For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”
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lawless and unruly, the godless and sinful, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the unchaste, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers
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Father in Heaven,
We praise You for giving us Your Son
To be our Saviour and Lord.
Bless us all as we gather here today, (tonight)
And let us live happily in Your love.
Hear our prayer, loving Father,
For we ask this in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
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Saint Sharbel Makhlouf was a Lebanese Maronite Rite monk, one of the Eastern Catholic Churches who follow a slightly different liturgy and canon law. We in the Latin or Roman Rite often forget that we have sisters and brothers in the East. Saint Sharbel is a good reminder of the wider Church.
Read MoreIn the Style of Pop Art – recreate ‘The Sacrifice of Elijah Before the Priests of Baal’ by Domenico Fetti – Ahab summoned the people of Israel and 450 prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel. Elijah proposed that he and Baal’s prophets each sacrifice one of two bulls by placing them on wood that they would not light. Instead, Elijah bade the prophets of Baal to pray for a fire that would light the sacrifice. All day they prayed, but with no success. — using neon Color
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Saint Bridget of Sweden was married, a mother of eight, and the foundress of a monastery for men and women. She spent her final days in Rome seeking to correct Church abuses for which she received much opposition.
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Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
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Whether or not Saint Mary Magdalene was a notorious sinner—and she most likely was not—she was one of the women who traveled with Jesus and the Apostles, and was present at the cross. She also was the one chosen to bring the good news of the resurrection to the Apostles.
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A reading from th the Song of Songs SGS 3:1-4B
The Bride says: On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves– I sought…
Psalms 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.
He hath converted my soul. 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. Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebreateth me, how goodly
But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.
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Unwilling to take no for an answer, Saint Apollinaris was exiled from Ravenna several times, but he always returned trying to preach the good news to the people. He finally died of a beating he received in a suburb of Ravenna.
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Peace is what I leave with You; it is My own Peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I.…
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Saint Camillus de Lellis was rejected by the Capuchins because of an ongoing medical condition. Against the advice of a friend, he founded a religious community on his own to care for the sick. These men proved to be invaluable during the plague, caring for the worst of its victims.
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Isaiah 35:4 – Tell everyone who is discouraged, “Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies.”
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Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”
#AIArt – Hebrews 13:6
FORTIFY me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit
and give Your peace to my soul
that I may be free from all needless anxiety,
solicitude and worry.
Help me to desire always
that which is pleasing and acceptable to You
so that Your will may be my will.
Saint Francis Solano asked to be sent to Africa as a missionary. Instead he was sent to South America, where he spent the rest of his life. After years of ministry in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, he died in the city of Lima, Peru.
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The Blessed Virgin has many, many titles—among them is Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel is in northern Israel and has long been the site of a monastery of religious monks.
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Known as the Lily of the Mohawks, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha courageously converted to Catholicism at age 19 despite her family’s disapproval. She was ostracized and forced into extreme poverty. Escaping to Montreal, Kateri continued to live a life of prayer and penance.
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A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah IS 1:10-17
Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God,…
Mary Magdalene is one of the most enigmatic and revered figures in Christian tradition, often portrayed as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Her name, derived from the town of Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, indicates her origins. She is prominently mentioned in the Gospels as a key supporter of Jesus, one who provided for him out of her own resources. According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, a testament to the transformative power of his ministry in her life. This act of deliverance marked the beginning of her unwavering devotion. She is frequently listed among the women who accompanied Jesus and the twelve disciples, highlighting her significant role in his ministry.
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I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, a figure cloaked in shadow, exuding an aura of foreboding. The horse, an eerie shade of pale, almost translucent, seemed to embody the essence of mortality itself. Its eyes, dark and hollow, bore into the souls of those who dared to meet its gaze. Death’s skeletal hands clutched the reins with a grip that spoke of inevitability and finality. As the horse moved forward, the very air seemed to chill, the ground beneath its hooves blackening as though scorched by an unseen fire.
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O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
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Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the LORD himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.
Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.
A wife does not have authority over her own body, but rather her husband, and similarly a husband does not have authority over his own body, but rather his wife. Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
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A Capuchin Poor Clare nun, Saint Veronica Giuliani received the unique gift of the stigmata of Christ. Few people have been blessed with these marks; Saint Francis of Assisi was probably the most notable among them.
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For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.
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The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
– Galatians 5:19-21
Among the Chinese martyrs was the diocesan priest, Father Augustine Zhao Rong. Facing the strong anti-foreign and anti-Catholic feelings present in China for centuries, these martyrs were caught up in a situation that in many ways had nothing to do either with religion or with the Church. But they stayed loyal to Christianity and to their people, and gave their lives in witness.
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Franciscan friar Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and his companions were tortured and killed for their faith in 1860. Little else is known about them, but the testimony of their lives speaks volumes.
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A reading from the Book of Hosea Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22
Thus says the LORD: I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and…
Saint Maria Goretti has captured the love and affection of thousands of people because of the simplicity and purity of her life.
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Glory be to the Father,
Who by His almighty power and love created me,
making me in the image and likeness of God.
Glory be to the Son,
Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell,
and opened for me the gates of heaven.
Glory be to the Holy Spirit,
Who has sanctified me in the sacrament of Baptism,
and continues to sanctify me
by the graces I receive daily from His bounty.
Glory be to the Three adorable Persons of the Holy Trinity,
now and forever.
Amen.
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Saint Elizabeth of Portugal did not have an easy time in spite of the fact that she was royalty. She spent her life seeking peace between herself and her unfaithful husband, and between many of her relatives. Elizabeth saw some progress in this endeavor before retiring to a Poor Clare monastery where she died.
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Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
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We don’t know a lot about Saint Thomas the Apostle, but tradition has it that he traveled to and preached the gospel in India, where he was eventually martyred. His name means “twin,” and due to his skepticism, he is also known as “Doubting Thomas.”
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Mission San Gabriel Arcangel in San Gabriel, Calif., is seen in this 2015 file photo. The fourth mission established by St. Junipero Serra caught fire before sunrise July 11, 2020. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
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Saint Catherine of Alexandria – Martyred by being broken on the wheel. – In the Style of all circles using Neon Blue Color
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A reading from the Book of Amos AM 3:1-8; 4:11-12
Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the Lord pronounces over you, over the whole family…
Around the year 64, the city of Rome experienced a devastating fire. Emperor Nero blamed it on the Christians, and a severe persecution followed. Included in the mass murder of Christians were the First Martyrs of Rome. We don’t know their names, but their witness to the faith is certain.
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This rendition would maintain the realistic representation of the Eucharist, yet the bread and wine would take on a new dimension. They would shimmer and pulse with radiant colors, embodying the body and blood of Christ in a more abstract and mystical manner. The transformation of water into wine, one of the central miracles depicted, would be portrayed with swirling, dynamic brushstrokes that convey a sense of fluid motion and transcendence. The ordinary elements of the scene, through this vivid color palette and expressive technique, would be elevated to the sacred, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the event.
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In the Style of cubism create an image of Mark – The author of the Gospel of Mark- Mark is often depicted as a scholarly figure with a serious expression- wearing a toga or robe. — using Psychedelic Color
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We celebrate two great saints today, Saints Peter and Paul. Saint Peter is often considered the Apostle to the Jews and Saint Paul to the Gentiles (based, most probably, on his extensive travels among the Gentiles). Together they witnessed to the budding of Christianity, and both laid down their lives for the faith.
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Good night, my Guardian Angel,
The day has sped away;
Well spent or ill, its story
Is written down for aye.
And now, of God’s kind Providence,
Thou image pure and bright,
Watch over me while I’m sleeping.
My Angel dear, good night!
Saint Cyril of Alexandria was instrumental in the Church’s doctrinal statement that there is one person but two natures in Christ. The practical implication of this teaching is that we believe that Jesus is truly God and truly human.
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Saint Dominic – Founder of the Dominican Order, often depicted with a dog holding a torch in its mouth, symbolizing his role as ‘Light of the Church.’
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