these little ones

     The month of December is dedicated to the Divine Infancy of Jesus. Our Almighty Father Our timely developmental stages, as we grow intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually, are precious gifts designed by our Creator. The family is a beautiful foundation in which parents teach, protect and nourish their children, as God does for all of us. God has blessed us with a world rich in a variety of beautiful cultures and traditions, for us to harmoniously celebrate and enjoy. Our Holy Father urges us to join him in prayer for an End to Child-Soldiers (general prayer intention). We are also asked to pray for Europe (mission prayer intention) and the people there. 

     "But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Matthew 18:6

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

"outsiders"

     The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. As Catholic Christians, we are not citizens of this world, but of Heaven. We are not perfect. We aspire to obey God's commands although inundated with the distractions and demands of daily life.  In His infinite mercy, He affords us the way to purification of our souls, and eventual worthiness for entry into Heaven. Many are the episodes in our journey with Jesus that we feel like "outsiders" in relation to our peers. It is within our Church families that we freely experience God's presence and graces. We pray to be inspired by the generosity of Jesus and Mary as we consider the needs of those who suffer the tragedy of economic distress, violence, war, death and displacement.  We are grateful for the guidance of our Priests and religious, as we the laity, work together with them in bringing more souls to Christ. Our Holy Father invites us to pray with him for Countries Receiving Refugees (general Prayer intention) and for Collaboration of Priests and Laity (mission prayer intention)

     "Martha therefore said to Jesus,'Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But now also I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee.' Jesus saith to her, 'Thy brother shall rise again.' Martha saith to Him, 'I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, although he be dead shall live.'"

John 11:21-25

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

World Mission Day

     The month of  October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The humble spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mary is the mother of all people. She presents all of our needs to Our Savior, as she did at the wedding of Cana, when Jesus turned water into wine. Her most important motherly advice was given to us. Obedience to God is our beautiful and holy expression of love. Our Holy Father invites us to join him in prayer for journalists (general prayer intention) and World Mission Day (mission Prayer intention).

     "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited and His disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus saith to her, "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour has not yet come." His mother saith to the waiters~"Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye."

John 2:1-5

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

the redemptive message

     September is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Because of His infinite love for all humans, God created us and all of nature on earth and in the heavens. Jesus suffered and died to make it possible for Heaven to be the ultimate destination of our immortal souls. Our Blessed Mother suffered every pain with Jesus on our behalf. Society attempts to highlight the importance of technology and material things, elevating possessions above the sanctity of life. Technology has the potential to outstrip in speed and impact, the simple message of God's generous love for all humankind. This all too frequently devalues human life in the eyes of many. The urgency of sharing the redemptive message of Jesus cannot be overestimated. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for the Centrality of the Human Person (general prayer intention) and for the Mission to Evangelize (mission intention).

"And thy own soul an sword shall pierce, 

that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed."

Luke 2:35

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

a closer union

     The month of August is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. As Catholic Christians, all of our actions must be carried out in a spirit of respect, honesty, fairness and charity. We are so often "the only Bible" that is read by those in our midst. Our behavior is a powerful expression of the extent to which our hearts are united to Christ. We are recipients of the Blessed Sacrament. Lord, please help us to be generous vessels of Christ's love for all of mankind. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for the conduct of participants in and observers of sports (general intention) and those people who aspire to Live the Gospel(mission prayer intention). Saint Francis of Assisi said to preach the Gospel with our actions, and "if necessary use words". Lifting our Hearts to Jesus in all our actions, may we inspire and draw all whom we encounter to a closer union with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

"By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, 

if you have love for one another."

2 John 13:35

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

in His image and likeness

     The Month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus, who died for the salvation of all people who follow Him in sacrificial and holy love. Our heavenly Father created us in His image and likeness because of His infinite love for us. Lead by the Holy Spirit's inspiration and charity, our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for the world's indigenous peoples (general intention) and the people of Latin America and the Caribbean (mission prayer intention). Lord, please help us to always remember that the faces of people of all races and cultures magnificently radiate the glorious beauty of our almighty and perfect Creator. Let us join hands helping those in need to carry their burdens as we journey together towards our eternity with God.

     "Lift up your eyes on high and see who hath created these things, who bringeth out their host by number and calleth them all by their names, by the greatness of his might and strength and power not one o them was missing. Why sayest thou, O Jacob and speakest O Israel. My way is hid from the Lord and my judgment is passed over from my God? Knowest thou not or hast thou not heard~the Lord is the everlasting God who hath created the ends of the earth. He shall not faint nor labour, neither is there any searching out of His wisdom. It is He that giveth strength to the weary and increaseth the force and might to them that are not. Youths shall faint and labor and young men shall fall by infirmity. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall take wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:26-31

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

my least brethren

     The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for human solidarity (general prayer intention) and for seminarians and novices (mission intention). Jesus is honored by our service and love for all families, as well as for marginalized persons in our society~orphans, homeless, physically ill, mentally ill, aged and disabled. This holy work is the "vocation" of laity and religious alike. Lord, please help us to joyfully serve Jesus, Whose heart beats within the hearts of the suffering and needy.

(Baptism, Guatemala)

(Novices, Esquipulas Guatemala)

(Seminarians, Papal visit, Philadelphia)

    "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. Naked and you covered me, sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him saying, Lord when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, thirsty and give thee drink and when did we see the a stranger and took thee in or naked and covered thee or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came to thee? And the king answering shall say to them~"Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me."

Matthew 25:35-40

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

humbly and obediently

     The month of May is dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for respect for women (general intention) and for increased devotion to the Holy Rosary (mission intention). We pray that our daughters will be surrounded with beautiful Rosary prayers, and that they may enjoy lives of charity, virtue and love. Let us protect and educate our sisters and daughters to be respected and loved as intended by our Heavenly Father. In all words, actions and intentions may Jesus help us to humbly and obediently emulate Our Blessed Virgin Mary. 

 

"Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, 

the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

Proverbs 31:30

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

he that eateth this bread shall live forever

     The month of April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the Bread of eternal life. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for the small farmers (general prayer intention) and for the African Christians (mission prayer intention). So many of God's children, our brothers and sisters, suffer from spiritual and physical starvation and persecution. Let us never forget to imitate God's compassion in our relationships with others.

    

     "For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live forever."

John 6:56-59

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

selfless generosity

     March is dedicated to Saint Joseph, a simple carpenter who selflessly and generously protected and provided for Jesus and Mary. Unemployment, underemployment, malnutrition, inadequate health care, lack of education, familial discord and economic hardship, plague families worldwide. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for families in difficulty (general prayer intention) and for persecuted Christians (mission prayer intention). Lord, please help us to always reach out with selfless generosity to our brethren in need.

     "When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry and shall satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise up in darkness and thy darkness shall be as the noonday. And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and fill thy soul with brightness, and deliver thy bones and thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a fountain of water whose waters shall not fail."

Isaiah 58:10-11

fortified by Divine Love

      The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family. Fortified by divine love,  Jesus, Mary and Joseph endured poverty and exile. They lived in harmony with their circumstances, nurtured by God's bountiful creation. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayerfully expressing our gratitude to God, by caring for the gift of His creation (general prayer intention). We are also asked to pray for the spiritual and material needs of people of Asia (mission prayer intention), where so many families suffer painful hardship. 

"O God of the heavens, 

creator of the waters and Lord of the whole creation, 

hear me a poor wretch, 

making supplication to Thee 

and presuming of Thy mercy.

Judith 9:17

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

unity

     The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for peaceful unity among all people in the Name of Jesus. The general prayer intention is for inter religious dialogue and the mission prayer intention is for Christian unity. 

     Saint Paul's words, in his letter to the Ephesians, reflect this beautiful sentiment. "I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called. With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity, careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. One body and one Spirit as you are called in one hope of your calling. One faith, one Lord, one baptism."

Epesians 4:1-5 

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible