National Anthem Sweet

In honor of Canada Day (once upon a time called Dominion Day), I present the lyrics to one of the most melodious national anthems in the world.

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O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

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A history of how the song developed can be found here.

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Originally posted on 7/1/2009.

Re-posted on 7/1/2010.
Re-posted on 7/1/2011.
Re-posted on 7/1/2013.
Re-posted on 7/1/2014.
Re-posted on 7/1/2016.
Re-posted on 7/1/2017.
Re-posted on 7/1/2018.

Re-posted on 7/1/2019.

Re-posted on 7/1/2020.

Re-posted on 7/1/2021.

Re-posted on 7/1/2022.

Re-posted on 7/1/2023.

Re-posted on 7/1/2024.

July 2025 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when praying the Morning Offering:

For formation in discernment. Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Thirteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 19:15-29

And when it was morning, the angels pressed him, saying: Arise, take thy wife, and the two daughters which thou hast: lest thou also perish in the wickedness of the city. And as he lingered, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, and of his two daughters, because the Lord spared him. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city: and there they spoke to him, saying: Save thy life: look not back, neither stay thou in all the country about: but save thyself in the mountain, lest thou be also consumed. And Lot said to them: I beseech thee my Lord, Because thy servant hath found grace before thee, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewn to me, in saving my life, and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil seize me, and I die:  There is this city here at hand, to which I may flee, it is a little one, and I shall be saved in it: is it not a little one, and my soul shall live? And he said to him: Behold also in this, I have heard thy prayers, not to destroy the city for which thou hast spoken. Make haste and be saved there, because I cannot do any thing till thou go in thither. Therefore the name of that city was called Segor. The sun was risen upon the earth, and Lot entered into Segor. And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he destroyed these cities, and all the country about, all the inhabitants of the cities, and all things that spring from the earth. And his wife looking behind her, was turned into a statue of salt. And Abraham got up early in the morning and in the place where he had stood before with the Lord, He looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and the whole land of that country: and he saw the ashes rise up from the earth as the smoke of a furnace. Now when God destroyed the cities of that country, remembering Abraham, he delivered Lot out of the destruction of the cities wherein he had dwelt.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 26 (25):3a; V. 2-3, 9-10, 11-12

R.  For thy mercy is before my eyes;

V.  Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

     burn my reins and my heart.

     For thy mercy is before my eyes;

     and I am well pleased with thy truth.

V.  Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked:

     nor my life with bloody men:

     In whose hands are iniquities:

     their right hand is filled with gifts.

V.  But as for me, I have walked in my innocence:

     redeem me, and have mercy on me.

     My foot hath stood in the direct way:

     in the churches I will bless thee, O Lord.

 Gospel Reading:  Matthew 8:23-27

And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him:  And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him?

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.