PM: Offertory Thursdays--14th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

You will save the humble nation, O Lord, and bring down the eyes of the proud. For who is God, other than you, O Lord?

Ps. 17:28, 32

The First Word of the Decalogue is echoed here. It is nothing less the echo of the Word of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--14th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options this day; the second is for Cycles B and C.

Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will comfort you.

Matt. 11:28

Also the Alleluia for All Saints' Day, Jesus invites us into His presence. We who are weighed down by the burden of sin will have it lifted by Him.

Great is the Lord and worthy of all praise; in the city of God, on his holy mountain.

Ps. 47:2

As we have gathered for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we are in His city and on His holy mountain. We give Him the praise and adoration which is due Him.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--14th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Be unto me a protecting God, and a house of refuge, to save me.

V. My God, in you do I trust, let me never be put to shame.

Ps. 70:3; V. 1

There is a hint of the final petition of the Lord's Prayer ("deliver us from evil"). It it in this paternal confidence we place our filial trust and hope.

PM: Introit Mondays--14th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

We have received your mercy, O God, in the midst of your temple; even as your name, so also does your praise extend to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.

V. Great is the Lord and worthy of all praise, in the city of our God, on his holy mountain.

Ps. 47:10, 11; V. 2

It is Christ who sits at the right hand of God the Father. If we have faith in Him and His salvific actions, we will have received His mercy.

Hark! The Herald's Song

Most Catholics know St. Cecilia is considered the primary patron saint of music.  However, there are two other members of the Canon of Saints to whom musicians also make intercession.  The first is St. Gregory the Great, to whom Tradition holds his prominence in the creation of Gregorian Chant.  The other person has a more subtle connection.

Today is the feast of the Birthday of St. John the Baptist.  This is only one of three such celebrations in the liturgical year, the other two being Christmas (properly called the Feast of the Nativity--the birthday of Christ) and the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8, nine months after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception).  But how does the herald of the Son of God have any connection to the aural arts?

It's all in the song.

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Originally posted June 24, 2013.

Even More Intercession

Once again, I seek stable, suitable employment.

Back to this prayer again (this will be the fourth time I've used it in a post).

++++++++++

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua: 

Good Saint Anthony, in God's providence you have secured for His people many marvelous favors. You have been especially celebrated, good Saint Anthony, for your goodness to the poor and the hungry, for finding employment for those seeking it, for your special care of those who travel, and for keeping safe from harm all who must be away from home. You are widely known also, good Saint Anthony, for securing peace in the family, for your delicate mercy in finding lost things, for safe delivery of messages, and for your concern for women in childbirth. In honoring you, Saint Anthony, for the many graces our Lord grants through your favor, we trustfully and confidently ask your aid in our present need. Pray for us, good Saint Anthony, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

May it be a source of joy, O God, to your Church that we honor the memory of your Confessor and Doctor, Saint Anthony. May his spiritual help always make us strong, and by his assistance may we enjoy an eternal reward. This we ask through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. 

(This post will remain at the top until further notice.)

PM: Communion Fridays--13th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options for this day; the second is for Cycles B and C.

Christ, rising from the dead, dies now no more, alleluia; death shall no longer have any dominion over him, alleluia, alleluia.

Romans 6:9

Repeating the Alleluia in this Cycle, we are reminded again how Christ has overcome death. Only abiding in Him can we do the same.

Lend your ear and make haste to rescue us.

Ps. 30:3ab

Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer. Lord, come and save us.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--13th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

As a holocaust of rams and bullocks, and of thousands of fatted lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your sight on this day, that it may be pleasing unto you. For there is no shame for those who put their trust in you, O Lord.

Daniel 3:40

We hear an echo of this when the priest says, "Pray, bretheren...." The congregation's response is the act of trust God asks of us.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--13th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options for this day; the second is for Cycles B and C.

Christ has been raised from the dead and will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Romans 6:9

The Alleluia from the 5th. Sunday of Easter is revisited. If we live in Christ, death will also have no dominion over us.

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

Ps. 46:2

God is to be joyfully praised and adored throughout the world. We must recognize Him as Creator, Father, and King.

Gregorian Chant At The Gateway To The West

While there were activities last night, Colloquium XXVI, sponsored by the Church Music Association of America, is now well under way.

Having participated in two previous ones and assisting in the liturgies as part of the congregation at a third, I know first hand how truly educational and edifying they are; they are, as the unofficial tagline puts it, "six days of musical heaven". While it seems you can't take it all in, somehow you do.

Once again, a church mouse has more money than I, thus preventing me from attending.

I pray all in attendance have a wonderful, spiritually uplifting time.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--13th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two choices; the first is for Cycles A and C.

Come, children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

V. Go forth unto him and receive enlightenment, and your face shall be not put to shame.

Ps. 33:12; V. 6

Two of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are mentioned:  fear of the Lord and wisdom. These, as well as the rest, are ours if we take instruction from God.

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

We revisit a Gradual from the 10th. Sunday of Ordinary Time. God is our only strength and salvation; there is no where else to turn but to Him.

PM: Introit Mondays--13th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

V. For the Lord is high and awesome; a great king over all the earth.

Ps. 46:2; V. 3

All the ends of the earth are to give God the praise and adoration rightly due Him. There is no other god like Him for there are no other gods.

PM: Communion Fridays--12th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are three options, one for each of the Cycles.

"That which I tell you in the dark, utter in the light," says the Lord; "and that which you hear whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the housetops."

Matt. 10:27

We must be bold in proclaiming our Faith. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to fortify us.

I shall walk round about his sanctuary, offering a sacrifice of jubilation; I will sing and recite a psalm to the Lord.

Ps. 26:6

Strange to think of the Passion as a sacrifice of jubilation. But we only find our joy in "preaching Christ and Him crucified."

If a man wished to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matt. 16:24

To follow Christ will never be easy. Only because He showed us how and gives us the grace to do it can we.

PM: Offerory Thursdays--12th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Render secure my footsteps in your paths so that my feet do not slip; incline your ear and hear my words; display your wonderful mercies, O Lord, Savior of those who place their hope in you.

Ps. 16:5, 6, 7

We need God to guide us in His way and grace us. In faith and trust we turn to Him.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--12th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

In you, Lord, do I trust, let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; lend me your ear and make haste to save me.

Ps. 30:2, 3

We implore God to save us. Only in Him do we trust to do this.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--12th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Turn back, O Lord, ever so slightly, we beseech you, and consent to be entreated by your servants.
V. O Lord, you have been unto us a refuge, from age to age.
Ps. 89:13; V. 1
As an old hymn goes, "Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call." As another goes, "O God, our help in ages past."

PM: Introit Mondays--12th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

The Lord is the strength of his people, and the guardian of salvation for his Anointed. Save your people, O Lord, and bless your inheritance; be their guide forever.

V. Unto you, O Lord, will I cry; O my God, be not silent with me; if you remain silent, I will become like those who go down into the grave.

Ps. 27:8, 9; V. 1

We are powerless without God. We need His presence or we become nothing.

PM: Communion Fridays--11th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

One thing have I asked of the Lord, this I will seek after:  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Ps. 26:4
Our ultimate goal is Heaven. If our focus to to be united with God there, we will attain that by doing His will here on Earth.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--11th. Sunday of Ordinary Time

I will bless the Lord who has given me understanding. I have set the Lord always in my sight; since he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Ps. 15:7, 8

Keeping God before us and with us in this journey called life helps us navigate it. When we know and do His will, we bless Him.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--11th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

The King shall rejoice in your strength, O Lord, and in your salvation shall he be exceedingly joyful.

Ps. 20:1

Only in God do we find salvation, and thus joy. Therefore, we must continually turn toward Him.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--11th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycles A and C.

Behold, O God, our protector, and look down upon your servants.

V. O Lord God of hosts, hear the prayers of your servants.

Ps. 83:10; V. 9

Once again we implore our God to hear us. Once again we ask for His loving kindness.

It is good to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing in honor of your name, O Most High.

V. To show forth your mercy in the morning, and your fidelity in the night.

Ps. 91:2; V. 3

Also the Gradual for the 21st. Sunday of Ordinary Time, it is again "just and right" we should praise our God. He Who shows us unconditional love always deserves our adoration always.

PM: Introit Mondays--11th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Hearken, O Lord, unto my voice which has called out to you; deign to be my help, forsake me not, do not despise me, O God my savior.

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

Ps. 26: 7, 9; V. 1

We ask God to hear our prayers and supplications. We place our trust in Him who is worthy of it.

PM: Communion Fridays--10th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two options; the first is for Cycles A and C.

The Lord is my support, my refuge and deliverer; God is my only help.

Ps. 17:3

Without Him, we do not "live, and move, and have our being." The creature acknowledges the Creator for his life.

"Whosoever does the will of my Father is my brother, my sister, and my mother," says the Lord.

Matt. 12:50

As adopted children of God, we are recognized by Jesus as His siblings if we do the Father's will. This is a sign of the Trinitarian Life within us.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--10th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Enlighten my eyes lest I fall into the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed against him."

Ps. 12:4, 5

Sin, and consequentially death, blinds us to God. Only He can make us see clearly His will for us.

June 2016 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

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

Universal Intention - Human Solidarity. That the aged, marginalized, and those who have no one may find--even within the huge cities of the world--opportunities for encounter and solidarity .

Evangelization Intention - Seminarians and Novices. That seminarians and men and women entering religious life may have mentors who live the joy of the Gospel and prepare them wisely for their mission.

Reflections for these intentions are found here.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--10th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

O God, you sit on your throne and judge with righteousness; deign to be a refuge for the poor in their distress.

Ps. 9:5, 10

God is our only hope. It is only in Him will we find peace.