Sunday's Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21

Here are several commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• The Fool’s Vanity (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• 
  Money-You Can't Take it With You from The Crossroads Initiative


• Storing up Treasures in Heaven from Salt+Light Television


• "Word to Life" - July 30, 2010 from The Dominican Province of St. Joseph

Contemplating Today's Gospel is a "collective homiletical" distributed via Internet. The site provides a daily email to subscribers which contains the daily Mass Gospels accompanied by a brief commentary (of about 300 words.) The commentaries/homilies are written by an international team of more than 150 Catholic priests, whether secular or religious.

This resource is completely free and is available in English, Spanish, and Catalan. The site is beautifully designed, and provides a good way for users to read and contemplate the Gospel.

From Catholic Culture.

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The Sabbath Day

The Third Commandment exhorts us to honor the Sabbath. What does that mean? The Catechism explains.

2168   The third commandment of the Decalogue recalls the holiness of the sabbath: "The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD."

2169   In speaking of the sabbath Scripture recalls creation: "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it."

2170   Scripture also reveals in the Lord's day a memorial of Israel's liberation from bondage in Egypt: "You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out thence with mighty hand and outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day."

2171   God entrusted the sabbath to Israel to keep as a sign of the irrevocable covenant. The sabbath is for the Lord, holy and set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on behalf of Israel.

2172   God's action is the model for human action. If God "rested and was refreshed" on the seventh day, man too ought to "rest" and should let others, especially the poor, "be refreshed." The sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a respite. It is a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money.

2173   The Gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath law. But Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day. He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath." With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing. The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God. "The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Prayers from St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Society of Jesus, was a master of spiritual direction. Through his Spiritual Exercises, countless men and women have grown in their faith. The following are two prayers which were composed by him. The Church celebrates his feast on July 31st.

Prayer of Surrender

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

Prayer for Generosity

Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do your will.

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St. Joachim

The Church celebrates the memorial of St. Joachim and St. Anne on July 26th.

Joachim (whose name means Yahweh prepares), was the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary. If we were to obey the warning of St. Peter Damian, we should consider it a blameable and needless curiosity to inquire about those things that the Evangelists did not deem it advisable to relate, and, in particular, about the parents of the Blessed Virgin (Serm. iii de Nativ. B.M.V.). Tradition nevertheless, grounded on very old testimonies, very early hailed Saints Joachim and Anne as the father and mother of the Mother of God. True, this tradition seems to rest ultimately on the so-called "Gospel of James", the "Gospel of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary", and the Pseudo-Matthew, or "Book of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Childhood of the Saviour"; and this origin is likely to rouse well-founded suspicions. It should be borne in mind, however, that the apocryphal character of these writings, that is to say, their rejection from the canon, and their ungenuineness do not imply that no heed whatever should be taken of some of their assertions; side by side, indeed, with unwarranted and legendary facts, they contain some historical data borrowed from reliable traditions or documents; and difficult though it is to distinguish in them the wheat from the tares, it would be unwise and uncritical indiscriminately to reject the whole. Some commentators, who believe that the genealogy given by St. Luke is that of the Blessed Virgin, find the mention of Joachim in Heli (Luke, iii, 23; Eliachim, i.e. Jeho-achim), and explain that Joseph had, in the eyes of the law, become by his marriage the son of Joachim. That such is the purpose and the meaning of the Evangelist is very doubtful, and so is the identification proposed between the two names Heli and Joachim. Neither can it be asserted with certainty, in spite of the authority of the Bollandists, that Joachim was Heli's son and Joseph's brother; nor, as is sometimes affirmed, from sources of very doubtful value, that he had large possessions in herds and flocks. Much more interesting are the beautiful lines in which the "Gospel of James" describes how, in their old age, Joachim and Anne received the reward of their prayers to obtain issue. Tradition has it that the parents of the Blessed Virgin, who, apparently, first lived in Galilee, came later on to settle in Jerusalem; there the Blessed Virgin was born and reared; there also they died and were buried. A church, known at various epochs as St. Mary, St. Mary ubi nata est, St. Mary in Probatica, Holy Probatica, St. Anne, was built during the fourth century, possibly by St. Helena, on the site of the house of St. Joachim and St. Anne, and their tombs were there honoured until the close of the ninth century, when the church was converted into a Moslem school. The crypt which formerly contained the holy tombs was rediscovered on 18 March, 1889.

St. Joachim was honored very early by the Greeks, who celebrate his feast on the day following the Blessed Virgin's birthday; the Latins were slow to admit it to their calendar, where it found place sometimes on 16 Sept. and sometimes on 9 Dec. Assigned by Julius II to 20 March, the solemnity was suppressed some fifty years later, restored by Gregory XV (1622), fixed by Clement XII (1738) on the Sunday after the Assumption, and finally raised to the rank of double of the second class by Leo XIII (1 Aug., 1879).

From the EWTN

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Sunday's Readings: Genesis 18:20-32 Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8 Colossians 2:12-14 Luke 11:1-13

Here are several commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Asked and Answered (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Learning to Pray from Abraham and Jesus from Salt+Light Television


• "Word to Life" - July 23, 2010 from The Dominican Province of St. Joseph

Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Boston College. He is a regular contributor to several Christian publications, is in wide demand as a speaker at conferences, and is the author of over 40 books, including Three Philosophies of Life, Prayer: the Great Conversation, and Fundamentals of the Faith. This website serves as an introduction to Dr. Kreeft and his work. It also provides a good source for articles on a wide variety of related topics.

From Catholic Culture.

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Litany of St. Mary Magdalene

According to the tradition of the Western Church Mary Magdalene, who is mentioned in all four Gospels, is also identical with "the woman who was a sinner" and with the sister of Lazarus, though this identification is challenged by the Fathers of the East. She was of Magdala in Galilee, whence her name of Magdalen. Liturgical devotion, to this glorious penitent has been immemorial. This litany is mellow with age; from an old German version this was translated many years ago. Two prayers have been added from liturgical sources, the Secret and finally the Collect from the Mass of her Feast, July 22, which is duplex in Latin Church and has been since end of ninth century, commemorating the Translation of her Relics from Ephesus to Constantinople on July 22, 886.

Lord, have mercy on us.Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.Christ, graciously hear us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Saint Mary Magdalene,
Pray for us.

Sister of Martha and Lazarus,
Pray for us.

Who didst enter the Pharisee's house to anoint the feet of Jesus,
Pray for us.

Who didst wash His feet with thy tears,
Pray for us.

Who didst dry them with thy hair,
Pray for us.

Who didst cover them with kisses,
Pray for us.

Who wast vindicated by Jesus before the proud Pharisee,
Pray for us.

Who from Jesus received the pardon of thy sins,
Pray for us.

Who before darkness wast restored to light,
Pray for us.

Mirror of penance, R Disciple of Our Lord,
Pray for us.

Wounded with the love of Christ,
Pray for us.

Most dear to the Heart of Jesus,
Pray for us.

Constant woman,
Pray for us.

Last at the Cross of Jesus, first at His tomb,
Pray for us.

Thou who wast the first to see Jesus risen,
Pray for us.

Whose forehead was sanctified by the touch of thy risen Master,
Pray for us.

Apostle of apostles,
Pray for us.

Who didst choose the "better part,"
Pray for us.

Who lived for many years in solitude being miraculously fed,
Pray for us.

Who wast visited by angels seven times a day,
Pray for us.

Sweet advocate of sinners,
Pray for us.

Spouse of the King of Glory,
Pray for us.

From Catholic Culture.

St. Bridget of Sweden

The Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden on July 23rd.

The most celebrated saint of the Northern kingdoms, born about 1303; died 23 July, 1373.

She was the daughter of Birger Persson, governor and provincial judge (Lagman) of Uppland, and of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter. Her father was one of the wealthiest landholders of the country, and, like her mother, distinguished by deep piety. St. Ingrid, whose death had occurred about twenty years before Bridget's birth, was a near relative of the family. Birger's daughter received a careful religious training, and from her seventh year showed signs of extraordinary religious impressions and illuminations. To her education, and particularly to the influence of an aunt who took the place of Bridget's mother after the latter's death (c. 1315), she owed that unswerving strength of will which later distinguished her.

In 1316, at the age of thirteen, she was united in marriage to Ulf Gudmarsson, who was then eighteen. She acquired great influence over her noble and pious husband, and the happy marriage was blessed with eight children, among them St. Catherine of Sweden. The saintly life and the great charity of Bridget soon made her name known far and wide. She was acquainted with several learned and pious theologians, among them Nicolaus Hermanni, later Bishop of Linköping, Matthias, canon of Linköping, her confessor, Peter, Prior of Alvastrâ, and Peter Magister, her confessor after Matthias. She was later at the court of King Magnus Eriksson, over whom she gradually acquired great influence. Early in the forties (1341-43) in company with her husband she made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. On the return journey her husband was stricken with an attack of illness, but recovered sufficiently to finish the journey. Shortly afterwards, however, he died (1344) in the Cistercian monastery of Alvastrâ in East Gothland.

Bridget now devoted herself entirely to practices of religion and asceticism, and to religious undertakings. The visions which she believed herself to have had from her early childhood now became more frequent and definite. She believed that Christ Himself appeared to her, and she wrote down the revelations she then received, which were in great repute during the Middle Ages. They were translated into Latin by Matthias Magister and Prior Peter.

St. Bridget now founded a new religious congregation, the Brigittines, or Order of St. Saviour, whose chief monastery, at Vadstena, was richly endowed by King Magnus and his queen (1346). To obtain confirmation for her institute, and at the same time to seek a larger sphere of activity for her mission, which was the moral uplifting of the period, she journeyed to Rome in 1349, and remained there until her death, except while absent on pilgrimages, among them one to the Holy Land in 1373. In August, 1370, Pope Urban V confirmed the Rule of her congregation. Bridget made earnest representations to Pope Urban, urging the removal of the Holy See from Avignon back to Rome. She accomplished the greatest good in Rome, however, by her pious and charitable life, and her earnest admonitions to others to adopt a better life, following out the excellent precedents she had set in her native land. The year following her death her remains were conveyed to the monastery at Vadstena. She was canonized, 7 October, 1391, by Boniface IX.

From the EWTN

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The Christian Name

Honoring the name of the Lord extends to the names we give to our children. The Catechism explains .

2156   The sacrament of Baptism is conferred "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In Baptism, the Lord's name sanctifies man, and the Christian receives his name in the Church. This can be the name of a saint, that is, of a disciple who has lived a life of exemplary fidelity to the Lord. the patron saint provides a model of charity; we are assured of his intercession. the "baptismal name" can also express a Christian mystery or Christian virtue. "Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to see that a name is not given which is foreign to Christian sentiment."

2157   The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." the baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior's grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. the sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties.

2158   God calls each one by name. Everyone's name is sacred. the name is the icon of the person. It demands respect as a sign of the dignity of the one who bears it.

2159   The name one receives is a name for eternity. In the kingdom, the mysterious and unique character of each person marked with God's name will shine forth in splendor. "To him who conquers . . . I will give a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it." "Then I looked, and Lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads."

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Sunday's Readings: Genesis 18:1-10 Psalm 15:2-5 Colossians 1:24-28 Luke 10:38-42

Here are several commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Children of the Promise (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Mary and Martha - Meet the Lord Everyday! from The Crossroads Initiative


• The Art of Biblical Hospitality from Salt+Light Television


• "Word to Life" - July 16, 2010 from The Dominican Province of St. Joseph

This website catalogs apparitions that have been approved by the Church as worthy of belief as well as those which have either been disapproved or not decided upon.

Although this website may contain information and messages from unapproved and otherwise condemned apparition claims and their corresponding faith movements, MiracleHunter.com does not endorse or promote belief in them. This stance is in deference to the official statement of the Catholic Church regarding the publication of information on apparitions.

From Catholic Culture.

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The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

On July 16th, the Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. One of the most well-known and popular Marian devotions is the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The brown scapular, as it is also known, is worn to show our love for Our Lady.

The history of Marian piety also includes "devotion" to various scapulars, the most common of which is devotion to the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Its use is truly universal and, undoubtedly, its is one of those pious practices which the Council described as "recommended by the Magisterium throughout the centuries".

The Scapular of Mount Carmel is a reduced form of the religious habit of the Order of the Friars of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel. Its use is very diffuse and often independent of the life and spirituality of the Carmelite family.

The Scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer.

The Scapular is imposed by a special rite of the Church which describes it as "a reminder that in Baptism we have been clothed in Christ, with the assistance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, solicitous for our conformation to the Word Incarnate, to the praise of the Trinity, we may come to our heavenly home wearing our nuptial garb".

The imposition of the Scapular should be celebrated with "the seriousness of its origins. It should not be improvised. The Scapular should be imposed following a period of preparation during which the faithful are made aware of the nature and ends of the association they are about to join and of the obligations they assume"

From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (205).

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Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain

What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain? The Catechism explains how we can honor the Lord by honoring His Holy Name.

2150   The second commandment forbids false oaths. Taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms. It is to invoke the divine truthfulness as a pledge of one's own truthfulness. An oath engages the Lord's name. "You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his name."

2151   Rejection of false oaths is a duty toward God. As Creator and Lord, God is the norm of all truth. Human speech is either in accord with or in opposition to God who is Truth itself. When it is truthful and legitimate, an oath highlights the relationship of human speech with God's truth. A false oath calls on God to be witness to a lie.

2152   A person commits perjury when he makes a promise under oath with no intention of keeping it, or when after promising on oath he does not keep it. Perjury is a grave lack of respect for the Lord of all speech. Pledging oneself by oath to commit an evil deed is contrary to the holiness of the divine name.

2153   In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained the second commandment: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all.... Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one." Jesus teaches that every oath involves a reference to God and that God's presence and his truth must be honored in all speech. Discretion in calling upon God is allied with a respectful awareness of his presence, which all our assertions either witness to or mock.

2154   Following St. Paul, The tradition of the Church has understood Jesus' words as not excluding oaths made for grave and right reasons (for example, in court). "An oath, that is the invocation of the divine name as a witness to truth, cannot be taken unless in truth, in judgment, and in justice."

2155   The holiness of the divine name demands that we neither use it for trivial matters, nor take an oath which on the basis of the circumstances could be interpreted as approval of an authority unjustly requiring it. When an oath is required by illegitimate civil authorities, it may be refused. It must be refused when it is required for purposes contrary to the dignity of persons or to ecclesial communion.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Our bishop--Bishop Francis DiLorenzo--will be in town this coming Saturday. He will celebrate the 5:15 mass on Saturday, July 17th at St. Thomas Aquinas.

There will be a light reception after the mass in order to welcome the bishop and for a discussion of St. Thomas Aquinas parish's recent We Walk by Faith survey results.

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

On July 16th, the Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. One of the most well-known and popular Marian devotions is the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The brown scapular, as it is also known, is worn to show our love for Our Lady.

The history of Marian piety also includes "devotion" to various scapulars, the most common of which is devotion to the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Its use is truly universal and, undoubtedly, its is one of those pious practices which the Council described as "recommended by the Magisterium throughout the centuries".

The Scapular of Mount Carmel is a reduced form of the religious habit of the Order of the Friars of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel. Its use is very diffuse and often independent of the life and spirituality of the Carmelite family.

The Scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer.

The Scapular is imposed by a special rite of the Church which describes it as "a reminder that in Baptism we have been clothed in Christ, with the assistance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, solicitous for our conformation to the Word Incarnate, to the praise of the Trinity, we may come to our heavenly home wearing our nuptial garb".

The imposition of the Scapular should be celebrated with "the seriousness of its origins. It should not be improvised. The Scapular should be imposed following a period of preparation during which the faithful are made aware of the nature and ends of the association they are about to join and of the obligations they assume"

From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (205).

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Sunday's Readings: Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37 Colossians 1:15-20 Luke 10:25-37

Here are several commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Children of the Promise (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• The Commission of the Good Samaritan from The Crossroads Initiative


• Loving means acting like the Good Samaritan from Salt+Light Television


• "Word to Life" - July 9, 2010 from The Dominican Province of St. Joseph

The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is a new Catholic homeschool program that offers classical Scholastic education.

Mr. William Michael, the director, graduated from Rutgers University, where he earned numerous academic awards and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. In 2008, Mr. Michael opened the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. He turned his attention from the city to the country and now operates a 15 acre self-sufficient farm on which the principles of timeless philosophy are lived out in peace and quiet. This freedom has allowed the opportunity to restore, update and publish the classical liberal arts curriculum.

From Catholic Culture.

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St. Veronica Guliani

The Church celebrates the feast of St. Veronica Guiliani on July 9th.

Born at Mercatello in the Duchy of Urbino, Italy, 1660; died at Citt' di Castello, 9 July, 1727. Her parents, Francesco Giuliana and Benedetta Mancini, were both of gentle birth. In baptism she was named Ursula, and showed marvelous signs of sanctity. When but eighteen months old she uttered her first words to upbraid a shopman who was serving a false measure of oil, saying distinctly: "Do justice, God sees you." At the age of three years she began to be favoured with Divine communications, and to show great compassion for the poor. She would set apart a portion of her food for them, and even part with her clothes when she met a poor child scantily clad. These traits and a great love for the Cross developed as she grew older. When others did not readily join in her religious practices she was inclined to be dictatorial. In her sixteenth year this imperfection of character was brought home to her in a vision in which she saw her own heart as a heart of steel. In her writings she confesses that she took a certain pleasure in the more stately circumstances which her family adopted when her father was appointed superintendent of finance at Piacenza. But this did not in any way affect her early-formed resolution to dedicate herself to religion, although her father urged her to marry and procured for her several suitors as soon as she became of marriageable age. Owing to her father's opposition to her desire to enter a convent, Veronica fell ill and only recovered when he gave his consent.

In 1677 she was received into the convent of the Capuchin Poor Clares in Citt' di Castello, taking the name of Veronica in memory of the Passion. At the conclusion of the ceremony of her reception the bishop said to the abbess: "I commend this new daughter to your special care, for she will one day be a great saint." She became absolutely submissive to the will of her directors, though her novitiate was marked by extraordinary interior trials and temptations to return to the world. At her profession in 1678 she conceived a great desire to suffer in union with our Saviour crucified for the conversion of sinners. About this time she had a vision of Christ bearing His cross and henceforth suffered an acute physical pain in her heart. After her death the figure of the cross was found impressed upon her heart. In 1693 she entered upon a new phase in her spiritual life, when she had a vision of the chalice symbolizing the Divine Passion which was to be re-enacted in her own soul. At first she shrank from accepting it and only be great effort eventually submitted. She then began to endure intense spiritual suffering. In 1694 she received the impression of the Crown of Thorns, the wounds being visible and the pain permanent. By order of the bishop she submitted to medical treatment, but obtained no relief. Yet, although she lived in this supernaturally mystical life, she was a practical woman of affairs. For thirty-four years she was novice-mistress, and guided the novices with great prudence. It is noticeable that she would not allow them to read mystical books. In 1716 she was elected abbess and whilst holding that office enlarged the convent and had a good system of water-pipes laid down, the convent hitherto having been without a proper water supply. She was canonized by Gregory XVI in 1839. She is usually represented crowned with thorns and embracing the Cross.

From EWTN

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The Name of the Lord is Holy, Part 2

The Catechism teaches us how we are to respect the name of the Lord in our speech as described in the Second Commandment. (Part 1)

2146   The second commandment forbids the abuse of God's name, i.e., every improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, but also of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.

2147   Promises made to others in God's name engage the divine honor, fidelity, truthfulness, and authority. They must be respected in justice. To be unfaithful to them is to misuse God's name and in some way to make God out to be a liar.

2148   Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one's speech; in misusing God's name. St. James condemns those "who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called." The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ's Church, the saints, and sacred things. It is also blasphemous to make use of God's name to cover up criminal practices, to reduce peoples to servitude, to torture persons or put them to death. the misuse of God's name to commit a crime can provoke others to repudiate religion.
Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin.7

2149   Oaths which misuse God's name, though without the intention of blasphemy, show lack of respect for the Lord. the second commandment also forbids magical use of the divine name.

[God's] name is great when spoken with respect for the greatness of his majesty. God's name is holy when said with veneration and fear of offending him.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Offering in Reparation to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. This prayer was approved by Pope Pius VII on September 22, 1817.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for the spread and exaltation of my dear Mother, Thy holy Church, for the preservation and welfare of her visible Head, the sovereign Roman Pontiff, for the cardinals, bishops and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.

Glory be to the Father, etc. Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with His Blood!

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for peace and concord among Catholic kings and princes, for the humbling of the enemies of our holy faith and for the welfare of all They Christian people.

Glory be to the Father, etc. Blessed and praised, etc.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for the conversion of unbelievers, the rooting-up of all heresies and the conversion of sinners.

Glory be to the Father,etc. Blessed and praised, etc.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all my relations, friends and enemies, for those in need, in sickness and in tribulation, and for all those for whom Thou knowest that I am bound to pray, and willest that I should pray.

Glory be to the Father, etc. Blessed and praised, etc.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all those who are to pass this day to the other life, that Thou wouldst deliver them from the pains of hell, and admit them with all speed to the possession of Thy glory.

Glory be to the Father, etc. Blessed and praised, etc.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all men who are lovers of this great treasure and who are united with me in adoring and glorifying It and who labor to spread this devotion.

Glory be to the Father, etc. Blessed and praised, etc.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all my needs, both temporal and spiritual, as an intercession for the holy souls in purgatory, and in an especial manner for those who were most devoted to this price of our redemption, and to the sorrows and sufferings of our dear Mother, Mary most holy.

Glory be to the Father, etc. Blessed and praised, etc.

Glory to the Blood of Jesus both now and for evermore and through the everlasting ages. Amen.

PRAYER TO JESUS

We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants: whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.

PRAYER TO THE ETERNAL FATHER

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in atonement for my sins, and in supplication for the holy souls in purgatory and for the needs of holy Church.

PETITION

Lord Jesus Christ, who camest down from heaven to earth from the bosom of the Father, and didst shed Thy Precious Blood for the remission of our sins: we humbly beseech Thee, that in the day of judgment we may deserve to hear, standing at Thy right hand: "Come, ye blessed." Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen. — Roman Missal

Prayer Source: Raccolta, The — A Manual of Indulgences by Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic, Benziger Brothers, Inc. Copyright, 1957

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Sunday's Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14 Psalm 66:1-7,16,20 Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Here are several commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Children of the Promise (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Sign of the Cross - Sign of Our Faith? from The Crossroads Initiative


• Jesus prepares witnesses to himself and his ministry from Salt+Light Television


• "Word to Life" - July 2, 2010 from The Dominican Province of St. Joseph

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati

The Church celebrates the feast of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati on July 4th.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is a saint for the modern world, and especially for the young people of our time. Born in 1901 in Turin, Italy, his time on earth was short-only 24 years-but he filled it passionately with holy living. Pier Giorgio was a model of virtue, a "man of the beatitudes," as Pope John Paul II called him at the saint's beatification ceremony in Rome on May 20, 1990. He was described by friends as "an explosion of joy." As Pier Giorgio's sister, Luciana, says of her brother in her biography of him, "He represented the finest in Christian youth: pure, happy, enthusiastic about everything that is good and beautiful."

To our modern world which is often burdened by cynicism and angst, Pier Giorgio's life offers a brilliant contrast, a life rich in meaning, purpose, and peace derived from faith in God. From the earliest age, and despite two unreligious parents who misunderstood and disapproved of his piety and intense interest in Catholicism, Pier Giorgio placed Christ first in all that he did. These parental misunderstandings, which were very painful to him, persisted until the day of his sudden death of polio. However, he bore this treatment patiently, silently, and with great love.

Pier Giorgio prayed daily, offering, among other prayers, a daily rosary on his knees by his bedside. Often his agnostic father would find him asleep in this position. "He gave his whole self, both in prayer and in action, in service to Christ," Luciana Frassati writes. After Pier Giorgio began to attend Jesuit school as a boy, he received a rare permission in those days to take communion daily. "Sometimes he passed whole nights in Eucharistic adoration." For Pier Giorgio, Christ was the answer. Therefore, all of his action was oriented toward Christ and began first in contemplation of Him. With this interest in the balance of contemplation and action, it is no wonder why Pier Giorgio was drawn in 1922 at the age of 21 to the Fraternities of St. Dominic. In becoming a tertiary, Pier Giorgio chose the name "Girolamo" (Jerome) after his personal hero, Girolamo Savonarola, the fiery Dominican preacher and reformer during the Renaissance in Florence. Pier Giorgio once wrote to a friend, "I am a fervent admirer of this friar (Savonarola), who died as a saint at the stake."

Pier Giorgio was handsome, vibrant, and natural. These attractive characteristics drew people to him. He had many good friends and he shared his faith with them with ease and openness. He engaged himself in many different apostolates. Pier Giorgio also loved sports. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hiking, riding horses, skiing, and mountain climbing. He was never one to pass on playing a practical joke, either. He relished laughter and good humor.

As Luciana points out, "Catholic social teaching could never remain simply a theory with [Pier Giorgio]." He set his faith concretely into action through spirited political activism during the Fascist period in World War I Italy. He lived his faith, too, through discipline with his school work, which was a tremendous cross for him as he was a poor student. Most notably, however, Pier Giorgio (like the Dominican St. Martin de Porres) lived his faith through his constant, humble, mostly hidden service to the poorest of Turin. Although Pier Giorgio grew up in a privileged environment, he never lorded over anyone the wealth and prestige of his family. Instead, he lived simply and gave away food, money, or anything that anyone asked of him. It is suspected that he contracted from the very people to whom he was ministering in the slums the polio that would kill him.

Even as Pier Giorgio lay dying, his final week of rapid physical deterioration was an exercise in heroic virtue. His attention was turned outward toward the needs of others and he never drew attention to his anguish, especially since his own grandmother was dying at the same time he was. Pier Giorgio's heart was surrendered completely to God's will for him. His last concern was for the poor. On the eve of his death, with a paralyzed hand, he scribbled a message to a friend, reminding the friend not to forget the injections for Converso, a poor man Pier Giorgio had been assisting.

When news of Pier Giorgio's death on July 4, 1925 reached the neighborhood and city, the Frassati parents, who had no idea about the generous self-donation of their young son, were astonished by the sight of thousands of people crowded outside their mansion on the day of their son's funeral Mass and burial. The poor, the lonely, and those who had been touched by Pier Giorgio's love and faithful example had come to pay homage to this luminous model of Christian living.

Pier Giorgio's mortal remains were found incorrupt in 1981 and were transferred from the family tomb in the cemetery of Pollone to the Cathedral of Turin.

From EWTN

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This website features a guide to information about Saint Benedict of Nursia, Founder of Western Monasticism & Co-Patron of Europe. If you want to know more about St. Benedict, this is an excellent place to start. From information on Benedict himself, to the complete 1949 edtion of his Rule, this well-designed, easy-to-use site covers it all. The webmaster is most concerned with fidelity to the Magisterium and we are sure you will enjoy your visit to his informative site.

From Catholic Culture.

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Prayer shows the soul the great secrets of God, is the guide of our desires and of so many of our works, and finally is the gate which takes us to the desired garden of contemplation. - St. Alphonsus de Orozco

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for July are:

General:   That in every nation of the world the election of officials may be carried out with justice, transparency and honesty, respecting the free decisions of citizens.

Mission:   That Christians may strive to offer everywhere, but especially in great urban centers, an effective contribution to the promotion of education, justice, solidarity and peace.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

That many will dedicate some of their leisure time to pro-life activity.