Your word is truth, O Lord:
consecrate us in the truth. JN 17:17
consecrate us in the truth. JN 17:17
ACTS 20:28-38
My Soul's Beloved,
From the very beginning, the Church has faced persecution in every degree possible. The most horrendous and barbaric tortures have been reserved for Christians who have witnessed boldly and fearlessly to You and the Good News that saves, regardless of the consequences, even death.
To this day, Lord, it is the faithful remnant which includes those who live in monasteries, cloistered convents, nuns, religious sisters and brothers, priests, deacons, bishops, cardinals, and popes, as well as among the faithful, living hidden lives are praying, sacrificing, fasting, suffering, preaching and teaching, evangelising, witnessing tirelessly who keep alive Your promise that the gates of hell shall never prevail against her. So while, well-meaning prophets of doom in Catholic circles wring their heads and shake their heads about the dire state of the world, which they solemnly predict is doomed to be cast into hell in a handbasket, we are aware that the gates of hell have never ceased to rattle against the gates of the Church from the first. Every age, proclaims hell has won, but we have been warned by the Apostles that enemies will arise from everywhere, even among the hierarchy, to destroy the Church. St. Paul says, '‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified.'
So let's stop the hand-wringing and be counted among the faithful remnant. Let us unite our prayers, sacrifices, fasting, almsgiving, and sincerity in living the faith with theirs. Let us live the Gospel boldly and publicly so that we, in union with You, my Lord, will keep the Church safe from the world, the flesh, and the devil.
PSALM 67(68):29-30,33-36
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
Show forth, O God, show forth your might,
your might, O God, which you have shown for us.
For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem
may kings come to you bringing their tribute.
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord
who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.
He thunders his voice, his mighty voice.
Come, acknowledge the power of God.
His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies.
God is to be feared in his holy place.
He is the Lord, Israel’s God.
He gives strength and power to his people.
Blessed be God!
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
Show forth, O God, show forth your might,
your might, O God, which you have shown for us.
For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem
may kings come to you bringing their tribute.
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord
who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.
He thunders his voice, his mighty voice.
Come, acknowledge the power of God.
His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies.
God is to be feared in his holy place.
He is the Lord, Israel’s God.
He gives strength and power to his people.
Blessed be God!
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
JOHN 17:11-19
My Soul's Beloved,
JOHN 17:11-19
My Soul's Beloved,
Unity, perseverance, joy, and holiness are the hallmarks of the Church You founded. You prayed to Your Father to grant these gifts in Your Name to the Apostles You chose, to the Eleven who remained with You to the end. And from them, these are handed down to their Successors and to every faithful member of Your Church.
Faithful to the Apostles who were true to You and were one with You, we, too, Beloved who remain true to You, are also one with You in the Father. The Holy Spirit is Your Gift to the Church. He watches over her unceasingly. He gives her life, He animates her. He pours streams of grace into every soul who receives the Sacraments You instituted, worthily.
Every one of us who believes in You, is faithful to the successor of Peter, is obedient to him and the Bishops and priests appointed by him and are anointed and consecrated by the Holy Spirit, and who continue the work of evangelising the world, will continue to be preserved from the world. While living in it, we will not be of it.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us sinners. Remember that we are made of dust and have pity on us. Do not permit us to be lost, but rather, true to Your promise, come seek us who wander far away, squandering the graces given to us when we were first baptized. Stay with us, Lord, lest in a moment of weakness we may stray and be lost forever.
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
‘Holy Father,
keep those you have given me true to your name,
so that they may be one like us.
While I was with them,
I kept those you had given me true to your name.
I have watched over them
and not one is lost
except the one who chose to be lost,
and this was to fulfil the scriptures.
But now I am coming to you
and while still in the world I say these things
to share my joy with them to the full.
I passed your word on to them,
and the world hated them,
because they belong to the world
no more than I belong to the world.
I am not asking you to remove them from the world,
but to protect them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth;
your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
I have sent them into the world,
and for their sake I consecrate myself
so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’
No comments:
Post a Comment