by Norbert Doulanni | Jun 9, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Landry
Psalter: Week II
Green
He was the bishop of Paris. He was consecrated in 650 and built the first major hospital in the city, dedicating it to St. Christopher. It’s today called the l’Hôtel-Dieu.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 26: 1-2
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom should I dread? When those who do evil draw near, they stumble and fall.
Collect
O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting, discern what is right, and by your guidance do it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
I swear by God’s truth, there is no Yes and No about what we say to you. The Son of God, the Christ Jesus that we proclaimed among you – I mean Silvanus and Timothy and I – was never Yes and No: with him it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. That is why it is ‘through him’ that we answer Amen to the praise of God. Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118(119):129-133,135
R/ Let your face shine on your servant.
Your will is wonderful indeed; therefore I obey it. The unfolding of your word gives light and teaches the simple.
I open my mouth and I sigh as I yearn for your commands. Turn and show me your mercy; show justice to your friends.
Let my steps be guided by your promise; let no evil rule me. Let your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees.
Gospel Acclamation : Ph2:15-16
Alleluia, alleluia! You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life.Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Look kindly upon our service, O Lord, we pray, that what we offer may be an acceptable oblation to you and lead us to grow in charity. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 17: 3
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strength.
Prayer after Communion
May your healing work, O Lord, free us, we pray, from doing evil and lead us to what is right. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world.” In the First Reading, Paul reminds us that we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit resides in us, we become both salt and light. Salt enhances the taste of food, while light brightens the path for others to see and follow. The absence of either one of them is immediately noticeable. To be salt and to be light is to make a positive difference, influencing the spaces we occupy. You make this difference by bringing Jesus into your surroundings. Bring Jesus into your family, workplace, social gatherings, and meeting places. Always ask yourself: “If Jesus were in my place, how would He act?” This can be achieved by using the Word of God as your guide in all your thoughts, actions, and words, irrespective of the setting or circumstance. Let your life be guided by the teachings of Jesus, so that you may become an example for others. As Saint Josemaria Escriva says, strive to think, speak, and act in a way that anyone observing you would recognise that you follow the life of Christ.
by Norbert Doulanni | Jun 8, 2025 | Evangelium
.Mary, Mother of the Church
Saint Ephraem the Deacon (306 – 373)
Psalter: Week II
White
Saint Ephraem was a poet and a theologian. He is famous not only for the beauty of expression of his homilies but also for his hymns, which have spread far beyond his native Syriac church and are in use in East and West alike.
Entrance Antiphon
The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Collect
O God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also; grant, we pray, that with her loving help, your Church may be more fruitful day by day, and exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Genesis 3:9-15,20
After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, ‘Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel.’ The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 86(87)
R/ Of you are told glorious things, O city of God!
On the holy mountain is his city cherished by the Lord. The Lord prefers the gates of Zion to all Jacob’s dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things, O city of God! ‘Zion shall be called “Mother” for all shall be her children.’
It is he, the Lord Most High, who gives each his place. In his register of peoples he writes: ‘These are her children,’ and while they dance they will sing: ‘In you all find their home.’
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 19:25-34
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home. After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed, and to fulfil the scripture perfectly he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of vinegar stood there, so putting a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the vinegar he said, ‘It is accomplished’; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit. It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath – since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our offerings, O Lord, and transform them into the mystery of salvation, so that by its power we may be set aflame with the charity of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and with her may be united more closely to the work of redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Jn2:1,11
A wedding was held in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; then Jesus performed the first of his signs and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him
Prayer after Communion
Having received the pledge of redemption and of life we humbly pray, O Lord, that with the Blessed Virgin’s motherly help your Church may teach all nations by proclaiming the Gospel and, thanks to the outpouring of the Spirit, may fill the whole earth.Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today marks the return to Ordinary Time, a period where no major events in Jesus’ life are specifically emphasised. Ordinary Time serves as a reminder of the need to live out the Gospel in the ordinary activities of our daily lives. To help us in this endeavour, the Church gives us the Beatitudes as a lamp to light our paths. Let us reflect on the third beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Our daily lives are often punctuated by sorrows: disappointments, betrayals, failures, sickness, and death. At times, the pain from these sorrows may be so overwhelming that we question the presence of God. Through this beatitude, Jesus reassures us that in these moments, He never abandons us. He often manifests His presence through those people who stand by us during our trials: those who visit, call, send messages, or provide a small financial contribution. These compassionate individuals become the hands God uses to touch and comfort us. In return, He expects us to be His hands as well, available to comfort others in their moments of suffering. Let us express gratitude to God for comforting us in our times of distress and helping us, in turn, to make ourselves available to comfort those who are also undergoing hardships.
by Norbert Doulanni | Jun 6, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Colman of Dromore
Psalter: Week III
White
He was active in the late fifth and early sixth centuries. He spent most of his life in the Dromore area of County Down. He was persuaded by Saint Mac Nissi to settle at Dromore in around 514, where he became the first bishop of the See of Dromore.
Entrance Antiphon : Acts 1: 14
O The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with the women, and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and his brethren, alleluia
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have celebrated the paschal festivities, may by your gift hold fast to them in the way that we live our lives. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 28:16-20,30-31
On our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him. After three days he called together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving the death penalty; but the Jews lodged an objection, and I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to make against my own nation. That is why I have asked to see you and talk to you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain.’ Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm: 10(11):4-5,7
R/ The upright shall see your face, O Lord.
The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord, whose throne is in heaven. His eyes look down on the world; his gaze tests mortal men.
The Lord tests the just and the wicked; the lover of violence he hates. The Lord is just and loves justice; the upright shall see his face.
Gospel Acclamation : Col3:1
Alleluia, alleluia! Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 21:20-25
Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them – the one who had leaned on his breast at the supper and had said to him, ‘Lord, who is it that will betray you?’ Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.’ The rumour then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not said to Peter, ‘He will not die’, but, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come.’ This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true. There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.
Prayer over the Offerings
May the Holy Spirit coming near, we pray, O Lord, prepare our minds for the divine Sacrament, since the Spirit himself is the remission of all sins. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Jn 16: 14
The Holy Spirit will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and declare it to you, says the Lord, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
Hear in your compassion our prayers, O Lord, that, as we have been brought from things of the past to new mysteries, so, with former ways left behind, we may be made new in holiness of mind. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“If I want him to stay behind until I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.” Often, we are too concerned about the lives of others, seeking to know what they are doing and saying, how they are faring in life, and whether they are succeeding or failing. We may even go to great lengths to compare ourselves to them, questioning if they are superior to us or not, and contemplating what it takes to match or surpass them. In this pursuit, we dedicate so much time scrutinising others that we lose focus on our own lives, consequently losing sight of the blessings God has bestowed on us and the expectations He has for us. God does not require us to engage in constant comparison with others. He does not demand us to outshine or outdo anyone else. Instead, he calls on us to be the best version of ourselves, to continually improve as His faithful disciples. The primary need is for us to follow Him. Let us seek the grace to shift our focus from gossiping and grumbling about others to concentrating on our spiritual growth. In so doing, we align with God’s desire for us to be true to ourselves in our discipleship journey.
by Norbert Doulanni | Jun 5, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Norbert (1080 – 1134)
Psalter: Week III
White
He was born in Xanten, Germany.. After a period of worldly life, at the age of 35 he had a narrow escape from death and his life changed. He became a priest. He founded a religious Order after the rule of St. Augustine. He died in 1134.
Entrance Antiphon: Rv 1: 5-6
Christ loved us and washed us clean of our sins by his Blood, and made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, alleluia.
Collect
O God, who by the glorification of your Christ and the light of the Holy Spirit have unlocked for us the gates of eternity, grant, we pray, that, partaking of so great a gift, our devotion may grow deeper and our faith be strengthened. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 25:13-21
King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. Their visit lasted several days, and Festus put Paul’s case before the king. ‘There is a man here’ he said ‘whom Felix left behind in custody, and while I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews laid information against him, demanding his condemnation. But I told them that Romans are not in the habit of surrendering any man, until the accused confronts his accusers and is given an opportunity to defend himself against the charge. So they came here with me, and I wasted no time but took my seat on the tribunal the very next day and had the man brought in. When confronted with him, his accusers did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected; but they had some argument or other with him about their own religion and about a dead man called Jesus whom Paul alleged to be alive. Not feeling qualified to deal with questions of this sort, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on this issue. But Paul put in an appeal for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the august emperor, so I ordered him to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar.’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102:1-2,11-12,19-20
R/ The Lord has set his sway in heaven.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.
For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins.
The Lord has set his sway in heaven and his kingdom is ruling over all. Give thanks to the Lord, all his angels, mighty in power, fulfilling his word.
Gospel Acclamation : Jn14:26
Alleluia, alleluia! The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 21:15-19
After Jesus had shown himself to his disciples and eaten with them, he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. ‘I tell you most solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.’ In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Look mercifully, O Lord, we pray, upon the sacrificial gifts of your people, and, that they may become acceptable to you, let the coming of the Holy Spirit cleanse our consciences.
Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 16: 13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will teach you all truth, says the Lord, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
O God, by whose mysteries we are cleansed and nourished, grant, we pray, that this banquet which you give us may bring everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Do you love me?” This question touches on the essence of our relationship with God, which is fundamentally a love affair. From Jesus’ dialogue with Peter, we learn two profound lessons about love. Firstly, love involves forgiveness. By asking Peter three times if he loves him, Jesus reminds him of the three times he denied Him during His passion. Having Peter declare three times that he loves Him, Jesus effectively erases Peter’s earlier betrayal and renews their bond. In this way, Jesus teaches us about his boundless love for us, and His readiness to forgive our numerous betrayals, if we return to Him with contrite hearts. Simultaneously, He expects us to extend forgiveness to those who similarly offend us. Secondly, love entails sacrifice. Jesus tells Peter that professing love implies going where one may not like to go, including laying down one’s life for Jesus. Just as Jesus showed love by giving His life for us, we are called to lay our lives for Him and for those around us. This entails offering our time and resources selflessly for others, allowing them to grow by making ourselves smaller. May Jesus grant us the grace to love as He loves us.
by Norbert Doulanni | Jun 4, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Boniface (675- 754)
Psalter: Week III
Red
Born in England about 680, St. Boniface became a Benedictine monk. He was appointed the first bishop of Germany by Pope Gregory II. Together with thirty companions, he died a martyrs dead in 754.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Phil 2: 30
This Saint went as far as death, handing over his life to destruction for the work of Christ, alleluia.
Collect
May the Martyr Saint Boniface be our advocate, O Lord, that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 22:30,23:6-11
Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them. Now Paul was well aware that one section was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’ As soon as he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. The shouting grew louder, and some of the Scribes from the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested strongly, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?’ Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress. Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15:1-2,5,7-11
R/ Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God. O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize.’
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay.
You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever.
Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn16:7,13
Alleluia, alleluia! I will send you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will lead you to the complete truth. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 17:20-26
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me. I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.’
Prayer over the Offerings
As we commemorate the martyrdom of blessed N., O Lord, we make our offerings at your altar, praying that we, who celebrate the mysteries of our Lord’s Passion, may imitate what we now do. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mk 8: 35
Whoever loses his life for the sake of the Gospel will save it, says the Lord, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
As we celebrate the heavenly banquet, we beseech you, Lord, that, in following such a great example of faith, we may be encouraged by the remembrance of the blessed Martyr N. and led on by his (her) gracious intercession. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
As the Easter season, drawing to a close, revolves around the resurrection, which is the foundation of our Christian faith, we, as Christians, affirm our belief in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and anticipate our own life after death. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul states that if Jesus has not risen from the dead, then our faith is vain (1Cor 15:14). In today’s First Reading, he reveals that his imprisonment is a consequence of proclaiming the reality of the resurrection. This theme resonates in today’s Psalm, where the Psalmist expresses confidence in God saying, “For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay.” This indicates that centuries before Christ’s birth, the Holy Spirit had already revealed to the Psalmist the truth of the resurrection. Belief in the resurrection is an act of faith in Jesus that leads us to seek communion with Him, because it is only by believing in Him and obeying His will that we can hope to share in His victory over death. The closer we grow to Jesus, the easier it will be for us to attain the union with him and the heavenly Father that He prays to in today’s Gospel. May Jesus strengthen our belief in the resurrection, and may this belief unite us more strongly to Him and to one another.
by Norbert Doulanni | Jun 3, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Clotilde
Psalter: Week III
White
She was the second wife of the Frankish King Clovis I, and a princess of the kingdom of Burgundy. She converted her husband to the catholic faith. She was known for almsgiving and penitential works of mercy.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy, alleluia.
Collect
Graciously grant to your Church, O merciful God, that, gathered by the Holy Spirit, she may be devoted to you with all her heart and united in purity of intent. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Acts 20:28-38
Paul addressed these words to the elders of the church of Ephesus: ‘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. ‘I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’ When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67(68):29-30,33-36
R/ 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!
Gospel Acclamation: Mt28:19,20
Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations. I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 17:11-19
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.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands, and through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate as our dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 15: 26-27
When the Paraclete comes, whom I will send you, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me, and you also will bear witness, says the Lord, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
May our partaking of this divine Sacrament, O Lord, constantly increase your grace within us, and, by cleansing us with its power, make us always ready to receive so great a gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Both Paul and Jesus prayed for the leaders of the Church. Paul commended the leaders of the church in Ephesus to the grace of God, while Jesus prayed to His Father to keep His disciples, who were to assume leadership roles in His Church, safe from the evil one, and asked for their consecration in the truth. The role of a spiritual leader is not an easy one as he has to set an example for others to follow, providing instruction to his sheep in the faith, feeding them with true and sound doctrine. Additionally, he must support his followers through prayer and encouragement, helping them to navigate trials and difficulties while remaining faithful to the Gospel. Both Jesus and Paul knew how difficult this task was, and so they invoked God’s assistance for the church leaders. In the same vein, let us also pray for our spiritual leaders: the Pope, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and catechists. Furthermore, let us extend our prayers to all parents, recognising them as leaders of the domestic church, which is the family. Whether we are parents or not, let us commend them all to the grace of God.
