Psalm 18:17-20

He reached down from on high and seized me; 

drew me out of the deep waters. 

He rescued me from my mighty enemy, 

from foes too powerful for me. 

They attacked me on my day of distress, 

but the Lord was my support. 

He set me free in the open; 

he rescued me because he loves me. 

Revelation 20:1-3

The Thousand-year Reign. 

Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss* and a heavy chain. He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the Devil or Satan, and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss, which he locked over it and sealed, so that it could no longer lead the nations astray until the thousand years are completed. After this, it is to be released for a short time. 

Proverbs 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house,

she has set up her seven columns; 

She has prepared her meat, mixed her wine, 

yes, she has spread her table. 

She has sent out her maidservants; she calls 

from the heights out over the city: 

“Let whoever is naive turn in here; 

to any who lack sense I say, 

Come, eat of my food, 

and drink of the wine I have mixed! 

Forsake foolishness that you may live; 

advance in the way of understanding."

NABRE version Deuteronomy 32:9-12

But the Lord’s portion was his people; 

his allotted share was Jacob. 

He found them in a wilderness, 

a wasteland of howling desert. 

He shielded them, cared for them, 

guarded them as the apple of his eye. 

As an eagle incites its nestlings, 

hovering over its young, 

So he spread his wings, took them, 

bore them upon his pinions. 

The Lord alone guided them, 

no foreign god was with them. 

Yesterday was the feast day of Saint Mary Magdelene

Taken from today's Catholic Letionary:

Psalm, Chapter 78, Verse 24:

God rained manna upon them for food;

grain from heaven he gave them.

Job Ch. 12 V. 13

With Him are wisdom and might; 

His are counsel and understanding. 

Book of Job Chapters 39 and 40 - The Lord and Job meet

I won't post the whole two chapters here because it is quite long.  But I do encourage you and plead with you to read these two chapters.  It is very revealing about the awesome power and greatness of God.

John 14:25-31 from NABRE

“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up, let us go."

Isaiah 48:10-13 from NABRE

"See, I refined you, but not like silver; 

I tested you in the furnace of affliction. 

For my sake, for my own sake, I do this; 

why should my name be profaned? 

My glory I will not give to another. 

Listen to me, Jacob, 

Israel, whom I called! 

I, it is I who am the first, 

and am I the last. 

Yes, my hand laid the foundations of the earth; 

my right hand spread out the heavens. 

When I summon them, 

they stand forth at once."

NABRE Revelation 12: The Woman and the Dragon

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman  clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.  Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.

Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. 

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:  

“Now have salvation and power come, 

and the kingdom of our God 

and the authority of his Anointed. 

For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, 

who accuses them before our God day and night. 

They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb 

and by the word of their testimony; 

love for life did not deter them from death. 

Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, 

and you who dwell in them. 

But woe to you, earth and sea, 

for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, 

for he knows he has but a short time.” 

When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus. It took its position on the sand of the sea. 

Prayer to Saint Agnes

Image of Saint Agnes with Lamb

O glorious St. Agnes, you served God ın humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific Vision in heaven because you persevered till death and gained the crown of eternal life.  Remember now the dangers that surround me ın the vale of tears, and intercede for me in my needs and troubles. 

Amen.

The Call of Simon the Fisherman - NABRE Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.  For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. 

Learn to Forgive

St. Augustine reminds us that if we are so hard-hearted that we cannot forgive even someone who sincerely repents, we can’t have any expectation that our own sins will be forgiven.

Colossians 1:15-20

THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible,  whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.   He is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,  and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross [through him], whether those on earth or those in heaven. 

Luke 2:25-35 ..so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: 

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go 

in peace, according to your word, 

for my eyes have seen your salvation, 

which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, 

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 

and glory for your people Israel.” 

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Excerpt from "Introduction to the Devout Life" by St. Francis de Sales

In all your affairs rely on God’s Providence, through which alone your plans can succeed. Meanwhile, on your part, work on in quiet cooperation with God, and then rest satisfied that if you have entrusted your work entirely to God, you will always obtain that measure of success which is best for you, whether it seems so or not in your own judgment.

Mark Chapter 12 Verses 28 through 31

One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “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.”

Ephesians Chapter 2 Verses 19 through 22

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.  Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 

Sin of Partiality (Book of James, Chapter 2, Verse 1 through 5)

My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? 

Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

Matthew 5:3-10

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they who mourn, 

for they will be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, 

for they will inherit the land. 

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be satisfied. 

Blessed are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are the clean of heart, 

for they will see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they will be called children of God. 

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos Prayer

 

Bountiful God, in Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, You have given Your people a model for those who labor joyfully in Your earthly kingdom. May his smile dwell on those who  find life burdensome. In him, our eyes continually behold the gentleness of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. 

Amen.

Matthew 5:43-48

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

Saint Augustine prayer to the O Most Sacred Heart

You are Christ

You are Christ, my Holy Father, my Tender God, my Great King, my Good Shepherd, my Only Master, my Best Helper, my Most Beautiful and my Beloved, my Living Bread, my Priest Forever, my Leader to my Country, my True Light, my Holy Sweetness, my Straight Way, my Excellent Wisdom, my Pure Simplicity, my Peaceful Harmony, my Entire Protection, my Good Portion, my Everlasting Salvation. 

Christ Jesus, Sweet Lord, why have I ever loved, why in my whole life have I ever desired anything except You, Jesus my God? Where was I when I was not in spirit with You? Now, from this time forth, do you, all my desires, grow hot, and flow out upon the Lord Jesus: run . . . you have been tardy until now; hasten where you are going; seek Whom you are seeking. O, Jesus may he who loves You not be an anathema; may he who loves You not be filled with bitterness. 

O, Sweet Jesus, may every good feeling that is fitted for Your praise, love You, delight in You, adore You! God of my heart, and my Portion, Christ Jesus, may my heart faint away in spirit, and may You be my Life within me! May the live coal of Your Love grow hot within my spirit and break forth into a perfect fire; may it burn incessantly on the altar of my heart; may it glow in my innermost being; may it blaze in hidden recesses of my soul; and in the days of my consummation may I be found consummated with You! Amen. 

St. Augustine of Hippo

Luke 1:38

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 6:37

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

    

Padre Pio, Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,

filled with infinite love,

broken by my ingratitude,

pierced by my sins,

yet loving me still;

accept the consecration

that I make to You

of all that I am

and all that I have.

Take every faculty

of my soul and body

and draw me,

day by day,

nearer and nearer

to Your Sacred Heart,

and there,

as I can understand the lesson,

teach me Your blessed ways. 

Amen.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Parents to be canonized

Pope Francis to canonize Louis Martin and Zelie Martin after a miracle has been attributed to their intercession.  This is a good study in a holy family of St. Therese of Lisieux and her Parents.

St. Catharine of Sweden, a reflection

Whoever has to dwell in the world stands in need of great prudence; the Holy Scripture itself assures us that “the knowledge of the Holy is prudence.”

Prayer to Saint Dymphna For A Strong Faith

To you, dear St. Dymphna, who have completed your pilgrimage of faith and now dwell with the Lord forever, I appeal for the blessing of a strong and mature faith. May I preserve in my baptismal promises to Christ, no matter what the cost. May I conduct myself now and always as a true believer in the eternal truths God has revealed. Help me always with your prayers as I walk in faith toward the reward promised to those who, without having seen Christ, yet love Him and believe in Him.
Amen.