SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 21, 2024
Greetings beloved family and Happy Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time!
Watch ” Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN on YouTube | May 21, 2024 |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 21, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 21, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 21, 2024 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 21, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |
Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |
Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Reading 1, James 4:1-10
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 55:7-8, 9-10, 10-11, 23
Gospel, Mark 9:30-37
Today, we enter once again into the season of Ordinary Time, which will continue until the end of this current liturgical year in November this year. Please let us all continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World🙏
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS AND SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 21ST – Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Martyr and Companions, Martyrs and Saint Eugene de Mazenod. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. May they rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ 🙏 We pray for all families, particularly pray for dysfunctional families, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world and for the poor and needy. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially for all Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. We continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world🙏
SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS: “Long live Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!” This was the slogan of the “Cristero” uprising in the 1920’s against the anti-Catholic government of Mexico which had instituted and enforced laws against the Church in an absurd attempt to eradicate the Catholic faith in Mexico, even going so far as to ban all foreign clergy and the celebration of Mass in some regions. Beginning in 1911, Mexico underwent a revolution, which brought to power a government that was, to say the least, strongly anticlerical. As a result, this event inaugurated a bitter struggle between the civil authorities and the Catholic Church, which had aided the people of Mexico from the 16th century. The authorities wanted to impose a Mexican Church on the country, replacing Catholic Bishops with schismatic prelates. To attain that goal, they mounted a full-sale campaign of terror against the Church. The government expelled foreign missionaries and closed schools and seminaries. Eventually even churches were closed, priest became hunted men, and Catholics were warned to renounce the Church and Christian worship.
This persecution gave rise to the growth of the Catholic Action Movement, which fought against the government’s repression. Over the period from 1915 to 1937 its members like Christopher Magallanes and twenty-four companions chose to die rather than give up their faith, like Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J. (November 23). These Martyrs included twenty-two priests and three laymen: Manuel, David, and Salvador who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. St. Christopher Magallanes erected a seminary in Totatiche and he and his companions secretly preached and ministered to the faithful during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-1928). The last words heard spoken by St. Christopher Magallanes were from his cell, when he shouted, “I am innocent and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico”. These Martyrs died because of their membership in the Cristero movement in different places and at different times by shooting or hanging, throughout eight Mexican states, with Jalisco and Zacatecas having the largest number. Fifteen of the Martyrs were slain in Jalisco, four in Zacatecas, and one each in Chihuahua, and Morelos. All endured torture before their deaths, most of which occurred by firing squads. What bound them together was their championing of the Faith in the face of death. These great warriors of God, the Cristero Martyrs were beatified on November 22, 1992, by Pope John Paul II and canonized on May 21, 2000, by the same Pontiff.
PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You kept St. Christopher and his Companions faithful to Christ the King even to undergoing martyrdom. Through their intercession grant that we may persevere in professing the true Faith and always heed the commands of Your love. Amen🙏
SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP: St. Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861), a French aristocrat and Bishop was born Charles-Joseph-Eugène de Mazenod on August 1, 1782, Aix-en-Provence, France, in southern France to a noble family. When he was eight years of age his family was forced to flee the turmoil of the French Revolution and seek political asylum in Italy. Leaving their possessions behind, as refugees in Italy, they were poor and the family struggled financially as they relocated from city to city. A sympathetic priest took it upon himself to educate Eugene and stir in him a love for God. The family returned to France when Eugene was twenty. They were distressed to find a dramatically altered society, and their social status no greater than ordinary citizens. The family was also plagued with in-fighting which culminated in divorce, a rarity at the time. While Eugene’s father remained in Italy, Eugene’s mother fought to regain the family’s former possessions. She also attempted to force Eugene to marry a wealthy heiress. St. Eugene, deeply affected by how the Revolution had decimated the Church in France, decided to enter the seminary instead. After his ordination he sought out other zealous priests and together they went as missionaries into the countryside villages, calling themselves the “Missionaries of Provence,” which was later approved by the pope as the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate.” The Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded by St. Eugene de Mazenod in 1815 was to evangelize the poorest populations of Provence that were being neglected. He then sent his missionaries to proclaim the Gospel in America, South Africa and Asia.
St. Eugene was later appointed Vicar General of Marseilles and, in 1836, Bishop of this same diocese. He did much work in restoring his diocese by building and repairing churches, doubling the number of priests, and bringing in religious communities. In his city, rapidly developing at the time, he created numerous parishes, built new churches and installed new Religious Institutes. — Cardinal Bernard Gantin. He also worked to weaken the government’s monopoly on education, and supported the rights of the Holy See. Until his death on May 21, 1861 at Marseille, France, he was at the service of his people with an extraordinary pastoral charity, nourished by an intense interior life. St. Eugene de Mazenod was Beatified on October 19, 1975 & April 19, 1976, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Paul VI and Canonized on December 3, 1995 & June 3,1996, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II. St. Eugene de Mazenod is the Patron Saint of dysfunctional families. His feast day is May 21st.
“I wish I could pass my life at the foot of the holy tabernacles in which our adorable Saviour dwells.” ~ Saint Eugene de Mazenod
NOVENA TO SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD
[The Novena is to be prayed on 9 consecutive days.]
PRAYER TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL FAVOR
God our Father, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, you called St. Eugene de Mazenod to gather priests and brothers as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to announce the Gospel especially among the poor and neglected. May we ourselves be inflamed with his zeal for announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior and receive through his intercession the special graces of vocations to the Oblate way of life, and for those we ask for at this time. [Mention your intention(s) here and Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and 1Glory Be] Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏
NOVENA PRAYERS TO SAINT EUGENE
St. Eugene, Patron Saint of Dysfunctional Families, come to the aid of all families who suffer brokenness, misunderstanding, separation or divorce. You know well these difficulties and trials because of the separation and divorce of your own parents. May all who suffer these family hard-ships seek your intercession to discern more clearly how the Light of Jesus Christ can help them in the midst of their darkness and despair. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen🙏
God our Father, we thank you for having called Saint Eugene de Mazenod to follow Christ the Savior and Evangelizer. Through his intercession help us to reach out with the healing touch of Christ who calls us to holiness and to Mission. May we be build communities which are signs of your presence, and share the Good News of salvation with all peoples. For this we dedicate ourselves, through Christ our Lord.
Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Share with us your love for Christ. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Help us to stand firm in goodness. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Be with us in all our efforts. Amen🙏 [Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and1 Glory Be]
Saint Eugene, By your example, touch me to see Jesus in others, to help those in need, and to have the courage to do God’s will. I ask you to intercede on my behalf for a special need. May God, through your intercession, guide me to accept the difficulties in my life and to work toward a happy and healthy solution. May I accept God’s will in my life with strength and love. I ask this through His Son Jesus Christ. Amen🙏
God our Father, you filled Eugene de Mazenod, your bishop, with apostolic virtue in the evangelization of the people. Fill our hearts with the same fervor that we may dedicate ourselves to the service of the Church and the salvation of all. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen🙏
Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ Mark 9:30-37
“The Son of Man is to be handed over. Whoever wishes to be first, shall be last of all”
“Jesus and His disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after His death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question Him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, He placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus announces to His disciples that the day is drawing near when He will be delivered into the hands of men and put to death; He will become one of the least. Jesus told them the prediction and premonition of what He Himself would have to endure, betrayal, persecution, arrest and eventually suffering and death, which all happened during the time of His Passion and Crucifixion at Calvary. In response, the disciples immediately begin to argue among themselves as to which of them is the greatest. It is hard to imagine a more incongruous response to what Jesus has just said to them. Their concern about which of them is the greatest, as to who stands where in the pecking order, is a very human preoccupation. However, it is certainly not the preoccupation of Jesus. To convey His preoccupation, Jesus takes a little child, a symbol of the least in that culture, someone without status, position or influence, and he identifies himself fully with the child. Anyone who welcomes one such child welcomes me, He says. Jesus was great in God’s eyes, yet on the cross he was the least of the least. The message of Jesus is that true greatness, greatness in God’s eyes, tends to be at odds with what the world considers greatness. In the Gospel reading, while His disciples were looking for status and honour, Jesus looked to do the will of God, even though that would mean a lack of all status and honour, the most dishonourable death the ancient world could devise. As Jesus sat down and called the twelve to Him to correct their mindset, so we all need to be called by the Lord to have our own mindset, our own values, purified and reformed so that we carry within ourselves what St. Paul calls the mind of Christ. During this season, we are called to strive to put on the mind of Christ more fully.
In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. James, the Apostle in his exhortation to the faithful people of God reminded them all that as Christians they should always remember that they must always live their lives centred on God, and they should not allow themselves to be swayed by the desires, temptations, squabbles and conflicts of the world, which many of the faithful at that time fell prey to, causing the Apostles like St. James, St. Paul and others to grieve over how fellow Christian brothers and sisters were quarrelling with one another over worldly ambitions and matters, which they should not have done in the first place. St. James reminded the faithful that they should be people of the Spirit, and not to follow the path of the flesh and the world, as their wrong motives, ambitions and desires are stumbling blocks that could prevent them from attaining true righteousness in God, and not only that, but their squabbles and quarrels were also unbecoming of them being Christians, who were supposed to be filled with God’s love, as Christ had taught all of them to love one another generously and tenderly, and not to be at each others’ throats over worldly matters, attachments and desires as they had done at that time. St. James also reminded all of the faithful to distance themselves therefore from all sorts of vile things, impurities and corruptions from the world, from any sorts of wicked attachments and ambitions, the many temptations that could cause them to fall deeper and deeper into the path of sin and causing scandal for the Church and for their faith, besmirching the good and Holy Name of God in their pursuit for worldly glory and achievements. That is why St. James reminded all of the faithful, including all of us, to resist the temptations of worldly glory and ambition, to restrain our ego, pride and desires, and to be humble at all times, seeking to purify ourselves from all the corruptions of sin and evil.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, as we embark on the journey of faith, continuing on from our celebrations and festivities throughout the Easter season earlier on, and entering into this time of the Ordinary Season, we must remind ourselves that each and every one of us as Christians have been called to be good role models and inspirations for one another, in how we live our lives and in what we say and do, in how we interact with one another in our respective communities and places, so that by our lives, our actions, words and deeds we may indeed show that we truly belong to the Lord, at all times. Through the examples of those holy martyrs and Saints we have been shown how we all should live our lives as Christians, by putting emphasis and focus not on ourselves and our own selfish desires, but rather on the Lord and His will. Each and every one of us as Christians ought to do our best in our lives to be good role models and inspirations, in how we live, so that our lives truly showcase our faith in the Lord, to be full of love just as the Lord our God is ever full of love for us. We are all called to love our fellow brothers and sisters, to do what we can so that we can continue to touch the lives of others around us, reaching out especially to those who are suffering and facing difficulties and challenges in life. May the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our faith, and may He help us to walk ever more faithfully in His path, living our lives with genuine love and care for our fellow brothers and sisters, seeking not worldly glory, power, fame, riches and ambitions, but instead striving to do as best as we can to lead others to the path of the Lord, to proclaim His truth and Good News to more and more people we encounter in our respective lives. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the good Lord bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, and encourage us through the good examples of His Saints, like the courageous St. Christopher Magallanes and his companions in martyrdom. Amen 🙏
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024
PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏
During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏
On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen🙏
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we begin this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. For the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amen🙏
Let us pray:
My dearest Mother, you stood by your Son with unwavering fidelity and love. You cared for Him, nurtured Him and never left His side. I also am your dear child. I thank you for your loving fidelity toward me and open my heart to the grace of your Son that you bestow upon me throughout life. Help me to be more attentive to your motherly care and to daily grow in gratitude for your presence in my life. Mother Mary, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions, Martyrs and Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏
Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖