He was born in Cremona in Lombardy and started by studying medicine, but soon decided to become a priest instead and was ordained in 1528. He founded a religious Congregation, the Barnabites, whose aim was the reform of the clergy and laity.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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.
First reading: Genesis 27:1-5,15-29
Isaac had grown old, and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see. He summoned his elder son Esau, ‘My son!’ he said to him, and the latter answered, ‘I am here.’ Then he said, ‘See, I am old and do not know when I may die. Now take your weapons, your quiver and bow; go out into the country and hunt me some game. Make me the kind of savoury I like and bring it to me, so that I may eat, and give you my blessing before I die.’ Rebekah happened to be listening while Isaac was talking to his son Esau. So when Esau went into the country to hunt game for his father, Rebekah took her elder son Esau’s best clothes, which she had in the house, and dressed her younger son Jacob in them, covering his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skins of the kids. Then she handed the savoury and the bread she had made to her son Jacob. He presented himself before his father and said, ‘Father.’ ‘I am here;’ was the reply ‘who are you, my son?’ Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your first-born; I have done as you told me. Please get up and take your place and eat the game I have brought and then give me your blessing.’ Isaac said to his son, ‘How quickly you found it, my son!’ ‘It was the Lord your God’ he answered ‘who put it in my path.’ Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Come here, then, and let me touch you, my son, to know if you are my son Esau or not.’ Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, ‘The voice is Jacob’s voice but the arms are the arms of Esau!’ He did not recognize him, for his arms were hairy like his brother Esau’s, and so he blessed him. He said, ‘Are you really my son Esau?’ And he replied, ‘I am.’ Isaac said, ‘Bring it here that I may eat the game my son has brought, and so may give you my blessing.’ He brought it to him and he ate; he offered him wine, and he drank. His father Isaac said to him, ‘Come closer, and kiss me, my son.’ He went closer and kissed his father, who smelled the smell of his clothes .He blessed him, saying: ‘Yes, the smell of my son is like the smell of a fertile field blessed by the Lord. May God give you dew from heaven, and the richness of the earth, abundance of grain and wine! May nations serve you and peoples bow down before you! Be master of your brothers; may the sons of your mother bow down before you! Cursed be he who curses you; blessed be he who blesses you!’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 134(135):1-6
R/ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.
Praise the name of the Lord, praise him, servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good. Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving. For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself and Israel for his own possession.
For I know the Lord is great, that our Lord is high above all gods. The Lord does whatever he wills, in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps118:135
Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17
John’s disciples came to him and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
When we undertake fasting, it is crucial to examine our true motives. Is Jesus truly as the centre of our fasting? Is it for the glorification of His name, or are there other underlying reasons? The incident involving John the Baptist’s disciples, who are upset with Jesus’ disciples for not fasting, serves as a poignant reminder. Jesus uses this opportunity to teach about the essence of fasting. While fasting is recommended, Jesus says that our focus should be on Him. This should translate into humility and genuine love for others. Our fasting should lead us to become more compassionate individuals, eager to bring joy to others. Ultimately, fasting should be a means to draw closer to Christ and reflect His love in our actions towards others.
Mariée à Denis, roi de Portugal, Élisabeth (1271-1336) joua un rôle de pacificatrice dans la famille royale. Elle s’occupait aussi activement des pauvres. Veuve en 1325, elle finit ses jours comme tertiaire franciscaine à Coïmbre.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 46, 2
Tous les peuples, battez des mains, acclamez Dieu par vos cris de joie.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu as voulu, Seigneur, qu’en recevant ta grâce nous devenions des fils de lumière; Ne permets pas que l’erreur nous plonge dans la nuit, mais accorde-nous d’être toujours rayonnants de ta vérité. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Gn 23, 1-4.19 ; 24, 1-8.62-67
Sara vécut cent vingt-sept ans. Elle mourut à Kiriath-Arba, c’est-à-dire à Hébron, dans le pays de Canaan. Abraham s’y rendit pour le deuil et les lamentations. Puis il laissa le corps pour aller parler aux Hittites qui habitaient le pays : « Je ne suis qu’un immigré, un hôte, parmi vous ; accordez-moi d’acquérir chez vous une propriété funéraire où je pourrai enterrer cette morte. » Abraham ensevelit sa femme Sara dans la caverne du champ de Macpéla, qui est en face de Mambré, c’est-à-dire à Hébron, dans le pays de Canaan. Abraham était vieux, avancé en âge, et le Seigneur l’avait béni en toute chose. Abraham dit au plus ancien serviteur de sa maison, l’intendant de tous ses biens : « Je te fais prêter serment par le Seigneur, Dieu du ciel et Dieu de la terre : tu ne prendras pas pour mon fils une épouse parmi les filles des Cananéens au milieu desquels j’habite. Mais tu iras dans mon pays, dans ma parenté, chercher une épouse pour mon fils Isaac. » Le serviteur lui demanda : « Et si cette femme ne consent pas à me suivre pour venir ici? Devrai-je alors ramener ton fils dans le pays d’où tu es sorti ? » Abraham lui répondit : « Garde- toi d’y ramener mon fils ! Le Seigneur, le Dieu du ciel, lui qui m’a pris de la maison de mon père et du pays de ma parenté, m’a déclaré avec serment : “À ta descendance je donnerai le pays que voici.” C’est lui qui enverra son ange devant toi, et tu prendras là-bas une épouse pour mon fils. Si cette femme ne consent pas à te suivre, tu seras dégagé du serment que je t’impose. Mais, en tout cas, tu n’y ramèneras pas mon fils. » Un jour, Isaac s’en revenait du puits de Lahaï-Roï. Il habitait alors le Néguev. Il était sorti à la tombée du jour, pour se promener dans la campagne, lorsque, levant les yeux, il vit arriver des chameaux. Rébecca, levant les yeux elle aussi, vit Isaac. Elle sauta à bas de son chameau et dit au serviteur : « Quel est cet homme qui vient dans la campagne à notre rencontre? » Le serviteur répondit : « C’est mon maître. » Alors elle prit son voile et s’en couvrit. Le serviteur raconta à Isaac tout ce qu’il avait fait. Isaac introduisit Rébecca dans la tente de sa mère Sara; il l’épousa, elle devint sa femme, et il l’aima. Et Isaac se consola de la mort de sa mère.
Psaume : 105 (106), 1-2, 3-4ab, 4c- 5
R/ Rendez grâce au Seigneur : Il est bon !
Rendez grâce au Seigneur : Il est bon ! Éternel est son amour ! Qui dira les hauts faits du Seigneur, qui célébrera ses louanges ?
Heureux qui pratique la justice, qui observe le droit en tout temps! Souviens- toi de moi, Seigneur, dans ta bienveillance pour ton peuple.
Toi qui le sauves, visite-moi : que je voie le bonheur de tes élus ; que j’aie part à la joie de ton peuple, à la fierté de ton héritage.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Venez à moi, vous tous qui peinez sous le poids du fardeau, dit le Seigneur, et moi, je vous procurerai le repos. Alléluia. (Mt 11, 28)
Évangile : Mt 9, 9-13
En ce temps-là, Jésus vit, en passant, un homme, du nom de Matthieu, assis à son bureau de collecteur d’impôt. Il lui dit : « Suis-moi. » L’homme se leva et le suivit. Comme Jésus était à table à la maison, voici que beaucoup de publicains (c’est-à-dire des collecteurs d’impôts) et beaucoup de pécheurs vinrent prendre place avec lui et ses disciples. Voyant cela, les pharisiens disaient à ses disciples : « Pourquoi votre maître mange-t-il avec les publicains et les pécheurs ? » Jésus, qui avait entendu, déclara : « Ce ne sont pas les gens bien portants qui ont besoin du médecin, mais les malades. Allez apprendre ce que signifie : Je veux la miséricorde, non le sacrifice. En effet, je ne suis pas venu appeler des justes, mais des pécheurs. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dieu qui agis avec puissance dans tes sacrements, Fais que le peuple assemblé pour te servir soit accordé à la sainteté de tes propres dons. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 102, 2
Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits.
Prière après la communion
Que le corps et le sang de Jésus Christ, offert en sacrifice et reçu en communion, nous donnent la vie, Seigneur: Reliés à toi par une charité qui ne passera jamais, nous porterons des fruits qui demeurent. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Jésus appelle Matthieu, un publicain pécheur, et se laisse inviter par lui, entouré d’autres pécheurs. En faisant cela, Jésus offre son amitié et la communion avec Dieu à ceux qui en ont le plus besoin. En lui, c’est Dieu lui-même qui se laisse inviter à la table des pauvres pécheurs. Nous savons que le comportement de Jésus, à cette occasion, a été l’une des raisons qui poussèrent le Sanhédrin à rendre une sentence de mort. C’est le mystère du paradoxe chrétien : le Dieu qui vient sauver les hommes est jugé par ceux qui se prennent pour des justes ; le Dieu qui offre son amitié scandalise ceux qui ne connaissent pas la miséricorde. Seuls ceux qui, comme Matthieu, sentent qu’ils sont pécheurs, auront le bonheur de voir Dieu assis à leur table et échapperont à l’orgueil de se croire justes.
She was married to King Denis of Portugal, by whom she had two children. She set up hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions, patiently endured her husband’s infidelities. On her husband’s death in 1325 she retired from public affairs and devoted herself to prayer and the service of the poor
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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.
First reading: Genesis 23:1-4,19,24:1-8,62-67
The length of Sarah’s life was a hundred and twenty-seven years. She died at Kiriath-arba, or Hebron, in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn and grieve for her.Then leaving his dead, Abraham spoke to the sons of Heth: ‘I am a stranger and a settler among you,’ he said. ‘Let me own a burial-plot among you, so that I may take my dead wife and bury her.’After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah opposite Mamre, in the country of Canaan.
By now Abraham was an old man well on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. Abraham said to the eldest servant of his household, the steward of all his property, ‘Place your hand under my thigh, I would have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live. Instead, go to my own land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son Isaac.’ The servant asked him, ‘What if the woman does not want to come with me to this country? Must I take your son back to the country from which you came?’ Abraham answered, ‘On no account take my son back there. The Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, took me from my father’s home, and from the land of my kinsfolk, and he swore to me that he would give this country to my descendants. He will now send his angel ahead of you, so that you may choose a wife for my son there. And if the woman does not want to come with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.’ Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?’ The servant replied, ‘That is my master’; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebekah into his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And so Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105(106):1-5
R/ O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love endures forever. Who can tell the Lord’s mighty deeds? Who can recount all his praise?
They are happy who do what is right, who at all times do what is just. O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.
Come to me, Lord, with your help that I may see the joy of your chosen onesand may rejoice in the gladness of your nation and share the glory of your people.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps24:4,5
Alleluia, alleluia! Teach me your paths, my God,make me walk in your truth.Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Many individuals in the Bible experience greatness after being given a second chance. Matthew, a tax collector is hated by the Jews and considered a sinner. No one wants to associate with him except his fellow tax collectors and sinners. However, Jesus shows him mercy by offering him a second chance. Often, we express our love for God through words and prayers, but we fail to demonstrate mercy in our lives. Jesus urges us to express our love for Him by patiently tolerating others and giving them the opportunity to turn over a new leaf. We are called to view others through the compassionate lens and heart of Christ, refraining from passing judgement or condemnation.
Thomas the Apostle (also called Didymus which means «the twin») was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. He is informally called doubting Thomas because he doubted Jesus’ resurrection when first told, (in the Gospel of John), followed later by his confession of faith, «My Lord and my God», on seeing Jesus’ wounded body.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 117: 28, 21
You are my God, and I confess you; you are my God, and I exalt you; I will thank you, for you became my saviour.
Collect
Grant, almighty God, that we may glory in the Feast of the blessed Apostle Thomas, so that we may always be sustained by his intercession and, believing, may have life in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, whom Thomas acknowledged as the Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
First reading: Ephesians 2:19-22
You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116(117):1-2
R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
O praise the Lord, all you nations, acclaim him all you peoples!
Strong is his love for us; he is faithful forever.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn20:29
Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus said: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ Alleluia!
Gospel: John 20:24-29
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
Prayer over the Offerings
We render you, O Lord, the service that is your due, humbly imploring you to keep safe your gifts in us, as we honour the confession of the Apostle Saint Thomas and offer you a sacrifice of praise. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Jn 20: 27
Bring your hand and feel the place of the nails, and do not be unbelieving but believing.
Prayer after Communion
O God, as we truly receive in this Sacrament the Body of your Only Begotten Son,grant, we pray, that we may recognize him with the Apostle Thomas by faith as our Lord and our Godand proclaim him by our deeds and by our life. Who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Meditation
Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, known as the “Doubting Thomas” and the patron saint of those in doubt. Despite his doubt, he boldy professes his faith to the Lord: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas, alongside Saint Peter, stands out as one of the few apostles who openly affirm their faith in Jesus. Reflecting on our own lives, we often grapple with doubts, whether concerning our faith, doctrines, or various life circumstances. However, Jesus shows how much He loves his disciples by granting them second chances. Our doubts, failures, and weaknesses should ultimately lead us to a deeper and stronger faith in God.
Grâce au quatrième évangile, nous connaissons le surnom de Didyme (c’est-à-dire le jumeau) qu’on donnait à Thomas, et nous découvrons son visage d’homme lucide et réaliste. Il ne se fait aucune illusion sur le sort qui attend son Maître à Jérusalem : « Allons-y, dit-il, pour mourir avec lui ! » (Jn 11,16) Sa recherche de la vérité est loyale ; il ne craint pas de reconnaître son ignorance et son doute. Quand les disciples voient le Seigneur, Thomas ne se contente pas de leur témoignage.
Antienne d’ouverture
C’est toi mon Dieu, je te rends grâce, mon Dieu, je t’exalte ! je te rends grâce, car tu es mon Sauveur.
Prière d’ouverture
En ce jour où nous célébrons l’Apôtre saint Thomas, accorde-nous, Dieu tout-puissant, de reprendre courage ; fais que nous ayons la vie en comprenant à notre tour que Jésus Christ est Seigneur. Lui qui.
1ère lecture : Éphésiens 2, 19-22
Frères, maintenant, dans le Christ Jésus, vous n’êtes plus des étrangers ni des gens de passage, vous êtes citoyens du peuple saint, membres de la famille de Dieu, car vous avez été intégrés dans la construction qui a pour fondations les Apôtres et les prophètes ; et la pierre angulaire, c’est le Christ Jésus lui-même. En lui, toute la construction s’élève harmonieusement pour devenir un temple saint dans le Seigneur. En lui, vous êtes, vous aussi, des éléments de la construction pour devenir par l’Esprit Saint la demeure de Dieu.
Psaume : 116, 1, 2
R/ Allez dans le monde entier. Proclamez l’Évangile.
Louez le Seigneur, tous les peuples ; fêtez-le, tous les pays!
Son amour envers nous s’est montré le plus fort ; éternelle est la fidélité du Seigneur !
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Thomas, parce que tu m’as vu, tu crois, dit le Seigneur. Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu! Alléluia. (Jn 20, 29)
Évangile : Jean 20, 24-29
L’un des Douze, Thomas (dont le nom signifie : Jumeau), n’était pas avec eux quand Jésus était venu. Les autres disciples lui disaient : « Nous avons vu le Seigneur ! » Mais il leur déclara : « Si je ne vois pas dans ses mains la marque des clous, si je ne mets pas mon doigt à l’endroit des clous, si je ne mets pas la main dans son côté, non, je ne croirai pas ! » Huit jours plus tard, les disciples se trouvaient de nouveau dans la maison, et Thomas était avec eux. Jésus vient, alors que les portes étaient verrouillées, et il était là au milieu d’eux. Il dit : « La paix soit avec vous ! » Puis il dit à Thomas : « Avance ton doigt ici, et vois mes mains ; avance ta main, et mets-la dans mon côté : cesse d’être incrédule, sois croyant.» Thomas lui dit alors : « Mon Seigneur et mon Dieu ! » Jésus lui dit: « Parce que tu m’as vu, tu crois. Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu. »
Prière sur les offrandes
En te rendant l’hommage que doivent des serviteurs, nous t’adressons, Seigneur, cette prière: entretiens-en nous tes dons, par le sacrifice de louange que nous t’offrons aujourd’hui. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Jn 20
Jésus dit à Thomas : « Avance ta main, touche du doigt à l’endroit des clous ; ne sois pas incrédule, sois croyant. »
Prière après la communion
Nous avons reçu réellement, Seigneur, dans ce sacrement le corps de ton fils unique : avec l’Apôtre saint Thomas, nous confessons qu’il est notre Seigneur et notre Dieu, donne-nous de savoir le proclamer par toute notre vie. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Saint Thomas est le premier dans l’Évangile de saint Jean à appeler Jésus du saint nom de Dieu : Mon Seigneur et mon Dieu (Jean 20,28). C’est un privilège tout particulier que saint Jean réserve à l’apôtre Thomas. Depuis trois ans que Jésus forme ses disciples, certaines réalités comme sa mort et sa Résurrection étaient trop fortes pour être assimilées. Thomas avait déjà eu l’occasion de proposer à Jésus de mourir avec lui (Jean 11,16). Maintenant que Jésus était mort et qu’il n’avait pourtant rien fait pour empêcher qu’il soit tué, Thomas portait en lui le poids de la honte et de la culpabilité. Mais Jésus avait une excellente pédagogie pour réaffirmer dans leur vocation de disciples, des gens qui se sentaient ainsi coupables. Voilà qu’il leur propose une rencontre personnelle. Et, aussitôt, ils renouvellent leur engagement envers lui, et ceci avec une profondeur accrue. Dans leur rencontre avec le Ressuscité, Marie de Magdala et saint Thomas connaissent et comprennent Jésus en profondeur.
He was a Jesuit of Italy. St. Bernardino won widespread recognition as a result of his ceaseless apostolic labors. He was a model confessor, a powerful preacher, a diligent teacher of the Faith to the young, a dedicated shepherd of souls. His kindness brought about the end of vendettas and public scandals that cropped up from time to time.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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.
First reading: Genesis 21:5,8-20
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham gave a great banquet on the day Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah watched the son that Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. ‘Drive away that slave-girl and her son,’ she said to Abraham; ‘this slave-girl’s son is not to share the inheritance with my son Isaac.’ This greatly distressed Abraham because of his son, but God said to him, ‘Do not distress yourself on account of the boy and your slave-girl. Grant Sarah all she asks of you, for it is through Isaac that your name will be carried on. But the slave-girl’s son I will also make into a nation, for he is your child too.’ Rising early next morning Abraham took some bread and a skin of water and, giving them to Hagar, he put the child on her shoulder and sent her away. She wandered off into the wilderness of Beersheba. When the skin of water was finished she abandoned the child under a bush. Then she went and sat down at a distance, about a bowshot away, saying to herself, ‘I cannot see the child die.’ So she sat at a distance; and the child wailed and wept. But God heard the boy wailing, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. ‘What is wrong, Hagar?’ he asked. ‘Do not be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s cry where he lies. Come, pick up the boy and hold him safe, for I will make him into a great nation.’ Then God opened Hagar’s eyes and she saw a well, so she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy. He grew up and made his home in the wilderness, and he became a bowman.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33(34):7-8,10-13
R/ The poor man called; the Lord heard him.
This poor man called, the Lord heard himand rescued him from all his distress.The angel of the Lord is encampedaround those who revere him, to rescue them.
Revere the Lord, you his saints. They lack nothing, those who revere him.Strong lions suffer want and go hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.
Come, children, and hear me that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.Who is he who longs for life and many days, to enjoy his prosperity?
Gospel Acclamation: Jn14:6
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; No one can come to the Father except through me.Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34
When Jesus reached the country of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake, two demoniacs came towards him out of the tombs – creatures so fierce that no one could pass that way. They stood there shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, and the devils pleaded with Jesus, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’ And he said to them, ‘Go then’, and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off and made for the town, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. At this the whole town set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave the neighbourhood.
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts forever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today’s gospel reading presents the reality of the presence of evil spirits. In it, we witness the absolute power of Jesus over demons, a power that can be manifested in our lives in numerous ways, if we allow Him the opportunity to act. Jesus also shows kindness towards the evil spirits by granting them their wish not to be tormented, but instead to be sent into the herd of swine. This act prompts reflection on our own kindness towards others. However, it is astonishing to note the negative reaction of the Gadarenes populace. They ask Jesus to leave their district, demonstrating a blindness to spiritual good akin to what many of us experience. They place more worth on their swine (material possessions) than on the restored lives of the two demoniacs that Jesus has healed.
Journée du 30 juin 2025 – Vᵉ Assemblée ordinaire de la Délégation Indépendante du Cameroun
La journée du 30 juin s’est ouverte dès 7h par un intense moment d’Adoration du Très Saint Sacrement, suivi de la prière solennelle des Laudes. Dans cette atmosphère de recueillement, le diacre Hugues Rostand LIMALEBA, cmf, a remis entre les mains du Seigneur le bon déroulement des travaux de la Vᵉ Assemblée ordinaire, articulée autour du thème : « Missionnaires, pèlerins d’espérance, construire ensemble une Délégation fraternelle, réconciliée et en marche vers la Paix ». Après le petit-déjeuner, la récollection s’est déroulée dans un climat de profonde écoute. Elle a été prêchée par le Père Vital NKENLIFACK, Supérieur général des Missionnaires de Cana, qui a centré sa méditation sur la spiritualité de communion, telle que présentée dans Novo Millennio Ineunte (n°42-44), comprise comme la matrice indispensable à toute vie communautaire authentique.
Il a rappelé que l’Église, selon l’ecclésiologie du synode Ecclesia in Africa, est appelée à être une véritable famille de Dieu, témoin de la diversité, du dialogue fécond et du service désintéressé. À cet effet, il a présenté les clés du mystère pascal :
La conversion comme recréation, chemin vers la nouveauté de Dieu ;
La médiation comme libération, engagement au service des frères ;
Le témoignage comme expiation, accueil humble du dessein divin pour l’autre ;
L’effusion de l’Esprit comme purification, force pour proclamer vérité et justice.
Il a aussi insisté sur l’harmonie entre les signes extérieurs de la consécration – tel l’habit religieux – et la cohérence d’une vie fraternelle fondée sur la miséricorde et la reconstruction des liens.
Sur le plan institutionnel, l’Assemblée a débuté formellement par l’intronisation solennelle de la Parole de Dieu, conformément à notre charisme, qui invite à commencer et à conclure toute action par l’écoute de l’Écriture. Ensuite, le président de l’Assemblée, le Très Révérend Père Manuel TAMARGO, cmf, a donné la parole au Supérieur majeur de la Délégation, le Révérend Père Jude Thaddeus LANGEH, cmf. Ce dernier a adressé un mot de bienvenue à tous les participants, saluant en particulier la présence du visiteur canonique, le Père TAMARGO lui-même, représentant du Supérieur Général, à qui il a confié que la Délégation, fidèle à ses rêves, aspire toujours à grandir et à devenir province. Reprenant la parole, le président a exprimé sa gratitude envers les confrères, soulignant, en tant que témoin privilégié, les pas franchis par la Délégation depuis sa création et l’importance de cette Assemblée comme étape de maturité.
Par la suite, les articles 127 des Constitutions et 466 du Directoire ont été lus à haute voix, soulignant la vocation des Assemblées ordinaires comme lieux de discernement, de coresponsabilité et d’orientation communautaire. L’horaire général a été présenté, ajusté pour répondre aux objectifs fixés par le président. La méthodologie a ensuite été précisée, incluant un sondage pour la désignation de deux modérateurs et de trois confrères chargés de la synthèse finale des travaux.
La lecture solennelle de la lettre du Supérieur Général a suivi. Elle exhortait la Délégation à prendre conscience de sa mission historique, en soulignant son potentiel missionnaire, son rôle formateur en Afrique francophone et son appel à la maturité malgré les tensions récemment traversées. Elle insistait : « à celui à qui on a beaucoup donné, il sera beaucoup demandé ».
Cette lettre a été ensuite méditée en groupes de quatre confrères, chacun étant invité à dégager deux points saillants, pour alimenter la réflexion communautaire à venir. À 18h, la journée a trouvé son sommet dans la célébration eucharistique, présidée par Mgr Michael BIBI, évêque de Buea. Dans son homélie, il a salué la mission des Clarétains dans son diocèse et au Cameroun en général. S’appuyant sur le thème de l’Assemblée, il a exhorté à un engagement renouvelé dans l’annonce du Christ, à travers une lecture fervente et transformatrice de la Parole. Il a conclu par un appel à l’espérance, rappelant la pertinence du témoignage missionnaire dans l’Église et dans le monde. La journée s’est achevée autour du repas fraternel, avant que chacun ne rejoigne ses quartiers pour le repos.
DAY 1, June 30, 2025 – 5ᵗʰ Ordinary Assembly of the Independent Delegation of Cameroon
The day of June 30 began at 7:00 a.m. with a solemn moment of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the prayer of Lauds. In this spiritual atmosphere, Deacon Hugues Rostand LIMALEBA, cmf, entrusted to the Lord the proceedings of the 5ᵗʰ Ordinary Assembly, held under the theme: “Missionaries, pilgrims of hope, building together a fraternal Delegation, reconciled and journeying toward Peace.” After breakfast, the day continued with a recollection aligned with the assembly’s theme, led by Father Vital NKENLIFACK, Superior General of the Missionaries of Cana. His meditation focused on the spirituality of communion as outlined in Novo Millennio Ineunte (nos. 42–44), understood as the essential foundation of fraternal life and unity in diversity. He recalled that the Church, as presented in the ecclesiology of the Ecclesia in Africa synod, is called to be a true family of God—a witness of diversity, dialogue, and service in Africa. In this light, he presented the keys to the paschal mystery:
Conversion as re-creation, an invitation to God’s newness;
Mediation as liberation, service in support of our brothers;
Witness as expiation, welcoming God’s design for the other;
Outpouring of the Spirit as purification, a force to proclaim truth and justice.
He also emphasized the need for coherence between the external signs of consecration—such as the religious habit—and a life of fraternity rooted in mercy and the rebuilding of relationships.
On the institutional level, the Assembly officially began with the solemn enthronement of the Word of God, in fidelity to our charism which calls us to begin and end all action in the light of the Word. Following this, the president of the Assembly, the Very Reverend Father Manuel TAMARGO, cmf, gave the floor to the Major Superior of the Delegation, the Reverend Father Jude Thaddeus LANGEH, cmf. He warmly welcomed all participants and, in particular, the canonical visitor—Father TAMARGO himself—representative of the Superior General, to whom he expressed that the Delegation continues to dream big and aspire to become a province. Taking the floor again, the Assembly president offered words of gratitude to the confreres, noting with joy that this was his seventh visit to the Delegation and that he is a privileged witness of its growth. He underlined the importance of this meeting as a milestone in the Delegation’s development.
Next followed the reading of article 127 of the Constitutions and article 466 of the Directory, which affirm the essential role of Ordinary Assemblies as spaces for discernment, shared responsibility, and collective orientation. The general schedule of the Assembly was then presented and adjusted in line with the objectives set by the Assembly president. The working methodology was clarified, and polls were conducted to appoint two moderators and three confreres responsible for drafting the final synthesis document.
After this, the letter from the Superior General was read aloud. It invited the Delegation to a renewed awareness of its historical responsibility, highlighting its missionary potential, its formative role within Francophone Africa, and its call to maturity despite recent tensions. The letter reminded the Assembly that “to whom much is given, much will be required.”
The letter was then discussed in small groups of four, with each group identifying two key insights to enrich the upcoming community reflections. At 6:00 p.m., the day reached its spiritual culmination with the Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Bishop Michael BIBI, Bishop of Buea. In his homily, he warmly acknowledged the Claretian presence in his diocese and throughout Cameroon. Returning to the Assembly’s theme, he encouraged the missionaries to be faithful and liberating witnesses of Christ, through a devout and transformative reading of the Word. He concluded with a message of hope, underlining the vital role missionaries play in today’s Church and world. The day ended with a fraternal evening meal, after which the confreres retired for the night.
Thierry renonça à son mariage le jour même de sa célébration. Il se fit ordonner prêtre et fonda une abbaye qui porta plus tard son nom. Il en fut le premier abbé.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 46, 2
Tous les peuples, battez des mains, acclamez Dieu par vos cris de joie.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu as voulu, Seigneur, qu’en recevant ta grâce nous devenions des fils de lumière; Ne permets pas que l’erreur nous plonge dans la nuit, mais accorde-nous d’être toujours rayonnants de ta vérité. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Genèse 19, 15-29
En ces jours-là, les gens de Sodome avaient voulu s’en prendre aux deux voyageurs passant la nuit chez Loth. A l’aurore, les deux anges pressèrent Loth, en disant : « Debout ! Prends ta femme et tes deux filles qui se trouvent ici, et va-t’en, de peur que tu ne périsses à cause des crimes de cette ville.» Comme il s’attardait, ces hommes le saisirent par la main, ainsi que sa femme et ses deux filles, parce que le Seigneur voulait l’épargner. Ils le firent sortir et le conduisirent hors de la ville. Une fois sortis, ils dirent: « Sauve-toi si tu tiens à la vie! Ne regarde pas en arrière, ne t’arrête nulle part dans cette région, sauve-toi dans la montagne, si tu ne veux pas périr ! » Loth leur dit : « Non, je vous en prie, mes seigneurs! Votre serviteur a trouvé grâce à vos yeux, et vous m’avez fait une grande faveur en me laissant la vie. Mais je n’ai pas le temps de me sauver dans la montagne: le malheur va me rattraper et je mourrai. Voici une ville assez proche pour y fuir– elle est si petite! –Permettez que je me sauve là-bas– elle est si petite! –afin de rester en vie ! » Ils lui répondirent: « Pour te faire plaisir cette fois encore, je ne détruirai pas la ville dont tu parles. Vite, sauve-toi là- bas, car je ne puis rien faire avant que tu y sois arrivé.» C’est pour cela qu’on a donné à cette ville le nom de Soar (ce qui veut dire : Petite). Le soleil se levait sur le pays et Loth entrait à Soar, quand le Seigneur fit tomber du ciel sur Sodome et Gomorrhe une pluie de soufre et de feu venant du Seigneur. Dieu détruisit ces villes et toute la région, avec tous leurs habitants et la végétation. Or, la femme de Loth avait regardé en arrière, et elle était devenue une colonne de sel. Abraham se leva de bon matin pour se rendre à l’endroit où il s’était tenu en présence du Seigneur, et il regarda du côté de Sodome, de Gomorrhe et de toute la région : il vit monter de la terre une fumée semblable à celle d’une fournaise! Lorsque Dieu a détruit les villes de cette région, il s’est souvenu d’Abraham ; et il a fait échapper Loth au cataclysme qui a détruit les villes où il habitait.
Psaume : 25 (26), 2-3, 9-10, 11-12
R/ J’ai devant les yeux ton amour, Seigneur.
Éprouve-moi, Seigneur, scrute-moi, passe au feu mes reins et mon cœur. J’ai devant les yeux ton amour, je marche selon ta vérité.
Ne m’inflige pas le sort des pécheurs, le destin de ceux qui versent le sang : ils ont dans les mains la corruption ; leur droite est pleine de profits.
Oui, j’ai marché sans faillir : libère-moi ! prends pitié de moi! Sous mes pieds le terrain est sûr; dans l’assemblée je bénirai le Seigneur.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. J’espère le Seigneur, et j’attends sa parole. Alléluia. (cf. Ps 129, 5)
Évangile : Mt 8, 23-27
En ce temps-là, comme Jésus montait dans la barque, ses disciples le suivirent. Et voici que la mer devint tellement agitée que la barque était recouverte par les vagues. Mais lui dormait. Les disciples s’approchèrent et le réveillèrent en disant : « Seigneur, sauve-nous! Nous sommes perdus.» Mais il leur dit : « Pourquoi êtes- vous si craintifs, hommes de peu de foi?» Alors, Jésus, debout, menaça les vents et la mer, et il se fit un grand calme. Les gens furent saisis d’étonnement et disaient: «Quel est donc celui-ci, pour que même les vents et la mer lui obéissent ? »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dieu qui agis avec puissance dans tes sacrements, Fais que le peuple assemblé pour te servir soit accordé à la sainteté de tes propres dons. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ps 102, 2
Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits.
Prière après la communion
Que le corps et le sang de Jésus Christ, offert en sacrifice et reçu en communion, nous donnent la vie, Seigneur: Reliés à toi par une charité qui ne passera jamais, nous porterons des fruits qui demeurent. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Lorsque les Apôtres avaient senti le danger, lors de la traversée du lac, ils avaient adressé au Seigneur un cri de détresse qui leur est reproché. Jésus leur dit : Hommes de peu de foi ! Mais Jésus comprend leur angoisse, et il exauce leur prière malgré leur manque de foi. Le plus grand miracle, ce n’est pas d’apaiser la mer, c’est de leur redonner confiance, au moment même où ils avaient la certitude d’être perdus. Le danger est toujours présent, mais nous n’en avons pas conscience. Lorsque nous nous sentons forts, pleins d’assurance, Jésus n’est pas tranquille : il cherche à réveiller notre attention. Mais lorsque nous sentons la pirogue secouée par les vagues, que nous avons conscience de ne plus avoir d’autre secours que lui, alors il est tranquille, il peut dormir. La prière, c’est toujours de sentir au plus profond de nous-mêmes que nous avons besoin de lui, que lui seul peut nous secourir. Tant que nous comptons sur nous-mêmes ou sur autre chose que lui, nous ne prions pas vraiment, nous mendions.
He was born on the Spanish island of Mallorca, and became a Franciscan. Over a period of fifteen years he founded nine missions with about six thousand converts. He frequently came into conflict with the authorities over their treatment of the native population, but nevertheless, when he died, he was buried with full military honours. He was beatified in 1988.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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.
First reading: Genesis 19:15-29
The angels urged Lot, ‘Come, take your wife and these two daughters of yours, or you will be overwhelmed in the punishment of the town.’ And as he hesitated, the men took him by the hand, and his wife and his two daughters, because of the pity the Lord felt for him. They led him out and left him outside the town. As they were leading him out he said, ‘Run for your life. Neither look behind you nor stop anywhere on the plain. Make for the hills if you would not be overwhelmed.’ ‘No, I beg you, my lord,’ Lot said to them ‘your servant has won your favour and you have shown great kindness to me in saving my life. But I could not reach the hills before this calamity overtook me, and death with it. The town over there is near enough to flee to, and is a little one. Let me make for that – is it not little? – and my life will be saved.’ He answered, ‘I grant you this favour too, and will not destroy the town you speak of. Hurry, escape to it, for I can do nothing until you reach it.’ That is why the town is named Zoar. As the sun rose over the land and Lot entered Zoar, the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord. He overthrew these towns and the whole plain, with all the inhabitants of the towns, and everything that grew there. But the wife of Lot looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt. Rising early in the morning Abraham went to the place where he had stood before the Lord, and looking towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and across all the plain, he saw the smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. Thus it was that when God destroyed the towns of the plain, he kept Abraham in mind and rescued Lot out of disaster when he overwhelmed the towns where Lot lived.
Responsorail Psalm: Psalm 25(26):2-3,9-12
R/ Your love, O Lord, is before my eyes.
Examine me, Lord, and try me;O test my heart and my mind,for your love is before my eyesand I walk according to your truth.
Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty menin whose hands are evil plots, whose right hands are filled with gold.
As for me, I walk the path of perfection. Redeem me and show me your mercy.My foot stands on level ground: I will bless the Lord in the assembly.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps147:12,15
Alleluia, alleluia! O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! He sends out his word to the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Without warning a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men were astounded and said, ‘Whatever kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts forever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
While in the boat with His disciples, Jesus calms the stormy sea and their fear. He also rebukes their lack of faith. Hence, the biblical scholar Donald Arthur Carson attests that “faith drives out fear, and fear drives out faith.” Indeed, we all profess that Jesus is God, but do we live each day believing and trusting that Jesus is truly in charge of every circumstance in our lives? So often, we call to God for help in times of trouble, and if we feel that He is not responding swiftly, we tend to say, “Jesus has abandoned us”; we think that Jesus is asleep during our tribulations. Can we trust Him to guide us through every step of our life journey, much like a skilled driver who knows the best routes to take?
When the city of Rome had been devastated by fire in the year 64, the Emperor Nero launched a persecution against the Christians, who were thrown to the wild beasts in the arena or soaked in tar and used as living torches. Their deaths are documented in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus and in Pope St Clement’s letter to the Corinthians.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 46 : 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
Collect
O God, who through the grace of adoption, chose us to be children of light; grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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.
First reading: Genesis 18:16-33
From Mamre the men set out and arrived within sight of Sodom, with Abraham accompanying them to show them the way. Now the Lord had wondered, ‘Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am going to do, seeing that Abraham will become a great nation with all the nations of the earth blessing themselves by him? For I have singled him out to command his sons and his household after him to maintain the way of the Lord by just and upright living. In this way the Lord will carry out for Abraham what he has promised him.’ Then the Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’ The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’ Abraham replied, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’ Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’ When he had finished talking to Abraham the Lord went away, and Abraham returned home.
Psalm 102(103):1-4,8-11
R/ The Lord is compassion and love.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.
It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion.
The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. His wrath will come to an end; he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn8:12
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw the great crowds all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, ‘Sir, let me go and bury my father first.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who graciously accomplish the effects of your mysteries, grant, we pray, that the deeds by which we serve you may be worthy of these sacred gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 102: 1
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
Prayer after Communion
May this divine sacrifice we have offered and received fill us with life, O Lord, we pray, so that, bound to you in lasting charity, we may bear fruit that lasts for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“The Lord is compassion and love.” God, being love, is inherently compassionate. Despite our waywardness, He is always ready to forgive us and offer us second chances. Abraham’s dialogue with God vividly illustrates this fact. Sodom and Gomorrah had become notorious for their sinfulness, and Abraham appealed to God’s justice, urging Him not to destroy the just along with the sinful. God’s response was not one of justice alone but of mercy. If he found as few as ten righteous men in those cities, He would spare not only the righteous men but the entire cities. If God was willing to show mercy to Sodom and Gomorrah, why do we sometimes believe that certain sins are beyond His forgiveness? Why do we condemn certain individuals, assuming that their sins are too great for God’s mercy? God’s mercy knows no bounds; there is no sin that He cannot forgive. All we need to do is ask with sincerity. Let us regularly seek God’s mercy through the sacrament of Reconciliation, and, like Abraham, intercede for others, invoking God’s mercy upon them.
