SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 30, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly pray for justice, peace and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world. We pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to 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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | July 30, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 30, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |July 30, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 30, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 30, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

NOVENA TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS | https://novenaprayer.com/novena-to-the-precious-blood-of-jesus/ (When to begin: Any time – The whole month of July)

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Reading 1, Jeremiah 14:17-22
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 79:8, 9, 11, 13
Gospel, Matthew 13:35-43

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT PETER CHRYSOLOGUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR; SAINTS ABDON AND SENNEN, MARTYRS AND BLESSED SOLANUS CASEY, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY – JULY 30TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor; Saints Abdon and Sennen, Martyrs and Blessed Solanus Casey,  Priest. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the safety and well-being of all children, for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for those going through difficulties especially during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏 

SAINT PETER CHRYSOLOGUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR: St. Peter Chrysologus (406-450 A.D.) was born in Imola, Italy. He was an adult convert to Christianity, he was baptized, educated, and ordained a deacon by Cornelius, Bishop of Imola. St. Peter merited being called “Chrysologus” (golden-worded) because of his exceptional oratorical eloquence. In his day the city of Ravenna was the center of the Roman Empire, making the Archbishop of Ravenna an important position in the Church. When the Archbishop of Ravenna died, a new archbishop was elected by the clergy and the people of Ravenna. Bishop Cornelius of Imola went to Rome with his deacon, St. Peter Chyrsologus, to have the Ravenna appointment confirmed by Pope Sixtus III. When the pope saw St. Peter, he appointed him the new Archbishop of Ravenna instead. He was Bishop of Ravenna from about 433 until his death. He is known as the “Doctor of Homilies” for the concise but theologically rich reflections he delivered during his time as the Bishop of Ravenna. By miraculous intervention of St. Peter as bishop of Ravenna, he effectively rooted out all remaining traces of paganism, heresy as well as a number of ecclesiastical abuses among the Christians from his diocese and other abuses that had sprouted among his people, cautioning them especially against indecent dancing. His quote: “Anyone who wishes to frolic (laughs) with the devil,” he remarked, “cannot rejoice with Christ.” The witness of his life converted many back to the faith—he was known to have offered and practiced many corporal and spiritual works of mercy, organized services to help the poor of the city, ruled his flock and attended to the people under his care with utmost diligence. Earning the high regard of Emperor Valentinan III who resided in Ravenna. In his sermons he strongly urged frequent Communion. The Saint also counseled the heretic Eutyches (who had asked for support) to avoid causing division but to learn from the other heretics who were crushed when they hurled themselves against the Rock of Peter.

St. Peter was renowed for his profound and eloquent sermons, and his skill with taking complex theological truths and putting them in plain language, earning him the name and title, “Chrysologus,” means “golden-tongued” and was refered to as “the man of golden speech” or ‘golden word’,  as well as the ‘Doctor of Homilies’. He earned the title of Doctor of the Church for his eloquent sermons, which had a great impact on those who heard him. During his homilies, he would become so excited and animated that he would find himself at a loss for words. His simple and straightforward explanations of what we believe led the Church to declare him a doctor of the faith, largely as a result of his simple, practical, and clear Sermons which have come down to us, nearly all dealing with Gospel subjects. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729. St. Peter died about the year 450 in his native city of Imola, Italy. His feast day is July 30.  
PRAYER: God, You made St. Peter Chrysologus an outstanding preacher of Your Incarnate Word. Through his intercession, grant that we may contemplate the Mystery of Your salvation in our heart and faithfully bear witness to it by our deeds. Amen 🙏

SAINTS ABDON AND SENNEN, MARTYRS: St. Abdon Persian nobleman who suffered martyrdom with his companion, St. Sennen. Abdon, also called Abdo or Abdus in some lists, is recorded in the Acta of the saints dating to the ninth century, but he and St. Sennen were venerated as early as the third century. Sts. Abdon and Sennen were Persians, but coming to Rome, courageously confessed the faith of Christ and were exposed to persecutions in the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 250. These Martyrs were accused of burying on their own estate the bodies of the Christians which had been exposed. By order of the Emperor they were apprehended and commanded to sacrifice to the gods. As they refused to obey, and moreover with the greatest constancy proclaimed Jesus Christ to be God, whey were placed in close confinement, and when later, Diocletian returned to Rome, they were led in chains in his triumphal march. They were dragged to the Roman idols, but to show their hatred of the demons, they spat upon them. Upon this, there, they were put in an arena with wild animals, exposed to lions and bears but the beasts did not dare touch them, they remained unharmed as the animals refused to slay them. Gladiators were sent in to kill them as a last resort, they were put to death by the sword. Their bodies were dragged by the feet before the statue of the Sun, but they were secretly carried away and buried by Quirinus the deacon in his own house. Buried in the Pontian cemetery near the gates of Rome; however, the cities of Florence and Soissons also claim to possess their remains. The martyrs preferred torments and death to sin, because the love of God above all things reigned in their breasts. They were martyrs and buried on July 30th. They are Patron Saint of children; invoked for good harvest; burying the dead, protection against hail, coopers, Pescia; Sahagún, León; Spain; Calasparra.

Saints Abdon and Sennen, Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

BLESSED SOLANUS CASEY, PRIEST: Fr. Solanus Casey (1870-1957) was born Bernard Francis Casey on November 25, 1870, Oak Grove, S. W. Wisconsin, United States to a large, loving, Irish family, steeped in a strong Catholic faith. He was an American Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. By merely human standards, the life of Solanus Casey was no great success story. A mediocre student who couldn’t keep up in diocesan seminary, he barely made it through the seminary of the Capuchin friars. When he was finally ordained, they made him a simplex priest-one who is not allowed to hear confessions or preach doctrinal sermons. So Casey spent fifty-three years in lowly service as a sacristan and doorkeeper. Nevertheless, he graciously accepted this humble station in life, and God rewarded him with a remarkable ministry of spiritual counsel and divine healings. He was known during his lifetime as a wonderworker, a monk of great faith, a spiritual counselor, and most especially, for his great attention to the sick. The friar was much sought-after and came to be revered in Detroit where he resided. He continues to miraculously answer the prayers of many of those who seek his help. The simple friar’s loving concern for everyday people dramatically transformed thousands of lives. He was also a noted lover of the violin, a trait he shared with his eponym, Saint Francis Solanus. He died on July 31, 1957 (aged 86) Detroit, Michigan, United States and was beatified on ‎November 18, 2017, in ‎Detroit, Michigan by Angelo Amato. Blessed Solanus Casey’s feast day is July 30th.

Blessed Solanus Casey, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 13:36-43

Just as the weeds are collected now and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age

“Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the Lord explained the parable of the weeds and the wheat in a field to His disciples and the ones assembled to listen to Him. Through that parable, the Lord told them all of an enemy who plotted against the master and sower of seeds in the field by sowing weeds upon the same field, and which caused the weeds to grow in between the crops and the desired plants. The Lord explained to His disciples how that parable is a representation of the Lord and the evil one competing for the hearts and minds of the people, those in whom God and the evil one have sowed respectively, the seeds of faith, hope and love, as well as the evil one’s seeds of doubt, despair and hatred, among many others. This parable highlighted the reality that each and every one of us have received these various ‘seeds’ planted in us, and it is therefore now up to us to cultivate the right kind of ‘seeds’ in our lives. We have been given the choice and the free will by God to decide on how we ought to live our lives, and what path we are to choose in our path going forward in life. The fact that the wheat and crops are growing together with the weeds and the other undesirable plants is a reality that every one of us living in this world are struggling with daily, as our lives are truly a tapestry of things that are good and righteous, as well as those that are sinful and unworthy of God, through our disobedience against God and sins against Him. The choice is therefore ours whether we want to do what is right and just according to God’s will or whether we prefer to do things in our own way, in listening to the devil and all of his wicked lies and deceptions. And in this same Gospel reading today, in the Lord’s explanations, the Lord made it clear that the weeds shall be uprooted and destroyed in the fire at the time of the reaping and the harvest, reminding all of us that if we continue to embrace those sinful ways and path in life, then in the end, there will be nothing left for us but regret because we have chosen to reject the ever generous and gracious love of God. That is why we are all called and reminded to embrace God’s righteousness and grace, His love and truth, and strive our best to live our lives according to this path.

According to the Gospel, Jesus is portrayed as the ‘sower of good seed’ who sows that good seed throughout the world. Those who allow that good seed to take root in their hearts are ‘the subjects of the kingdom’; they already belong to God’s kingdom on earth. Whenever people respond to the Lord’s call, they form a ‘beach head’ of the kingdom of God on earth. This is what the Lord desires for us all. The community of His disciples, the church, is to be that beach head of the kingdom of God on earth; it is to be the earthly expression of the goodness of the kingdom of heaven. Yet, the Gospel reading also acknowledges another reality that is to be found in our world, what it terms ‘darnel’ or ‘weeds’, which is sown by the devil. The Lord’s good work in the world is opposed by evil forces. The Gospels suggest that Jesus took the reality of evil in the world very seriously. He was also aware that it could infect his followers, the community of those who believed in Him, which is why He taught us to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’. We shouldn’t need much convincing about the reality and power of evil in our world and, indeed, in the church and in our own lives. However, the Gospel reading declares that evil will not ultimately have the last word. God will eradicate evil fully, but only at the end of time, when God’s kingdom fully comes. In the meantime, the Lord wishes to work in and through each of us to confront evil in all its forms, so that something of that final triumph of good over evil can become a reality in the here and now. In the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans, ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’.

In our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, the prophet spoke about the desolation and destruction that the people of God in the lands and the kingdom of Judah had been facing at that time, having endured all those because of the sins and wickedness that they had committed, and as they persecuted the prophets and messengers of God, refusing to listen to God’s words and reminders, refusing to obey the Law and commandments of God, all of which led to them being punished and chastised for all the wicked deeds which they had done. But the Lord wanted to tell His people that they are not forgotten, and that He still loved them all nonetheless, and everything that He had done, was meant to help bring them all back to Him. That was why the prophet Jeremiah said all the words of prayer, calling upon the Lord to have mercy on the people, all of whom had indeed sinned against God and failed to follow His ways. But the people also realised their sinfulness and many among them wanted to return to the Lord, and thus, the prophet Jeremiah echoed and showed this sentiment and desire to the Lord through His prayers and words to Him, calling on Him to plead for the sake of the ones whom God had beloved and cared for. And through that, each and every one of us are also therefore reminded of this fact of how we are truly the holy and beloved people of God, called and chosen to do God’s will in our world today, and to reject sin and evil in our lives.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, each and every one of us are reminded that we are all beloved by God, and God has always given us the opportunities and the means for each and every one of us to return to Him with contrite hearts and repentance, ever showing us all His rich mercy and forgiveness, as well as the desire to be reunited with us. We must always remember that God has always been patient in reaching out to us, caring for us and showing us His providence and compassion at each and every moments, and we should never take this for granted, or else, we may regret it when it is too late for us. Let us all therefore follow in the footsteps of St. Peter Chrysologus, who we celebrate today, and the many other Saints, holy men and women of God in our lives, so that we may continue to do our best to grow ever stronger in our faith in the Lord, and that we may be truly worthy and faithful in everything that we say and do, in our every interactions with one another. Let us all be the rich and bountiful crops and not be the weeds in the Lord’s field that is this world, making best use of the opportunities and time given to us to do His will, now and always. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord continue to help and guide us in our journey, now and forevermore. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY:

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood. The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.

“The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it.”

PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYER: Almighty, and everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen 🙏🏾

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY – FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.

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 Ordinary Time, 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 🙏🏾

Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During 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. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. 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 glorious King, You invite all people to share in the glories of Heaven. You promise us that if we are faithful, we will shine like the sun for all eternity. Help me to understand this glorious gift so that it becomes the single object of my hope and the drive of all that I do in life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Peter Chrysologus; Saints Abdon and Sennen and Blessed Solanus Casey ~ 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏🏾

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖