PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--23rd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

O Lord, hear my prayer; and let my cry come unto you.

Ps. 101:2

With the exhortation to pray always, we are to be in constant conversation and communion with God. This kind of discussion and dialogue can  only help us draw closer to Him.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--23rd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

Blessed is the nation who God is the Lord; the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

V. By the word of the Lord the heavens were established, and all the powers therein by the Spirit of his mouth.

Ps. 32:12; V. 6

We are God's adopted children. Are we worthy to received what He has promised to us?

O Lord, you have been for us a refuge from age to age.

V. Before the mountains were created, and before the land and the world were formed, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

Ps. 89:1; V. 2

Also the Gradual for the 27th. Sunday of Ordinary Time, we can rely on God to be "our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home." How fitting is the Tetragrammaton.

PM: Introit Mondays--23rd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Your are righteous, O Lord, and right is your judgement; deal with this servant of yours according to your mercy.

V. Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.

Ps. 118:137, 124; V. 1

There can be no mercy unless justice is also a part of it. We who are sinners will ask for forgiveness, knowing we are not right with God.

PM: Communion Fridays--22nd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

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

Matt. 16:24

We revisit one of the options from the 12th. Sunday of Ordinary Time. This is what is means to be a true disciple of Jesus; are we ready for the ultimate challenge?

O Lord, I will be mindful of your justice alone; you have taught me, O God, from my youth; and so, unto old age and grey hairs, O God, forsake me not.

Ps. 70:16, 17, 18

"O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,..." From beginning to end, He teaches us in the way to go.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--22nd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

O Lord, look down in order to help me; let them be covered with confusion and shame, who seek after my soul to take it away.

Ps. 39:14, 15

Our spiritual enemies are many, even though they are traditionally classified as "the world, the flesh, and the devil". It is these that which, with the help of God's grace, we can overcome.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--22nd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Sing to the Lord a new song; for the Lord has accomplished wondrous deeds.

Ps. 97:1

All that God does is marvelous in our eyes. His right hand has given us the victory over sin and death.

PM: Introit Mondays--22nd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have called out to you all the day; for you, O Lord, are good and forgiving and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon you.

V. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am needy and poor.

Ps. 85:3, 5; V. 1

We are all spiritual beggars, pleading for forgiveness. It is only in God can we find these alms for our soul.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--22nd. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

The nations shall fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.

V. For the Lord has built upon Zion, and he shall appear in his majesty.

Ps. 101:16; V. 17

There is none greater than God. While He claims all as His own, it is the People of God which magnify His majestic presence.

PM: Communion Fridays--21st. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

There are two choices for this Sunday.

The earth will be satisfied by the work of your hands, O Lord, as you bring forth bread from the land and wine to gladden the heart of man; oil to make his face shine, and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Ps. 103:13, 14, 15

It is not just ordinary produce which is promised. This is food and drink which will sustain the heart and soul of man forever.

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

John 6:57

We again revisit a Communion from the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. The promise made here is confirmed at the Last Supper and Calvary; He gives us His Real Presence for everlasting life.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--21st. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

With expectation, I have waited for the Lord, and he has cast his look upon me; he has heard my supplication, and he has put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God.

Ps. 30:2, 3, 4

Our prayers are always heard by God, as He lovingly looks at us.We give Him thanks and praise with the words He gives us.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--21st. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

Matt.16:18

Also the Alleluia from the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul, it is here that Christ give to Peter and his successors the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Full authority rests in the Chair of the eventual Bishop of Rome; it is upon the rock of this office that the Church has the power to bind and loose.

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail.

John 6:64

Recall the story of Creation, when the Spirit moved across the waters. It is that same Spirit which animates us.

For the Lord is a great God; a great king over all the earth.

Ps. 94:3

There is but one God, one Lord, one King. He reigns over heaven and earth forever and ever.

PM Gradual Tuesdays--21st. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

He Who is always faithful and merciful is to be praised and thanked at all time. As we are nothing without Him, it is right to recognizes Him always.

PM: Introit Mondays--21st. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Incline your ear to me, O Lord, and hear me; O God, save your servant who trusts in you; have mercy on me, O Lord, for unto you do I cry all the day.

V. Gladden the soul of your servant, for unto you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.

Ps. 85: 1, 2, 3; V. 4

We turn to God in our needs, trusting as much as a child does. We invite Him into our soul, where only He can fill it with His goodness.

PM: Special Edition--Solemnity Of The Assumption

Another Marian feast to celebrate. As always, she puts the focus on God.

A great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet;  and on her head, a crown of twelve stars.

V. Sing unto the Lord a new song, for he has accomplished wondrous deeds.

Rev. 12:1; V. Ps. 97

Preparing us for the First Reading, we hear in this Introit the description of the Queen of Heaven. This marvelous work done by God is a cause for great rejoicing.

Let us all rejoice in the Lord, as we celebrate this feast day in honor of the Virgin Mary; her Assumption caused the angels to rejoice and to praise together the Son of God.

V. My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my works to the king.

V. Ps. 44

An alternate Introit, we join with the angelic choirs to sing God's praise. All that Mary has done has been "yes" to God's will.

Hearken. O Daughter, and see, incline your ear, for the king greatly desires your beauty.

V. With your comeliness and your beauty, set out, proceed victorious and reign.

Ps. 44:11, 12; V. 5

Could this Gradual be compared to Gabriel's greeting at the Annunciation? Yes, because both are invitations to be one with God.

Mary has been taken up into heaven; the hosts of Angels rejoice.

The Alleluia provides another rare instance where a non-biblical text is used. The angels rejoice as they see the Mother of God taking her rightful place in heaven, completing the "fiat"of her earthly existence.

Mary has been taken up into heaven; the Angels rejoice, praising the Lord together and blessing him, alleluia.

The Offertory is still another instance of the use of a non-biblical text. Very much a repeat of the Alleluia, we should also join the choirs of angels in this declaration.

All generations shall call me blessed; for he who is mighty has accomplished great things on my behalf.

Luke 1:48, 49

The Communion is a snippet of the Magnificat, Mary's canticle of praise and thanksgiving. We, too, can also be as blessed as she is, if we but just surrender our will to God.

PM: Communion Fridays--20th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

My house will be called a house of prayer, says the Lord; everyone who asks here, will receive, and he who seeks, will find, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

Matt. 21:13

One of two choices for the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church, the place set aside for God. It is here we come to present true worship to our Triune God.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in my, and I in him, says the Lord.

John 6:57

Recalling an option from the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the most shocking promise made by Jesus is also the most reassuring.  It is a case of becoming what we eat.

Seek first the kingdom of God, and all the rest will be given to you in addition, says the Lord.

Matt. 6:3

God must come first in our lives. When that happens, the desires of our heart will be satisfied.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--20th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

The Angel of the Lord shall encamp around those who fear him and shall deliver them; taste and see how good the Lord is.

Ps. 33:8, 9

We have been invited to the Paschal Banquet. It is God Who has and will prepare this sacred feast.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--20th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise unto God our Savior.

Ps. 94:1

Is not our "alleluia", our "praise God", nothing less but singing to the Lord? It is the most joyful noise we can make as humans.

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

Also the Alleluia from the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we are reminded of the promise Christ made to us. Partaking of Communion is the ultimate of "full, conscious actual (active) participation" in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--20th. Sunday In Ordinary Time

It is better to confide in the Lord than to have confidence in man.

V.  Better it is to trust in the Lord than to trust in princes.

Ps. 117:8; V. 9

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who created heaven and earth." No where and no one else can provide that kind of aid.

PM: Introit Mondays--20th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Behold, O God our protector, and consider the face of your Anointed; for one day in your house is better than a thousand elsewhere.

V. How lovely is your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs and pines after the courts of the Lord.

Ps. 83: 10, 11; V. 2, 3

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek; to dwell in the Lord's house all the days of my life, to gaze upon the Lord's beauty, to visit his temple." (Ps. 27:4) "Thou hast made us for thy self, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee." (St. Augustine)

PM: Communion Fridays--19th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

The bread which I give is my flesh for the life of the world.

John 6:52

Jesus establishes the new and true manna from heaven. As He gave Himself for the life of the world, so He also does for our lives in His Real Presence.

Blessed is the servant whom the Lord, when he comes, will find to be vigilant. Truly, I say to you, he will establish him over all his possessions.

Matt. 24: 46, 47

Since we do not know when the Son of Man will make His Second Coming (either at our death or the end of the world), we must constantly be prepared. We must be continually made perfect, as He is perfect.

PM: Offertory Thursdays--19th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

In you have I put my trust, O Lord; I said, "You are my God, my destiny is in your hands."

Ps. 30:15, 16

Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)
This is our destiny, which can only be found in Him.

PM: Alleluia Wednesdays--19th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

O Lord, you have been unto us a refuge from age to age.

Ps. 89:1

Our God is eternally faithful, our protection forever. How have we shown in our lives a gratefulness for that gift?

PM: Gradual Tuesdays--19th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

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

Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

V. Lord, you have blessed your land, you have put an end to Jacob's captivity.

Ps. 84:8; V. 2

Revisiting one of the options for the15th. Sunday of Ordinary Time, we are again reminded of God's mercy. He will liberate us from sin and bless the land which is our lives.

Remember, O Lord, your covenant, and do not forget forever the souls of the poor.

V. Arise, O Lord, and judge your own cause; remember the scorn to which your servants have been subjected.

Ps. 79: 20, 19; V. 22, 23

The words of the Introit are again used. As we have been laid low, we ask God to restore us to our intended dignity as children of God.

Blessed is the man whose God is the Lord; the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

V. By the word of the Lord, the heavens were established, and all the power therein by the Spirit of his mouth.

Ps.32:12; V. 6

Also one of the options for the 23rd. Sunday of Ordinary Time, we are reminded that God created all things from nothing. As He had created us, He has also chosen and redeemed us.

PM: Introit Mondays--19th. Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Remember, O Lord, your covenant, and do not abandon forever the souls of your poor; arise, O Lord, and judge your own cause; forget not the cries of those who seek you.

V. O God, why have you cast us off unto the end; why is your wrath enkindled against the sheep of your pasture?

Ps. 73:20, 19, 22, 23; V. 1

We are all spiritual beggars, poor in spirit, lacking in grace. If we call to God, He will remember our prayers and answer them accordingly.

August 2016 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

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

Universal Intention - Sports.  That sports may be an opportunity for friendly encounters between peoples and may contribute to peace in the world.

Evangelization Intention - Living the Gospel. That Christians may live the Gospel, giving witness to faith, honesty, and love of neighbor.

Reflections for these intentions are found here.