lord; do not turn your face from me, alleluia, alleluia."

V. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Ps. 26:7, 8, 9; V. 1

The "restless heart" quote of St. Augustine comes to mind. St. Paul's quote about God being for us also is recalled.

PM: Introit Mondays--Solemnity Of The Ascension

Men of Galilee, why are you gazing in astonishment at the sky? alleluia; just as you have seen him ascend into heaven, so, in like manner, shall he return, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

V. All nations, clap your hands; shout unto God with a voice of joy.

Acts 1:11. V. Ps. 46

His mission on earth now complete, the Son returns to the Father. We wait for His Second Coming, trusting the Lord will not "delay" in returning.

May 2016 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

Universal Intention - Respect For Women. That in every country of the world, women may be honored and respected and that their essential contribution to society may be highly esteemed.

Evangelization Intention - Holy Rosary. That families, communities, and groups may pray the Holy Rosary for evangelization and peace.

Reflections for these intentions are found here.