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Sunday, January 22, 2017

Catholic News World : Sunday January 22, 2017 - SHARE

 2017

#PopeFrancis "...persevere in prayer, so that Jesus’ desire is fulfilled: “That they may all be one” #Angelus FULL TEXT + Video

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today’s evangelical page (cf. Matthew 4:12-23) recounts the beginning of Jesus’ preaching in Galilee. He leaves Nazareth, a village over the hills, and dwells in Capernaum, an important center on the shore of the Lake, inhabited to a great extent by pagans, a crossroads between the Mediterranean and the Mesopotamian hinterland. This choice indicates that the recipients of His preaching were not only his fellow countrymen, but all those dwelling in cosmopolitan “Galilee of the Gentiles” (v. 15; cf. Isaiah 8:23): so it was called. Seen from Jerusalem, the capital, that land is geographically on the periphery and religiously impure, because it was full of pagans, given the mixture with all those who did not belong to Israel. Great things for the history of salvation were certainly not expected from Galilee. Instead, it was precisely from there that that “light” was diffused, on which we meditated in past Sundays: the light of Christ. It spread in fact from the periphery.
Jesus’ message reiterated that of the Baptist, proclaiming the “Kingdom of Heaven” (v. 17). This Kingdom does not imply the establishment of a new political power, but the fulfilment of the Covenant between God and His People, which will inaugurate a season of peace and justice. Each one is called to be converted, to solidify this Covenant pact with God, transforming his way of thinking and of living. This is important: to be converted is not only to change one’s way of living, but also one’s way of thinking. It is a transformation of thought. It is not about changing garments but habits! What makes Jesus differ from John the Baptist is the style and the method. Jesus chooses to be an itinerant prophet. He does not wait for the people, but goes to encounter them. Jesus is always on the way! His first missionary outings took place along the Lake of Galilee, in contact with the crowd, in particular with fishermen. Not only does Jesus proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God there, but seeks companions to associate to His mission of salvation. In this same place He meets two sets of brothers: Simon and Andrew, James and John. He calls them, saying: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (v. 19). The call reaches them in the midst of their everyday activity: the Lord reveals Himself to us not in an extraordinary or striking way, but in the everyday of our life. We must find the Lord there; and He reveals Himself there, makes our heart feel His love; and there — with this dialogue with Him in the everyday of our life — our heart changes. The response of the four fishermen is immediate and prompt: “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him” (v. 20). We know, in fact, that they had been disciples of the Baptist and that, thanks to his testimony, they had already begun to believe in Jesus as Messiah (cf. John 1:35-42).
We, today’s Christians, have the joy of proclaiming and witnessing our faith because there was that first proclamation, because there were those humble and courageous men who responded generously to Jesus’ call. The first community of Christ’s disciples was born on the shores of the Lake, in an unthinkable land. May the awareness of these beginnings arouse in us the desire to take the Word, the love and tenderness of Jesus to every context, even the most impervious and resistant. To take the Word to all the peripheries! All areas of human living are terrain in which to sow the seed of the Gospel, so that it bear fruits of salvation.
May the Virgin Mary help us, with her maternal intercession, to respond with joy to Jesus’ call, and to put ourselves at the service of the Kingdom of God.

*
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
We are in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Its theme this year is an expression, treated by Saint Paul [Pablo], which points out the way to follow. And it says thus: “The love of Christ spurs us to reconciliation” (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14). We will end the Week of Prayer next Wednesday with the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica of Saint Paul-outside-the Walls, in which brothers and sisters of the other Christian Churches and Communities present in Rome will take part. I invite you to persevere in prayer, so that Jesus’ desire is fulfilled: “That they may all be one” (John 17:21).
In past days, an earthquake and heavy snowfalls have again put many of our brothers and sister of Central Italy to a harsh test, especially in Abruzzo, Marches and Lazio. With prayer and affection I am close to the families that have had victims among their dear ones. I encourage all those who are committed with great generosity in the works of rescue and assistance, as well as the local Churches, which are spending themselves to alleviate the sufferings and difficulties. Thank you so much for this closeness, for your work and the concrete help you bring. Thank you! And I invite you to pray together to Our Lady for the victims and also for those who with great generosity are committed in the works of rescue.
[Recitation of the Hail Mary]
In the Far East and in several parts of the world, millions of men and women are preparing to celebrate the lunar New Year on January 28. May my warm greeting reach all their families, with the wish that they become increasingly a school in which one learns to respect the other, to communicate and look after one another in a selfless way. May the joy of love be propagated within families and from them radiate to the whole of society.
I greet you all, faithful of Rome and pilgrims from various countries, in particular the group of youngsters of Panama and the students of the “Diego Sanchez Institute of Talavera la Real (Spain).
I greet the members of the Catholic Union of Teachers, Directors, Educators and Formators, who have concluded their 25th National Congress, and I wish them fruitful educational work, in collaboration with families — always in collaboration with families!
I wish you all a good Sunday and, please, do not forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch and see you soon!
[Original text: Italian]  [Translation by ZENIT]

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Free Catholic Movie : Saint Vincent Pallotti - FULL Film in English - 1985 - #UAC

St. Vincent Pallotti - Faithful Radical - Film produced by the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the 150th anniversary of the Union of Catholic Apostolate in 1985.
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Sunday Mass Online : Sun. January 22, 2017 - Readings and Video - 3rd Ord. Time - A


Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 67


Reading 1IS 8:23—9:3

First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the District of the Gentiles.

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

Responsorial PsalmPS 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Reading 21 COR 1:10-13, 17

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe's people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
"I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos,"
or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

AlleluiaMT 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

OrMT 4:12-17

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
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Saint January 22 : St. Vincent Pallotti : Priest - Founder of #Pallottines


Born:
1798 in Rome, Italy
Died:
1850
Canonized:
1963 by Pope John XXIII
St. Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850) founded the Societas Apostolatus Catholici (S.A.C.) in 1835. He was canonized in 1963.
St. Vincent Pallotti was born in Rome, April 21, 1795, the third child of ten. His parents were Peter-Paul Pallotti and his wife Maddalena. From his earliest years his devout parents took him to daily Mass and religious devotions in the many neighborhood churches of Rome. For a time Vincent had trouble with his studies until his mother sought the advice of a close friend, Father Fazzini. He advised her to make a novena to the Holy Spirit with Vincent. The Novena completed, something clicked in the boy's head. He became the brightest student in his class. Vincent had an innate desire to do what he could to help the poor. Before he would give them a coin he would wash it in the nearby fountain. "When I give to the poor," he would say, "I give the coin to Christ. I want it to look nice." He felt called to do penance. He ate little. When his parents informed Father Fazzini of the penances, he replied, "Let us leave Vincent undisturbed. It appears to be a higher call than we have been given. It seems to come from God."
Vincent's first registration in a religious youth group was at his grade school of San Pantaleone, staffed by the Piarist Fathers. The school had been hallowed by the presence of its holy founder, St. Joseph Calasanz who formed a youth apostolate in Counter-reformation Rome. Our Lady had appeared to Joseph Calasanz when he was a teacher in the classroom where Vincent now attended. Joseph had been instrumental in restoring both eye and eyesight to a pupil whose eye had been jabbed out by a pencil thrust into it by an angry classmate. Vincent's Marian development was thus well nurtured in this school with the solemn observances of our Lady's feasts and the devout use of a small rosary of twelve Hail Mary's called the "Crown of Twelve Stars," which St. Calasanz had much promoted among the students of his schools. Vincent was quite religious and of a serious nature. Yet, he loved to play ball with his friends in front of his father's grocery store. Early every morning he walked to Santa Maria in Vallicella. There he put on his cassock and surplice as an altar boy. Under the altar of this church there was reposed the remains of the great youth worker, St. Philip Neri.
In the days before St. John Bosco, the name of St. Philip Neri would first come to mind whenever any program was being instituted for youth. Pallotti was often referred to in later life as the "Second St. Philip Neri."
St. Vincent became a member of a more advanced youth group at the Church of Santa Maria del Pianto. It met every Sunday and Holy Day for catechetical instruction, Marian devotions and recreation. It was under the direction of diocesan priests and among them was St. Gaspar del Bufalo. Vincent as a major seminarian and young priest succeeded St. Gaspar in the directorship of the group. Once when he was on a summer vacation, Father Pallotti wrote to his youth group reminding them that St. Philip Neri had said: "The most insane thing in the whole world was not to want to be a saint. Sanity is to take every means to achieve sanctity and be pleasing to God. When we think of the infinite reward God will give us for that - it is sheer insanity to do the opposite!"
Vincent's high school studies were accomplished at the world-famed Collegio Romanowhich had been established by St. Ignatius Loyola. Among its graduates were the paragons of youthful holiness, St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. John Berchmans. In Vincent's time the Jesuits had been suppressed for several years and replaced by other clergy. The profound tradition of the Jesuits who had taught there, and the magnificent altar tomb of St. Gonzaga, could not be ignored and was very much kept alive. Pallotti chose St. John Berchmans, a Jesuit seminarian, as his role model to imitate on the path to holiness, particularly in his love for Mary in her Immaculate Conception.
Collegio Romano, as all Jesuit schools once did, had a distinctive youth organization known as the "Sodality of the Blessed Virgin." Because the school's unit was the first Sodality, it bore the distinguished title: "Prima Priaria." Vincent cherished his membership in it and the group heightened his Marian devotion all the more as he practiced it in union with his peers who took their devotion to Mary very seriously. After his entrance into theSapienza University as a theology student, he decided upon a very bold and daring move. Despite the very negative reaction of many toward the clergy, now that he was a seminarian, he chose to wear his cassock and collar in public. He was clearly visible as a man of the Church when most diocesan and non-monastic orders wore a garb that resembled very much what comes to our minds when we think of Benjamin Franklin. For him it was a sign and defiance of the secularized world and its anti-clericalism.
One day Pallotti was leading his youth group at Santa Maria del Pianto to some function elsewhere in Rome. An irate diocesan priest, himself dressed in the "Benjamin Franklin" style garb, sharply upbraided the seminarian as a hypocrite and phony for his use of the cassock. Vincent let the priest rant and rave on. In a few minutes he slipped away from the group and was found in a corner of the sacristy of Santa Maria del Pianto on his knees reciting the Te Deum in thanksgiving for this mistreatment for what he believed was right.
As Vincent neared ordination he was introduced into apostolic work among the farmers who brought their products to Rome from the surrounding towns and villages to sell at the markets. Vincent was assigned to the hay sellers. He organized the young farmers and their children into classes in the evening and helped them to learn how to read and write. He also prepared many of them for the sacraments. From this experience of being a volunteer, he would later encourage others to volunteer to spread the kingdom of God.
Vincent Pallotti was ordained in May, 1818, at the Lateran Basilica. He said his first Mass on the following day in the Jesuit Church in Frascati. He was not assigned to a specific church or rectory. Instead, he lived at home with his family and continued as a teacher at the Sapienza University. In the world of college students he was very well liked. He offered tutoring to those who had found their studies difficult. He began a very successful apostolate of street preaching on the steps of local churches and was able to attract large numbers of people into church afterwards for confession.
In his travels Vincent became aware of a number of young workers whose work hours prevented them from attending daytime classes. He soon gathered these workers at a nearby parish hall and recruited volunteer teachers to give them a basic education. He and several others gave the religious instruction. In a matter of a few years the project mushroomed into many other "night schools" and was relocated to more spacious quarters. By now, 500 young workers were enrolled. At this point Pallotti turned over his project to the supervision of the Christian Brothers to ensure that it would be properly managed.
After ten years at the Sapienza University, the diocesan authorities turned to Father Pallotti for assistance with a very pressing youth problem in Trastevere. This section of Rome was a difficult one. While it had produced saints as lovely as St. Cecilia and St. Frances of Rome, it had also produced many rogues and toughened people. It has been ever the spot where urchins and ragamuffins run rampant.
There was now a great need for a kind, patient and sincere priest who could see beyond brokenness and be capable of drawing the best out of these disorderly youth. They needed to be given the most elemental religious instruction. They needed to be prepared for First Holy Communion. In those days First Communion was received when a child was about twelve years old.
This new assignment would mean relinquishing his teaching position at the University and saying goodbye to his favorite youth group at Santa Maria del Pianto. Father Vincent knew that the assignment would bring many souls to God and strengthen the faith of these Trastevere urchins and so he accepted it willingly.
He was given space in the Ponterotto retreat house which had formerly been the family home of St. Frances of Rome. The rough Trastevere teens, who could have matched any scugnizzi that Charles Dickens could describe with his pen, now got the attention they deserved in order to set them in the right direction. They responded with extraordinary cooperation. Pallotti did not neglect the nobility nor the upper class and he provided retreats for them at another retreat house nearby. His purpose was to inculcate into these men who would be the leaders of the future, a love of virtue, a sense of honor and integrity coupled with a sense of responsibility for those who had less than they.
His knack for getting volunteers involved in his many projects, expanded beyond his concern for youth when he began his broad vision of the Union Of The Catholic Apostolate which strove to accomplish a revival of the Catholic Faith among Catholics and a rekindling of charity toward achieving the salvation of one's neighbor. In his desired UNION, men and women of every social strata, church folks of every rank and religious order would work in harmonious collaboration for the missionary endeavors of the Church. Moreover, the poor, the aged and ailing, the sick and bedridden could offer their prayers and sufferings for the success of the venture. Pope Gregory XVI heartily approved the new movement and it soon had hundreds and hundreds of members.
Not long after its foundation and its first experience of the Epiphany festival as the visible exemplification of its spiritual ideals, philosophy and objectives, the UNION was confronted not by ceremony but by calamity. Deadly cholera struck in 1837 and decimated the population of the Eternal City. Not even Vincent's father was spared. His director, Father Fazzini and his friend, St. Gaspare del Buffalo died. In its wake hundreds were left homeless and hungry.
Orphaned girls roamed the streets. It was their pitiable plight that wounded the heart of Vincent Pallotti who was himself strenuously working day and night and round the clock to care for the destitute and abandoned. What grieved him most was that these orphan girls were being taken advantage of by the unscrupulous. He and a trusted friend, Mr. James Salvati, got the use of a small, former seminarians' residence and fixed it up to receive the orphan girls. A corps of carefully chosen volunteers looked after the girls and taught them the domestic skills they would later need in life. This home became known as the Pious House of St. Agatha. It is still in operation today behind what is now the St. Thomas Aquinas University in Rome. In its chapel Vincent placed the large painting of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Pious House of St. Agatha occupied much of the Saint's attention and his visits there were a delight for the young girls who loved him dearly. His lay volunteers later became the nucleus of the Pallottine Sisters who would devote much time to the education and Christian formation of young people. He began another orphanage near the Vatican. Later on it was taken over by another religious order, and a third, at Velletri, was already in the planning stage just before Vincent died.
Not the least of St. Vincent's contributions to the apostolate among the young was the magnificent care he gave to the students preparing for the priesthood at the Roman Seminary, Propaganda Fide (where the students from foreign lands came to study), the national colleges of England, Scotland and those of the various Eastern Churches whose students studied in Rome. His was a welcome presence and many looked back at the guidance St. Vincent had given them from as far away as Persia and Baltimore, Maryland, whose Archbishop Martin J. Spalding was able to write forty years later of his spiritual mentor that all Rome regarded him as a saint and a man of profound faith in the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. "No cross or aggravation could ruffle him and the memory of his holiness clusters as a halo around my heart!"
John Henry Newman, much admired by the young students of Oxford, had resigned his Anglican ministry and entered the Catholic Church. He and several others were sent to Rome to complete studies for ordination to the Catholic priesthood. Newman believed Pallotti to be a very holy man and said the same to the then Archdeacon of the Anglican Diocese of Chichester. Manning had come on visit to Rome to examine its claims "on location."
Manning went to visit Pallotti and came away with the same conviction. Manning spoke of hearing a group of young men singing a Marian hymn as they passed through the street and was told that it was one of the groups from Pallotti's Night Schools on their way home. Both Newman and Manning later were made Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.
Youth work was not the only part of Pallotti's apostolate though there is more than enough of it to merit a consideration of its own. He continued his duties as a diocesan priest and led his Union of the Catholic Apostolate in its generous outreach to provide for the local needs of the Church and for those of the foreign missions. He was a great retreat master and preacher. Long lines waited their turn outside his confessional. Yet Pallotti made time for daily visits to the city hospitals and to the jails and prisons where his smile and compassion brought a ray of sunshine to those incarcerated there. He badgered the prison officials incessantly until he had obtained the separation of the youthful offenders from the adults in prison. "If you want to rehabilitate youth and keep them out of jail in the future, then give them the chance to do without a thorough training in criminality they are sure to receive from their elders here!" And he was listened to with respect by the prison authorities, and with thankfulness from those who would now have a new lease on life.
Vincent is still remembered for his unstinting generosity to the prisoners condemned to death. He would spend the entire night with them. He was their last friendly presence at the scaffold. Amid the hubbub and hurry burly of such gruesome scenes, it was he who calmly held the crucifix before their eyes as the headsman's axe swiftly descended. Popes sought his advice and knelt for their own confession before him. Soldiers in their military barracks responded to their beloved priest with extraordinary respect. For those at death's door he was an angel of mercy as he brought the sacraments of the Church and encouragement to trust in God's goodness until the very end.
Only once is it recorded that his contact with youth was a failure. A group of loud, boisterous wise guys were standing before a picture of Our Lady and their language was not of the type one would expect to hear in a convent sacristy! Vincent went up to them and asked them to stop out of respect for the Blessed Mother's picture. The haughty braggarts who feared neither God, man nor beast, stood up to the young priest in the mistaken hope of besting him. The ringleader jeered: "Yeah, Father! What's she going to do about it, kill us?" Suddenly a look of horror came over Vincent's face as he saw into the near future. "Young man you are a fool to continue like this. You will be dead in less than a few minutes. Repent while there is time. At that the teenager let out a stream of profanity that would have twisted the tail of a stone lion. Suddenly he collapsed unconscious to the ground. His astonished following of juvenile delinquents rushed to revive him. They were shocked out of their wits. "He's dead, Father! My God, he's dead!" By use of a clever disguise Vincent was able to get near a young man who was a revolutionist and had promised to kill any priest who came near him. When the man fell asleep with rifle in hand and pistol beneath the pillow, Pallotti removed them and put the cross in his hand. Later the man awoke, astonished and made his confession to Father Vincent and died about a week later reconciled to the Lord.
St. Vincent Pallotti died in 1850 surrounded by a handful of followers which now numbers thousands of priests, brothers and sisters and an even more vast number of lay people committed to the apostolate. He was canonized in 1963 by Pope John XXIII as a model for all active priests and for encouraging the lay people to become more active in the mission of the Church. Also, he was hailed by Popes Pius XI, Pius XII and John XXIII as the precursor of Catholic Action and of the Second Vatican Council.
Shared from the Pallottines.org
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Saturday, January 21, 2017

#PopeFrancis "I pray that your decisions will be guided by..." to Donald Trump New US President - FULL TEXT + Video

Pope Francis to United States President Donald Trump, who was inaugurated as 45th President.
The full text of Pope Francis’ Message to US President Donald Trump is below   The Honorable Donald Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House 
Washington
 Upon your inauguration as the forty-fifth President of the United States of America, I offer you my cordial good wishes and the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high office.  At a time when our human family is beset by grave humanitarian crises demanding far-sighted and united political responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by the rich spiritual and ethical values that have shaped the history of the American people and your nation’s commitment to the advancement of human dignity and freedom worldwide.  Under your leadership, may America’s stature continue to be measured above all by its concern for the poor, the outcast and those in need who, like Lazarus, stand before our door.  With these sentiments, I ask the Lord to grant you and your family, and all the beloved American people, his blessings of peace, concord and every material and spiritual prosperity.
                                                                       FRANCISCUS PP.
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#PopeFrancis at Mass “glorification of the Father through good works.” at #OP800 Jubilee of #Dominican Order - FULL Mass Video

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday celebrated Mass at the Cathedral Archbasilica of St John Lateran for the conclusion of the Jubilee for the 800th anniversary of the papal confirmation of the Order of Preachers – the Dominicans.
In his homily, the Holy Father contrasted two opposed “human scenarios”: a “‘carnival’ of worldly curiosity, on the one hand; and on the other, the “glorification of the Father through good works.”
Saint Paul, in the Letter to Timothy, warns against the worldly curiosity that sees men and women, with “itching ears,” always seeking after new teachers, “fables,” strange doctrines, ideologies. The very human tendency to seek novelties, the Pope said, “finds the ideal environment in the society of appearances, of consumption… Even the truth is “made-up”, covered with cosmetics to appear novel and attractive.
Against this worldly “carnival” atmosphere stands the opposite scenario, found in the words of the Jesus in the Gospel: “that they may glorify your heavenly Father.” The passage from a pseudo-festive superficiality to glorification comes about “through the good works of those who, having become disciples of Christ, are become “salt” and “light.”
This, the Pope said, “is the response of Jesus and of the Church, this is the solid support in the midst of a ‘fluid’ environment: good works, which we are able to accomplish thanks to Christ and His Holy Spirit, and which cause to rise up in the heart thanksgiving to the Father, and praise.
Today, Pope Francis said, concluding his homily, “we give thanks to the Father for the work that Saint Dominic, full of the light and the salt of Christ, accomplished 800 years ago; a work at the service of the Gospel, preached with words and with his life; a work that, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, has helped so many men and women to not lose themselves in the midst of the ‘carnival’ of worldly curiosity, but rather sense the taste of sound doctrine, the taste of the Gospel; who, in their turn, have become light and salt, doers of good works… and true brothers and sisters who glorify God, and teach others to glorify God, by the good works of their lives. 
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Today's Mass Readings and Video : Sat. January 21, 2017


Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 316


Reading 1HEB 9:2-3, 11-14

A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one,
in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering;
this is called the Holy Place.
Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands,
that is, not belonging to this creation,
he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes
can sanctify those who are defiled
so that their flesh is cleansed,
how much more will the Blood of Christ,
who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

Responsorial PsalmPS 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
For king of all the earth is God:
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

AlleluiaACTS 16:14B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMK 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, "He is out of his mind." 
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#Novena for LIFE by Bishops - 9 Days for Life! #ProLife Prayers and Resources to SHARE




January 21 begins the special 9 days for LIFE sponsored by the US Catholic Bishops. Join the Novena Prayers found below. 

For more resources follow the Link: 

http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm

NOVENA for LIFE from USCCB: 

Day One: Saturday, January 21, 2017 (Spanish)

Printable versions of Day One: (black and white) (color)
Intercession: For the conversion of all hearts and the end to abortion.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: Pope Saint John Paul II described the "culture of life" as "the fruit of the culture of truth and of love" in his encyclical The Gospel of Life (no. 77). Do we build up the culture of life by living in truth and in love? Are we the kind of people whom a woman could and would come to if she found out she were pregnant and needed loving support and encouragement? How can we help those who suffer from the pain of abortion to experience God's tender mercy? The brief articles in today's "One Step Further" give suggestions for extending God's merciful love to others.
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Go to an abortion clinic and pray, or set aside an hour today to pray for those who are struggling with a decision of life or death for their unborn child.
  • Spend some time reflecting upon no. 77 of The Gospel of Life.
  • Use the Respect Life social media toolkit (www.goo.gl/i8msnP) to build up a culture of life on social media. 
One Step Further: If a woman who was unexpectedly pregnant came to you for support, would you know what to do? "10 Ways to Support Her When She's Unexpectedly Expecting" (www.goo.gl/MkBfb9) provides simple, concrete tips for loving, life-affirming support. In "Bridges of Mercy for Post-Abortion Healing," (www.goo.gl/MpC7RG) learn how you can be a bridge of God's mercy for people suffering after abortion.
Evangelium Vitae, no. 77 © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.
Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. 
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Day Two: Sunday, January 22, 2017 (Spanish)

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Intercession: May each person suffering from the loss of a child through abortion find hope & healing in Christ.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: Today, on this 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we consider the past four decades in which our society has legally permitted abortion. Since that tragic decision, many children's lives have been lost, and many suffer that loss—often in silence. Yet God's greatest desire is to forgive. No matter how far we have each strayed from his side, he says to us, "Don't be afraid. Draw close to my heart."
"In the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, also called confession, we meet the Lord, who wants to grant forgiveness and the grace to live a renewed life in him. … We bishops and priests are eager to help you if you experience difficulty, hesitation, or uncertainty about approaching the Lord in this sacrament. If you have not received this healing sacrament in a long time, we are ready to welcome you" ("God's Gift of Forgiveness": www.goo.gl/oXNDBj).
Let us run into the arms of Jesus, who is love and mercy.
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Today, go visit an adoration chapel and spend some time with Jesus. 
  • Go to confession—today, if possible—or during this week. Before you go, look up St. Faustina (www.goo.gl/bXcnwP) and learn a little about the message of Divine Mercy that she shared during her life.
  • Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet (www.goo.gl/hD0ijW) for those who are suffering the loss of a child through abortion, asking that they find healing and peace.
One Step Further:
 


Day Three: Monday, January 23, 2017 (Spanish)

Printable versions of Day Three: (black and white) (color)

Intercession: May all people embrace the truth that every life is a good and perfect gift, and is worth living.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection:  Our culture is obsessed with perfection—a superficial perfection. Photos are airbrushed, and social media sites depict seemingly perfect lives. God calls us to seek perfection, too. He does not call us, however, to perfection of appearance or abilities, but to perfection in love.
In "A Perfect Gift" (www.goo.gl/QbXpcn), one parent shares about the experience of raising a child with Down syndrome, contrasting it with what onlookers might perceive: "It's like looking at a stained-glass window from the outside: The colors look dark, and you can't quite make out the figures. From the inside, however, with the sun shining through it, the effect can be brilliant. From inside our family, love illuminates our life with Charlie.* What may seem dreary to others, perhaps even unbearable, is actually filled with beauty and color."
May each of us experience the power of God's transforming love, that our eyes may be opened to the incredible beauty of the people the Lord places in our lives.
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Say a prayer for your parish priest (www.goo.gl/jqOiNS). Without our priests, we could not have the Mass or the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 
  • Pray for your deceased relatives and those who have no one to pray for them. 
  • Spend quality time with a family member or friend; offer to help them with something with which they need assistance.
One Step Further:
Charlie's mother shares in "A Perfect Gift" that when people say, "I could never handle a child with a disability," she explains to them, "[Y]ou aren't given a child with a disability. You are given your child with a disability. …You are not called to 'handle' a disability. You are called to love a particular person, and caring for him or her grows out of that love. …Our [family's] hearts…have become larger [by caring for Charlie]."

She also talks about the "secret" that is the fundamental truth of our existence, which she and other parents of children with Down syndrome share. Find out what it is in "A Perfect Gift," available at www.goo.gl/QbXpcn.



*Name changed for privacy.
Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

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Day Four: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 (Spanish)

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Intercession: May those near the end of their lives receive medical care that respects their dignity and protects their lives.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: When Maggie's active father suffered an accident that eventually led to his passing, her conversations with him turned to life's more serious topics, and his final days became a time that was cherished by the whole family. During this time, Maggie's dad taught her that "dignity can't be diminished by pain or loss of personal control," that "Jesus was walking along with him," and that "our suffering is not meaningless when we unite it with Christ's own suffering."

As a 50-year-old wife and mother of three, Maggie needed this message in a dramatically new way when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Instead of giving up hope, she embraced the legacy her father had left her, cherishing the life she still had left: "[M]y life is, always has been, and always will be, worth living." Read more about her experience in "Maggie's Story: Living like Dad" (www.goo.gl/JKnvWc). 

Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Take time to write a handwritten note to someone who is lonely or needing encouragement.
  • Meet Maggie in the brief, 3-minute video (www.goo.gl/SGF7rP) that inspired the article, "Maggie's Story: Living like Dad."
  • Read and reflect upon "Caring for Loved Ones at Life's End" (www.goo.gl/fvSEYp). Ten suggestions anchored in unconditional respect for human life help readers know how to provide authentically compassionate care. (Supplemental information: www.goo.gl/Ji3n35)
One Step Further:
Proponents of doctor-assisted suicide try to draw a sharp distinction between those with a mental illness who want to end their lives and those with a terminal illness who express the same wish. "Every Suicide is Tragic" (www.goo.gl/KEXpR9) explores the consequences of this false distinction. (Supplemental information, including short videos: www.goo.gl/ufQyTv)
Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.


Day Five: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 (Spanish)

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Intercession: For an end to domestic violence.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: "A correct reading of Scripture leads people to an understanding of the equal dignity of men and women and to relationships based on mutuality and love. Beginning with Genesis, Scripture teaches that women and men are created in God's image." ("When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women" USCCB 2002. See: www.goo.gl/3n0373). 
Acts of Reparation (choose one): 
  • Do you love your cup of tea or coffee in the morning? Fast from caffeine today, or try your coffee black.
  • Learn how to pray the Angelus prayer and consider saying it every day— on awakening, at noon, or at 6 p.m. (or all three times).
  • Give up your favorite form (or all forms) of social media for the day. Spend some of the extra time meditating upon a Scripture verse or passage.
One Step Further:
Three in four Americans are reported to know a victim of domestic violence. Learn to recognize some of the signs in "Life Matters: Domestic Violence," which discusses the painful assault on human dignity that is domestic violence. Read the article at www.goo.gl/gVJ9fd. 
Additional resources on domestic violence are available at For Your Marriage (www.goo.gl/CpKtLF), as well as the USCCB webpage on domestic violence (www.goo.gl/ajGdPz).
If you believe someone you know may be in a troubled situation, you should call a domestic violence hotline number for assistance, or encourage the person to call the hotline or emergency services themselves.

Copyright © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
 


Day Six: Thursday, January 26, 2017 (Spanish)

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Intercession: May those affected by pornography experience the Lord's mercy and healing.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: We are created with a desire to love and be loved. We long to be known, understood, and accepted for who we are. In contrast, pornography distracts us from our call to love by objectifying people and bringing hurt and pain. As noted in Create in Me a Clean Heart, "it is an illusory substitute for real relationships and intimacy, which in the end bring true joy."

However, "no wound is out of the reach of Christ's redeeming grace. Christ is our hope! The Church proclaims the truth about love, sexuality, and the dignity of each person, and she seeks to provide the Lord's mercy and healing for those harmed by pornography. … For further resources and help, visit www.usccb.org/cleanheart."* 
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Don't push the snooze button. Get right out of bed and offer your day in prayer to God. 
  • Fast from snacking today. Eat three meals only.
  • Contemplate a beautiful piece of sacred art today, and reflect upon how true beauty draws us closer to God.
One Step Further:
Learn more about the spiritual, emotional, and neurological impact of pornography in "'Wash Me Thoroughly': Healing from Pornography Use and Addiction" (www.goo.gl/gjr3Wg) and "Life Matters: Pornography and Our Call to Love" (www.goo.gl/TkTpTV).



*United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography—Abridged Version. (Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2016).
Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
 


Day Seven: Friday, January 27, 2017 (Spanish)

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Intercession: May those who long for a child of their own be filled with trust in God's loving plan.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: It can be very difficult and painful when the Lord doesn't answer our prayers the way we hope. We may have many doubts and questions, wondering why we face the challenges that we do. Yet even though our suffering is often shrouded in a sense of mystery, we believe that the Lord loves us with great tenderness and compassion that is beyond our imagination. Knowing this, we can trust that "all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28).
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Smile. Ask God today for the grace to be extra joyful and share Christ's love with those who need encouragement the most today. 
  • Today, pray the Rosary, or even just a decade, for someone who has hurt or disappointed you, and ask for the grace to forgive that person. (Pro-Life Rosary Prayer Intentions: www.goo.gl/cUf6kj) 
  • We can sometimes forget how blessed we are to have many of our daily comforts. Give up sleeping with your pillow tonight.
One Step Further:
"Seven Considerations While Navigating Infertility" (www.goo.gl/qUXiGg) seeks to provide compassionate guidance that is both practical and informative for married couples who are walking on this road. Although geared to such couples, the article is also helpful for anyone to read, offering insight into the experience of infertility and giving awareness of the need for sensitivity in our relationships with those who may be affected.

NABRE © 2010 CCD. Used with permission.
Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
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Day Eight: Saturday, January 28, 2017 (Spanish)

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Intercession: For an end to the use of the death penalty in our country.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: As Catholics, we believe and put our hope in a merciful and loving God. We are conscious of our own brokenness and need for redemption. Our Lord calls us to imitate him more perfectly by witnessing to the inherent dignity of every person, including those whose actions have been despicable. Our faith and hope is in the mercy of God who says to us, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Mt 5:7) and "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Mt 9:13). As Christians we are called to oppose the culture of death by witnessing to something greater and more perfect: a gospel of life, hope and mercy.
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Do something nice for someone else without being asked or telling anyone. Pray for him or her while you do so.
  • Read about a Church teaching you don't understand in the Catechism (www.goo.gl/cu4OBs).
  • Read about the life of a modern saint. You might be surprised by how much you have in common with him or her.
One Step Further:
For some people who are committed to upholding the sanctity of human life, the death penalty can present a challenge. Properly understood, however, Catholic teaching against the death penalty is both persuasive and eminently pro-life. Find out why in "Life Matters: A Catholic Response to the Death Penalty" at www.goo.gl/OIEb7P.
NABRE © 2010 CCD. Used with permission.
Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

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Day Nine: Sunday, January 29, 2017 (Spanish)

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Intercession: For God's peace to fill the hearts of all who travel upon the path of adoption.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us to "hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm" (Heb 6:18-19). We pray that all who are involved in the adoption process would be filled with the hope of Christ and "the peace of God that surpasses all understanding" (Phil 4:7). We also remember that we too can cling fast to this anchor of hope, for we have received "a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, 'Abba, Father!'" (Rom 8:15). May our loving Father envelop each of us in his love today and open our eyes in faith that we may see and rejoice in his love.

Acts of Reparation (choose one):
  • Make an act of faith, hope, or love (www.goo.gl/QiIqQW). 
  • Today, ignore your sweet tooth. Make healthy eating choices.
  • Make a "quiet hour" today, turning off all electronic devices (cell phone, iPod, computer, television, radio, video game system), and retreat to your room. Spend some time in prayer or prayerful reading, such as the "Novena to St. Joseph: For Those on the Path of Adoption" (www.goo.gl/dv7Dn2). 
One Step Further:
Maya*, who placed her child for adoption, gives nine suggestions for offering ongoing support in "Accompanying Expectant Mothers Considering Adoption" (www.goo.gl/srj6L3). In "An Adoption Love Story," Jenny* shares her and her husband's story of adopting their son, Andrew. Read about some of the challenges, concerns, and joys on their journey at www.goo.gl/S5OxL7. (Supplemental reference information regarding adoption can be found at www.goo.gl/EqCRV4.)

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