Faith Comes From What Is Heard

Romans 10:9-18

Brothers and sisters:

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord

and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,

you will be saved.

For one believes with the heart and so is justified,

and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

The Scripture says,

No one who believes in him will be put to shame.

There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;

the same Lord is Lord of all,

enriching all who call upon him.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?

And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without someone to preach?

And how can people preach unless they are sent?

As it is written,

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!

But not everyone has heeded the good news;

for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?

Thus faith comes from what is heard,

and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

But I ask, did they not hear?

Certainly they did; for

Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,

and their words to the ends of the world.

Pray to God Without Respite

Luke 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy

from carousing and drunkenness

and the anxieties of daily life,

and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.

For that day will assault everyone

who lives on the face of the earth.

Be vigilant at all times

and pray that you have the strength

to escape the tribulations that are imminent

and to stand before the Son of Man."

Give Thanks

Corinthians 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account

for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,

that in him you were enriched in every way,

with all discourse and all knowledge,

as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,

so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift

as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will keep you firm to the end,

irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is faithful, and by him you were called

to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within Thy wounds, hide me.

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.

From the malignant enemy, defend me.

In the hour of my death, call me.
And bid me come to Thee.

That with Thy saints I may praise Thee.

Forever and ever. Amen.

An indulgence of 300 days. And indulgence of 7 years, if recited after Holy Communion.

-St. Ignatius Loyola

In Peace Forever

Diary entry 1654

J.M.J.

O truth, O thorny life,

In order to pass through you victoriously

It is necessary to lean on You, O Christ,

And to be always close to You.

I would not know how to suffer without You,

O Christ.

Of myself I would not be able to brave adversities.

Alone, I would not have the courage to drink from Your cup;

But You, Lord, are always with me, and You lead me

along mysterious paths.

A weak child, I have begun the battle in Your Name.

I have fought bravely, though often without success,

And I know that my efforts have pleased You,

And I know that it is the effort alone which You
eternally reward.

O truth, O life-and-death struggle,

When I rose to do battle, an inexperienced knight,
I felt I had a knight's blood, though still a child,
And therefore, O Christ, I needed Your help and
protection.

My heart will not rest from its efforts and struggle
Until You Yourself call me from the field of battle.

I will stand before You, not to receive a reward,

But to be drowned in You, in peace forever.

Feast of Saint Gertrude the Great

St. Gertrude the Great is invoked for souls in purgatory and for living sinners. Our Lord told St. Gertrude that the following prayer would release 1,000 souls from purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well. Pray it daily.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Today's Reading

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

The angel brought me

back to the entrance of the temple,

and I saw water flowing out

from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,

for the façade of the temple was toward the east;

the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,

south of the altar.

He led me outside by the north gate,

and around to the outer gate facing the east,

where I saw water trickling from the southern side.

He said to me,

“This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,

and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.

Wherever the river flows,

every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,

and there shall be abundant fish,

for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.

Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;

their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.

Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,

for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.

Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

The Hearts of Jesus and Mary

An Offering of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

O Jesus, only Son of God, only Son of Mary,

I offer Thee the most loving Heart of Thy divine Mother

which is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts.

O Mary, Mother of Jesus,

I offer Thee the most adorable Heart of Thy well-beloved Son,

who is the life and love and joy of Thy Heart.

Blessed be the Most Loving Heart

and Sweet Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ

and the most glorious

Virgin Mary, His Mother,

in eternity and forever.

Amen.

St. John Eudes