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AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE… Saint of the Day: Sts Joachim and Anne (SUNDAY, JULY 26)

raphael

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July 26, 2020

AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE… Saint of the Day: Sts Joachim and Anne (SUNDAY, JULY 26)

The Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (First Century)

Their story

+ Although not mentioned in Scripture, ancient tradition holds that Joachim and Anne were the names of the parents of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The earliest record of their name is found in the apocryphal second-century text known as the Protoevangelium of James.

+ Old and childless, it is said that the couple prayed that they would be given a child. While Joachim was in the desert and Anne prayed in their home, an angel appeared to them promising that Anne would conceive a child.

+ Devotion to the two saints spread quickly throughout the Eastern Church and devotion to Saint Anne became especially strong in the West. Since 1969, Saint Joachim and Anne have been honored together on July 26.

+ The liturgy of for the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne focuses our attention on God’s plan of salvation, beginning with the promises made to Abraham, through the prophets and patriarchs, and coming down to us through the parents of Mary, to Mary herself, and, ultimately, to Jesus. God has been faithful to these promises and remains faith to the promises made to us.

For prayer and reflection

“Joachim and Anne, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of him.”—Saint John Damascene

Vocations

To learn about the Sisters of St. Anne, visit: https://www.sistersofsaintanne.org/

Prayer

O Lord, God of our Fathers,

who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace,

that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son,

grant, through the prayers of both,

that we may attain the salvation

you have promised to your people.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.

PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (SUNDAY, JULY 26)

raphael

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July 26, 2020

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PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (SUNDAY, JULY 26)

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Prayer for the Morning

Christ is the wisdom of God: come, let us adore him!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

HYMN

How deep the riches of our God,

His wisdom how sublime;

How high his judgments soar above

All judgment of mankind!

What mind has read the mind of God,

Or giv’n him counsel sure?

Who from his riches gave to God

What was not first received?

From God all things created flow;

All things through him exist;

To him for judgment all returns,

To whom all praise is due!

CANTICLE OF SIRACH 14:20-21, 24-27; 15:2-6

How much better to acquire wisdom than gold!/ To acquire understanding is more desirable than silver. (Prv 16:16)

In comparing the reign of God to the merchant, Jesus shows us God’s priorities. In comparing it to the buried treasure, he asks us what our priorities are. Solomon, choosing wisdom over wealth, models a truly biblical scale of values.

Happy the man who meditates on wisdom,

and reflects on knowledge;

Who ponders her ways in his heart,

and understands her paths;

Who encamps near her house,

and fastens his tent pegs next to her walls;

Who pitches his tent beside her,

and lives as her welcome neighbor;

Who builds his nest in her leafage,

and lodges in her branches;

Who takes shelter with her from the heat,

and dwells in her home.

Motherlike she will meet him,

like a young bride she will embrace him,

Nourish him with the bread of understanding,

and give him the water of learning to drink.

He will lean upon her and not fall,

he will trust in her and not be put to shame.

She will exalt him above his fellows;

in the assembly she will make him eloquent.

Joy and gladness he will find,

an everlasting name inherit.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Proverbs 8:10-12)

Receive my instruction in preference to silver,/ and knowledge rather than choice gold./ [For Wisdom is better than corals,/ and no choice possession can compare with her.]

I, Wisdom, dwell with experience,/ and judicious knowledge I attain.

Go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

(Mt 19:21)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (cf. 1 Cor 1:24)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

INTERCESSIONS

In trust, we pray:

R/You are our light and our salvation!

For the gift of discernment:

– that we may recognize what is truly of value. R/

For the gift of wisdom:

– that we may make our decisions according to God’s will. R/

For a spirit of detachment:

– that we may be free to abandon what does not serve God’s Kingdom. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

God of light, you illumine our path to your Kingdom by the light of your holy word. Pour forth your Spirit into our hearts, that we may read with understanding and live with fidelity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for guidance

raphael

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July 26, 2020

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When you need some extra guidance in your life, prayer this prayer to God.

While sometimes we may know exactly what to do on a daily basis, there are other times when we have no idea. It can be a frustrating time, as we may have many options before us, but don’t know which way to go.

For such situations, it is best to go straight to God and ask for his help and guidance. If we are open to his presence in our lives, he will guide us with his peace and set us on the right path.

Here is a prayer from 19th-century Cardinal Henry Edward Manning that asks God for extra guidance.

O Holy Spirit of God, take me as your disciple; guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me. Bind my hands that they may do no evil; cover my eyes that they may see it no more; sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me. Be my God; be my guide. Wherever you lead me, I will go: whatever you forbid me, I will renounce; and whatever you command me, in your strength, I will do. Lead me, then, unto the fullness of your truth. Amen.

Prayer for protection against storms

raphael

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July 25, 2020

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The next time a storm passes by, pray this short and powerful prayer.

Storms can often be frightening to endure, especially when they are severe and life-threatening. Even the apostles were afraid of a storm at sea.While we may not know why God allows such a destructive event to occur, we can always place our trust in him and ask for protection from any storm.

Here is a prayer adapted from a 19th-century prayer book that asks God to protect us and come to our aid in the midst of a fierce storm.

Prayer for protection against storms

Protect, we ask you, O Lord, this house against the assaults of our spiritual enemies; and cause the present dreadful disorder of the air to cease. We offer you, O Lord, our praises and sacrifices in thanksgiving for the favors we have already received.

Lord, please hear our humble prayers; that we may rejoice in the ceasing of this storm, and always make a good use of the grant of your favors.

Amen.

PRAYER FOR THIS EVENING (SATURDAY, JULY 25)

raphael

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July 25, 2020

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PRAYER FOR THIS EVENING (SATURDAY, JULY 25)

Prayer for the Evening

Vigil of the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave his life as a ransom

for many: let us give him thanks and praise!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

HYMN

As longs the deer for running springs

My heart for you must long,

For what but you in all the earth

Can fill my heart with song?

What river could be deep enough

Or sea so vast and wide

To fill this ocean heart of mine

Or move me with its tide?

No obstacle would be too great,

No pearl too fine to buy,

No distance insurmountable

Though wider than the sky.

The Milky Way is just a road

That leads to mystery,

And every star another world

Of possibility.

So come, Lord Jesus, my Desire,

And make my heart your spring,

That I may overflow the world

With praises as I sing.

CANTICLE (Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. (Mt 13:45)

In comparing the Kingdom of heaven to the merchant’s quest, not the pearl itself, Jesus reveals the standard by which God sets his priorities. To him, the pearl of greatest price is the human race, for whose ransom he gave his own Son.

O Lord our God, you are worthy

to receive glory and honor and power.

For you have created all things;

by your will they came to be and were made.

Worthy are you, O Lord,

to receive the scroll and break open its seals.

For you were slain;

with your blood you purchased for God

men of every race and tongue,

of every people and nation.

You made of them a kingdom,

and priests to serve our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

to receive power and riches,

wisdom and strength,

honor and glory and praise.

Word of God (1 Peter 1:17-19)

Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

You have been purchased at a price.

Therefore, glorify God in your body.

(1 Cor 6:20)

CANTICLE OF MARY

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mt 20:28)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

INTERCESSIONS

Ransomed from sin and death by the blood of Christ, we pray:

R/You are worthy, O Lord, to receive our thankful praise!

You took on human flesh for our salvation: R/

You suffered, died, and were buried for our redemption: R/

You rose again from the dead, that we might rise in you: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard our hearts in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. (cf. Phil 4:7)

MARIAN ANTIPHON

Antiphon for the Memorial of

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16,

from the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite

Your head is like Carmel,

and the hairs of your head,

bound in tresses,

even as royal purple, alleluia.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE… Saint of the Day: The Feast of Saint James the Greater (SATURDAY, JULY 25)

raphael

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July 25, 2020

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AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE… Saint of the Day: The Feast of Saint James the Greater (SATURDAY, JULY 25)

Witness of the Transfiguration, Apostle (First Century)

His life

+ James, known as “Greater” to distinguish him from the other Apostle of the same name, this James worked as a fishermen with his brother John in the boats of their father Zebedee.

+ Because of their zeal and dedication to Jesus, James and John were given the nickname “Sons of Thunder.”

+ James, along with Peter and John, was privileged to be with Jesus during the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden.

+ James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred. He was beheaded in Jerusalem in the year 44 (see Acts 12:1-2).

+ According to tradition, the relics of Saint James are enshrined at Compostela, Spain, where his shrine remains one of the greatest pilgrim destinations in Europe. He is honored as the patron of Chile, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Spain.

For prayer and reflection

“Like Saint James, we sometimes ask of the Lord more than we are ready to receive. We must become as little children and accept from the hands of our heavenly Father whatever he deigns to give us.”—Enzo Lodi

Vocations

To learn about the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle, visit: https://www.socstjames.com/

Spiritual Bonus

July 25, the Feast of Saint James, is also the date on which the Church celebrates the memory of the third century martyr Saint Christopher. Popularly honored as the patron saint of travelers and as one of the “Fourteen Holy Helpers,” many mistakenly believe that Christopher was “de-sainted” in the years following the Second Vatican Council. This is, however, not the case. Although his liturgical commemoration was removed from the Universal Calendar that governs the celebrations of the saints (in large part because of a lack of historical information about Saint Christopher), his name is still included in The Roman Martryology, the Church’s official list of saints.

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God,

who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles

by the blood of Saint James,

grant, we pray,

that your Church may be strengthened by his confession of faith

and constantly sustained by his protection.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.

PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (SATURDAY, JULY 25)

raphael

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July 25, 2020

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PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (SATURDAY, JULY 25)

Prayer for the Morning

Feast of Saint James the Greater

God sends workers into the harvest fields of faith:

let us give thanks and praise!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

HYMN

With joyous song we greet your feast,

Saint James, apostle of the Lord,

Who called you from a fisher’s nets

To gain far higher a reward.

His call to leave all things and come,

Your younger brother also heard,

And eagerly you both became

Most fervent preachers of his word.

You once declared your eagerness

To share your Master’s pow’r and fame,

And of the Twelve you were the first

To suffer for his holy Name.

O faithful follower of Christ,

And sower of the Gospel’s light,

Enrich our minds with living faith

And hope that guides our steps aright.

PSALM 65:10-11, 13b-14

A sower went out to sow his seed. The seed is the word of God. (Lk 8:5, 11)

The mission of the Apostles was to prepare the earth and plant the seed of God’s word for the harvest of faith. James, the brother of John, was the first of the Apostles to water the soil with his own blood. A century later, Tertullian would say that the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.

You care for the earth, give it water,

you fill it with riches.

Your river in heaven brims over

to provide its grain.

And thus you provide for the earth;

You drench its furrows,

you level it, soften it with showers,

you bless its growth.

The hills are girded with joy,

the meadows covered with flocks,

the valleys are decked with wheat.

They shout for joy, yes, they sing.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Just as from the heavens/ the rain and snow come down/ And do not return there/ till they have watered the earth,/ making it fertile and fruitful,/ Giving seed to him who sows/ and bread to him who eats,/ So shall my word be/ that goes forth from my mouth;/ It shall not return to me void,/ but shall do my will,/ achieving the end for which I sent it.

Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.

(Heb 6:7)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

As for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. (Lk 8:15)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

INTERCESSIONS

Jesus Christ is the grain of wheat that fell into the ground and died. Let us pray for an abundant harvest:

R/You came to give life and give it in abundance!

Some seed fell on rocky ground:

– soften all hardened hearts to receive the gift of your word. R/

Some seed fell in patches of thorn:

– uproot from our hearts all that would choke off the growth of your word. R/

Some seed fell on good ground and bore much fruit:

– cultivate the love you have poured into our hearts for the good of your Kingdom. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

O God and giver of all good gifts, you sent your Apostle James to prepare the earth’s soil to receive the good seed who is your Word made flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the works of evangelization, prepare all hearts to welcome with joy the Word of life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THIS EVENING (FRIDAY, JULY 24)

raphael

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July 24, 2020

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PRAYER FOR THIS EVENING (FRIDAY, JULY 24)

Prayer for the Evening

Let us praise God with all our hearts!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

HYMN

Father, hear the prayer we offer:

Not for ease that prayer shall be,

But for strength that we may ever

Live our lives courageously.

Not for ever in green pastures

Do we ask our way to be;

But the steep and rugged pathway

May we tread rejoicingly.

Not for ever by still waters

Would we idly rest and stay;

But would smite the living fountains

From the rocks along the way.

Be our strength in hours of weakness

In our wand’rings be our guide;

Through endeavor, failure, danger,

Father, be there at our side.

PSALM 9:2-5, 8-9, 14-15

He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. (Mt 27:42)

Jesus’ enemies mocked his ability to save even himself, never mind the whole world. When fidelity to the Gospel seems to demand an impossible price, let us recall the prophetic truth of the angel’s words to Mary: “Nothing will be impossible for God” (Lk 1:37).

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will recount all your wonders.

I will rejoice in you and be glad,

and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.

See how my enemies turn back,

how they stumble and perish before you.

You upheld the justice of my cause;

you sat enthroned, judging with justice.

But the Lord sits enthroned for ever.

He has set up his throne for judgment;

he will judge the world with justice,

he will judge the peoples with his truth.

Have pity on me, Lord, see my sufferings,

you who save me from the gates of death;

that I may recount all your praise

at the gates of the city of Zion

and rejoice in your saving help.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Mark 14:35-36)

[Jesus] advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.”

Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mt 26:41)

CANTICLE OF MARY

Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. (Mk 8:35)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

INTERCESSIONS

Aware of our own weakness and God’s strength, let us pray:

R/Have pity on us, Lord!

Keep us faithful to you in temptation and fear,

– that we may recount all your wonders. R/

Protect all those whose faith is mocked by unbelievers,

– that they may rejoice in you. R/

Grant conversion of heart to those who seek the downfall of faithful Christians,

– that they may enter paradise with the thief upon the cross. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May mercy, peace, and love be ours in abundance. Amen. (cf. Jude 2)

MARIAN ANTIPHON

Antiphon for the Memorial of

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16,

from the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite

Your head is like Carmel,

and the hairs of your head,

bound in tresses,

even as royal purple, alleluia.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Novena prayer to St. Peregrine, patron of cancer patients

raphael

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July 24, 2020

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Novena prayer to St. Peregrine, patron of cancer patients

This prayer can be prayed by all those who are sick, especially cancer patients.

St. Peregrine is widely known across the world for his powerful intercession and healing of those suffering from cancer or any other illness.He was an Italian saint from the 14th century, and at the age of 60 suffered from a cancerous infection in his leg. He had been a faithful servant of God all his life and possessed a deep prayer life.

On the night before his leg was scheduled to be amputated, he was in a state of prayer and discovered that his leg was miraculously healed!

After his death Peregrine was eventually canonized a saint and became known as the Patron of Cancer Patients, and over the centuries countless miracles have been attributed to his intercession.

Here is a popular novena prayer that can be prayed nine days in a row for a specific intention.

Glorious wonder-worker, St. Peregrine, you answered the divine call with a ready spirit, and forsook all the comforts of a life of ease and all the empty honors of the world to dedicate yourself to God in the Order of His holy Mother.

You labored manfully for the salvation of souls. In union with Jesus crucified, you endured painful sufferings with such patience as to deserve to be healed miraculously of an incurable cancer in your leg by a touch of His divine hand.

Obtain for me the grace to answer every call of God and to fulfill His will in all the events of life. Enkindle in my heart a consuming zeal for the salvation of all men.
Deliver me from the infirmities that afflict my body (especially … )

Obtain for me also a perfect resignation to the sufferings it may please God to send me, so that, imitating our crucified Savior and His sorrowful Mother, I may merit eternal glory in heaven.

St. Peregrine, pray for me and for all who invoke your aid.

AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE… Saint of the Day: St. Sharbel Makhluf (FRIDAY, JULY 24)

raphael

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July 24, 2020

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AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE… Saint of the Day: St. Sharbel Makhluf (FRIDAY, JULY 24)

Model of Poverty, Penance, and Asceticism. Maronite Monk and Hermit (1828-1898)

His life

+ Joseph Makhluf was born in the mountains of Lebanon and worked as a shepherd after his father’s death. Despite these challenges, he learned to read and write, served Mass, and sang in the village church choir.

+ In 1851, he entered the monastery of Our Lady of Maifouk, receiving the religious name “Sharbel.” He professed vows in 1853 and was ordained a priest in 1859.

+ Having transferred to the monastery at Anaya, he received permission to live as a hermit. He lived in solitude for twenty-three years preparing for, celebrating, and giving thanks for his daily Mass. Many people came to him for advice and prayers.

+ In 1898, Sharbel suffered a stroke while celebrating Mass and died on Christmas Even. He was canonized in 1977 and his commemoration was extended to the Universal Church in 2002.

For prayer and reflection

“A hermit of Mount Lebanon is enrolled in the number of the blessed… a new eminent member of monastic sanctity has by his example and his intercession enriched the entire Christian people … may he make us understand, in a world largely fascinated by wealth and comfort, the paramount value of poverty, penance and asceticism, to liberate the soul in its ascent to God.”—Pope Saint Paul VI

Prayer

O God, who called the Priest Saint Sharbel Makhluf

to the solitary combat of the desert

and imbued him with all manner of devotion,

grant us, we pray,

that, being made imitators of the Lord’s Passion,

we may merit to be co-heirs of his Kingdom.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.

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The Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (First Century)

Their story

For prayer and reflection

Vocations

Prayer

Prayer for the Morning

HYMN

CANTICLE OF SIRACH 14:20-21, 24-27; 15:2-6

Word of God (Proverbs 8:10-12)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

INTERCESSIONS

When you need some extra guidance in your life, prayer this prayer to God.

The next time a storm passes by, pray this short and powerful prayer.

Prayer for protection against storms

Prayer for the Evening

HYMN

CANTICLE (Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12)

Word of God (1 Peter 1:17-19)

CANTICLE OF MARY

INTERCESSIONS

MARIAN ANTIPHON

Witness of the Transfiguration, Apostle (First Century)

His life

For prayer and reflection

Vocations

Spiritual Bonus

Prayer

Prayer for the Morning

HYMN

PSALM 65:10-11, 13b-14

Word of God (Isaiah 55:10-11)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

INTERCESSIONS

Prayer for the Evening

HYMN

PSALM 9:2-5, 8-9, 14-15

Word of God (Mark 14:35-36)

CANTICLE OF MARY

INTERCESSIONS

MARIAN ANTIPHON

This prayer can be prayed by all those who are sick, especially cancer patients.

Model of Poverty, Penance, and Asceticism. Maronite Monk and Hermit (1828-1898)

His life

For prayer and reflection

Prayer

sharing the faith received

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