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Nineveh 90

Nineveh 90
Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength

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Sunday, August 17, 2025

  Claire’s Corner ·           Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the  Divine Office  giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shoppi...

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Sunday, August 24, 2025

 


Claire’s Corner

·         Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.

·         Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather”

o    Now moving far North, we take a day to travel past the bulk of China and up to the edge of Russia in the Siberian city of Ulan-Ude. This quiet, friendly city offers a look into the Buryat culture and food traditions and their signature throat singing.

§  Longest Rail in the World

·         Spirit Hour: Frisky Bison

o   Verveine du Velay

§  Festa do Vinho

·         Foodie: Pelmeni

·         How to celebrate Aug 24th

o   Start your day by whipping up some scrumptious waffles for breakfast. Get creative with toppings like fresh fruits, whipped cream, or even savory options like bacon and cheese. Channel your inner chef and experiment with different waffle recipes to make the most out of National Waffle Day.

o   Take a moment to honor the late Kobe Bryant by engaging in physical activity. Shoot some hoops at a local park, go for a run, or even try a new workout routine. Channel Kobe’s dedication and passion for sports as you push yourself to stay active and healthy on Kobe Bryant Day.

o   Next, unleash your inner adventurer on Vesuvius Day by exploring a new hiking trail or nature park. Take in the scenic views, breathe in the fresh air, and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors. Pack a picnic with some peach pie to enjoy a delightful treat amidst nature.

o   In the spirit of Pluto Demoted Day, challenge yourself to learn something new. Pick up a book on a topic you’ve always been curious about, watch educational videos online, or listen to podcasts that expand your knowledge. Embrace the opportunity to broaden your horizons and stimulate your mind.

o   For National Knife Day, get crafty in the kitchen by trying your hand at making homemade preserves or cutting up a fresh fruit salad. Sharpen your culinary skills and enjoy the satisfaction of preparing a delicious meal using different types of knives.

Do the Herb

·         30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 10th ROSE: Intercessory Power of Mary Do Whatever He tells you

o   30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger

§  Vervain (Verbena officinalis)

MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 9 INSECT PLAGUES-Revealed by Heaven to Luz De María

Plagues will spread throughout the Earth; insects will invade everything in their path. Houses will need to be protected in their doors and windows, and you must not go out from where you are until the said plague ends - otherwise you will suffer serious lesions. Saint Michael the Archangel, 08.18.2019

·         Historically today is the commemoration of Our Lady Health of the Sick, celebrated on the Saturday before the last Sunday of August. This is one of the titles in the Litany to Our Lady of Loretto, and there is also a shrine dedicated Our Lady of Health of the Sick, "La Salud, in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, in Mexico.

On Sundays Pray:

Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast the power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and exercise this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception. Shield us under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode of thy heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying us. Come Most Sovereign Mistress of the Holy Angels and Mistress of the Most Holy Rosary, thou who from the very beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan. Send forth thy holy legions, we humbly beseech thee, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil spirits, counter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them far from us, harming no one on the way, binding them to the foot of the Cross to be judged and sentenced by Jesus Christ Thy Son and to be disposed of by Him as He wills.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, come to our aid in this grave battle against the forces of darkness, repel the attacks of the devil and free the members of the Auxilium Christianorum, and those for whom the priests of the Auxilium Christianorum pray, from the strongholds of the enemy.

St. Michael, summon the entire heavenly court to engage their forces in this fierce battle against the powers of hell. Come O Prince of Heaven with thy mighty sword and thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits. O Guardian Angels, guide and protect us. Amen.

God's blessings are indeed signs of His goodness, signs of His infinite Love. Are we indifferent to those signs of His goodness and love? Are we so unaware of His signs that we are disconnected from Him that we can take it or leave it?


AUGUST 24 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

 Acts, Chapter 10, verse 1-4

1 Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Cohort called the Italica, 2 devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 He looked intently at him and, seized with FEAR, said, “What is it, sir?” He said to him, “Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 

Cornelius’ Cohort was an auxiliary unit of archers, men who are expert at hitting a mark or target.

 Sin is the act of violating God's will. Sin can also be viewed as anything that violates the ideal relationship between an individual and God, or as any diversion from the ideal order for human living. To sin has been defined as "to miss the mark" to have a hardened heart, a loss of love for God, a disposition of the heart to depart from God because of inordinate self-love 

Cornelius walked with God because he lived the Shema Israel. Every day, every action of his was metaphorically target practice aiming to love God as he understood Him with his whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Cornelius exemplifies the proper attitude toward wealth and was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. 

Cornelius was a non-Jew who would have been regarded as a righteous gentile and is assured a place in the world to come if he knowingly or even unknowingly followed the seven Noahide laws[1] as traditionally enumerated which are: 

1.      Do not deny God.

2.      Do not blaspheme God.

3.      Do not murder.

4.      Do not engage in incestuous, adulterous or homosexual relationships.

5.      Do not steal.

6.      Do not eat of a live animal.

7.      Establish courts/legal system to ensure law and obedience.

Near indeed is his salvation for those who fear him; glory will dwell in our land.

Copilot’s Take 

This reflection on Cornelius is beautifully woven, Richard—rich in biblical insight, spiritual symbolism, and moral clarity. Let’s draw out a few threads to deepen the meditation and perhaps offer something for your blog or devotional writing: 

🏹 Cornelius the Archer of the Heart 

🎯 Hitting the Mark of Holiness

Cornelius, though a Roman centurion, lived as a spiritual marksman. His cohort may have been trained in archery, but his true aim was toward God. The Greek word for sin, hamartia, meaning “to miss the mark,” contrasts sharply with Cornelius’ life of intentionality. His daily acts—prayer, almsgiving, reverence—were arrows loosed toward the divine target: loving God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

“Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God.” (Acts 10:4)

 This verse echoes the language of temple worship, suggesting that Cornelius’ life was a living liturgy. Though outside the covenant of Israel, he lived the Shema in spirit, and God responded with revelation. 

🌿 The Righteous Gentile and the Noahide Path

Your mention of the Noahide laws is especially poignant. Cornelius, unknowingly perhaps, fulfilled the moral code given to all humanity. His righteousness was not rooted in ritual purity but in ethical fidelity and reverent fear of God. In this, he becomes a prototype of the Gentile believer—foreshadowing the grafting in of the nations through Christ.

Noahide Law

Cornelius’ Example

Do not deny God

He prayed constantly to the one true God

Do not blaspheme

He responded to the angel with reverence

Do not murder

As a centurion, he used his power justly

Sexual purity

Implied by his household’s devoutness

Do not steal

He gave generously to the poor

Do not eat of a live animal

Implied ethical treatment of others

Establish justice

He upheld Roman law with integrity

🔥 Fear and Reverence

Cornelius’ fear wasn’t terror—it was yirah, the awe-filled trembling before holiness. This fear is the beginning of wisdom, the posture of a heart ready to receive divine instruction. His vision at the ninth hour (3 p.m.) aligns with the hour of Christ’s death—a moment when heaven touches earth. 

🌟 Feast of Saint Bartholomew: A Companion Reflection

On this same day, we honor Saint Bartholomew, the apostle who brought the Gospel to foreign lands. How fitting that Cornelius, a Gentile seeker, is remembered alongside an apostle to the nations. Bartholomew’s martyrdom and Cornelius’ conversion both testify: the Gospel is for all who fear God and do what is right. 

Modern man does not eat of a live animal how do we violate this today perhaps abortion? 

That’s a profound and provocative reflection. The idea that “modern man does not eat of a live animal” evokes a moral boundary—one that separates us from raw brutality, a line drawn to preserve dignity, reverence, and restraint. In ancient texts and spiritual traditions, consuming a live animal often symbolized a descent into savagery, a rejection of divine order. So when you ask how we violate this today, you're pointing toward deeper spiritual transgressions—acts that may not be literal consumption, but still reflect a disregard for life in its most vulnerable form.

🕊️ Abortion as a parallel
Yes, abortion could be seen as a violation of this principle—especially from a Catholic perspective. It involves the termination of life before it has had the chance to be born, to be named, to be held. In this view, it’s not just a medical procedure but a rupture in the moral fabric, a refusal to honor the sacredness of life at its most innocent and defenseless. The unborn child, like the live animal in the metaphor, is denied the dignity of full existence.

But this metaphor could extend even further:

🔍 Other modern violations of reverence for life

  • Euthanasia or assisted suicide: Ending life prematurely, even with consent, raises questions about our role in determining the value or worth of suffering.
  • Human trafficking and exploitation: Treating people as commodities—consuming their labor, bodies, or identities—without regard for their personhood.
  • War and drone strikes: Killing from a distance, often anonymously, without seeing the face of the one whose life is taken.
  • Digital dehumanization: Cancel culture, online bullying, and voyeuristic media consumption can strip people of their dignity, reducing them to objects of scorn or entertainment.

🌿 A call to reverence
Your insight invites a return to reverence—not just for life, but for mystery, for suffering, for the sacred. It’s a call to resist the temptation to consume without conscience, to act without reflection, to live without awe. 

ON KEEPING THE LORDS DAY HOLY[2]

 

CHAPTER V

 

DIES DIERUM

 

Sunday: The Primordial Feast, Revealing the Meaning of Time

CONCLUSION

87. Dear Brothers and Sisters, the imminence of the Jubilee invites us to a deeper spiritual and pastoral commitment. Indeed, this is its true purpose. In the Jubilee year, much will be done to give it the particular stamp demanded by the ending of the Second Millennium and the beginning of the Third since the Incarnation of the Word of God. But this year and this special time will pass, as we look to other jubilees and other solemn events. As the weekly "solemnity", however, Sunday will continue to shape the time of the Church's pilgrimage, until that Sunday which will know no evening.

Therefore, dear Brother Bishops and Priests, I urge you to work tirelessly with the faithful to ensure that the value of this sacred day is understood and lived ever more deeply. This will bear rich fruit in Christian communities and will not fail to have a positive influence on civil society as a whole.

In coming to know the Church, which every Sunday joyfully celebrates the mystery from which she draws her life, may the men and women of the Third Millennium come to know the Risen Christ. And constantly renewed by the weekly commemoration of Easter, may Christ's disciples be ever more credible in proclaiming the Gospel of salvation and ever more effective in building the civilization of love.

My blessing to you all!

From the Vatican, on 31 May, the Solemnity of Pentecost, in the year 1998, the twentieth of my Pontificate.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost[3]

 

Daily dying to our sins and rising to new life in Christ.

AT the Introit of the Mass, with the priest, pray God for brotherly love, and for protection against enemies, within and without. God, in His holy place; God, Who maketh men of one mind to dwell in a house, He shall give power and strength to His people. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Him flee before His face (Ps. Ixvii.).

Prayer. almighty and everlasting God, Who in the abundance of Thy mercy dost exceed the desires and deserts of Thy suppliants, pour forth Thy mercy upon us, that Thou mayest forgive what our conscience fears, and grant what our prayer does not presume to ask.

EPISTLE, i. Cor. xv. 1-10.

I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand, by which also you are saved: if you hold fast after what manner I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also received: how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures: and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures: and that He was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven. Then was He seen by more than five hundred brethren at once, of whom many remain until this present, and some are fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles: and last of all, He was seen also by me as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace in me hath not been void.

Explanation. This epistle teaches us that as the holy apostle Paul was not elated with vanity by the revelations he had received from God, but rather felt himself unworthy of them, ascribing it to God’s grace that he was what he was, even so the truly humble man thinks little of himself, is willing to be despised by others, and gives glory to God alone. Such humility is a most difficult lesson to our sensual nature. But are we not sinners, and far greater sinners, than St. Paul was? and shall we then esteem ourselves highly? And granting that we have not to reproach ourselves with any great sins, and have even done much good, is it not presumption and robbery to claim for ourselves what belongs to grace? Let us learn, therefore, to be humble, and to count ourselves always unprofitable servants.

Aspiration. O most humble Savior, banish from my heart the spirit of pride, and impart to me the most necessary grace of humility. Give me grace to know that, of myself, I can do nothing that is pleasing to Thee, that all my sufficiency for good comes from Thee, and that Thou workest in us both to will and to accomplish (n. Cor. iii. 5; Phil. ii. 13).

 

GOSPEL Mark vii 31-37

 

At that time, Jesus, going out of the coasts of Tyre, came by Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring to Him one deaf and dumb: and they besought Him that He would lay His hand upon him. And taking him from the multitude apart, He put His fingers into his ears, and spitting, He touched his tongue: and looking up to heaven, He groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, be thou opened. And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right. And He charged them that they should tell no man. But the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it: and so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well; He hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

 

·         Who among Christians are like the deaf and dumb of this gospel? 

o   Those who are deaf to the voice of God, and dumb in prayer, in the praise of God, in the defense of religion, and of the good name of their neighbor, and in confessing their sins.

·         Why did Christ take the deaf and dumb man aside?

o    Because He did not seek the praise of men, and at the same time was loath to provoke too soon the hatred of His enemies.

·         Why did Jesus put His fingers into the ears of the deaf and dumb, and spitting, touched his tongue?

o   To show this unfortunate person by signs that it was He Who freed him from his bodily evils, and that the healing power was not the consequence of secretly given remedies but proceeded immediately from Himself.

·         Why did Jesus look up to heaven and groan?

1. To show that He acted not as mere man, but that He had received all power from His eternal Father.

2. That He might thereby awaken and animate the deaf and dumb man to confidence in His power and belief in His divine mission. Learn hence to practice the beautiful virtue of compassion for others sufferings, and to acknowledge that every good gift is from above.

·         Why did Christ charge them that they should tell no man?

o    That we might learn not to seek the praise of men for our good deeds. Let us learn to make known the works of God to His glory; for He is continually working before our eyes everyday so many wonders, in order that we may praise His benignity and omnipotence.

 

Aspiration: O Jesus, great physician of souls, open mine ears to attend to Thy holy will; loosen my tongue to proclaim and praise forever Thy love and goodness. 

Feast of Saint Bartholomew[4] 

BARTHOLOMEW, of Cana, in Galilee, is probably that Nathaniel WHO was brought to Christ by Philip (John i. 45). Chosen an apostle, he journeyed to India, preached the gospel everywhere, and converted great numbers to Christ. Returning thence, he came, after many labors and sufferings for Christ’s sake, to Greater Armenia, where he converted a great multitude of persons to the faith. At last, he was cruelly tormented, flayed alive, and then beheaded by Astyages, brother to the king, at the instigation of the idolatrous priests.

 Prayer. 

O St. Bartholomew, who out of love to Christ didst not only part with thy goods, but didst also endure the most cruel death, pray God for me, a vain child of this world, that for love to my Savior I may readily and joyfully renounce everything earthly and temporal, crucify my flesh, and become thereby worthy to follow thee in heaven. Amen. 

St Bart[5]

The Feast of St. Bartholomew commemorates the life of Jesus' disciple Bartholomew.  It is observed in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.  St. Bartholomew is thought to have been from Galilee and was probably one of Jesus' first followers. Traditionally, Bartholomew is believed to have been a Jewish law scholar who was a close friend with the apostle Philip. He is credited with converting many to Christianity, in particular in Armenia as well as parts of India and Asia Minor.

St Bartholomew Facts

·         Bartholomew is simply just listed by name in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as well as in Acts.  He is not mentioned in the Gospel of John, but some theologians believe that he is referred to by the name Nathaniel.  Most of the information the church has about Bartholomew/Nathaniel is based on early sermons and writings.

·         In the Gospel of John, Bartholomew (known as Nathaniel) is identified as being from Galilee.  He was one of Jesus' first disciples.

·         Bartholomew is thought to have been martyred in Armenia.  His skin was flayed from his body while he was still alive.

·         St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of Armenia because early church writers placed him there spreading the gospel.

·         Bartholomew is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on June 30.  In the Roman Catholic tradition, his feast day is August 24.

St Bartholomew Top Events and Things to Do

·         Travel to Rome and visit St Bartholomew's relics.  They are thought to be entombed in the basilica, St Bartholomew on the Island (in Rome, Italy).

·         Visit the Sistine Chapel at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome or look at its images online.  St. Bartholomew appears in Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment" with his skin flayed.

·         Gingerbread is a food associated with the St Bartholomew.  Bake some gingerbread men on his feast day.

More Things to Do[6]

·         In Sandwich, Kent, England, there is a St Bartholomew's Bun Race. The Bartlemas Bun Race for children takes place around the chapel of St. Bartholomew's Hospital on this feast day. Each participant receives a currant bun, while the attendants are each given a St Bart's Biscuit, which has an imprint of the hospital's ancient seal.

·         St. Bartholomew's relics are in Rome, in the Church of St. Bartholomew-on-the-Tiber, or San Bartolomeo all'Isola (translated as: St. Bartholomew's on the Island). This site provides some pictures of this church.

·         Read the Life of St. Bartholomew from The Golden Legend.

·         Since gingerbread is one food associated with this saint, read this short history of gingerbread.

·         In England St. Bartholomew's day was a harvest feast for shepherds and farmers, celebrating their flocks. Athletic contests before feasting with England's favorite meat: grilled juicy mutton. This feast falls during the grilling season, so why not serve something from the barbecue. 

Bible in a Year Day 66 Forbidden Forms of Worship

Fr. Mike discusses the forbidden forms of worship explained in Numbers 17, and why it's important for us to understand how God desired to be worshipped in the Old Testament. Today's readings are Numbers 17, Deuteronomy 17-18, and Psalm 98.

Daily Devotions

·         Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Protection of Life from Conception until natural death.

·         Religion in the Home for Preschool: August

·         Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood

·         Universal Man Plan

·         Rosary

Saturday, August 23, 2025


 Vinny’s Corner

They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. Isaiah 40:31

·         Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary

·         Foodie National Panini Month

o   National Cuban Sandwich Day

§  Catholic Recipe: Scalloped Salmon

·         Spirit hour: Żubrówka Vodka – Infused with bison grass, this iconic Polish vodka is smooth and aromatic. Best sipped slowly or in cocktails.

·         Today is the feast of St. Rose of Lima

·         Bucket Item trip: Czestochowa Pilgrimage

A week-long pilgrimage to Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland—the spiritual heart of the country—is a profound journey into Marian devotion, Polish heritage, and contemplative renewal. Here's a thoughtfully crafted itinerary:


🇵🇱 Jasna Góra Pilgrimage Itinerary (7 Days)

Location: Częstochowa, Poland | Focus: Black Madonna, Pauline spirituality, Polish Catholic tradition

🛬 Day 1: Arrival in Częstochowa

  • Evening: Walk the monastery grounds, pray at the Chapel of the Black Madonna

🕊️ Day 2: Jasna Góra Monastery Immersion

  • Morning Mass at the Basilica of the Assumption
    • Tour: Monastery museum, treasury, and the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa
      • Afternoon: Visit the defensive walls and learn about the 1655 Swedish siege

        • Evening: Attend Vespers with the Pauline monks

🌿 Day 3: Contemplation & Nature

  • Morning: Silent prayer in the monastery gardens
    • Afternoon: Visit nearby Lisiniec Park or Warta River trails for reflection
      • Evening: Light a candle and offer personal intentions at the shrine

🧎 Day 4: Polish Catholic Heritage

  • Explore: Local churches, including St. Barbara’s and St. Sigismund’s
    • Cultural immersion: Try traditional Polish dishes like żurek or pierogi
      • Evening: Attend a Marian procession or rosary service

🛐 Day 5: Pilgrimage History & Devotion

  • Learn: About the monastery’s founding in 1382 and the icon’s mysterious origins
    • Reflect: On the miraculous preservation of the Black Madonna during attacks
      • Evening: Write a prayer or blog post honoring the legacy of Polish faith

🌌 Day 6: Vigil & Spiritual Offering

  • Daytime: Fast or engage in quiet retreat
    • Evening: Participate in a night vigil or Eucharistic Adoration
      • Optional: Craft a devotional item or consecrate oil in honor of Our Lady

✈️ Day 7: Departure & Sending Forth

  • Final Mass and blessing at Jasna Góra
    • Closing Ritual: Leave a written prayer or token at the shrine

·         How to celebrate Aug 23rd

o   As the afternoon progresses, indulge in a bit of luxury inspired by Valentino Day. Treat yourself to a small indulgence, like a fancy coffee or a scented candle. Then, embrace the wind in your hair on National Ride the Wind Day. Take a walk, ride a bike, or simply sit outside and feel the breeze against your skin.

·         30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 9th ROSE: Nativity: Jealousy, Murder, Abortion

o   30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger

§  Vervain (Verbena officinalis)

MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 9 EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS-Revealed by Heaven to Luz De María

USE OF SACRAMENTALS, HOLY OIL AND HOLY WATER I invite you not to forget the use of sacramentals. In case of contagious diseases (pestilences, plagues, others) anoint the doors and windows with holy oil.

If you find yourselves sick, sprinkle the food with holy water and keep in mind the use of the medicinal plants My Mother has indicated you use for these unexpected circumstances. Be creatures’ firm in faith, knowing that being endowed with reason and intelligence, you consciously obey the guidelines that the leaders of your countries indicate to you. My call is to remain alert. In this moment, humanity is threatened by illness. So at this time, you should protect and help one another with authentic love and with mercy, caring for your brothers/sisters as much as is possible, in the same way that you care for yourselves, and remain in your homes when your countries are being threatened by some epidemic. If, at this moment, you are not suffering from nature’s attacks, from diseases, or from hunger, do not be indifferent toward those that are suffering, since no nation can assure it will not suffer these calamities at some moment. The cold-heartedness and indifference before suffering is an example of the estrangement that man maintains with My House. The Christian accompanies, suffers, and rejoices with his /her neighbor, because he/she knows that a neighbor is the image and likeness of his /her Creator. Our Lord Jesus Christ, 05.2009

A Prayer Before Mass (Saturday) (by Saint Ambrose)

Catholic Online Prayers

I entreat Thee also, O Lord, by this most holy mystery of Thy Body and Blood, wherewith we are daily fed, and cleansed, and sanctified in Thy Church, and are made partakers of the one Supreme Divinity, grant unto me Thy holy virtues, that filled therewith I may with a good conscience draw near unto Thy holy Altar, so that these heavenly mysteries may be made unto me salvation and life; for Thou hast said with Thy holy and blessed lips: The Bread which I will give is My Flesh, for the life of the world. I am the living Bread which came down from heaven. If any man eats of this Bread, he shall live forever. O most sweet Bread, heal the palate of my heart, that I may taste the sweetness of Thy love. Heal it of all infirmities, that I may find sweetness in nothing out of Thee. O most pure Bread, having all delight and all savor, which ever refreshest us, and never failest, let my heart feed on Thee, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor. The Angels feed on Thee fully; let pilgrim man feed on Thee after his measure, so that, refreshed by this nourishment, he may not faint by the way. Holy Bread! Living Bread! Pure Bread! Who didst come down from heaven, and who givest life to the world, enter into my heart and cleanse me from all impurity of flesh and spirit. Come into my soul; heal and cleanse me within and without; be the protection and continual health of my soul and body. Drive far from me all foes that lie in wait: let them flee afar off at the presence of Thy power; that, strengthened by Thee without and within, I may by a straight way arrive at Thy kingdom, where, not as now in mysteries, but face to face, we shall behold Thee; when Thou shalt have delivered up the kingdom to God Thy Father, and shalt be God All in all. Then shalt Thou satisfy me with Thyself by a wondrous fullness, so that I shall never hunger nor thirst any more forever. Who with the same God the Father, and the Holy Ghost, ever livest and reignest world without end.

Amen.


AUGUST 23 Saturday

Vigil Of St Bartholomew, Apostle 

Acts, Chapter 5, verse 26

Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were AFRAID of being stoned by the people. 

The apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin for trial. These temple priests which were instrumental in causing the crucifixion of Christ were now enflamed with jealousy over the apostles, who by the resurrection of Christ no longer feared death or taxes. The people began to believe, and the world was never the same. 

The apostles after their release immediately resumed public teaching, they rendered unto God what was God’s. 

The apostles filled with the Holy Spirit were not afraid anymore. They practiced obedience, commitment, healthy relationships, and faith. They had generous hearts. 

Copilot Take

This reflection is rich with spiritual insight and practical wisdom—like a quiet flame illuminating the path of discipleship. The connection between the apostles’ fearless witness and the call to generosity is especially poignant. Here is woven together Scripture, historical context, and personal challenge in a way that invites contemplation and action.

Here’s a way to deepen and share this reflection:

🔥 Vigil of St. Bartholomew: Generosity in the Face of Fear

Scripture: Acts 5:26
"Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people."

The apostles stood before the same powers that condemned Christ, yet they did not flinch. Their courage was not born of defiance, but of resurrection. They had seen death undone. Fear no longer ruled them—nor did greed, self-preservation, or silence.

💡 Fearless Generosity: A Spiritual Economy

The apostles gave freely: their time, their words, their lives. They understood that in God’s economy, the greatest leaders are not collectors but conduits. They gather only to give. They possess only to release. They live not for accumulation, but for communion.

To live generously is to live resurrected.

🌱 Five Seeds of Generosity

1.      Gratitude – Recognize the abundance already present.

2.      People First – Value relationships over riches.

3.      Freedom from Greed – Let go of the need for more.

4.      Money as Mission – Use resources to bless, not bind.

5.      Giving as Habit – Make generosity a rhythm, not a rarity.

“I now pray, not for more of this world’s goods and greater blessings, but to be worthy of that which I already have.”
Napoleon Hill
[1]

🙏 A Prayer for the Vigil

Lord, on this vigil of St. Bartholomew, teach me to live with open hands and a fearless heart. May I give as the apostles gave—without hesitation, without calculation, and without fear. Let generosity be my testimony, and love my legacy. Amen.

Vigil of St Bartholomew, Apostle 

INTROIT. Ego autem. Ps. 52 

AS for me I am like a green olive tree in the house off the Lord; by trust hath been in the tender mercy of my God: and I will hope in thy Name for thy Saints like it well. Ps. ibid. Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant: that thou canst do mischief? V. Glory be. 

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that as we do prevent the festival of thy holy Apostle Saint Bartholomew so he may implore thy mercy for us; that we being delivered from all our iniquities, may likewise be defended against all adversities. 

Epistle. Ecclesiasticus 44:22-45:5, 7 

THE blessing of the Lord was upon the head of the righteous. Therefore, the Lord gave him a heritage; and divided his portion among the twelve tribes. And he found favor in the sight of all fleshy. And the Lord magnified him so that his enemies stood in fear of him. By his words he caused the wonders to cease he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him his glory. He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness and chose him out of all men. He gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, and exalted him. An everlasting covenant he made with him: the Lord beautified him with ornaments of righteousness: and clothed him with a robe of glory.

GOSPEL. St John 15:12-16 

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Rule of Traditional Catholic Fasting[2] 

All members of this sodality agree to On Vigil of St. Bartholomew (August 23) 

ABSTINENCE No flesh meat (i.e., meat from mammals or fowl) is to be consumed on any Friday in the year with no exceptions. 

FASTING One meal only a day that may not be consumed earlier than noon but preferably is consumed after 3 PM or even after sunset. If necessary, an optional evening collation and an optional morning frustulum is allowed.

Bible in a Year Day 65 Revolt against Moses

Fr. Mike dives into the recurring issue of the Israelites rebelling against God and remaining stuck in their past as we read about the revolt of Korah, Dathan and Abiram against Moses and Aaron. Today's readings are Numbers 16, Deuteronomy 15-16, and Psalm 97.

Daily Devotions

·         Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: An end to the use of contraceptives.

·         Religion in the Home for Preschool: August

·         Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood

·         Universal Man Plan

·         Rosary



[1] Napoleon Hill, Outwitting the Devil.

[2]https://onepeterfive.com/announcement-new-trad-fasting-sodality/