It Is a Joy for God to Forgive Which Son Am I? Greeting (See Second Reading) Let us give thanks to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, for he has given us strength and he came to forgive us our sins. May his mercy and love be always with you. R/ And
Gregory the Great (540-604) was civil prefect (governor) of Rome; he became a Benedictine monk, later papal envoy to Constantinople. Elected Pope, he reluctantly accepted, as he preferred the monastic life. He was a very capable administrator, looking upon his task as service. His incumbency during difficult times was marked by his efforts to care
We know that God loves us, that he protects us and guides us to our destiny. In the Bible, angels are presented God’s messengers to people, to help us to carry out God’s plans. The archangel Michael is mentioned in the last book of the Bible as the angel who leads the fight against the
The prophet Zechariah gives us today a vision of joy, hope and universalism. The rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem after the exile assures that God lives among His people and that many nations will find God there, among them. They must be an open people, without walls, for God himself will protect them. “They
Sts Cosmas & Damien – Martyrs – Optional Memorial: Today we honor Saints Cosmas and Damien, twin brothers, physicians, and martyrs, remembered for offering healing without charge and witnessing to Christ through their charity and faith. Their lives remind us that true discipleship is found in selfless service and steadfast love. Let us open our
The Edict of Darius let the Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem. Much reconstruction was waiting for them, but those who had remained in the land feared to be dispossessed of the land they had occupied in the meantime. The prophet Haggai reprimanded the returnees for building luxurious houses for themselves, while the temple still lay
Today’s liturgy reminds us of God’s mercy and our mission as His people. In the first reading (Ezra 9:5-9), Ezra prays with humility, acknowledging the sins of Israel yet giving thanks for God’s compassion in restoring them to new life. In his prayer of penance, Ezra focuses his attention more on the goodness of God
In the first reading (Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20), we hear of the rebuilding of the Temple and the joyful celebration of God’s presence among His people. After the enthusiastic return of the Jews from exile, they soon fell apart into factions: almost all looked after their own interests first. Because they were not a real
We commemorate today St Vincent de Paul, a man with a heart. All his life he was a friend of the poor and the suffering. To evangelize rural areas, he founded the Congregation of the Mission or Lazarists and for the benefit of the proletarian masses the Daughters of Charity, to whom he gave as
Today’s liturgy reminds us of God’s power to restore and renew His people. In the first reading (Ezra 1:1-6), the Lord stirs the hearts of His people to return and rebuild His house in Jerusalem. With the proclamation of Cyrus, king of Persia, who freed the exiles, the Jews could return to Jerusalem to rebuild
