Monday September 30, 2024
ST JEROME, P.D. (MEMORIAL)
Office: Memorial, Psalter Week 2
Mass and Preface of the Memorial;
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers 1 of the Solemnity of Our Lady Queen and Patroness of Nigeria
OCTOBER DEVOTION BEGIN TOMORROW: The Rosary should be recommended to the faithful and its nature and importance explained. (ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE, 2002). A plenary indulgence is granted to those who recite the five decades of the Rosary in a church, or as a family at home, in a religious community or in a pious association. Or in general whenever several persons have gathered for a good purpose, and in other circumstances a partial Indulgence. (Enchiridion of Indulgence, 1968, n.48)
FIRST READING
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, ‘blessed be the name of the Lord. ”
A reading from the Book of Job (Job 1:6-22)
There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Loan, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys feeding beside them; and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burnt up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Loco.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 17:1.2-3.6-7 (R. 6b)
R/. Lord, turn your ear to me; hear my words.
O Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips. R/.
From you may my justice come forth.
Your eyes discern what is upright.
Search my heart and visit me by night.
Test me by fire, and you will find no wrong in me. R/.
R/. Lord, turn your ear to me; hear my words.
To you I call; for you will surely heed me,
O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your merciful love.
By your right hand you deliver from their
foes those who put their trust in you. R/.
ALLELUIA Mark 10:45
Alleluia. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He who! Is least among you all is the one who is great.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 9:46-50)
At that time: An argument arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
When we think of children, our first thoughts are of how much trouble they give, how petty and naïve they appear. Think of how bothersome their noise could be around you when you are on an important phone call. Think of the anger when in their innocence they scratch lines on your car. Watch a pack of them yapping, running and jumping, bouncing aimlessly, kicking one another or breaking down a door. Yet in our gospel text of today, Jesus insists that if we must see God, we must look to children but how are we to understand this? Of course, despite their pettiness, children are highly dependent, trusting, innocent and simple with no sense of self-importance. In which case, to belong to the kingdom of God, we must recognize our dependence and nothingness and yield ourselves to receive the kingdom as a gift of God.
BLESSING FOR THE NEW WEEK
For the gift of this new day and this new week we say thank you Lord.
For the gift of our parents, children, brothers, sisters, nephews, cousins and friends we say thank you Lord.
For the gift of our work, study, business and faith in Jesus Christ we say thank you Lord.
Lord, we are about to step out for this day and we do not know what it has in store for us, but we place it in your hands so that you will see us through and grant us your blessings.
May you oh Lord be our Shepherd (Psalm 23) and may your goodness and mercy follow us throughout this week and all the days of our life.
In your name we decree and declare that it shall be a favourable week for us. What ever may come our way, we shall be victorious and all glory will be to your name.
Dear friend, go out with hope today. Do not be afraid. Put in your best in what you do and you will succeed. I pray for your intention in the mass I celebrate this day.
May you shine out brightly as the light so that the darkness of our world will be dispelled.
Do your best, believe in God and he will make your effort to be fruitful. Amen.
Meditation: Luke 8:16-18
THE MIRACULOUS 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA, 8TH SEPT. TO 31ST OCT. 2024.
FIRST 27 DAYS IN PETITION
(Please, kindly note that this Novena does not in any way replace the October Devotion prayers)
Day 23: THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
Petition: Let us pray for all those participating in this Miraculous 54-Day Rosary Novena, that through the intercession of Our Mother Mary, God will hear and answer our prayers and grant us our heart desires we pray O Lord.
1. Prayer before the recitation of the rosary
2. + In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Sign of the cross.
3. Hail Mary.
IN PETITION: Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!
4. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
5. The Agony in the Garden – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Scourging at the Pillar – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Crowning with Thorns – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Carrying of the Cross – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Crucifixion – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
6. Say: The Hail Holy Queen.
7. Let us pray: O God whose only begotten son by his life death………..
8. Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9. Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary …
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit amen.
