Thursday May 23, 2024
Weekday (7)
Office: Psalter Week 3
Mass and Preface of day
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Luminous Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
FIRST READING
“The wages of the labourers, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries have reached the ears of the Lord.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 5:1-6)
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm49:14-15c. 15d-16.17-18.19-20 (R. Mt 5:3)
R/. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is the way of the foolish,
the outcome of those pleased with their lot:
like sheep they are driven to the grave,
where death shall become their shepherd,
And the upright shall have dominion. R/.
Their outward show wastes away with the morning,
and the grave becomes their home.
But God will ransom my soul from the grasp of hell;
for he indeed will receive me. R/.
R/. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Then do not fear when a man grows rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
He takes nothing with him when he dies,
his glory does not follow him below. R/.
.Though he flattered himself while he lived,
“People will praise me for all my success,”
yet he will go to join his forebears,
and will never see the light any more. R/.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024
ALLELUIA 1 Thessalonians 2: 13
Alleluia. Accept the word of God, not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:41-50)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. For every one will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The Gospel of the Lord
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Your soul is fragile and so, you should handle it with care. Every occasion of sin must be blocked, fought, and defeated. Avoid every occasion of sin. Avoid any place you go and come back less Christian. Avoid anyone you meet and come away from defiled. Remove any source of sin out of your reach – whatever it is. Discipline your eyes, mouth and appetite, and guard the movement of your feet. Avoid whatever defiles you or whatever defiles or scandalizes another. How often do you allow yourself to be a blessing to someone who bears the mark of Christ? Are there things, places, and people you need to avoid for the sake of Christ?
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL IN HONOUR OF MARY
Any attempt to refuse to do the good you are supposed to do at the time you are supposed to do it could easily lead to not being able to achieve what you have set out to achieve in life.
Our Mother Mary was ever ready to do what is right when it is supposed to be done and that was counted for her as righteousness. When she was told that her kinswoman Elizabeth was about to have a child, she set out immediately to go and help her, that is, to do good to her. We must learn from her to be quick to do good always and avoid evil.
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, help me to be quick always to do good when good should be done and may I not procrastinate and leave the things I am supposed to do undone. Amen. And May the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
MAY DEVOTION
Proposed Program of Daily Events for May Devotion (Personal / Group)
1. Opening / Introduction: Sign of the Cross + / (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament optional)
2. ACT OF CONTRITION: O my God because you’re so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.
3. ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: O most pure heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress on our hearts true love so that we may long for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we sin. You know that all we sin. Grant that through your most pure and motherly heart, we may be healed from every spiritual sickness. Grant that we may always experience the goodness of your motherly heart, and that through the flame of your heart we may be converted. Amen.
4. Rosary Recitation and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Begin with the invocation of the Holy Spirit: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart……….
5. ART OF REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart. We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy him forever in Heaven.
6. Brief talk on Blessed Virgin Mary
7. Gift of candle light and offering of petition. (Lighting of candles and submission of petition).
8. MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
9. Prayers for the intention of Our Holy Father (One Our Father, One Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).
10.Closing / Benediction
