Prepare for Mass

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Mt 6:33

  • RSS Daily Readings – catholic.org

    • Friday, May 24, 2013
      Reading 1Sirach 6:5-17Responsorial PsalmPsalms 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35GospelMark 10:1-12

  • Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone -Chris Tomlin

    Chains are gone..

  • Next Sunday

    Next Sunday

  • Spin the Tee for Totally Random Post

    Pinwheel!
  • SpiritualInspirations
    Click For More Spiritual Inspiration

  • Resources

    Resources for Catholic Educators

    YEAR A

    YEAR B

    YEAR C

    Fifth Sunday of Lent

    Fourth Sunday of Lent

    Third Sunday of LENT

    Second Sunday of LENT

    First Sunday of LENT

    Previously Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Second Sunday of Ordinary Time



    Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

    Epiphany

    Holy Family

    Christmas

    Fourth Sunday of Advent

    Third Sunday of Advent

    Second Sunday of Advent

    First Sunday of Advent

    Christ the King Destruction of the temple = Facing fears and persevere filled with hope

    Not God of the Dead, God of the living Zacchaeus today salvation has come to this house

    Pharisee and the Tax Collector - The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor

    Persistence and helping each other live faithfully

    Spiritual cleansing - ten were made clean only one came back - gratitude

    Big faith is found in the smallest of things

    Rich Man and Lazarus

    Unjust Steward - The person who is trustworthy in small matters will also be trustworthy in big ones

    God’s Concern for the Lost

    Cost of Discipleship

    Crosses to bear and Narrow Gate Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary

    Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, was from the very beginning free from the taint of original sin, the minds of the faithful were filled with a stronger hope that the day might soon come when the dogma of the Virgin Mary's bodily Assumption into heaven would also be defined by the Church's supreme teaching authority.

    The Liturgy on the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time prepares us in a certain way for the Solemnity of Mary's Assumption into Heaven, which we will be celebrating on 15 August. Indeed, it is fully oriented to the future, to Heaven, where the Blessed Virgin Mary has preceded us in the joy of Paradise.

    In particular, the Gospel passage, continuing last Sunday's message, asks Christians to detach themselves from material goods, which are for the most part illusory, and to do their duty faithfully, constantly aspiring to Heaven. May the believer remain alert and watchful to be ready to welcome Jesus when he comes in his glory.

    By means of examples taken from everyday life, the Lord exhorts his disciples, that is, us, to live with this inner disposition, like those servants in the parable who were waiting for their master's return. "Blessed are those servants", he said, "whom the master finds awake when he comes" (Lk 12: 37). We must therefore watch, praying and doing good.

    It is true, we are all travellers on earth, as the Second Reading of today's liturgy from the Letter to the Hebrews appropriately reminds us. It presents Abraham to us in the clothes of a pilgrim, as a nomad who lives in a tent and sojourns in a foreign land. He has faith to guide him.

    "By faith", the sacred author wrote, "Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go" (Heb 11: 8).

    Indeed, Abraham's true destination was "the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (11: 10). The city to which he was alluding is not in this world but is the heavenly Jerusalem, Paradise.

    This was well known to the primitive Christian community, which considered itself "alien" here below and called its populated nucleuses in the cities "parishes", which means, precisely, colonies of foreigners [in Greek, pároikoi] (cf. I Pt 2: 11). In this way, the first Christians expressed the most important characteristic of the Church, which is precisely the tension of living in this life in light of Heaven.

    Today's Liturgy of the Word, therefore, desires to invite us to think of "the life of the world to come", as we repeat every time we make our profession of faith with the Creed. It is an invitation to spend our life wisely and with foresight, to consider attentively our destiny, in other words, those realities which we call final: death, the last judgement, eternity, hell and Heaven. And it is exactly in this way that we assume responsibility for the world and build a better world.

    May the Virgin Mary, who watches over us from Heaven, help us not to forget that here on earth we are only passing through, and may she teach us to prepare ourselves to encounter Jesus, who is "seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead". source: vatican.va

    Be rich in what matters to God and don’t store up treasures for yourself.

    Seek and you will find knock and the door will be opened

    Previously... The Gospel episode of Jesus' visit to the house of Martha and Mary (cf. Lk 10: 38-42). While Martha is totally taken up with household tasks, Mary is seated at the Master's feet listening to his word. Christ affirms that Mary "has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her" (Lk 10: 42). Listening to the Word of God is the most important thing in our lives.

    Christ is always in our midst and desires to speak to our hearts. We can listen to him by meditating with faith on Sacred Scripture, by recollection in private and communal prayer, by silent meditation before the Tabernacle, from which he speaks to us of his love.

    Christians, especially on Sundays, are called to meet and listen to the Lord. This happens most completely through participation in Holy Mass, during which Christ prepares the banquet of the Word and of the Bread of Life for the faithful. But other moments of prayer and reflection, of rest and brotherhood, can also be profitably combined to make the Lord's Day holy.

    When, through the action of the Holy Spirit, God takes up his dwelling in the heart of the believer, it becomes easier for him/her to serve the brethren. This is what happened in a unique and perfect way in Mary Most Holy. To her we entrust this vacation period, to make the most of it as a favourable time to rediscover the primacy of the interior life.

    The Church is God's family in the world. In this family no one ought to go without the necessities of life. Yet at the same time caritas- agape extends beyond the frontiers of the Church. The parable of the Good Samaritan remains as a standard which imposes universal love towards the needy whom we encounter “by chance” (cf. Lk 10:31), whoever they may be. Without in any way detracting from this commandment of universal love, the Church also has a specific responsibility: within the ecclesial family no member should suffer through being in need. The teaching of the Letter to the Galatians is emphatic: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (6:10). source:vatican.va In the sending of the seventy-two, Jesus confirms that through his disciples, and those who would come to believe in him through their word, his peace and the news that “the kingdom of God has come near to you” would be proclaimed to the world. At their joyful return, despite rejection, Jesus rejoices at their success in the submission of the evil spirits in his name: the message is never to cease, never to give up.

    God’s will is for his people to be one. Like the Christians in Thessalonika, we are urged to “rejoice always” and “pray without ceasing”, trusting that as we commit ourselves wholly to working with God, his purpose of unity will finally be fulfilled.

  • Subscribe

  • Hear My Voice

    Children's book to help "Prepare for Mass" Preview sample pages from the book and read reviews. If you like it, please go back to PrepareforMass and order it directly from the link. click on link
    "Religion is not a Technology!" - There needs to be a personal relationship there. - Father Ted Tyler
    If the close relationship between the Last Supper and the mystery of Jesus' death on the Cross is emphasized on Holy Thursday, today, the Feast of Corpus Christi, with the procession and unanimous adoration of the Eucharist, attention is called to the fact that Christ sacrificed himself for all humanity. His passing among the houses and along the streets of our city will be for those who live there an offering of joy, eternal life, peace and love.

    In the Gospel passage, a second element catches one's eye: the miracle worked by the Lord contains an explicit invitation to each person to make his own contribution. The two fish and five loaves signify our contribution, poor but necessary, which he transforms into a gift of love for all.

    "Christ continues today" I wrote in the above-mentioned Post Synodal Exhortation, "to exhort his disciples to become personally engaged" (Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 88).

    Thus, the Eucharist is a call to holiness and to the gift of oneself to one's brethren: "Each of us is truly called, together with Jesus, to be bread broken for the life of the world".

    source: vatican.va

  • Prepare for Mass now on Twitter

    @prepareformass

  • Twitter Updates

  • Loving Means Acting Like The Good Samaritan

    Today, for example, the liturgy invites us to reflect on the famous Parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk 10: 25-37), which introduces us into the heart of the Gospel message: love for God and love for neighbour. But the person speaking to Jesus asks: who is my neighbour? And the Lord answers by reversing the question and showing through the account of the Good Samaritan that each one of us must make himself close to every person he meets: "Go and do likewise" (Lk 10: 37).

    Loving, Jesus says, means acting like the Good Samaritan. And we know that he himself is the Good Samaritan par excellence; although he was God, he did not hesitate to humble himself to the point of becoming a man and giving his life for us.

    Love is therefore the "heart" of Christian life; indeed, love alone, awakened in us by the Holy Spirit, makes us Christ's witnesses.
    source:vatican.va

  • Texts of St. Josemaría:

    Our Lady was a guest at one of those noisy country weddings attended by people from many different villages. Mary was the only one who noticed the wine was running out. Don’t these scenes from Christ’s life seem familiar to us? The greatness of God lives at the level of ordinary things. It is natural for a woman, a homemaker, to notice an oversight, to look after the little things that make life pleasant. And that is how Mary acted.

    “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)

    If our faith is weak, we should turn to Mary. Because of the miracle at the marriage feast at Cana, which Christ performed at his Mother’s request, his disciples learned to believe in him (cf. John 2:11). Our Mother is always interceding with her Son so that he may attend to our needs and show himself to us, so that we can cry out, “You are the Son of God.”

    Grant me, dear Jesus, the faith I truly desire. My Mother, sweet Lady, Mary most holy, make me really believe! (Holy Rosary–Appendix, Wedding Feast at Cana)

    The Christian apostolate — and I’m talking about an ordinary Christian living as just one more man or woman among equals — is a great work of teaching. Through real, personal, loyal friendship, you create in others a hunger for God and you help them to discover new horizons — naturally, simply. With the example of your faith lived to the full, with a loving word, which is full of the force of divine truth.

    Be daring. Count on the help of Mary, queen of apostles. Without ceasing to be a mother, Our Lady is able to get each of her children to face his own responsibilities. Mary always does the immense favor of bringing to the cross, of placing face to face with the example of the Son of God, those who come close to her and contemplate her life. It is in this confrontation that Christian life is decided. And here Mary intercedes for us so that our behavior may lead to a reconciliation of the younger brother — you and me — with the firstborn Son of the Father.

    Many conversions, many decisions to give oneself to the service of God have been preceded by an encounter with Mary. Our Lady has encouraged us to look for God, to desire to change, to lead a new life. And so the “Do whatever he tells you” has turned into real self-giving, into a Christian vocation, which from then on enlightens all our personal life. (Christ is Passing By, 149)

    opusdei.us

  • Archives

  • RSS Today’s Gospel

  • RSS Homily of the Day

  • RSS Father Dave Dwyer’s Homilies

    • We Need A Reminder April 29, 2013
      Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church. Father Dave reminds us that well...we need a reminder. (Preached on Monday, April 29, 2013, 12:15pm, St. Paul the Apostle Church, New York City)
    • "You Can't Outsource Your Faith" April 28, 2013
      Fifth Sunday of Easter. Father Dave uses a turn of phrase from an Episcopal priest Ian Cron, "don't outsource your faith" to make a point about how we dole out our faith works. (Preached on Sunday, April 28, 2013, 12:15pm, St. Paul the Apostle Church, New York City)
    • God Made It Holy April 22, 2013
      Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter. God made it holy, and continues to make it holy. (Preached on Monday, April 22, 2013, 12:15pm, St. Paul the Apostle Church, New York City)
    • Odor of the Sheep April 21, 2013
      Fourth Sunday of Easter. How do we find the balance in our lives with all the madness and sadness going on? Can we live with gratitude and tragedy? (Preached on Sunday, April 21, 2013, 12:15pm, St. Paul the Apostle Church, New York City)

  • RSS Busted Halo Show – Father Dave Dwyer The Catholic Channel Sirius 159

    • Guest: Rabbi Brad Hirschfield on Pentecost, Holy Spirit, and Your Questions of Faith! May 15, 2013
      Father Dave talks to noted rabbi and radio show host Brad Hirschfield about faith-related topics like Pentecost, and also takes questions from the listeners about questions about the Jewish faith. The discussions between these two are always a treat. Our guest this evening is very good friend of the show and regular guest, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield. He’s an acc […]
    • How Can I Forgive My Bully? Why? May 9, 2013
      Father Dave and Brett discuss two different challenging situations regarding forgiveness with two different callers. One was having a very tough time forgiving his bully (who had passed away), and himself for not attending his funeral, even though they were both in the Armed Forces. The other caller needed help realizing that she needed to forgive a wrong-do […]
    • Why Is Our Cross Covered? May 2, 2013
      Father Dave has a detailed discussion of the possible meanings and iginifance of the cross and/or crucifix being covered at church. The Busted Halo Show with Father Dave Dwyer is on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio, Sirius/XM 129, Monday through Friday, 7:00pm to 10:00pm EST. Give us a call with your questions and comments: 1-888-3-CATHOLIC, or at bustedhalo@thecat […]
    • Call-on-the-Congregation: Why No Other Eucharist? (And a psychic?!) April 25, 2013
      Father Dave and Team Busted Halo play a game with the listeners entitled "Call-on-the Congregation" where we see ifthe listeners can answer another person's question of faith. This week's question: why can't Catholics take Protestant eucharist? This partiuclar round brought out some great discussions, superb answers, and even some co […]

  • RSS SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY

    • An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.

  • Pages

  • Holy Eucharist

    Source and Summit

  • Today is a great day



  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 3,048 other followers

  • Tags

  • Ordinary Time Prayer

    Heavenly Father You are the One from Whom every family derives its origin. Grant that, in keeping with Your glorious riches we may be strengthened with power through the Spirit for the development of our inner selves. Help us to develop our natural potentialities to the full while at the same time growing in Your likeness to Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen Lord Jesus I know that all human relations take time if they are to grow and deepen. This is also true of my relations with You, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which must grow over the course of my life. However, this growth is not automatic; time alone means nothing unless I add earnest efforts to it. You have inspired Your Church to set aside special times when this growth can develop more intensely - the special seasons of the Church Year. If I fail to move toward You during these times, I waste precious opportunities and endanger my spiritual life. Help me to take them seriously and make a real attempt to use them well, so that I may grow into the person You want me to be. New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book Lenten Prayer Almighty and Everlasting God,
    You have given the human race
    Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility.
    He fulfilled Your Will by becoming Man
    And giving His life on the Cross.
    Help us to bear witness to You
    By following His example of suffering
    And make us worthy to share in His Resurrection.
    We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.

    Amen.
    Our Father...
    MARY, Mother of Jesus,
    you were Jesus’ gift for us from the Cross.
    He gave you to us as our mother.
    Intercede for all our needs.
    Hail Mary...
    Glory Be...

  • The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light

    pope benedict address to diplomatic core - vatican.va As a new year begins, our own hearts and the entire world continue to echo the joyful message proclaimed twenty centuries ago in the night of Bethlehem, a night which symbolizes humanity’s deep need for light, love and peace. To the men and women of that time, as to those of our own day, the heavenly hosts brought the good news of the coming of the Saviour: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:1). The mystery of the Son of God who became the son of man truly surpasses all human expectations. In its absolute gratuitousness this saving event is the authentic and full response to the deep desire of every heart. The truth, goodness, happiness and abundant life which each man and woman consciously or unconsciously seeks are given to us by God. In longing for these gifts, each person is seeking his Creator, for “God alone responds to the yearning present in the heart of every man and woman” (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, 23). Humanity throughout history, in its beliefs and rituals, demonstrates a constant search for God and “these forms of religious expression are so universal that one may well call man a religious being” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 28). The religious dimension is an undeniable and irrepressible feature of man’s being and acting, the measure of the fulfilment of his destiny and of the building up of the community to which he belongs. Consequently, when the individual himself or those around him neglect or deny this fundamental dimension, imbalances and conflicts arise at all levels, both personal and interpersonal.

  • Each of us has dignity

    The Parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son are reminders that each one of us has dignity and are worth everything to God who wants a relationship with us and for us to be happy forever.

  • The Multitudes Were Following After Him

    The crowds were following Jesus when he turned around and made them think about something. Easy is it to follow him when it is convenient. Hard is it to follow him when doing so will cause us discomfort. Sometimes doing the right thing will cause us some discomfort but it is the cross that we are asked to bear.

  • Narrow Gate

    There is a question that has always nagged believers: Will there be many or few people saved? During certain periods this problem became so acute as to cause some people terrible anxiety.

    This Sunday's Gospel informs us that Jesus himself was once asked this question. "Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, 'Lord, will only a few people be saved?'"

    The question, as we see, focuses on the number -- How many will be saved? Will it be many or few? In answering the question, Jesus shifts the focus from "how many" to "how" to be saved, that is, by entering "through the narrow gate."

    We see this same attitude in regard to Jesus' second coming. The disciples ask "when" the return of the Son of Man will happen and Jesus answers indicating "how" we should prepare ourselves for that return, and what to do during the time of waiting (cf. Matthew 24:3-4).

    Jesus' way of responding to these questions is not strange or discourteous. He is just acting in the way of one who wants to teach his disciples how to move from a life of curiosity to one of true wisdom; from the allure of idle questions to the real problems we need to grapple with in life.

    From this we already see the absurdity of those who, like the Jehovah Witnesses, believe they know the precise number of the saved: 144,000.

    This number, which recurs in the Book of Revelations has a purely symbolic value (the square of 12 -- the number of the tribes of Israel -- multiplied by 1,000) and is explained by the expression that immediately follows: "A great multitude that no man could number" (Revelations 7:4, 9).

    Above all, if 144,000 is really the number, then we can both close up shop. Above the gate to heaven there must be a sign like the ones parking lots put up: "Full."

    If, therefore, Jesus is not so much interested in revealing to us the number of the saved as he is in telling us how to be saved, we can understand what he is trying to tell us here. In substance, there are two things: one negative and the other positive.

    It is useless, or rather it is not enough, to belong to a certain ethnic group, race, tradition, or institution, not even the chosen people from whom the Savior himself comes. What puts us on the road to salvation is not a title of ownership ("We ate and drank in your presence..."), but a personal decision, followed by a consistent way of life. This is even more clear in Matthew's text which contrasts two ways and two gates, one narrow and the other wide (cf. Matthew 7:13-14).

    Why are these ways respectively called "narrow" and "wide"? Is it perhaps that the way of evil is always easy and pleasant to follow and the way of goodness always hard and tiresome?

    Here we must be careful not to cede to the usual temptation of believing that here below everything goes magnificently well for the wicked and everything goes terribly for the good.

    The way of the wicked is wide, but only at the beginning. As one goes down this way it gradually becomes narrow and bitter. In any case, it becomes very narrow at the end because it finishes in a blind alley.

    The joy that is experienced in it has the characteristic of diminishing more and more as one tastes it, and it finally causes nausea and sadness. We see this in certain forms of intoxication experienced in drugs, alcohol and sex. A larger dose or stronger stimulation is needed each time to produce pleasure of the same intensity.

    Finally the organism no longer responds and it begins to break down, even physically.

    The way of the just is instead narrow at the beginning, when one starts off on it, but it then becomes a spacious boulevard because hope, joy and peace of heart are found in it.

    Father Cantalamessa

  • Faithfully Waiting

    Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

    Be watchful for you know not the day nor the hour

    You also must be ready for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour

    To whom much is given much will be expected

    Keep your lamps burning

    Watchful Servants/Faithful or Unfaithful Servant

    Are you faithful to God?

  • Thoughts on Greed

    Greed and envy focus a person on self. Those who pursue wealth seek security and safety. They use their riches to shield themselves from life's vicissitudes and to find comfort and confidence in material things. In the pursuit of wealth they lose sight of the real meaning of life because they are seduced by the illusion that with their fortune they can control their lives. Yet one day everyone will die - possessions cannot protect against that day. source: Catholic-Bible-School.org

    Novena Prayer to St Martha "St. Martha, I resort to thy protection and aid and as a proof of my affection and faith I offer this light which I shall burn every Tuesday. Comfort me in all my difficulties and through the great favor thou didst enjoy when the Savior was lodged in thy house,. Intercede for my family that we may always hold God in our hearts, and that we may be provided for in all our necessities, I ask, St. Martha, to overcome all difficulties as thou didst overcome the dragon at thy feet."

  • Pope Benedict XVI on the sinful woman redeemed by love

    The manner in which she chose to come before Jesus, bathing his feet with tears and drying them with her hair, kissing them and sprinkling scented oil upon them, was done to shock those who viewed people in her condition with the merciless eye of the judge. What is striking, on the other hand, is the tenderness with which Jesus treated this woman, exploited and judged by so many. In Jesus she found at last a pure eye, a heart capable of loving without exploiting. In the gaze and heart of Jesus she received the revelation of God-Love!

    To avoid any misunderstanding, it should be noted that Jesus' mercy was not expressed by putting moral law in parentheses. For Jesus, good is good and evil is evil. Mercy does not change the connotations of sin but consumes it in a fire of love.

  • Life is not just a succession of events or experiences; it is a search for the true, the good, and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this - in truth, in goodness, and in beauty - that we find happiness and joy. -PB16 Message for the 43rd World Communications Day May 24, 2009

  • Find a Mass

    MassTimes.org

  • RSS CatholicTV – DAILY MASS – Most Recent Episodes

  • Holy Mass

    A Beautiful Collision

  • Recent Posts

  • Catholic Roundup’s

    Advent Calendar



  • Pray the Rosary



    Praying the Rosary by Susan Bailey

    Praying the Holy Rosary everyday is a good and holy thing to do.

    Order Susan Bailey's CD...
    Click here for more information

    Prepare for Mass

    Live a good life

    Strive for holiness

    Care for body and soul

  • RSS LifeTeenSundaySundaySunday Podcast

    • Eat Healthy, Live Happy: Fr. Leo from GraceBeforeMeals.com Shares Two Recipes just for Teens May 24, 2013
      Have you ever met a priest who fights like a ninja, talks like TV star, and cooks better than an Iron Chef? You probably haven’t, because there’s only one Fr. Leo Patalinghug. Fr. Leo and his ministry GraceBeforeMeals.com have been helping people around the world learn to eat better, share time with their families, and have a ton of fun doing it. In today’s […]

  • RSS Gus Lloyd’s Reflections

    • True Friendship May 24, 2013
      In the Gospel reading today from Mark 10, Jesus teaches about marriage. The Catholic Church has always held fast to these teachings. Sure, they are difficult. But they come from Christ Jesus Himself. I hope that you will join me in praying for marriages daily. Marriage is under attack on so many fronts. Pray that [...]
      Gus Lloyd
    • Today’s Conversion May 23, 2013
      In the Gospel reading today from Mark 9, Jesus lets us know how dangerous it is to lead others into sin. “It would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” While we must strive for our own holiness, it is also incumbent [...]
      Gus Lloyd

  • RSS EWTN Daily

  • Flickr Photos

    More Photos

  • RSS Daily Catholic Mass Readings

    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Wednesday 22 May 2013
      Sirach 4: 11 - 19 11 Wisdom exalts her sons and gives help to those who seek her. 12 Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will be filled with joy. 13 Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, and the Lord ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Tuesday 21 May 2013
      Sirach 2: 1 - 11 1 My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation. 2 Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity. 3 Cleave to him and do not depart, that ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Monday 20 May 2013
      Sirach 1: 1 - 10 1 All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever. 2 The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity -- who can count them? 3 The height of heaven, the breadth of ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Sunday 19 May 2013
      Acts 2: 1 - 11 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Saturday 18 May 2013
      Acts 2: 44 - 47 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Friday 17 May 2013
      Acts 25: 13 - 21 13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Berni'ce arrived at Caesare'a to welcome Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix; ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Thursday 16 May 2013
      Acts 22: 30; 23: 6 - 11 30 But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. 23: 6 ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Wednesday 15 May 2013
      Acts 20: 28 - 38 28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. 29 I know that after my departure ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Tuesday 14 May 2013
      Acts 1: 15 - 17, 20 - 26 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 "Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the ...
    • Daily Catholic Mass Readings for Monday 13 May 2013
      Acts 19: 1 - 8 1 While Apol'los was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have never ...

  • RSS Catholic Online > U.S. News

  • RSS Catholic Answers Forums

    • What If Muhammad Was Born Today? May 24, 2013
      If Muhammad was born in this age how would he preach? Would he lead his ministry by word or guns or both?
    • Arguments Against Divorce May 24, 2013
      My country is in the process of approving a divorce law. Right now all we have is legal separation and annulment. I was hoping for some advice how to combat this law. Does anyone here know the legal, moral, psychological etc. arguments against divorce? Or at least point me in the right direction? Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you! :)
    • What do I do to rectify what my father did as a kid? May 24, 2013
      I can't think of an appropriate forum for this quandary, so I'm dumping it here in the Back Fence. I'm a semi-regular poster on CAF under another name. The subject of this post is very sensitive (and actually criminal), so I'm posting under a pseudonym. I just came back from a visit to my parents' house. They are both non-Catholics, […]
    • Morality issues with online selling/advertising May 24, 2013
      Hello, I became a Christian in a protestant church but I've left that and am seriously thinking about becoming a Catholic. Anyways, I had a moral question and was wondering what Catholics thought about it. Now, I guess my blessing and my curse is that I pay attention to details. So, I don't know if the following issue is just me nit-picking too muc […]
    • Obama Responds to Heckler May 24, 2013
      Obama interrupted by heckler (twice) who wants Gitmo closed. Ironically, Obama was talking about how he wants Gitmo closed too. Obama is a very good public speaker no doubt. video link here (http://www.carbonated.tv/news/obama-has-unique-reaction-to-heckler-at-major-terrorism-address-video)
    • prayers for recommendation letter May 24, 2013
      Hi! This is kind of small compared to some other prayer request, but I'd like to request prayers for a person who is going to write a letter of recommendation for me...that they are doing better after being ill, that they can write the letter in time, and get back to me about an interview. :shrug: Thank you all...
    • Looking for St. Joseph the Worker Icon May 24, 2013
      Has anyone ever seen one of these, and if so where can I get a print of one? I've looked everywhere I can think of, but with no luck. I would love to put it in my cubicle.
    • My Catholic Faith Inspired My Actions, Says Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, the Heroine Who Faced Woolwich London Attacker May 24, 2013
      When a solder was brutally murdered on a busy London street by two fanatical Moslems, a murder that has been covered internationally in the media, a fearless London woman went to talk with one of the murderers, who was still holding his bloody knives, in hope of keeping him from further bloodshed. This article tells the faith what motivated her. Links to a v […]
    • Copd- a terrible disease May 24, 2013
      Please pray for my wife that has COPD. GOD helps us everyday but believe he expects us to all pray for each other. Thank you.
    • Ex-Ford execs charged in Argentine torture cases May 24, 2013
      http://news.yahoo.com/ex-ford-execs-charged-argentine-torture-cases-192149822.html
    • I just dont understand??... May 24, 2013
      :confused: why life is the way it is? let me give you a little background. I am 22 years old girl. I still live at home with my parents. This past january i went through the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I woke up on january 26 of this year to my mom yelling for my brother to call 911. She had went into the bedroom and saw my dad on the floor. He […]
    • Is Internet Trolling a sin? May 24, 2013
      I was wondering if it was a sin.
    • Adoration May 24, 2013
      I'm not sure how to phrase this, so I'm sorry if I don't say it correctly. I understand the concept. I understand that Jesus is present in the Host and all. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do. I guess I need to learn how to adore? I don't know. I'm taking any and all advice at this point. Just don't be mean. lol […]
    • Confirmation, 'Baptism of the Holy Spirit' confusion May 24, 2013
      I was baptized Reformed-ish. We were taught that baptism was not regenerative nor was it a special vehicle of grace (it didn't "do anything"), but was an act of obedience to Christ; and if this act of obedience was the result of faith in Christ, we would receive the Holy Spirit (not because of the baptism, but because of the faith), and the Ho […]
    • Hell & The New Creation May 24, 2013
      How does Hell "fit" into the New Creation? Both Scripture and Tradition paint the New Creation as being free from sin, death, and evil. Assuming the concept of Hell normally taught today (i.e. eternal separation from the love of God), how do these two things fit together? It would seem that in this scenario, sin and death will have always have apac […]

Posts Tagged ‘grace’

« Previous Entries

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted by prepareformass on November 2, 2012


Sunday November 4th 2012 is the

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Which is the first of all the commandments?”

Year B

MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ‘SPIRIT AND SONG’
Mass preparation for families

November 4 2012 – (11/4/2012) – Readings

Dt 6:2-6

Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

Heb 7:23-28

Mk 12:28b-34

LifeTeen Sunday Sunday Sunday podcast

Listen to the Readings

“The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.

The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”

“Fear the LORD, your God,
and keep, throughout the days of your lives,
all his statutes and commandments

The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock!



Mass Preparation for this Sunday

The Center for Liturgy at St Louis University

St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church – www.scborromeo.org

Catholic Doors Homilies

Posted in catholic, catholicism, christianity, church, faith, jesus christ, Prepare for Mass, year b | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

First Sunday of Lent

Posted by prepareformass on March 10, 2011


Sunday March 13 is the First Sunday in Lent
MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ‘SPIRIT AND SONG’
March 13 2011 – (3/13/2011) – Readings

Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19
Mt 4:1-11

Jesus tempted by the devil in the desert

Through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all.

Grace

 One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.

He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.

The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.

LifeTeen Sunday Sunday Sunday podcast

Listen to the Readings

First Reading

Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7

The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being.

Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
and placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals
that the LORD God had made.
The serpent asked the woman,
“Did God really tell you not to eat
from any of the trees in the garden?”
The woman answered the serpent:
“We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;
it is only about the fruit of the tree
in the middle of the garden that God said,
‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’”
But the serpent said to the woman:
“You certainly will not die!
No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it
your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods
who know what is good and what is evil.”
The woman saw that the tree was good for food,
pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.
So she took some of its fruit and ate it;
and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her,
and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened,
and they realized that they were naked;
so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Second Reading

Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.
And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned.
For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation;
but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.

Gospel

Mt 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
The tempter approached and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply,
“It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered him,
“Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
At this, Jesus said to him,
“Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left him and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him.

Mass Preparation for this Sunday

The Center for Liturgy at St Louis University

St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church – www.scborromeo.org

LifeTeen

Posted in catholic, catholic church, catholic mass, catholicism, christianity, church, faith, grace, jesus christ, lent, Prepare for Mass, year a | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted by prepareformass on November 7, 2010


Sunday November 14 is the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 14 2010 – (11/14/2010) – Readings

Mal 3:19-20a

Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9

2 Thes 3:7-12

Lk 21:5-19

Spirit and song podcast -www.spiritandsong.com/podcasts

Face difficulties without fear

How important it is to have in the mind an idea to do all that you can to work to the limit of your ability.

It may be that the reason we are bored is because we don’t love anything

If anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat

Keep busy, mind not the business of others, but show good example

 Eat your own food, don’t worry about preparing your defense

You will be given the wisdom that your adversaries will not be able to refute

You will be hated for your beliefs
 
Not a hair on your head will be destroyed and you will secure your lives through your perseverance
 
You are not alone
 
Jesus invites his disciples not to fear, but to face difficulties, misunderstandings and even persecutions with trust, persevering through faith in him.
 

Pope Benedict XVI on Faith and perseverance without fear

LifeTeen Sunday Sunday Sunday podcast
Listen to the Readings





First Reading

Mal 3:19-20a
Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
and the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9

The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

Second Reading

2 Thes 3:7-12

Brothers and sisters:
You know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day
we worked, so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you,
we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,
neither should that one eat.
We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a
disorderly way,
by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.
Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.

Gospel

Lk 21:5-19

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

“Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Posted in 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Be Opened, be prepared, be vigilant, believe, catholic, catholic church, catholic mass, catholicism, christianity, church, courage, doubt, draw me close to you, Eucharist, eucharistic life, faith, faith and works, freedom, give your all, giving, god, jesus christ, Prepare for Mass, Preparing for Catholic Mass, Religion, roman catholic, suffering, sunday mass, sunday mass readings, year c | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

« Previous Entries
 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 3,048 other followers

%d bloggers like this: