St. Leonard: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, November 06, 2024

According to unreliable sources, he was a Frank courtier who was converted by St. Remigius, refused the offer of a See from his godfather, King Clovis I, and became a monk at Micy. He lived as a hermit at Limoges and was rewarded by the king with all the land he could ride around on a donkey in a day for his prayers, which were believed to have brought the Queen through a difficult delivery safely. He founded Noblac monastery on the land so granted him, and it grew into the town of …

Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 PHIL 2:5-11

Brothers and sisters:
Have among yourselves the same attitude 
that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and, found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Responsorial Psalm PS 22:26B-27, 28-30AB, 30E, 31-32

R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;    
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts be ever merry!”
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people. 
For dominion is the LORD’s,
 and he rules the nations.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
To him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R.  I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
 

 

 

Alleluia MT 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 14:15-24

One of those at table with Jesus said to him,
“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”
He replied to him,
“A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.
When the time for the dinner came,
he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,
‘Come, everything is now ready.’
But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.
The first said to him,
‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;
I ask you, consider me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen
and am on my way to evaluate them;
I ask you, consider me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have just married a woman,
and therefore I cannot come.’
The servant went and reported this to his master.
Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,
‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.’
The master then ordered the servant,
‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in that my home may be filled.
For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Desert Silence / El Silencio del Desierto

It hardly seems possible that November is already upon us. It seems like just yesterday that my kids were playing in the blow-up pool, running through the sprinkler and riding their bikes through puddles. It seems like just yesterday that they were telling me how bored they were since I didn’t let them play video games 24/7 during their three months off school. It seems like just yesterday that we went to Lake Michigan every weekend we could, to enjoy the endless blue sky and the ocean-like wind and waves… But now the fall is upon us. The way-too-short summer is long gone and winter is just a breath away. But winter is in itself an opportunity for some stark stillness, to reflect on whether or not we need to scrape some frost off our hearts.

I recently read two different things that turned my thoughts in the same direction. The first article pointed out how God worked in the desert.  He freed the Hebrews from slavery in the desert, John the Baptist heralded the coming of Christ in the desert, and Jesus drew strength from prayer in the desert. The second one spoke of growth through silence. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, grew stronger in his faith while he was temporarily silenced and God forms babies who are so wonderfully made in the silence of their mothers’ wombs. 

Both of these ideas, along with a recent retreat experience, got me thinking about how God truly does desire for us to come away with Him. He wants to separate us from the daily grind, bring us into a completely different space and breathe new life into us. He wants us to find that desert spot, that place of silence where He can speak to us in the depths of our being. He wants to reignite the spark if our faith has grown dim and rekindle the fire if our love has grown cold. 

But just like those invited to the great dinner in today’s Gospel, we often look for ways to excuse ourselves from His invitation. We are too busy, too distracted, too tired… and whether inadvertently or otherwise, we miss out on the spiritual feast that He is offering us through quiet time with Him. Heaven is the “home” that He wants filled and every day we have the opportunity to take one more step toward it through union with God in prayer. 

No matter what season we may find ourselves in, whether summer, fall, winter or spring, may we find the courage to come away with Jesus in the desert silence. May we heed His call and go to Him when we hear Him speak gently to our hearts “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Alleluia verse)

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Parece casi imposible que noviembre ya esté aquí. Parece que fue ayer cuando mis hijos jugaban en la piscina inflable, corrían bajo el rociador y andaban en bicicleta por los charcos. Parece que fue ayer cuando me contaban lo aburridos que estaban porque no les permití jugar a los videojuegos las 24/7 durante los tres meses que no tenían clases. Parece que fue ayer cuando íbamos al Lago de Michigan todos los fines de semana que podíamos para disfrutar del cielo azul infinito y del viento y las olas que parecían del océano… Pero ahora el otoño ya está aquí. El verano demasiado corto ya pasó hace tiempo y el invierno está a un suspiro de distancia. Pero el invierno es en sí mismo una oportunidad para un poco de calma absoluta, para reflexionar sobre si necesitamos o no quitarnos un poco de escarcha del corazón.

Hace poco leí dos cosas diferentes que hicieron que mis pensamientos se dirigieran en la misma dirección. El primer artículo señalaba cómo Dios obraba en el desierto. Liberó a los hebreos de la esclavitud en el desierto, Juan el Bautista anunció la llegada de Cristo en el desierto y Jesús obtuvo fuerzas de la oración en el desierto. El segundo hablaba del crecimiento a través del silencio. Zacarías, el padre de Juan el Bautista, se fortaleció en su fe mientras estuvo temporalmente silenciado y Dios forma a los bebés que son hechos maravillosamente en el silencio del vientre de sus madres.

Ambas ideas, junto con una experiencia reciente de retiro, me hicieron pensar en cómo Dios realmente desea que nos vayamos a un lugar aparte con Él. Quiere separarnos de la rutina diaria, llevarnos a un espacio completamente diferente e infundirnos nueva vida. Quiere que encontremos ese lugar desértico, ese lugar de silencio donde pueda hablarnos en lo más profundo de nuestro ser. Quiere volver a encender la chispa si nuestra fe se ha apagado y reavivar el fuego si nuestro amor se ha enfriado.

Pero al igual que aquellos invitados a la gran cena en el Evangelio de hoy, a menudo buscamos formas de excusarnos de Su invitación. Estamos demasiado ocupados, demasiado distraídos, demasiado cansados… y ya sea a propósito o no, nos perdemos el banquete espiritual que nos ofrece a través del tiempo en silencio con Él. El cielo es el “hogar” que quiere llenar y cada día tenemos la oportunidad de dar un paso más hacia él a través de la unión con Dios en la oración.

No importa en qué estación nos encontremos, ya sea verano, otoño, invierno o primavera, que encontremos el valor de ir con Jesús al silencio del desierto. Que escuchemos su llamado y vayamos corriendo a Él cuando lo escuchemos hablar suavemente a nuestro corazón: “Vengan a mí, todos los que están fatigados y agobiados por la carga, y yo les daré alivio, dice el Señor.” (Aclamación antes del Evangelio)

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Tami Urcia grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling projects, finding fun ways to keep her little ones occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works full time at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for over 20 years.

Feature Image Credit: Katerina Kerdi, unsplash.com/photos/woman-walking-at-desert-9TdomzK-2d0

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Reading 1 Phil 2:1-4

Brothers and sisters:
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also everyone for those of others.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Alleluia Jn 8:31b-32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 14:12-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Many Gifts, Many Givers / Muchos Dones, Muchos Dadores

In today’s Gospel, Jesus isn’t just giving us marching orders for being disciples – He is doing that, since we are all called to be generous to the poor and those who are burdened in any way – but He is also telling us something about the human heart and mind: there is far more happiness in giving than there is in receiving. 

Now, we all must be on the receiving end of good things at some point. It helps our fellow Christians to strive for what Jesus is teaching us in this passage. Jesus takes on the role of the Great Psychologist when He tells us it is far better to give than receive. This is the key to human happiness; not building and hoarding wealth for oneself, but for one to share their wealth, whether it be financial, mental, emotional, spiritual. 

Not only are there many kinds of wealth and gifts, but we are also all called to use them in different ways. Those with very little financial support to give, for example, are often blessed in other ways to minister to their fellow humans. They can give emotional and spiritual support through a listening ear and through prayer. Others can teach about the Faith, and yet others can lead enormous changes in the Church. 

St. Charles Borromeo, whose memorial we celebrate today, was one such person who led the charge to ensure that priests were properly educated in the teachings of the Church. He founded seminaries for men to receive formation prior to ordination. 

Dear friend, if you don’t have wealth in one area of your life, assess your gifts in other areas to see how God is calling you to serve others. Ultimately, we are all meant to discover how blessed it is to give, rather than to receive. 

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En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús no solo nos está dando órdenes para ser discípulos (eso sí también porque todos estamos llamados a ser generosos con los pobres y aquellos que están agobiados de alguna manera), sino que también nos está diciendo algo sobre el corazón y la mente humanos: hay mucha más felicidad en dar que en recibir.

Ahora bien, todos somos recibidores de cosas buenas en algún momento. Esto ayuda a nuestros hermanos cristianos a esforzarse por lograr lo que Jesús nos está enseñando en este pasaje. Jesús asume el papel del Gran Psicólogo cuando nos dice que es mucho mejor dar que recibir. Esta es la clave de la felicidad humana: no acumular más y más riqueza para uno mismo, sino compartir su riqueza, ya sea financiera, mental, emocional o espiritual.

No solo hay muchos tipos de riqueza y dones, sino que también todos estamos llamados a utilizarlos de diferentes maneras. Aquellos que no tienen la posibilidad de dar mucho apoyo financiero, por ejemplo, a menudo son bendecidos de otras maneras para ministrar a los demás. Pueden brindar apoyo emocional y espiritual escuchando y orando. Otros pueden enseñar sobre la fe y otros pueden liderar enormes cambios en la Iglesia.

San Carlos Borromeo, cuyo memorial celebramos hoy, fue una de esas personas que encabezó la iniciativa de garantizar que los sacerdotes recibieran una educación adecuada en las enseñanzas de la Iglesia. Fundó seminarios para que los hombres recibieran formación antes de la ordenación sacerdotal.

Querido amigo, si no tienes riqueza en un área de tu vida, evalúa tus dones en otras áreas para ver cómo Dios te está llamando a servir a los demás. En última instancia, todos estamos destinados a descubrir cuán bendecido es dar, en lugar de recibir.

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Mary Thissen is a St. Louis native living in East Central Illinois with her husband and children. She is blessed with twin boys Earthside and four children now living in Heaven. When she is not working as a healthcare data analyst or caring for her boys, she enjoys studying and writing about the Catholic faith and ministering to women who are suffering through miscarriage or infertility. You can connect with Mary on Instagram @waitingonmiracles. 

Feature Image Credit: Tom Parsons, unsplash.com/photos/person-sitting-on-floor-near-people-pVmjvK44Dao

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Dt 6:2-6

Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“Fear the LORD, your God,
and keep, throughout the days of your lives,
all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you,
and thus have long life.
Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them,
that you may grow and prosper the more,
in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers,
to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! 
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength. 
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”

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

R. (2)    I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
    O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,
    my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
    and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives!  And blessed be my rock!
    Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
    and showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

Reading II Heb 7:23-28

Brothers and sisters:
The levitical priests were many
because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,
but Jesus, because he remains forever,
has a priesthood that does not pass away.
Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, 
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
He has no need, as did the high priests,
to offer sacrifice day after day,
first for his own sins and then for those of the people;
he did that once for all when he offered himself. 
For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests,
but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,
appoints a son,
who has been made perfect forever.

Alleluia Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 12:28b-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and 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.” 
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
‘He is One and there is no other than he.’
And ‘to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself’
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.” 
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Loving God and Others / Amar a Dios y a los Demás

We owe all we have, our very souls, to Jesus Christ. God wants our lives to overflow with mercy and generosity toward each other, to share love just as He did with us through Christ, the Gentle Lamb who gave up His life for our sake. Today let us reflect on one of Christ’s last encounters with the Apostles Peter when he asked him three times, “Do you love me?”

Love for Christ shines forth through our love for each other. As fishers of men, inspired by His Holy Spirit, we should constantly give back by feeding His sheep, whether strangers or our closest family. When we truly love Jesus, we work diligently to bring others to meet Him at the gates of Heaven. 

Dedicated time to God in prayer is needed for the conversion of our hearts and to strengthen our wills to following Christ (CCC #2708). By familiarizing ourselves with the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit, we can begin to emulate the example that God has given us through the Holy Trinity. How infinitely blessed we are for God to share such love with the whole world!

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Todo lo que tenemos, hasta nuestra propia alma, se lo debemos a Jesucristo. Dios quiere que nuestras vidas rebosen de misericordia y generosidad hacia los demás, que compartamos el amor tal como Él lo hizo con nosotros a través de Cristo, el Cordero manso que entregó su vida por nosotros. Hoy reflexionemos sobre uno de los últimos encuentros de Cristo con el apóstol Pedro, cuando le preguntó tres veces: “¿Me amas?”

El amor por Cristo se manifiesta a través del amor por los demás. Como pescadores de hombres, inspirados por su Espíritu Santo, debemos dar constantemente, alimentando a sus ovejas, ya sean personas desconocidas o los familiares más cercanos. Cuando realmente amamos a Jesús, trabajamos diligentemente para llevar a otros a encontrarse con Él en las puertas del Cielo.

Es necesario dedicar tiempo a Dios en la oración para la conversión de nuestros corazones y para fortalecer nuestra voluntad para seguir a Cristo (CIC #2708). Al familiarizarnos con los frutos y dones del Espíritu Santo, podemos comenzar a emular el ejemplo que Dios nos ha dado a través de la Santísima Trinidad. ¡Qué infinitamente bendecidos somos de que Dios comparta tanto amor con todo el mundo!

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Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of two little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.

Feature Image Credit: Patti Black, unsplash.com/photos/a-statue-of-a-person-holding-a-sword-047U3QiZsGY

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day.

Reading I Wis 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
    and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
    and their passing away was thought an affliction
    and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
    yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
    because God tried them
    and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
    and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
    and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
    and the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
    and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
    and his care is with his elect.

Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R.    (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
    he refreshes my soul.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
    I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
    that give me courage.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
    in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
    all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
    for years to come.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

Reading II Rom 6:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus 
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, 
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead 
by the glory of the Father, 
we too might live in newness of life.

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, 
we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.
We know that our old self was crucified with him, 
so that our sinful body might be done away with, 
that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.
For a dead person has been absolved from sin.
If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.

Alleluia Mt 25:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, you who are blessed by my Father;
inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.