by | Jul 12, 2022 | Evangelium

Wednesday 13 th July 2022

 

  1. Henry

(973 – 1024)

 

He was born in Bavaria in 973. He became Holy Roman Emperor in 1014. He was noted for his support for the reform of the Church and for his encouragement of its missionary activity. He set up many bishoprics, and he and his wife Cunegunda founded many monasteries. He died in 1024.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 16:15

As for me, in justice I shall behold your face; I shall be filled with the vision of your glory.

 

Collect

O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray so that they may return to the right path, give all who, for the faith they profess, are accounted Christians, the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ and to strive after all that does it honour. 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 : Isaiah 10:5-7,13-16

The Lord of hosts says this: Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, the club brandished by me in my fury!I sent him against a godless nation; I gave him commission against a people that provokes me, to pillage and to plunder freely and to stamp down like the mud in the streets. But he did not intend this, his heart did not plan it so. No, in his heart was to destroy, to go on cutting nations to pieces without limit. For he has said: ‘By the strength of my own arm I have done this and by my own intelligence, for understanding is mine; I have pushed back the frontiers of peoples and plundered their treasures. I have brought their inhabitants down to the dust. As if they were a bird’s nest, my hand has seized the riches of the peoples. As people pick up deserted eggs I have picked up the whole earth, with not a wing fluttering, not a beak opening, not a chirp.’ Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it? It would be like the cudgel controlling the man who raises it, or the club moving what is not made of wood! And so the Lord of Hosts is going to send a wasting sickness on his stout warriors; beneath his plenty, a burning will burn like a consuming fire.

 

Psalm 93:5-10,14-15

R/ The Lord will not abandon his people.

 

  1. They crush your people, Lord, they afflict the ones you have chosen They kill the widow and the stranger and murder the fatherless child.
  2. And they say: ‘The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.’ Mark this, most senseless of people; fools, when will you understand?
  3. Can he who made the ear, not hear? Can he who formed the eye, not see? Will he who trains nations not punish? Will he who teaches men, not have knowledge?
  4. The Lord will not abandon his people nor forsake those who are his own; for judgement shall again be just and all true hearts shall uphold it.

 

 

Gospel Acclamation : Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 11:25-27

Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Look upon the offerings of the Church, O Lord, as she makes her prayer to you, and grant that, when consumed by those who believe, they may bring ever greater holiness. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 83: 4-5

The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: by your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.

 

Prayer after Communion

Having consumed these gifts, we pray, O Lord, that, by our participation in this mystery, its saving effects upon us may grow. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

From the act of praise, we learn from the Master that in the midst of challenges and difficulties, we have to thank God. God’s kingdom is grasped, not by proud intellectuals but by humble souls who seek the Lord. This does not mean that the wise and intelligent will not be saved. The problem is that in most cases, they guide themselves not by God’s wisdom, but by their feats and knowledge. Happy are the poor in spirit and the meek for they shall have the kingdom of God for their reward.

 

by | Jul 11, 2022 | Evangelium

Tuesday 12 th July 2022

  1. John Jones

(1540-1598)

 

He was a novice at the Franciscan convent in Greenwich, but when this was dissolved in 1559 he had to move to France, where he took his final vows. Later he went on a mission to England. He was arrested on false charges in 1596 and severely tortured. In 1598 he was tried and convicted of being a priest and on 12 July he was executed.

 

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 16:15

As for me, in justice I shall behold your face; I shall be filled with the vision of your glory.

 

Collect

O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray so that they may return to the right path, give all who, for the faith they profess, are accounted Christians, the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ and to strive after all that does it honour. 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 : Isaiah 7:1-9

In the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Razon the king of Aram went up against Jerusalem with Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, to lay siege to it; but he was unable to capture it. The news was brought to the House of David. ‘Aram’ they said ‘has reached Ephraim.’ Then the heart of the king and the hearts of the people shuddered as the trees of the forest shudder in front of the wind. The Lord said to Isaiah, ‘Go with your son Shear-jashub, and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the Fuller’s Field road, and say to him: ‘“Pay attention, keep calm, have no fear, do not let your heart sink because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, or because Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah have plotted to ruin you, and have said: Let us invade Judah and terrorise it and seize it for ourselves, and set up a king there, the son of Tabeel. The Lord says this: It shall not come true; it shall not be. The capital of Aram is Damascus, the head of Damascus, Razon; the capital of Ephraim, Samaria, the head of Samaria, the son of Remaliah. Six or five years more and a shattered Ephraim shall no longer be a people. But if you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all.”’

 

Psalm 47:2-8

R/ God upholds his city forever

 

  1. The Lord is great and worthy to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain rises in beauty, the joy of all the earth.
  2. Mount Zion, true pole of the earth, the Great King’s city! God, in the midst of its citadels, has shown himself its stronghold.
  3. For the kings assembled together, together they advanced. They saw; at once they were astounded; dismayed, they fled in fear.
  4. A trembling seized them there, like the pangs of birth. By the east wind you have destroyed the ships of Tarshish.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Ps118:24

Alleluia, alleluia! Train me, Lord, to observe your law, to keep it with my heart. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent. ‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted as high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom on Judgement day as with you.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Look upon the offerings of the Church, O Lord, as she makes her prayer to you, and grant that, when consumed by those who believe, they may bring ever greater holiness. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Cf. Ps 83: 4-5

The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: by your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.

 

Prayer after Communion

Having consumed these gifts, we pray, O Lord, that, by our participation in this mystery, its saving effects upon us may grow. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

One of the things that gives much sadness to any parent is when a child, in which much has been invested in terms of education, turns out not to be responsible in life. Jesus expresses His regrets and dissatisfaction with Chorazin and Bethsaida. These are towns in which most of His miracles took place, but they refused to repent. It should also be known that these cities hosted the great schools of religion, but they refused to receive the Gospel. God, through the Church, has given us a great treasure. We have the Gospels, we have sacraments to help us believe in God. Sacraments become the outward manifestations of God’ grace. It will be hard on Judgement Day for those who have been given these treasures but who refused to believe in God.

 

by | Jul 11, 2022 | Agenda Biblique

Mardi 12 juillet 2022

 

  1. Olivier,

évêque et martyr

 

Evêque d’Armagh à l’époque où le gouvernement royal d’Angleterre dépossédait les Irlandais de leurs terres pour les donner aux Anglais protestants qu’il installait dans île catholique, Olivier fut accusé faussement d’avoir préparé le débarquement de 20.000 soldats français en Irlande et d’avoir taxé son clergé pour mettre sur pied une armée de 70.000 hommes. Il pardonna à ses dénonciateurs et remercia le juge de l’avoir condamné à « être pendu, vidé et démembré ».

 

Antienne  d’ouverture : Ps 16, 15

Je veux paraître devant toi, Seigneur, et me rassasier de ta présence.

 

Prière  d’ouverture

Dieu qui montres aux égarés la lumière de ta vérité pour qu’ils puissent reprendre le bon chemin, donne à tous ceux qui se déclarent chrétiens de rejeter ce qui est indigne de ce nom, et de rechercher ce qui lui fait honneur. Par Jésus Christ.

 

1ère lecture : Is 7, 1-9

Au temps d’Acaz, roi de Juda, Recine, roi d’Aram, et Pékah, fils de Remalyahou, roi d’Israël, montèrent contre Jérusalem pour l’attaquer, mais ils ne purent lui donner l’assaut. On informa la maison de David que les Araméens avaient pris position en Éphraïm. Alors le cœur du roi et le cœur de son peuple furent secoués comme les arbres de la forêt sont secoués par le vent. Le Seigneur dit alors à Isaïe : « Avec ton fils Shear-Yashoub (c’est-à-dire : “Un-reste-reviendra”), va trouver Acaz, au bout du canal du réservoir supérieur, sur la route du Champ-du-Foulon. Tu lui diras : “Garde ton calme, ne crains pas, ne va pas perdre cœur devant ces deux bouts de tisons fumants, à cause de la colère brûlante du roi d’Aram et du roi d’Israël, Oui, Aram a décidé ta perte, en accord avec Éphraïm et son roi. Ils se sont dit : Marchons contre le royaume de Juda, pour l’intimider, et nous le forcerons à se rendre ; alors, nous lui imposerons comme roi le fils de Tabéel. Ainsi parle le Seigneur Dieu:  Cela ne durera pas, ne sera pas, que la capitale d’Aram soit Damas, et Recine, le chef de Damas, que la capitale d’Éphraïm soit Samarie, et le fils de Remalyahou, chef de Samarie. – Dans soixante-cinq ans, Éphraïm, écrasé, cessera d’être un peuple. Mais vous, si vous ne croyez pas, vous ne pourrez pas tenir.” »

 

Psaume : 47 (48), 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6,7-8 

R/   Jérusalem, ville de Dieu, Dieu l’affermira pour toujours !

 

  1. Il est grand, le Seigneur, hautement loué, dans la ville de notre Dieu, sa sainte montagne, altière et belle, joie de toute la terre.
  2. La montagne de Sion, c’est le pôle du monde, la cité du grand roi; Dieu se révèle, en ses palais, vraie citadelle.
  3. Voici que des rois s’étaient ligués, ils avançaient tous ensemble ; ils ont vu, et soudain stupéfaits, pris de panique, ils ont fui.
  4. Et voilà qu’un tremblement les saisit: douleurs de femme qui accouche; un vent qui souffle du désert a brisé les vaisseaux de Tarsis.

 

Acclamation

Alléluia. Alléluia! Aujourd’hui, ne fermez pas votre cœur, mais écoutez la voix du Seigneur. Alléluia! (cf. Ps 94, 8a.7c)

 

Évangile : Mt 11, 20-24

En ce temps-là, Jésus se mit à faire des reproches aux villes où avaient eu lieu la plupart de ses miracles, parce qu’elles ne s’étaient pas converties: « Malheureuse es-tu, Corazine ! Malheureuse es-tu, Bethsaïde ! Car, si les miracles qui ont eu lieu chez vous avaient eu lieu à Tyr et à Sidon, ces villes, autrefois, se seraient converties, sous le sac et la cendre. Aussi, je vous le déclare: au jour du Jugement, Tyr et Sidon seront traitées moins sévèrement que vous.  Et toi, Capharnaüm, seras-tu donc élevée jusqu’au ciel ? Non, tu descendras jusqu’au séjour des morts !Car, si les miracles qui ont eu lieu chez toi avaient eu lieu à Sodome, cette ville serait encore là aujourd’hui. Aussi, je vous le déclare : au jour du Jugement, le pays de Sodome sera traité moins sévèrement que toi. »

 

Prière  sur  les  offrandes

Regarde, Seigneur, les dons de ton Église en prière : Accorde à tes fidèles qui vont les recevoir la grâce d’une sainteté plus grande. Par Jésus.

 

Antienne  de  communion : Ps 83, 5

Heureux ceux qui approchent de ton autel, Seigneur ; Heureux les habitants de ta maison : ils peuvent toujours te louer, mon Roi, mon Dieu!

 

Prière  après  la  communion

Nourris de ton eucharistie, nous te supplions, Seigneur : Chaque fois que nous célébrons ce mystère, fais grandir en nous ton œuvre de salut. Par Jésus.

 

 

Méditation

La rencontre avec le Christ doit transformer la vie de l’homme. Cependant, la rencontre de Jésus avec les trois villes de l’évangile a été marquée par le manque d’ouverture à sa Parole. Ce mystère d’aveuglement est aussi le mystère de notre propre relation à Dieu. Aujourd’hui, les villes sur qui Jésus pleure sont ses amis, ses familiers, nous; tous ceux qui l’aiment, mais qui ne lui donnent pas la possibilité de leur apprendre à l’aimer vraiment. Nous sommes invités à entrer dans l’intimité de cette union à Lui. Accueillons-le en notre vie, à l’intérieur de nos remparts comme le sauveur de nos âmes.

by | Jul 10, 2022 | Agenda Biblique

Lundi 11 juillet 2022

 

St. Benoît, abbé,

patron de l’Europe

 

Etudiant à Rome, Benoît de Nursie (vers 480-547) conteste, à sa manière, la société corrompue de son temps : il se retire dans la solitude à Subiaco pour chercher Dieu et vivre sous son regard. Mais sa sainteté attire des disciples, et une communauté se forme autour de lui. Obligé de quitter Subiaco, il transplante sa communauté au Mont-Cassin. Il y écrit une règle où il réalise la synthèse des traditions monastiques antérieures. Le Bienheureux Paul VI donna Benoît pour patron à l’Europe en 1964.

 

Antienne d’ouverture : Jr 17, 7

Il est béni, celui qui met sa confiance dans le Seigneur, celui dont le Seigneur est l’espérance.

 

Prière d’ouverture

Dieu qui as fait de saint Benoît un maître spirituel pour ceux qui apprennent à te servir, permets, nous t’en prions, que sans rien préférer à ton amour, nous avancions d’un cœur libre sur les chemins de tes commandements. Par Jésus Christ.

 

1ère lecture : Is 1, 10-17

Écoutez la parole du Seigneur, vous qui êtes pareils aux chefs de Sodome! Prêtez l’oreille à  l’enseignement de notre Dieu, vous, peuple de Gomorrhe ! Que m’importe le nombre de vos sacrifices ? – dit le Seigneur. Les holocaustes de béliers, la graisse des veaux, j’en suis rassasié. Le sang des taureaux, des agneaux et des boucs, je n’y prends pas plaisir. Quand vous venez vous présenter devant ma face, qui vous demande de fouler mes parvis? Cessez d’apporter de vaines offrandes; j’ai horreur de votre encens. Les nouvelles lunes, les sabbats, les assemblées, je n’en peux plus de ces crimes et de ces fêtes. Vos nouvelles lunes et vos solennités, moi, je les déteste: elles me sont un fardeau, je suis fatigué de le porter. Quand vous étendez les mains, je détourne les yeux. Vous avez beau multiplier les prières, je n’écoute pas : vos mains sont pleines de sang. Lavez-vous, purifiez-vous, ôtez de ma vue vos actions mauvaises, cessez de faire le mal. Apprenez à faire le bien :  recherchez le droit, mettez au pas l’oppresseur, rendez justice à l’orphelin, défendez la cause de la veuve.

 

Psaume : 49 (50), 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23

R/ À celui qui veille sur sa conduite, je ferai voir le salut de Dieu.

 

  1. « Je ne t’accuse pas pour tes sacrifices ; tes holocaustes sont toujours devant moi. Je ne prendrai pas un seul taureau de ton domaine, pas un bélier de tes enclos.
  2. « Qu’as-tu à réciter mes lois, à garder mon alliance à la bouche, toi qui n’aimes pas les reproches et rejettes loin de toi mes paroles ?
  3. « Voilà ce que tu fais ; garderai-je le silence ? Penses-tu que je suis comme toi ? Je mets cela sous tes yeux, et je t’accuse.
  4. « Qui offre le sacrifice d’action de grâce, celui-là me rend gloire : sur le chemin qu’il aura pris, je lui ferai voir le salut de Dieu. »

 

Acclamation

Alléluia. Alléluia. Heureux ceux qui sont persécutés pour la justice, car le royaume des Cieux est à eux !  Alléluia. (Mt 5, 10)

 

Évangile :  Mt 10, 34 – 11, 1

En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses Apôtres : « Ne pensez pas que je sois venu apporter la paix sur la terre : je ne suis pas venu apporter la paix, mais le glaive.  Oui, je suis venu séparer l’homme de son père, la fille de sa mère, la belle-fille de sa belle-mère : on aura pour ennemis les gens de sa propre maison.  Celui qui aime son père ou sa mère plus que moi n’est pas digne de moi ; celui qui aime son fils ou sa fille plus que moi n’est pas digne de moi ; celui qui ne prend pas sa croix et ne me suit pas n’est pas digne de moi. Qui a trouvé sa vie la perdra; qui a perdu sa vie à cause de moi la trouvera.  Qui vous accueille m’accueille; et qui m’accueille, accueille Celui qui m’a envoyé. Qui accueille un prophète en sa qualité de prophète recevra une récompense de prophète ; qui accueille un homme juste en sa qualité de juste recevra une récompense de juste. Et celui qui donnera à boire, même un simple verre d’eau fraîche, à l’un de ces petits en sa qualité de disciple, amen, je vous le dis : non, il ne perdra pas sa récompense.» Lorsque Jésus eut terminé les instructions qu’il donnait à ses douze disciples, il partit de là pour enseigner et proclamer la Parole dans les villes du pays.

 

Prière sur les offrandes

Seigneur, regarde avec bienveillance les offrandes que nous te présentons en la fête de saint Benoît: fais qu’à son exemple, en ne cherchant que toi, nous trouvions à ton service les dons de l’unité et de la paix. Par Jésus.

 

Antienne de la communion : Mt 5, 3.9

Heureux les pauvres de cœur : le Royaume des cieux est à eux ! Heureux les artisans de paix : ils seront appelés fils de Dieu !

 

Prière après la communion

Maintenant que nous avons reçu le gage de la vie éternelle, nous te prions humblement, Seigneur; puissions-nous suivre les enseignements de saint Benoît être fidèles à te servir dans la prière, et avoir pour nos frères une grande charité. Par Jésus.

 

 

Méditation

Après avoir appelé ses douze disciples, Jésus les instruit et les exhorte avant de les envoyer en mission. C’est une mission exigeante et radicale à laquelle il les envoie, car il s’agit pour eux d’emprunter le même chemin que leur maître, celui de Jérusalem, et de n’avoir de témoignage que celui d’une vie dépouillée, sans défense et offerte. Ses mots, pour eux, peuvent nous sembler durs, mais il s’agit avant tout d’accueil. Un accueil radical du Christ, jusqu’à le préférer à l’amour naturel que l’on porte à son père ou à sa mère, jusqu’à renoncer à sa propre vie et à ses propres plans pour le suivre.

by | Jul 10, 2022 | Evangelium

Monday 11 th July 2022

St. Benedict

(480 – 547)

 

Benedict was born in Nursia and studied in Rome. Benedict organised various small communities of, drew up a set of rules to guide the communal life of monasteries, and, though not the first monastic rule ever, the Rule of St Benedict has proved so wise and balanced that it has served as the foundation of practically every attempt at communal living ever since.

 

Entrance Antiphon

There was a man of venerable life, Benedict, blessed by grace and by name, who, leaving home and patrimony and desiring to please God alone, sought out the habit of holy living.

 

Collect

O God, who made the Abbot Saint Benedict an outstanding master in the school of divine service, grant, we pray, that, putting nothing before love of you, we may hasten with a loving heart in the way of your commands. 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 : Isaiah 1:10-17

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the command of our God, you people of Gomorrah. ‘What are your endless sacrifices to me? says the Lord. I am sick of holocausts of rams and the fat of calves. The blood of bulls and of goats revolts me. When you come to present yourselves before me, who asked you to trample over my courts? Bring me your worthless offerings no more, the smoke of them fills me with disgust.  New Moons, sabbaths, assemblies- I cannot endure festival and solemnity. Your New Moons and your pilgrimages I hate with all my soul. They lie heavy on me, I am tired of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands I turn my eyes away. You may multiply your prayers, I shall not listen. Your hands are covered with blood, wash, make yourselves clean. ‘Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.’

 

Psalm 49:8-9,16-17,21,23

R/ I will show God’s salvation to the upright.

 

  1. O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us. So will your ways be known upon earth and all nations learn your saving help.
  2. Let the nations be glad and exult for you rule the world with justice. With fairness you rule the peoples, you guide the nations on earth.
  3. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. May God still give us his blessing till the ends of the earth revere him.

 

Gospel Acclamation : cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!

 

Gospel : Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household. ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. ‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’ When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Look kindly, Lord, upon these holy offerings, which we make in honour of Saint Benedict, and grant that, by following his example in seeking you, we may merit the gifts of unity in your service and of peace. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon : Lk 12: 42

This is the steward, faithful and prudent, whom the Lord set over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.

 

Prayer after Communion

Having received this pledge of eternal life, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, attentive to the teaching of Saint Benedict, we may faithfully serve your designs and love one another with fervent charity. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

Today’s gospel does fit Jesus who, we know, to be the Prince of peace. Most people consider it harsh and not Christian at all. The peace of the believer comes from the certainty of being loved by God. Jesus gives no peace to the world because the rest of the world is made up of confusion, half-truths, people who live midway between greed and fear of taking risks. In a world like ours, the message of Christ is not accepted, and so there is war in place of peace. The gospel message awakens a critical spirit so the presence of only one Christian living by the truth is enough to change many people.