Wednesday 05  JULY

SAINT Antony Mary Zaccaria

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 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.

Psalm 33(34):7-8,10-13

R/ This poor man called; the Lord heard him.

This poor man called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. The angel of the Lord is encamped around 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 for ever. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Jesus brings with Him a spiritual aura so strong that he does not go unnoticed. He is recognized by demons who beg him to cast them into the herd of swine. This spiritual strength is forged and strengthened through prayer and total surrender to God. But curiously, Jesus is sent away by the crowd, furious about losing the herd that is thrown into the sea. So he goes away. Being ready to leave, to accept to start again, to begin all over on new bases and to try new options is sometimes the solution to our obstacles. Let us pray for all those who have lost or lack direction; that they may set out again with Christ towards new horizons of joy and success.

Mercredi 05 juillet

SAINT  Antoine-Marie Zaccaria, Prêtre

Animé par l’amour des pauvres, Antoine-Marie (1502-1539) les servit d’abord comme médecin. Pour leur apporter aussi un secours spirituel, il reçut le sacerdoce. La congrégation de clercs réguliers qu’il fonda prit le nom de Barnabites quand l’église de saint Barnabé, à Milan, leur fut confiée.

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 21, 5.8-20

Abraham avait cent ans quand naquit son fils Isaac. L’enfant grandit, et il fut sevré. Abraham donna un grand festin le jour où Isaac fut sevré. Or, Sara regardait s’amuser Ismaël, ce fils qu’Abraham avait eu d’Agar l’Égyptienne. Elle dit à Abraham : « Chasse cette servante et son fils ; car le fils de cette servante ne doit pas partager l’héritage de mon fils Isaac. » Cette parole attrista beaucoup Abraham, à cause de son fils Ismaël, mais Dieu lui dit : « Ne sois pas triste à cause du garçon et de ta servante ; écoute tout ce que Sara te dira, car c’est par Isaac qu’une descendance portera ton nom ; mais je ferai aussi une nation du fils de la servante, car lui aussi est de ta descendance. » Abraham se leva de bon matin, il prit du pain et une outre d’eau, il les posa sur l’épaule d’Agar, il lui remit l’enfant, puis il la renvoya. Elle partit et alla errer dans le désert de Bershéba. Quand l’eau de l’outre fut épuisée, elle laissa l’enfant sous un buisson, et alla s’asseoir non loin de là, à la distance d’une portée de flèche. Elle se disait : « Je ne veux pas voir mourir l’enfant ! » Elle s’assit non loin de là. Elle éleva la voix et pleura. Dieu entendit la voix du petit garçon ; et du ciel, l’ange de Dieu appela Agar : « Qu’as-tu, Agar ? Sois sans crainte, car Dieu a entendu la voix du petit garçon, sous le buisson où il était. Debout ! Prends le garçon et tiens-le par la main, car je ferai de lui une grande nation. » Alors, Dieu ouvrit les yeux d’Agar, et elle aperçut un puits. Elle alla remplir l’outre et fit boire le garçon. Dieu fut avec lui, il grandit et habita au désert, et il devint un tireur à l’arc.

Psaume : 33 (34), 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R/ Un pauvre crie ; le Seigneur entend.

Un pauvre crie ; le Seigneur entend: il le sauve de toutes ses angoisses. L’ange du Seigneur campe alentour pour libérer ceux qui le craignent.

 Saints du Seigneur, adorez-le : rien ne manque à ceux qui le craignent. Des riches ont tout perdu, ils ont faim; qui cherche le Seigneur ne manquera d’aucun bien.

 Venez, mes fils, écoutez-moi, que je vous enseigne la crainte du Seigneur. Qui donc aime la vie et désire les jours où il verra le bonheur ? 

Acclamation

Alléluia. Alléluia. Le Père a voulu nous engendrer, par sa parole de vérité, pour faire de nous comme les prémices de ses créatures. Alléluia. (Jc 1, 18)

Évangile : Mt  8, 28-34

En ce temps-là, comme Jésus arrivait sur l’autre rive, dans le pays des Gadaréniens, deux possédés sortirent d’entre les tombes à sa rencontre ; ils étaient si agressifs que personne ne pouvait passer par ce chemin. Et voilà qu’ils se mirent à crier : « Que nous veux-tu, Fils de Dieu ? Es- tu venu pour nous tourmenter avant le moment fixé? » Or, il y avait au loin un grand troupeau de porcs qui cherchait sa nourriture. Les démons suppliaient Jésus : « Si tu nous expulses, envoie-nous dans le troupeau de porcs. » Il leur répondit : « Allez. » Ils sortirent et ils s’en allèrent dans les porcs ; et voilà que, du haut de la falaise, tout le troupeau se précipita dans la mer, et les porcs moururent dans les flots. Les gardiens prirent la fuite et s’en allèrent dans la ville annoncer tout cela, et en particulier ce qui était arrivé aux possédés. Et voilà que toute la ville sortit à la rencontre de Jésus ; et lorsqu’ils le virent, les gens le supplièrent de partir de leur territoire.

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 entraine avec Lui un ora spirituel si fort qu’il ne passe pas  inaperçu. Il est reconnu par des démons qui le supplient de les jeter dans le troupeau de porc. Cette force spirituelle se forge et se fortifie grâce à la prière et l’abandon total à Dieu. En outre, Jésus est chassé par la foule, furieuse de son troupeau jeté en mer. Jésus s’en alla. Savoir partir, accepter recommencer, repartir sur de nouvelles bases et essayer de nouvelles options est parfois la solution à nos blocages. Prions donc pour tous ceux qui manquent de repère afin qu’ils reprennent la route avec le Christ, vers de nouveaux horizons de joie et de succès.

Tuesday 04 JULY

SAINT Elizabeth of Portugal

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 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.

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 eyes and I walk according to your truth.

Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men in 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: Ps 147: 12

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: 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 boat can symbolize our life. Jesus joins us in it every time we invite him in prayer or when he invites himself through the Holy Spirit who accompanies us. The boat passes through the sea, the seat of evil and difficulties, like the revolting waves that distress the disciples. “Lord, save us! We are lost”; this cry of distress is also ours, in the midst of our existential worries. Just as the sea will never cease to be sea in its symbolic sense, our boat remains so, with its challenges of violent winds, but also of the joy of having Christ at our side. Indeed, Jesus helps us to cross over to the other side. Even if the sea is raging, he stands up, calms the winds and gives us peace.

Mardi 04 juillet  

SAINTE Élisabeth du Portugal ;

SAINT  Florent

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 : 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

La barque peut symboliser notre vie. Jésus nous y rejoint chaque fois que nous l’invitons en prière ou quand il s’invite par l’Esprit Saint qui nous accompagne. La barque passe par la mer, siège du maléfique et des difficultés, à l’image des vagues révoltées qui angoissent les disciples. « Seigneur, sauve-nous ! Nous sommes perdues » ; Ce cri de détresse est aussi le nôtre, au milieu de nos soucis existentiels. De même que la mer ne cessera d’être mer dans son sens symbolique, notre barque demeure telle, avec ses challenges de vents violents, mais aussi de joie d’avoir le Christ à nos côtés. En effet, Jésus  nous aide à passer de l’autre bord. Même si la mer se déchaine, il se lève, menace les vents et nous redonne la paix.

Monday 03  JULY

SAINT Thomas the Apostle

Feast

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, for ever 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.

Psalm 116:1-2

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 for ever.

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 God and proclaim him by our deeds and by our life. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Meditation

The figure of Thomas is often associated with doubt. His doubt demands empirical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus: “If I do not see in his hands the mark of the nails […] I will not believe.” So, Jesus reappears with irrefutable evidence: he speaks and the marks are all fresh: “Peace be with you […] put your finger here, and see my hands.” By this step, Thomas has made the way for us. He carried our unbelief with him. Blessed are we who believe without having seen. This faith which makes us members of the body of Christ, invites us to a true sense of belonging in our religious and parish communities. Let us quit behaving like strangers or Sunday disciples of Jesus; it is time to fully believe in him.