Consecration of Your Family to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Immaculate Virgin Mother, who is Queen of heaven and earth, our life, our sweetness, and our hope, on this day I bring my entire family before you to consecrate ourselves to you as your possession and property. We praise God because he has brought us together to give ourselves to you our Mother. We do this because Jesus said on the Cross, “Behold your Mother.”

We need you, Mother Mary, to help us to be a truly Catholic family. Enter into our family life. Repeat to us the words you spoke at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Help us to overlook one another’s faults, to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us, and to love one another as Our Lord has asked us to love.

Please use our family to crush the head of the serpent. 

Ask your Spouse, Saint Joseph, Protector of the universal Church, to keep us one in mind and heart with your Son’s Vicar, Pope Francis.

Today you have become the Queen of our hearts and home. Help us to grow in faith through your grace. May our home be a “City of the Immaculata,” where the Sacred Heart of Jesus reigns forever. Amen.

Act of Consecration to Mary

As given to us by Saint Louis de Montfort 

I, NAME, a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before. 

In the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God in time and in eternity. Amen.

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Oh my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to you, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you," behold I knock, I seek and I ask for the grace of _____. 

Pray Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put all of my trust in You. 

Oh my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to you, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you," behold in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of _____. 

Pray Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put all of my trust in You.

Oh my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to you, Heaven and earth shall pass away but My words shall not pass away," behold I encouraged by Your infallible words, now ask for the grace of _____. 

Pray Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put all of my trust in You.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom one thing alone is impossible, namely, not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of Thee through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your and our tender Mother. Amen. 

Pray the Salve Regina. Add Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, please pray for us.

--Saint Padre Pio prayed this novena every day for those who recommended themselves for his prayers.

How to Prepare for the Divine Mercy Feast 2024

To prepare for the miraculous feast of Divine Mercy, do the following on Good Friday, March 29:

• Start a Novena to the Divine Mercy, using the Chaplet.
  
  
• Ask Jesus to give you faith to place all of your trust in the Divine Mercy of His Most Sacred Heart.
  
  
• By faithful prayer, open your heart to receive God's Grace, Mercy, Goodness and Kindness. 
  
  

On Sunday, April 7, the Feast of the Divine Mercy:

• Make a good, holy confession.
  It is acceptable to do it seven days before or after the feast. If the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a priest is unavailable due to restrictions or illness, pray an Act of Contrition, with the desire never to sin again. Be contrite and humble as you pray. 
  
  
• Go to Mass and receive Holy Communion.
  If you are unable to attend Mass in person, watch the Vatican's video stream of the Mass or via EWTN. Make a Spiritual Communion with this prayer.
  
  
• Venerate the image of Divine Mercy.
  
  
• Pray the Chaplet at 3 p.m. starting today and try to do it each day of the year in the Hour of Mercy for the dying and for poor souls. 
  
  

Then, throughout the year...

• Practice works of selfless love and mercy by helping others in trouble and offering prayers to save souls.
  
  
• Watch the live stream of the chapel in Poland housing the image of Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina's shrine so you can pray before the Holy Image of the Divine Mercy.

* * *

Saint Faustina wrote in her diary on Good Friday 1937:

Jesus is commanding me to make a novena before the Feast of Mercy, and today I am to begin it for the conversion of the whole world and for the recognition of The Divine Mercy...so that every soul will praise My goodness. I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy.  (Diary entry 1059)

* * *

My daughter, look into My Merciful Heart and reflect its compassion in your own heart and in your deeds, so that you who proclaim My mercy to the world, may yourself be aflame with it. (Diary entry 1688)

In Thanksgiving for Mercy of His Most Precious Blood

Jesus, Our Savior, heal us with Your Most Precious Blood. Pray this litany in hope and thanksgiving. 

Lord, have mercy

Lord, have mercy

Christ, have mercy

Christ, have mercy

Lord, have mercy

Lord, have mercy

God our Father in heaven

Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the world

Have mercy on us

God the Holy Spirit

Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God

Have mercy on us

Blood of Christ, only Son of the Father, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, incarnate Word, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, of the new and eternal covenant, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, that spilled to the ground, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, that flowed at the scourging, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, dripping from the thorns, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, shed on the cross, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, the price of our redemption, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, our only claim to pardon, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, our blessing cup, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, in which we are washed, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, torrent of mercy, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, that overcomes evil, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, strength of the martyrs, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, endurance of the saints, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, that makes the barren fruitful, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, protection of the threatened, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, comfort of the weary, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, solace of the mourner, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, hope of the repentant, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, our peace and refreshment, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, our pledge of life, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, by which we pass to glory, be our salvation

Blood of Christ, most worthy of honor, be our salvation

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us

Lord, you redeemed us by your blood, be our salvation,

You have made us a kingdom to serve our God.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the Precious Blood of your Only Begotten Son have redeemed the whole world, preserve in us the work of your mercy, so that, ever honoring the mystery of our salvation, we may merit to obtain its fruit through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Today's Reading

From Hebrews 10:11-14, 18

Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins. 

But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. 

For by one offering he has made perfect forever
those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.

Go to Jesus for Help Through Confession

If you need help for the impossible, you must ask -- and ask through the sacrament of Holy Confession. That is what approaching the throne of grace does for us as today's Mass reading says. 

We humble ourselves before God in the sacrament of Holy Confession and ask for His Divine Mercy, so confess to Him all your faults, sins and trouble. Then ASK for grace and help to overcome your faults, forgive your sins and assist you in trouble. Through the Holy Spirit, you will gain what you need.

Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin. 
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Divine Mercy Prayer

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. 

 O Greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy — to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth's exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You: anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death's hour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your [Son’s] final coming — that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: Through His merciful Heart, as through an open gate, we pass through to heaven. (Diary entry 1570)

Read about the image of Divine Mercy from the Marian Fathers.

Chiara Badano's Feast Day

Chiara Luce Badano was a young Italian woman who died at age 18 in 1990. She was beatified 10 years ago, and October 29 is her feast day. 

The active and athletic teenager had a great love for Jesus, which was exemplified during her painful trial and agony with a rare form of bone cancer. Refusing medication to ease her pain, she said, “I want to share as much as possible in His suffering on the Cross." To those whom she met in her last struggles, she profoundly touched with the divine light of peace, holiness and grace. 

Let us pray and ask Blessed Chiara for the faith, goodness and strength she had during her short time on earth, and that those graces will bring us close to the Heavenly Father.

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Feast Day

'Pray, Hope and Don't Worry'

“No matter how great the trial…never lose heart. Have recourse, with more childlike trust, to Jesus who will never be able to resist bestowing on you some little solace and comfort.” --Saint Padre Pio

Prayer to Saint Padre Pio

O God, You gave Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin priest, the great privilege of participating in a unique way in the passion of Your Son, grant me through his intercession the grace of …

which I ardently desire; and above all grant me the grace of living in conformity with the death of Jesus, to arrive at the glory of the resurrection. Amen.

Glory be to the Father… (three times)

Novena to Saint Padre Pio, from the National Centre for Padre Pio in Pennsylvania. 

If you don't know of Saint Padre Pio, a humble Capuchin friar, now is the time to know him. 

Here are excerpts from a biography posted on the website of the Padre Pio shrine located at Saint John's Church in New York, N.Y. The shrine has on display a few relics, including the one pictured above as well as a brown fingerless woolen glove and a white linen sock, which has the stains of Padre Pio's blood from his stigmata.

The saint was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887. His parents, Orazio and Giuseppa Forgione, were poor country people. The Forgiones had eight children, three of whom died in infancy and two of whom became professed religious. They lived in the little farming village of Pietrelcina, in the Province of Benevento, not many miles from Naples. They were God-fearing people.

Padre Pio in his youth was deeply religious and early in life showed a love for recollection and for the things of God. At school, he learned diligently and possessed a lively intelligence, so much so that his father was determined to help his son financially to become a priest. In 1903, he began his novitiate with the Capuchins in Morcone, received the habit and was given the religious name of Pio (Pius, in English). After seven years of studies, he was ordained on August 10, 1910 at the age of 23. Because of delicate health, he was permitted to practice his ministry for several years in his parochial church of Pietrelcina.

In 1912, he received intermittently the invisible stigmata. Christ's sacred wounds were invisibly imprinted on his hands, feet and side. The wounds could not be seen, but the pain and swelling of them were there. In 1916, his superiors sent him to the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo. He lived there until he died.

On September 20,1918, at 31 years old, a piercing cry escaped his lips during his thanksgiving after Mass. He was pierced and bleeding from five deep wounds in his hands, feet and side. The stigmata had become visible and was to remain with him until shortly before he died. He was the first priest to be so honored! There have been about 300 stigmatisms in the history of the Church.

Naturally, he was subjected to endless and often very painful medical examinations. All kinds of healing treatments were applied but without success. The wounds remained completely free from healing or any infection for 50 years.

His day consisted of constant prayer, usually the rosary, Holy Mass at 5 AM, confessions all day long and through his secretaries responses to the 500 to 600 pieces of mail each day. Most of the letters were requests for prayers, cures or advice. He never took breakfast or supper. Dinner at noon consisted of nibbling at his food, but never more than 500 calories a day.

He died a holy death on September 23,1968 at 2:30 AM with the words "Jesus and Mary" on his lips and his rosary in his hands. His funeral rites were a triumph. It is estimated that over 100,000 viewed his body and 100,000 participated in the funeral rites. 

Today's Gospel Reading From Luke

In today's Gospel reading, Christ offers a rebuke of the people's actions because of what they expect a Messiah to be instead of opening their hearts and minds to the Word of God.

Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds:

“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?

What are they like?

They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.

We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,

and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’

The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,

‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,

a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

 

Journey to God's Will

Our Saint Faustina perfectly understood that God's Will for us is a deep mystery. We can't discern God's Will on our own. We need Him to reveal it to us.

You may ask Jesus in your prayers to know God's Will, but there's something else you need to do.

The only way to know His Will is to first surrender our will to God. That means we say, "Not my will, Lord. Let your Holy Will be done unto me." 

Give your will first to God and pray to know what to do next. Read these beautiful poems of Saint Faustina written in spring 1938. (Diary entries 1652-1654)

+ J.M.J.

Adore, my soul, the mercy of the Lord,
O my heart, rejoice wholly in Him,
Because for this you have been chosen by Him,
To spread the glory of His mercy.

His goodness no one has fathomed, no one can measure,
His compassion is untold.
Every soul that approaches Him experiences this.
He will shield her and clasp her to His merciful bosom.

Happy the soul that has trusted in Your goodness
And has abandoned herself completely to Your mercy.
Her soul is filled with the peace of love.
You defend her everywhere as Your own child.

O soul, whoever you may be in this world,
Even if your sins were as black as night,
Do not fear God, weak child that you are,
For great is the power of God's mercy.

+ J.M.J.

1653

The light above, where my God reigns,
This it is that my soul yearns for,
This it is for which my heart longs,
And my whole being bounds towards You.

I hasten on to the other world, to God alone,
Into the incomprehensible light, the very fire of love,
For my soul and my heart are created for Him,
And my heart has loved Him from my tender youth.

There, in the resplendent light of Your countenance
My languishing love will rest.
For Your virgin agonizes for You in her exile,
For she lives only when united with You.

+ J. M. J.

My day is drawing to a close,
Even now I glimpse the refulgence of Your light, O my God.
No one shall learn of what my heart is feeling;
My lips shall fall silent in great humility.

Even now, I draw nigh to the eternal nuptials,
To heaven unending, to spaces without limit.
I long for no repose or reward;
The pure love of God draws me to heaven.

Even now, I go to meet You, eternal Love
With a heart languishing in its desire for You.
I feel that Your pure love, Lord, dwells in my heart,
And I sense my eternal destiny in heaven.

Even now, I go to my Father, in heaven eternal,
From the land of exile, from this vale of tears,
The earth can no longer hold back my pure heart,
And the heights of heaven have drawn me close.

I go, O my Bridegroom, I go to see Your glory,
Which even now fills my soul with joy
There where all heaven is plunged in Your adoration,
I feel that my worship is pleasing to You, nothingness though I am.

In eternal happiness, I will not forget those on earth,
I will obtain God's mercy for all,
And I will remember especially those who were dear to my heart,
And the deepest absorption in God will not allow me to forget them.

In these last moments I know not how to converse with others.
In silence I await only You, O Lord.
I know the time will come when all will understand the work of God in my soul.
I know that such is Your will.-So be it.

Trust in God in Times of Temptation: "Jesus, I love you, I trust in You"

As we attempt to increase our trust in God's Mercy, we likely will encounter temptations to fall into despair when life sends us difficulties, lose hope in the future and also pull away from Our Lord. In these times repeat, "Jesus, I love you, I trust in You." Say a Hail Mary prayer and ask the saints in heaven for their prayers.

In February 1938, Saint Faustina wrote this passage in her diary and gives us the words of Jesus that we may not be afraid in darkness, but hurry to Him in prayer with great openness, admitting our struggle and asking for peace of mind.

February 3, [1938]. Today after Holy Communion, Jesus again gave me a few directives: First, do not fight against a temptation by yourself, but disclose it to the confessor at once, and then the temptation will lose all its force. Second, during these ordeals do not lose your peace; live in My presence; ask My Mother and the Saints for help. Third, have the certitude that I am looking at you and supporting you. Fourth, do not fear either struggles of the soul or any temptations, because I am supporting you; if only you are willing to fight, know that the victory is always on your side. Fifth, know that by fighting bravely you give Me great glory and amass merits for yourself. Temptation gives you a chance to show Me your fidelity.

And now I am going to tell you something that is most important for you: Boundless sincerity with your spiritual director. If you do not take advantage of this great grace according to My instructions, I will take him away from you, and then you will be left to yourself; and all the torments, which you know very well, will return to you. It displeases Me that you do not take advantage of the opportunity when you are able to see him and talk with him. Know that it is a great grace on My part when I give a spiritual director to a soul. Many souls ask Me for this, but it is not to all that I grant this grace. From the moment when I gave you this priest as spiritual director, I endowed him with new light so that he might easily know and understand your soul…..

O my Jesus, my only mercy, allow me to see contentment in Your face as a sign of reconciliation with me, because my heart cannot bear Your seriousness; if this continues a moment longer my heart will burst with grief. You see that I am even now crushed to dust.

And at that very moment I saw myself in some kind of a palace; and Jesus gave me His hand, sat me at His side, and said with kindness, My bride, you always please Me by your humility. The greatest misery does not stop Me from uniting Myself to a soul, but where there is pride, I am not there. 

When I came to myself, I reflected on what had happened in my heart, thanking God for His love and for the mercy that He had shown me. (Diary entries 1560 to 1563)

Never Be Afraid to Trust

Our lives are filled with adversities and sadnesses. It is easy to become downtrodden, but we mustn't. We must keep living and keep fighting for strength. Ask the Divine Mercy of Jesus for help and pray the Chaplet at 3 p.m., when the Lord wants to hear from you. Read what Saint Faustina wrote in her diary in 1936. The words in bold are from Our Lord. 

In the evening, during Benediction, my soul was for some time in communion with God the father. I felt I was in His hand like a little child, and I heard these words in my soul: Do not fear anything, My daughter; all the adversaries will be shattered at My feet. At these words, a deep peace and a great interior calm entered my soul.

When I complained to the Lord that He was taking my help away and that I would be alone again and would not know what to do, I heard these words: Do not be afraid; I am always with you. After these words, a deep peace once again entered my soul. His presence penetrated me completely in a way that could be sensed. My spirit was flooded with light, and my body participated in this as well. (Diary entries 626 and 627)

Have Faith, No Matter the Cross

When I steeped myself in prayer, I was transported in spirit to the chapel, where I saw the Lord Jesus, exposed in the monstrance. In place of the monstrance, I saw the glorious face of the Lord, and He said to me, What you see in reality, these souls see through faith. Oh, how pleasing to Me is their great faith! You see, although there appears to be no trace of life in Me, in reality it is present in its fullness in each and every Host. But for Me to be able to act upon a soul, the soul must have faith. O how pleasing to Me is living faith! (Diary entry 1420)

God Protects, in a Special Way,A Soul That Loves Him Sincerely

From Saint Faustina's diary in 1937.

April 17. Today, during a catechetical lecture [by Father Theodore], I was given a confirmation of what I had understood interiorly and lived by for quite some time; namely, that if a soul loves God sincerely and is intimately united with Him, then, even though such a soul may be living in the midst of difficult external circumstances, nothing can disturb its interior life; and in the midst of corruption, it can remain pure and unsullied; because the great love of God gives it strength for battle, and God also protects in a special way, even in a miraculous way, a soul that loves Him sincerely. (Diary entry 1094)

For by Grace You HaveBeen Saved Through Faith

Ephesians 2:4-10

Brothers and sisters:
God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ -by grace you have been saved-,
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come
He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith ,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works
that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them.

I Praise Your Name For Your Mercy

Psalm 138

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;
in the presence of the angels to you I sing.
I bow low toward your holy temple;
I praise your name for your mercy and faithfulness.
For you have exalted over all
your name and your promise.
On the day I cried out, you answered;
you strengthened my spirit.
All the kings of earth will praise you, LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They will sing of the ways of the LORD:
“How great is the glory of the LORD!”
The LORD is on high, but cares for the lowly
and knows the proud from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of dangers,
you guard my life when my enemies rage.
You stretch out your hand;
your right hand saves me.
The LORD is with me to the end.
LORD, your mercy endures forever.
Never forsake the work of your hands!

No Soul That Has Called UponMy Mercy Has Been Disappointed

Our Lord gives us hope through His words that complete trust in His Goodness and Mercy strengthens souls and brings true peace, especially to the dying. We also see the power of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy -- that it pleases Jesus "to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet."

Saint Faustina wrote in her diary, January 28, 1938. Today the Lord said to me, My daughter, write down these words: All those souls who will glorify My mercy and spread its worship, encouraging others to trust in My mercy, will not experience terror at the hour of death. My mercy will shield them in that final battle...

My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet. When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one. 

Write this for the benefit of distressed souls: when a soul sees and realizes the gravity of its sins, when the whole abyss of the misery into which it immersed itself is displayed before its eyes, let it not despair, but with trust let it throw itself into the arms of My mercy, as a child into the arms of its beloved mother. These souls have a right of priority to My compassionate Heart, they have first access to My mercy. Tell them that no soul that has called upon My mercy has been disappointed or brought to shame. I delight particularly in a soul which has placed its trust in My goodness. 

Write that when they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Savior. 

At that moment, the Lord gave me to know how jealous He is of my heart.

Even among the sisters you will feel lonely. Know then that I want you to unite yourself more closely to Me. I am concerned about every beat of your heart. Every stirring of your love is reflected in My Heart. I thirst for your love. "Yes, O Jesus, but my heart would not be able to live without You, either; for even if the hearts of all creatures were offered to me, they would not satisfy the depths of my heart." (Diary entries 1540-1542)

*  *  *

How to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

'Do Not Be Afraid; Just Have Faith'

Today's liturgical readings give us a lesson and a great gift of Christian faith: Boundless trust in God's mercy. In the Psalm and Gospel, we learn that our faith and trust are what God seeks and needs from us. If we believe in miracles; if we believe in healing; if we believe in a good outcome, we will be heard and answered. Call on the Lord and ask for your needs with complete trust in His Divine will. We will be answered.

Responsorial Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.

Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.

R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.

Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.

R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.


Gospel, Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
"My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live."
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"
But his disciples said to him,
"You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?"
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said,
"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
"Do not be afraid; just have faith."
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
"Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep."
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child's father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"
which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.