Daily Scripture Reading (from the Catholic Bible)

[thisbe.ara]

Sunday, July 3, 2005

We ought to be persuaded that what God refuses to our prayer, He grants to our salvation.

-- St. Augustine

First Reading:Zechariah 9:9-10
Psalm:Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14
Second Reading:Romans 8:9, 11-13
Gospel:Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;
26 yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.
27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

[thisbe.ara]

Monday, July 4, 2005
American Independence Day

The mortifications which come to us from God, or from men by His permission, are always worth more than those which are the children of our own will; for it must be considered a general rule, that the less our taste and choice intervene in our actions, the more they will have of goodness, solidity, devotion, the pleasure of God and our own profit.

-- St. Francis de Sales


First Reading:Isaiah 58-6-11
Psalm:Psalm 107:2-9
Gospel:Matthew 25:31-46


31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005

In 1992, Pope John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. This is a time for "prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind." (Quote from Letter Instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May 1992)

-- Pope John Paul II

First Reading:Genesis 32:23-33
Psalm:Psalm 17:1-3, 6-7, 8, 15
Gospel:Matthew 9:32-38


32 As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him.
33 And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel."
34 But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38 pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

[belle]

Wednesday, July 6, 2005


We should have frequent recourse to prayer, and persevere a long time in it. God wishes to be solicited. He is not weary of hearing us. The treasure of His graces is infinite. We can do nothing more pleasing to him than to beg incessantly that He bestow them upon us.


-- St. John Baptist de la Salle


First Reading: Genesis 41: 55 – 57; 42:5 - 7, 17 - 24
Psalm: Psalms 33: 2 - 3, 10 - 11, 18 - 19
Gospel: Matthew 10: 1 – 7


1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.
2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb'edee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand

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Thursday, July 7, 2005

Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.

-- St. John Chrysostom

First Reading:Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5
Psalm:Psalm 105:16-21
Gospel:Matthew 10:7-15


7 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
9 Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, salute it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
15 Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than for that town.

[belle]

Friday, July 8, 2005

I pray You to destroy in me all that is not of You. Grant that I may live but in You, by You and for You, so that I may truly say, with St. Paul, "I live - now not I - But Christ lives in me.

-- St. John Gabriel

First Reading: Genesis 46: 1 - 7, 28 - 30
Psalm: Psalms 37: 3 - 4, 18 - 19, 27 - 28, 39 - 40
Gospel: Matthew 10: 16 - 23

16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;
22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

[thisbe.ara]

Saturday, July 9, 2005
Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Do not be suspicious of your brother, for you will lose purity of heart!!

-- St. John of the Cross


First Reading:Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26
Psalm:Psalm 105:1-4, 6-7
Gospel:Matthew 10:24-33


24Â* "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master;Â*
25Â* it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.Â*
26Â* "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.Â*
27Â* What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops.Â*
28Â* And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.Â*
29Â* Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will.Â*
30Â* But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.Â*
31Â* Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.Â*
32Â* So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven;Â*
33Â* but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.Â*

[thisbe.ara]

Sunday, July 10, 2005

No, my dear brethren, this gracious virtue of purity is not known to those young men whose eyes and hands are defiled by glances and...Oh God, how many souls does this sin drag down to Hell...This beautiful virtue is not known to those worldly and corrupt girls who make so many preparations and take so many cares to draw the eyes of the world towards themselves, who by their affected and indecent dress announce publicly that they are evil instruments which hell makes use of to ruin souls--those souls which cost so much in labors and tears and torments to Jesus Christ. Look at them, these misfortunates, and you will see that a thousand devils surround their heads and their breasts. An even more astounding thing to understand is how their mothers endure them in a state unworthy of a Christian. I would tell these mothers they are worth no more than their daughters.

-- St. John Vianney


First Reading:Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm:Psalm 65:10-14
Second Reading:Romans 8:18-23
Gospel:Matthew 13:1-23 or 13:1-9


1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach.
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6 but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away.
7 Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear."
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.'
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

[thisbe.ara]

for Monday, July 11, 2005
St. Benedict, Abbot (Memorial)

A father thinks that it is quite enough to maintain good order in his house; he will not have anyone swearing or using obscene words. That is very good. But he has no scruple about allowing his boys to go to amusements, to fairs, and all sorts of pleasures. This same father permits work to be done on Sundays on the slightest pretext. However, you see him in church adoring God. Carry on my poor friend, you are blind. Do you not see that you are doing the work of Pontius Pilate, who recognized Jesus Christ and then condemned Him. Go and learn your duties, then you may come to offer your prayers to God.

-- St. John Vianney


First Reading:Exodus 1:8-14, 22-22 or Proverbs 2:1-9
Psalm:Psalm 124:1-8 or Psalm 34:2-11
Gospel:Matthew 10:34-42 -- 11:1 or Matthew 19:27-29



34Â* "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.Â*
35Â* For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;Â*
36Â* and a man's foes will be those of his own household.Â*
37Â* He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;Â*
38Â* and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.Â*
39Â* He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.Â*
40Â* "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.Â*
41Â* He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.Â*
42Â* And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."Â*

[thisbe.ara]

for Tuesday, July 12, 2005

As long as a single passion reigns in our hearts, though all the others should have been overcome, the soul will never enjoy peace.

-- St. Joseph Calasanctius

First Reading:Exodus 2:1-15
Psalm:Psalm 69:3-3, 14, 30-31, 33-34
Gospel:Matthew 11:20-24


20 Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
21 "Woe to you, Chora'zin! woe to you, Beth-sa'ida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
23 And you, Caper'na-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."