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.  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails...."

Novena to St. Benedict  

O Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God's grace! Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet. I implore thy loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God. To thee I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate thee in all things. May thy blessings be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the

occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need, in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Thy heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. Thou didst never dismiss without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to thee. I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession in the confident hope that thou will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore (mention it), if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.  

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.

Amen.

Prayer to St. John XXIII

Dear Pope John,

Your simplicity and meekness carried the scent of
God and sparked in people’s hearts the desire for
goodness. You spoke often of the beauty of the
family gathered around the table to share bread
and faith: pray for us that once again true families
would live in our homes.
With outstretched hands you sowed hope, and
you taught us to listen for God’s footsteps as he
prepares a new humanity: help us have a healthy
optimism of defeating evil with good.
You loved the world with its light and darkness,
and you believed that peace is possible: help
us be instruments of peace at home and in our
communities.
With paternal gentleness you gave all children a
caress: you moved the world and reminded us that
hands have been given to us not for striking, but for
embracing and drying tears.
Pray for us so that we do not limit ourselves to
cursing the darkness but that we bring the light,
bringing Jesus everywhere and always praying to Mary.

Amen.

Divine Mercy Image

What does "Divine Mercy" actually mean?

Prayer to the Virgin: Remedy Against Evil Spirits Indulgenced by St. Pius X on July 8, 1908.

August Queen of Heaven, sovereign Mistress of the Angels, thou who from the beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan, we humbly beseech thee to send thy holy legions, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil spirits, encounter them on every side, resist their bold attacks, and drive them hence into eternal woe.

Who is like unto God?

O good and tender Mother, thou willest always to be our love and our hope.

O Mother of God, send thy holy Angels to defend us and drive far from us the cruel enemy.

Holy Angels and Archangels, defend us and keep us. Amen.

Prayer To Saint Michael

Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

To Intercede (Intercession definition)

Definition of intercession link is here.

Mary Undoer of Knots Background

We all have some “knots” in our lives… and Mary can untie them!

The devotion to Mary, Undoer of Knots has become more popular ever since Pope Francis encouraged the devotion in Argentina, and then spoke about it during his first year as pontiff.
The theology of the devotion actually goes back to the second century. Saint Irenaeus wrote that, “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith.”
Mary’s faith unties the knot of sin!
So we will pray that the Blessed Virgin Mary will intercede for us all, to untie the knots of sin in our lives – so that we may be purified and ever closer to God.

Day One of Novena, Mary, Undoer of Knots, Closing Prayer

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.
You know very well how desperate I am, my pain and how I am bound by these knots.
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life.
No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone.
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot...I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all, You are my hope.
O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution and with Christ the freedom from my chains.
Hear my plea.
Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me

Pardon By Neighbor

O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Prayer for my Family

I pray for the sufferings of my family and may they not go unnoticed.  

Forgive my family for any transgressions against me and let Jesus guide them, through the Holy Spirit, to be more wise in their decision making.  

In that You, Jesus Christ, are the only true way.

May they not repeat the unneeded sufferings of the past and live in happiness and joy with you Jesus, forever and ever.

Amen.