Catholic Good News 

Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor




What is Mental Prayer?

"May my meditation give Him pleasure, as much as God gives me!"
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Psalm 104:34

Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
 
        Pray, Pray, PRAY.  Ok, so we know that we must pray, but how do we do it.  Is one way more effective than another?  How did the saints pray?  What gave them their 'power'?  "Mental prayer is the blessed furnace in which souls are inflamed with the love of God. All the saints have become saints by mental prayer" (St. Alphonsus de Liguori).


        Mental Prayer/Meditation (see term below) is the difference.  Mental Prayer/Meditation is interior prayer engaging the mind, heart, soul, and strength.  Vocal Prayer (see term below) is more exterior.  One can offer Vocal Prayer and perhaps remain in sin.  One who constantly offers Mental Prayer will either give up sin or give up Mental Prayer. 


        Next week, I will give you the steps to offer mental prayer.


Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
 
P.S.  A former Sunday's homily is in written form at the end of the e-weekly. 
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​P.S.S.  This coming Sunday is the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time.  The readings can be found at:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080121.cfm

P.S.S.S.S.  Readings with questions for self or family reflection found at the end of e-weekly.

538. In the Old Testament, what relationship do the king and the temple have to prayer?  (Catechism of the Catholic Church-CCC 2578-2580, 2594)
a. God came to be with the people through the temple
b. The king only prayed for himself
c. God directed everyone to just pray in the temple
d. The king was the only one who prayed for his people


539. What is the role of prayer in the mission of the prophets? (CCC 2581-2584)
a. After prayer the prophets led the people
b. The primary job of the prophets was to continually offer sacrifice to God
c. By prayer they brought God’s message to the people and the people to God
d. The prophets were the ones who lived the exact life God wanted His people to live


540. What is the importance of the Psalms in prayer?(CCC 2579, 2585-2589, 2596-2597)
a. They are the crowning moment of prayer in the Old Testament
b. They are where the Word of God become the prayer of man 
c. Christ prayed the Psalms and brought them to fulfillment
d. all of the above

​PRAYER IS FULLY REVEALED AND REALIZED IN JESUS


541. From whom did Jesus learn how to pray?(CCC 2599, 2620)
a. He taught Himself
b. His mother and the Jewish Tradition 
c. the created world around Him
d. none of the above



(Answers at end.)

Catholic Terms
 
Term Review
prayer (from Latin precārius "obtained by entreaty")  [entreaty = earnest request, appeal, beg]
-the raising of one's mind and heart to God
 
Vocal Prayer (from Latin vocalis, from voc-, vox "voice" = "obtain by entreaty with voice")
-set prayer offered exteriorly (by mouth) by an individual
 [The use of some set formulas a person employs using verbal expressions that are not, at the time, the immediate product of communication with God.]
 
Mental Prayer (from Greek menos "spirit" = "obtain by entreaty with spirit")
(also from Late Latin  mentalis, from Latin  ment-, mens "mind,")
-one's own prayer offered interiorly with mind, heart, soul, and strength
 [In mental prayer the three powers of the soul are engaged: the memory, which offers the mind material for meditation; the intellect, which ponders or directly perceives the meaning of some religious truth and its implications for practice; and the will, which freely expresses its sentiments of faith, trust, and love, and (as needed) makes good resolutions based on what the memory and intellect have made known to the will. Mental Prayer is a form of meditation consisting in the application of the various faculties of the soul, memory, imagination, intellect, and will, to the consideration of some mystery, principle, truth, or fact, with a view to exciting proper spiritual emotions and resolving on some act or course of action regarded as God's will and as a means of union with Him.]
 
Contemplative Prayer (Latin contemplatus, past participle of contemplari, from com- + templum space marked out for observation of signs from God = "awaiting a sign or gift from God after obtaining by entreaty")
-gift of 'prayer' from God given to the one who perseveres in prayer
 [Contemplative Prayer is a gift from God and cannot be acquired or forced.  It might be viewed as intimate communion with God.]


Helpful Hints For Life Communication -True communication starts inside.  We can all look at the same thing and see/hear something different.  Perceptions vary among people, and we often assume that other people perceive things exactly the way we do, which is often not the case.

 
Mobile (Cell) Phone Etiquette
Mobile phones are wonderful tools and can even save lives, but as Grandma used to say, all things in their proper order.  Here are some essentials:
 
1) Love the person you are with.  Do NOT answer a mobile phone while with someone OR do NOT put someone on hold unless necessity demands that you take that call.  In that case, try to tell the person, you might get a call when you are with them.
 
2) Leave your phone in the car or at home.  Do NOT take your phone with you when going to places of worship, public leisure or performances, or visiting others.  (Or for an emergency use sake, set the phone to silent.)
 
3) Be prudent when using mobile phone appropriately out of the house.  Be careful not to talk loud, get emotional, or reveal things that should be kept hidden while talking to someone else in public locations.  Give your time and attention to the one you are speaking to on the phone.  Make sure your ring tones are not too loud.
 
4)  Drive your car while you are driving.  If you need the ability to use your cell phone while in your vehicle, pick up a headset, ear bud, bluetooth, etc to leave your hands and eyes available for the road.  You can also find a safe place to pull off the road and use your cell phone.

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DONUT (FRESH FRUIT) FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY WITH PARISH GROUPS HOSTING


After Sunday Mass, host a time of fellowship (once a month or every week) that is run by the parish organizations that includes, donuts, fruit, breakfast bars or other food.  For Saturday night, maybe a soup supper can be hosted by 5-6 people supplying the soup, sandwiches.


BENEFITS:
People join in fellowship and get to know each other and grow from the food of the Eucharist (Holy Mass), by then sharing a meal together.  Parish organizations can get their name, their work, who they are and recruit members by speaking with those who come through the line.  Banners or information can be available on tables where people sit for people to take or pass on.


HOW?
Consult and ask if it is okay with your Parish Priest.  The Pastoral Council or a staff member might be able to schedule and coordinate groups to rotate doing the setup, serving and clean up.  The coordinating person can give written instructions and remind the organization's leader each time or hand them a schedule.  Organization leader then gets people at a monthly meeting.  Parish can pay for the donuts, fruit, food, or the organization can.  Cups, napkins, etc. can be supplied by the parish possibly bought in bulk and used each time Donut Fellowship Sunday is had.

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The Chosen, YouTube / The Chosen, Official Website This is such a beautiful series!

Click here if you cannot see the video above.
Director Dallas Jenkins told ChurchPOP that the idea stemmed from a short film he created about Jesus’ birth from the shepherds’ perspective. While filming this project for his church, the idea of a multi-season show came to mind.
“I think really digging into the characters, spending time with them, and getting to know them in a show, as opposed to a quick movie, is an interesting idea,” Jenkins told ChurchPOP.

“People started catching onto the vision, and that’s when they came up with the crowdfunding idea, and here we are.”
Jenkins worked in Hollywood for about 20 years. He presented the idea to some of his contacts, but could not receive the proper funding needed for the project.

However, the streaming video company VidAngel expressed interest, and moved forward with the show. It is now available through their website.

Jenkins said show’s response has been “overwhelming.” He said both kids and parents say they “watched each episode multiple times,” and he “didn’t necessarily think kids would get into the show.”

“Every day we get dozens of people saying it changed their lives or relationship with God—that they’re seeing Jesus in a whole new way,” Jenkins said.

“It’s really powerful seeing how the show’s impacted people’s relationship with God. And especially seeing that from kids is an incredible thing.”

Jenkins hopes the show will run for at least six seasons, with eight episodes each. The first four episodes are now available, and episode one is available for free on YouTube.
​
The complete Second Season has just been released, all free.

-An angry man comes to his neighbor: “Is that your cat that in my garden, digging out my carrots?” The neighbor replies: “Of course. Do you think I would have time for that?”
-Two friends are walking in a park when they’re suddenly stopped by a mugger with a gun. “Give me all your money!” demands the mugger.  Both get out their wallets, but one of the friends slaps his forehead, “I totally forgot, Joe, I still owe you 150 dollars! Here you are!”




Deep Thoughts
-If you got into a taxi and he started driving backwards, would the driver end up owing you money? 
-Why is it called a tv set if you only get one? 
-Why is abbreviation such a long word?
-Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?



I marked the spot - Two friends rented a boat and fished in a lake every day. One day they caught 30 fish. One guy said to his friend, "Mark this spot so that we can come back here again tomorrow."  The next day, when they were driving to rent the boat, the same guy asked his friend, "Did you mark that spot?"   His friend replied, "Yeah, I put a big 'X' on the bottom of the boat."   The first one said, "Oh my goodness! What if we don't get that same boat today!?!?"


A Child's Point of View!
The story of Adam and Eve was being carefully explained in the children's Sunday School class. Following the story, the children were asked to draw some picture that would illustrate the story. Little Bobby drew a picture of a car with three people in it. In the front seat was a man and in the back seat, a man and a woman. The teacher was at a loss to understand how this illustrated the lesson of Adam and Eve. Little Bobby was prompt with his explanation. "Why, this is God driving Adam and Eve out of the garden!"
 
Falling Off The Horse 
The old time pastor was galloping down the road, rushing to get to church on time. Suddenly his horse stumbled and pitched him to the ground. In the dirt with a broken leg, the pastor called out, "All you saints in Heaven, help me get up on my horse! 
Then, with superhuman effort, he leaped onto the horse's back and fell off the other side. 
Once again on the ground, he called to Heaven, "All right, just half of you this time!"
 
Whose Calling?
The Pastor had just put up his "Shut OFF all Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices" sign in the back of church during the week.  At Mass, a cell phone rings in the assembly.  The embarrassed person does not reach to shut it off not wanting to draw attention to himself. 
The priest finally says out loud, "That better be God calling!"




How to Deal With The Issue
A friend of mine recently sought counsel for an issue in his life, and came back to me with this funny report...
"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start.
So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a chocolate cake.
I feel better already." ​

+JMJ+
SUNDAY MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, August 1st, 2021
The First Reading- Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15  
The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.  The Israelites said to them, "Would that we had died at the LORD's hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!  But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!"  Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.  Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not.  "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.  Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."  In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.  In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.  On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?" for they did not know what it was.  But Moses told them, "This is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."
Reflection 
Are we there yet? I’m hungry! I’m thirsty! Long trips are hard. It was no different for Moses taking the Hebrew people from slavery to a home of their own than it sometimes is for parents taking children on a vacation or day trip. Traveling can make people cranky and frustrated. The Hebrews were so out of sorts they blamed Moses and said they’d rather be slaves than be on that journey. God took care of them and gave them a food called manna so that they wouldn’t give up.
Adults - Life is full of ups and downs.  What empowers you to help those you love through their struggles?
Teens - We walk alongside the people God puts in our lives in many ways - sometimes this walk is pleasant and sometimes it is hard.  What helps you not give up on people you love in the hard times?
Kids - Do you get cranky on long car rides or trips? What can you do to make the trips more pleasant?
Responsorial- Psalm 78: 3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
R.The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
We will declare to the generation to come
the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength
and the wonders that he wrought.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
He commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains his right hand had won.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Reflection 
-Take a moment this week to be extra grateful for the food you eat.
The Second Reading- Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24
Brothers and sisters: I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; that is not how you learned Christ, assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth.
Reflection
Saint Paul reminds us here that our lives must look different than the ways of the world.  We are called to be in the world but not of it, and to witness to Our Lord by how we live our lives.
Regarding Paul’s letter today, what are some ways that you, throughout your life, have “put away the old self of your former way of life” and “put on the new self?” What events made you make those changes?
The Holy Gospel according to John 6: 24-35
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.  And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”  Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”  So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”  So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?  What can you do?  Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”  So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Reflection
Today’s Gospel begins a five week breakdown of the “Bread of Life Discourse” which is chapter six of the Gospel of John. Jesus had just fed thousands of people in the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and now they followed him because they wanted more food. He told them that regular food is good, but it’s not enough. We need to accept the food that God offers us in Jesus — the Eucharist — so that we won’t get too tired on our journeys and so that we can help people along on their journeys, too. When we let God feed us spiritually, we will always have what we need.
Adults -Reflect this week on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  Are you consciously aware that you are in the presence of Almighty God when you enter the Church?
Teens  -Do you have questions about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Have a conversation with your Pastor or a trusted Spiritual Leader about those questions.
Kids - How many wicker baskets did the Apostles have left over? How many Apostles were there?
LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! – “In practice, it means seriously preparing yourself: before Mass, during Mass and when going to receive. Before Mass: arriving, having made some kind of real attempt during the week, to do God’s will in your life, and to open your heart to him regularly in prayer, and to people in need. During Mass: offering yourself as best you can with Christ who is offering himself for you, having an idea of what you need from him (from this Communion), telling him this. 
When you go to Communion: remembering who you are: this needy, weak, selfish, tempted, grieving, overworked… individual. And who the One you are about to receive is: the Jesus who gave – and gives – sight to the blind, consolation to the grieving, strength to the weak… who was tempted, and overcame temptation, for you; who invited his followers to come aside and rest with him; who gave and gives himself up for you, so that you can do it for others…  Then, after Mass, maybe we’ll be ready to do something about “the thousand inconsistencies of a ‘globalized’ world where the weakest, the most powerless and the poorest appear to have so little hope!”, aware “that it is ‘unworthy’ of a Christian community to partake of the Lord´s Supper amid division and indifference towards the poor”.  --Excerpted from Sacerdos

Homily Introducting to Mental Prayer

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CATHOLIC QUESTIONS AND CATHOLIC ANSWERS

538. In the Old Testament, what relationship do the king and the temple have to prayer?  a. God came to be with the people through the temple
-The prayer of the People of God developed in the shadow of the dwelling place of God – the Ark of the Covenant, then the Temple – under the guidance of their shepherds. Among them there was David, the King “after God’s own heart,” the shepherd who prayed for his people. His prayer was a model for the prayer of the people because it involved clinging to the divine promise and a trust filled with love for the One who is the only King and Lord.




539. What is the role of prayer in the mission of the prophets?  c. By prayer they brought God’s message to the people and the people to God
-The prophets drew from prayer the light and strength to exhort the people to faith and to conversion of heart. They entered into great intimacy with God and interceded for their brothers and sisters to whom they proclaimed what they had seen and heard from the Lord. Elijah was the father of the prophets, of those who sought the face of God. On Mount Carmel he achieved the return of the people to the faith, thanks to the intervention of God to whom he prayed: “Answer me, O Lord, answer me!” (1 Kings 18:37).




540. What is the importance of the Psalms in prayer?  d. all of the above
The Psalms are the summit of prayer in the Old Testament: the Word of God become the prayer of man. Inseparably both personal and communal, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, this prayer sings of God’s marvelous deeds in creation and in the history of salvation. Christ prayed the Psalms and brought them to fulfillment. Thus they remain an essential and permanent element of the prayer of the Church suited to people of every condition and time.




PRAYER IS FULLY REVEALED AND REALIZED IN JESUS


541. From whom did Jesus learn how to pray?  b. His mother and the Jewish Tradition
Jesus, with his human heart, learned how to pray from his mother and from the Jewish tradition. But his prayer sprang from a more secret source because he is the eternal Son of God who in his holy humanity offers his perfect filial prayer to his Father.



​

Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
 
        At home, my family still prays before and after every meal.  After breakfast, mom or dad always add the Act of Faith, Act of Hope, and Act of Love prayers along with other morning prayers.  They do this because they were taught this in their youth, and because it has helped to keep them faithful to God and one another their whole life long.
 
        I have searched for these prayers as mom and dad were taught them, but I have not found them.  So finally I asked my dad to write them down because they are so simple, yet so profound.  And these 3 are virtues are known as the very important theological virtues.
 
        I did this so that I might add them to my daily prayers and pass them on you.  We all need more faith, hope, and love in our lives, our marriages, our families, our communities, and our world.  May this begin with you and with me!
 
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
 
P.S.  These prayers are found in the prayer section below.
P.S.S.  This coming Sunday is the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time.  Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
P.S.S.S.  Readings with questions for self or family reflection found at the end of e-weekly.

From a past Sunday homily click the blue lines below (15 minutes): : 
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534. What is prayer?  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC, 2558-2565, 2590)
a) the raising of one’s mind and heart to God
b) the petition of good things from him in accord with his will
c) the personal and living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is infinitely good
d) All of the above.


535. Why is there a universal call to prayer? (CCC 2566-2567)
a) only because every one needs prayer
b) prayer changes God
c) God draws every person to the mysterious encounter known as prayer
d) prayer is magic and by it I get what I want


THE REVELATION OF PRAYER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
536. How is Abraham a model of prayer? (CCC 2570-2573, 2592)
a) his prayer was spoken the loudest
b) he walked in the presence of God, heard and obeyed him 
c) he gave 1/10 of everything to the king-priest Melchizedek
d) he is the father of many nations


537. How did Moses pray? (CCC 2574-2577, 2593)
a) in a way like Jesus would pray
b) he lingered in conversation with him often and at length 
c) face to face, like a man with his friend
d) all of the above

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“Helpful Hints of Life”
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Recycle
Even the Pope talks about preserving this beautiful creation that God has given us, by being prudent stewards of it.  This includes reducing, reusing, and recycling.  Very likely a local school or group is collecting papers, cans, and more where they get money and you do not have to pay for the trash to take it.  Recycling saves money, resources, and more.


"Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us." (n. 160)  -Pope Francis, Laudato Si




Communication

True communication starts inside.  We can all look at the same thing and see/hear something different.  Perceptions vary among people, and we often assume that other people perceive things exactly the way we do, which is often not the case.

Defending the Bride

http://www.defendingthebride.com/


This is a small website dedicated to explaining and defending the truths that God has revealed through the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church. The site includes free printable one page pamphlets and a free PowerPoint presentation on the Hail Mary. There is an especially nice section featuring pictures and text that demonstrate why the location of Caesarea Philippi was so important as the place where Jesus promised to build His Church on Peter. 


[For those traveling this summer and needing to get to the Holy Mass.]
MASS TIMES AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES throughout the US
www.MassTimes.org


When traveling this Summer maybe add some religion to your trip.  Perhaps stop at a monastery or Cathedral you come across.  There are many Catholic historical sites.  Or visit http://www.catholicshrines.net/  for a shrine near your vacation destination.
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PARIS — As the health crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic immersed the whole country into a long period of lockdown March 17, Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, which had to close its doors for the first time in its history, nonetheless remained an unflappable beacon of prayer in France.
Enthroned at the top of the emblematic butte Montmartre, the highest point of the city, the basilica is particularly prized by tourists and art lovers for the purity of its Roman-Byzantine architecture and its rounded shapes.
It is, after the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the second-most-visited monument of the City of Light.
But this high place of world tourism, as a “Sanctuary of Eucharistic Adoration and Divine Mercy,” is also one of the most important religious sites of France.
Day and night since Aug. 1, 1885, the Body of Christ in the Holy Sacrament has been exposed and adored inside the basilica (except for Good Friday), whatever the external conditions, even the most extreme. This is remarkable, as the history of France hasn’t exactly been calm since that time, including for the Catholic Church, which is also facing an unprecedented wave of secularization at every level of society.  
“The adoration hasn’t stopped even for a minute, including during the two world wars,” Sister Cécile-Marie, member of the Benedictine Sisters of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre and responsible for the nights of adoration at the basilica, told the Register. “Even during the 1944 bombing, when some fragments fell right next to the basilica, the adorers never left.”

Adoration in the Time of COVID-19
And the recent quarantine period was, of course, no exception. While, usually, many lay or religious people come from outside and take turns in perpetual adoration, this unprecedented situation necessitated the 14 nuns of the community to reorganize their daily life in order to keep honoring the special tradition of the sanctuary, which stayed closed to the public for more than two months, until May 31.  
“It was obvious to us that since we were not touched by the coronavirus, as long as we were still on our feet, we had to act and adapt quickly to this new situation,” Sister Cécile-Marie continued.
Each nun had to pray in adoration one hour twice a day to ensure a 24/7 presence, including during meals. “We never leave the Lord alone, and one cannot leave before the next person arrives, which could be pretty difficult at night when one of us didn’t wake up on time!” she said, adding that this has also been an opportunity for them to focus more on prayer and thus reconnect with the very essence of their rule of life.
However, she confessed, the lockdown also created a totally unusual sense of emptiness within the church, usually crowded with pilgrims and visitors. In her view, the most difficult thing to handle when the basilica suddenly emptied was the sight of all the candles slowly going out.
“It was a very sad vision, but, miraculously, we immediately started receiving requests of intentions of prayer from people via email; so, eventually, there were always at least one or two candles burning, and when they were about to extinguish, we would suddenly receive another request, which was so comforting.”
And the Benedictine community was quickly joined in prayer by a multitude of adorers who prayed with them remotely, following an online table for intentions of prayers.
“It was a beautiful experience: We were alone in the basilica, but we felt we were always connected with the adorers that were in spiritual communion from where they were,” Sister Cécile-Marie recalled. “We couldn’t help people by wearing white coats, but we fought the epidemic our own way: through prayer.”


A Place of Reparation
The construction of the basilica wasn’t even completed when perpetual adoration was initiated. The historical context in which the building project was born was particularly sensitive and painful for the French nation.
Indeed, the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War following the Siege of Paris in 1871 left a strong sense of hopelessness among the population and was often associated in the collective mind with a weakening of the faith as a consequence of the French Revolution.
It was then, as an act of reparation designed to instill hope in the nation’s heart, that two laymen, Alexandre Legentil and Hubert Rohault de Fleury, initiated and developed the ambitious project to build a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with the support of a large network of friendships.




And the place chosen by the then-archbishop of Paris, Joseph-Hippolyte Guibert, for the construction owes nothing to chance: It was in Montmartre, which literally means “Mount of Martyrs,” that the first Christians of Paris, including St. Denis, were killed in hatred of the faith in the third century.
“The foundress of our community, Mother Adèle Garnier, heard about the project and received soon after a divine call to establish perpetual adoration in this new church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and she submitted this idea to the archbishop of Paris,” Sister Cécile-Marie said.
But the building process, started in 1875 and completed in 1914, was particularly arduous because of the sand sub-base, which made the site unstable. Therefore, divine assistance was sought through the creation of a provisory chapel so that people could pray and meditate even during the work. “Times of adoration of the Holy Sacrament were already organized there, and the first pilgrims came, giving the first financial contributions for the building site,” Sister Cécile-Marie continued.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux herself was among the first contributors to the basilica, which could only augur a glorious future for the site. During a visit to Paris on her way to Rome with her family and a group of pilgrims, on Nov. 6, 1887, young Thérèse attended Mass at Sacré-Cœur and decided to offer her gold bracelet for the basilica’s monstrance.
It wasn’t until 1919 that the building was finally consecrated by Archbishop Guibert, five years after the completion of the work, as ravages of the Great War forced him to postpone the ceremony.
One century later, as the basilica’s first jubilee coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit chose this emblematic place to conduct an extraordinary blessing ceremony of the French capital with the Holy Sacrament, on Holy Thursday, to seek God’s  protection for the city and its inhabitants.
“Sacred Heart of Jesus … from this basilica, day and night, your mercy shines on this city, France and on the world, in the sacrament of the Eucharist,” Archbishop Aupetit said in his prayer raised from the basilica’s portico. “Assist all those who are suffering the consequences of the pandemic and support those who, in so many ways, put themselves at the service of their brothers and sisters. Give health to the sick, strength to the medical staff, comfort to the families and salvation to all those who have died.”
Solène Tadié is the Register’s Rome-based Europe correspondent.

​

A bit of humor…
Deep Thoughts
-5 out of 4 Americans are bad at Math.  
-If you got into a taxi and he started driving backwards, would the driver end up owing you money? 
-Why is it called a tv set if you only get one? 
-Why is abbreviation such a long word?
-Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?


A rushing tourist, out of breath, stops at a small country house where a grandpa is sitting on the porch and asks, “Excuse me, how can I get the fastest to the train station?” “No problem,” waves the grandpa, “let me just let the dog loose.”



I marked the spot
Two friends rented a boat and fished in a lake every day. One day they caught 30 fish. One guy said to his friend, 
"Mark this spot so that we can come back here again tomorrow." 
The next day, when they were driving to rent the boat, the same guy asked his friend, "Did you mark that spot?" 
His friend replied, "Yeah, I put a big 'X' on the bottom of the boat." 
The first one said, "Oh my goodness! What if we don't get that same boat today!?!?"




Grandparents and Grandchildren
  I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I
  decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color
  it was.  She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was
  fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying
  sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these
  yourself!"
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
  When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the
  lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky
  insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before
  I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are
  coming after us with flashlights."
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
  A nursery school teacher was delivering a mini-van full of kids
  home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front
  seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started
  discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back,"
  said one youngster. "No," said another, "he's just for good luck." A
  third child brought the argument to a close: "No, they use the dogs
  to find the fire hydrant."

​

+JMJ+
SUNDAY MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, July 25th, 2021

The First Reading- 2 Kings 4:42-44  
A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear.  Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat."  But his servant objected, "How can I set this before a hundred people?"  Elisha insisted, "Give it to the people to eat."  "For thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'"  And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the LORD had said.
Reflection 
God always gives us more than we need.  Today’s Scriptures tell us two stories about God giving people more food than they needed.  The first reading is the story of the Prophet Elisha feeding 100 people with only 20 barley loaves.  The Lord said that there would be food leftover - and there was!  This is a type of the miraculous feedings of Christ, and also ultimately of the Eucharist.
Adults - We can sometimes feel stretched thin with the demands of everyday life.  Ask the Lord’s help in multiplying your patience and fortitude, or whatever virtue you need at the moment,  as you go through the day.
Teens - God worked through Elisha benefit others. Ask God to show you where he can use your gifts to the fullest potential to build the Body of Christ.  Can you cantor at Mass?  Work with the younger kids of the parish? Help decorate for the liturgical year? 
Kids - What gifts has God given you to help others?

Responsorial- Psalm 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18
R.The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Reflection 
This Psalm is a litany of praise to God for HIs many interventions in forming, guiding, and protecting His people throughout history. His works of Creation are magnificent, but his most prominent attribute is His boundless mercy to us. -Pray at least one Rosary for a specific need this week. 

The Second Reading- Ephesians 4: 1-6
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Reflection
Paul is teaching us that we are called to an exquisite banquet - the banquet of the Lord, and wants us to know how to carefully prepare.  He makes it clear that just believing is not enough - that belief must transform into action in the way we live our lives.  Unity with the Lord and with each other is maintained through the practice of virtue.
Ask the Lord to guide you in discerning what vriture you may need to work on in your life.

The Holy Gospel according to John 6: 1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.  A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.  The Jewish feast of Passover was near.  When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"  He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.  Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little."  One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"  Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.  So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.  Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted."  So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.  When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."  Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Reflection
The miraculous feedings Christ performs point forward to the miracle of the Eucharist.  Having experienced this miracle the crowd goes from what was possibly a shallow belief in Jesus as a wonderworker to concluding that He is the Messiah.  They wish to carry Him off and make Him king, but He withdraws.  Jesus is not going to be the king the people expect.  He is going to follow His Father’s plan for His kingship.  This is a lesson for the Church today.  We are to be the Church that the Father wills, not that the world wills.
Adults -How have I experienced God’s extravagant, overflowing gifts? How do I use them to feed others?
Teens -Do you feel like God has given you everything you need to represent him in your world? If not, what is lacking? If so, what is your greatest asset?
Kids - Do you ever waste anything? Do you get in trouble for it? Why?
LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! – “We must rest assured then that Christ is intimately interested in our daily lives on earth.  We must not expect that this interest of his will remove all shadows from our path.  This would not be for our eternal good—and our eternal happiness is Christ's first interest in us. It should also be our own first and principal interest too.  It will help us, too, to bear with our lot, if we look about us and see so many others who are worse off, or at least as badly off as we are especially with regard to the snags of life.  Christian charity will move us to help them; we may not be able to give them any material help, but we can help to lighten their load by showing our sincere interest in them and by offering words of comfort and consolation.  This is the only charity that the poor have to offer to their fellow sufferers, but if it is Christ-inspired its effects will reach to heaven.  -Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.


​

CATHOLIC QUESTIONS AND CATHOLIC ANSWERS

534. What is prayer?  d. All of the above.
Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the petition of good things from him in accord with his will. It is always the gift of God who comes to encounter man. Christian prayer is the personal and living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is infinitely good, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit who dwells in their hearts.


535. Universal call to prayer  c. God draws every person to the mysterious encounter known as prayer
Because through creation God first calls every being from nothingness. Even after the Fall man continues to be capable of recognizing his Creator and retains a desire for the One who has called him into existence. All religions, and the whole history of salvation in particular, bear witness to this human desire for God. It is God first of all, however, who ceaselessly draws every person to the mysterious encounter known as prayer.


536. How is Abraham a model of prayer? b. he walked in the presence of God, heard and obeyed him
Abraham is a model of prayer because he walked in the presence of God, heard and obeyed him. His prayer was a battle of faith because he continued to believe in the fidelity of God even in times of trial. Besides, after having received in his own tent the visit of the Lord who confided his plan to him, Abraham dared to intercede for sinners with bold confidence.


537. How did Moses pray?  d. all of the above
The prayer of Moses was typical of contemplative prayer. God, who called to Moses from the burning bush, lingered in conversation with him often and at length, “face to face, like a man with his friend” (Exodus 33:11). In this intimacy with God, Moses attained the strength to intercede tenaciously for his people: his prayer thus prefigured the intercession of the one mediator, Christ Jesus.

Catholic Good News

Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
 
 
 
Obedience


"Does the LORD so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in
​
obedience to the command of the LORD? 

Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams.”

I Samual 15:22
​

“Helpful Hints of Life”
 
Pray First Thing Every Morning
The early morning hours are the best part of any day.  To use them well and to make sure the rest of the day is wrapped in prayer, pray as soon as you get out of bed.  Either kneel down or sit on edge of bed and pray for all the graces you will need that day (i.e. the Morning Offering Prayer found in prayer section below)!




"Jesus' obedience to his mother and legal father fulfills the fourth commandment perfectly and was the temporal image of his filial obedience to his Father in heaven. The everyday obedience of Jesus to Joseph and Mary both announced and anticipated the obedience of Holy Thursday: "Not my will. . ." The obedience of Christ in the daily routine of his hidden life was already inaugurating his work of restoring what the disobedience of Adam had destroyed." -Catechism of the Catholic Church #532

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Catholic Website of the Week
 
Catechism of the Catholic Church
 
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
 
See what the Church teaches by reading here.  There is also a very good search engine to search the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  



Quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church can be found every week in green throughout the Roman Catholic Good News e-weekly.

 
[For those traveling and needing to get to the Holy Mass.]
MASS TIMES AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES throughout the US
http://www.masstimes.org/

​

By Courtney Mares
Rome, Italy, Jul 10, 2021 / 05:00 am
​
During his hospitalization, Pope Francis has exchanged affectionate messages with the young patients in the nearby pediatric oncology and children’s neurosurgery wards, according to the Vatican.
The pope, who has been recovering from intestinal surgery in Gemelli University Hospital this week, also received handwritten get well cards from children staying in other hospitals in Rome.
“Dear Pope Francis, feel my prayer like I felt yours when I was sick,” wrote a girl named Giulia, who has undergone treatment at the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital.
Below the message, Giulia drew a picture of her holding Pope Francis’ hand while he is in a hospital bed.

Card for Pope Francis from Children in Gemelli Hospital July 2021 / Vatican MediaPope Francis was hospitalized on July 4 to undergo an operation to relieve stricture of the colon caused by diverticulitis, a common condition that involves the formation of small bulges or sacs on the wall of the colon.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said July 5 that the pope was expected to spend seven days recovering in the hospital, “barring complications.”
“At this particular moment, [Pope Francis] looks toward all those who suffer, expressing his closeness to the sick, especially those most in need of care,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in one of the Holy See’s daily health bulletins.
In the latest health update released July 10, the Vatican said that the pope’s clinical progress is as “expected” and that “his blood tests are satisfactory.”
“He is gradually resuming work and continues to stroll in the corridor of the apartment,” Bruni said.
“In the afternoon, he celebrated Holy Mass in the private chapel and in the evening he dined with those who have been assisting him during these days.”
A 10-person medical team was involved in Francis’ surgery, which was carried out under general anesthesia, lasted about three hours and included a left hemicolectomy, the removal of one side of the colon.

This is Francis’ first major operation during his pontificate. In 2019, he had an outpatient surgery for cataracts and he occasionally suffers from flare-ups of sciatic pain.
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will lead the noon Angelus prayer from his hospital room on Sunday.

Pope Francis is staying on the 10th floor of the Gemelli polyclinic in a wing reserved for papal medical emergencies.
The Catholic hospital and medical school has treated other popes and Catholic figures, including John Paul II after he was shot in an assassination attempt and Mother Teresa, who was treated in the clinic’s cardiology department.
I piccoli pazienti con le loro famiglie e tutta la comunità del Bambino Gesù, il suo ospedale, pregano affinché @Pontifex_it possa guarire presto e continuare ad aiutare i bambini. pic.twitter.com/6RzCuUORYE
— Bambino Gesù (@bambinogesu) July 5, 2021

“The Holy Father, experiencing first-hand the human dedication of the medical and health personnel assisting him, has addressed a special thought to all those who with care and compassion choose the face of suffering, engaging in a personal relationship with the sick, especially the most fragile and vulnerable,” the Vatican spokesman said.

Here is a translation of Pope Francis' letter to families released today by the Pontifical Council for the Families.

* * *
Dear families,
 
With this letter, I wish, as it were, to come into your homes to speak about an event which will take place at the Vatican this coming October. It is the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is being convened to discuss the theme of "pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization". Indeed, in our day the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel by confronting the new and urgent pastoral needs facing the family.
 
This important meeting will involve all the People of God – bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful of the particular Churches of the entire world – all of whom are actively participating in preparations for the meeting through practical suggestions and the crucial support of prayer. Such support on your part, dear families, is especially significant and more necessary than ever. This Synodal Assembly is dedicated in a special way to you, to your vocation and mission in the Church and in society; to the challenges of marriage, of family life, of the education of children; and the role of the family in the life of the Church. I ask you, therefore, to pray intensely to the Holy Spirit, so that the Spirit may illumine the Synodal Fathers and guide them in their important task. As you know, this Extraordinary Synodal Assembly will be followed a year later by the Ordinary Assembly, which will also have the family as its theme. In that context, there will also be the World Meeting of Families due to take place in Philadelphia in September 2015. May we all, then, pray together so that through these events the Church will undertake a true journey of discernment and adopt the necessary pastoral means to help families face their present challenges with the light and strength that comes from the Gospel.
 
I am writing this letter to you on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. The evangelist Luke tells us that the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, in keeping with the Law of Moses, took the Baby Jesus to the temple to offer him to the Lord, and that an elderly man and woman, Simeon and Anna, moved by the Holy Spirit, went to meet them and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah (cf. Lk 2:22-38). Simeon took him in his arms and thanked God that he had finally "seen" salvation. Anna, despite her advanced age, found new vigour and began to speak to everyone about the Baby. It is a beautiful image: two young parents and two elderly people, brought together by Jesus. He is the one who brings together and unites generations! He is the inexhaustible font of that love which overcomes every occasion of self-absorption, solitude, and sadness. In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support… Nevertheless, if there is no love then there is no joy, and authentic love comes to us from Jesus. He offers us his word, which illuminates our path; he gives us the Bread of life which sustains us on our journey.
 
Dear families, your prayer for the Synod of Bishops will be a precious treasure which enriches the Church. I thank you, and I ask you to pray also for me, so that I may serve the People of God in truth and in love. May the protection of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph always accompany all of you and help you to walk united in love and in caring for one another. I willingly invoke on every family the blessing of the Lord.
 
From the Vatican, 2 February 2014
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
 
FRANCISCUS
 
 

 
POPE FRANCIS'S WORDS TO THE NEW CARDINALS AND YOU AND ME

“May all of us avoid, and help others to avoid, habits and ways of acting typical of a court: intrigue, gossip, cliques, favoritism, and partiality,” the Pope said as he calle...d upon all the faithful, and especially the cardinals, to be holy. “Christian holiness is not first and foremost our own work, but the fruit of docility-- willed and cultivated-- to the Spirit of God thrice holy.” 

“My brother cardinals, Jesus did not come to teach us good manners, how to behave well at the table,” he continued. “To do that, he would not have had to come down from heaven and die on the Cross. Christ came to save us, to show us the way, the only way out of the quicksand of sin, and this way of holiness is mercy, that mercy which he has shown, and daily continues to show, to us. To be a saint is not a luxury. It is necessary for the salvation of the world. This is what the Lord is asking of us.” 

“Whenever the least of our brothers and sisters finds a place in our hearts, it is God himself who finds a place there,” Pope Francis added. “When that brother or sister is shut out, it is God himself who is not being welcomed. A heart without love is like a deconsecrated church, a building withdrawn from God’s service and given over to another use.”


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"By his obedience to Mary and Joseph, as well as by his humble work during the long years in Nazareth, Jesus gives us the example of holiness in the daily life of family and work."  -Catechism of the Catholic Church #564

​

The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that "with God nothing will be impossible" and so giving her assent: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word." Elizabeth greeted her: "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." It is for this faith that all generations have called Mary blessed.  -Catechism of the Catholic Church #148

​

+JMJ+
SUNDAY MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, July 11th, 2021
The First Reading- Amos 7:12-15  
Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.  The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”
Reflection 
 You just never know to what God is going to call you.  Have you ever been minding your own business, going through your life pretty smoothly and then, BAM! Something changes drastically, taking you completely off guard? It could be a good thing, it could be something that appears, or even something bad. But all of a sudden, you’re different. That’s what happened to Amos. He was a pretty successful businessman. The first readings says that he was a “dresser of sycamores.” That means he tended these little mini fig trees, pruning them to make sure they didn’t have bugs and that they would grow fruit. He also kept herds. Then, one day, God told him to go to the nations of the world and tell them that they were doing everything wrong. He had to go and accuse all of the rich people (remember, he was one of them) of abusing the poor, and getting rich on the backs of the vulnerable. Like most of the prophets, that meant trouble for Amos. He had to leave his business and get into everyone else’s business. Generally speaking, people don’t like that. So, he had a really hard time of it; and it was never what he had planned for his life.
Adults -Have you ever had a shake-up moment like Amos did? What difficult thing did God call you to? Did you go without hesitation? Did you meet a lot of trouble along the way? How did you get through it?
Teens - Do you think it’s easy to follow God’s will?  How do you discern whether something is being asked of you by God?
Kids - Try five minutes of silent prayer this week and listen for God to speak in your heart.
Responsorial- Psalm 85: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD —for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Reflection 
-Be extra aware of God’s kindness this week.  
The Second Reading- Ephesians 1: 3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.  In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. 
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. In him we were also chosen,destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
Reflection
The second reading tells us that our being chosen in ways like Amos experienced, and the Apostles experienced in today’s Gospel, is the first installment of our inheritance from Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit, and then we’re sent out to tell people all about God. Sometimes you might want to tell God to keep that inheritance, but when it comes down to it, that’s why we were baptized. We were baptized not for comfort and ease of life, but for the discomfort of the Gospel.
-Consider ways that God might ultimately use the struggles in your life for good in the long run.  
The Holy Gospel according to Mark 6: 7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.  Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Reflection
We’re not in it alone! Jesus sent the Apostles out two by two for a reason. We’re meant to have companions for our journey, to help us be accountable and not get discouraged. Jesus told them not to take lots of provisions for the journey, but to trust that God will care for them as they go. It’s the same with us. We get the call to go out (which could be comforting someone who needs it, visiting a lonely person, telling the truth in a difficult situation, giving material goods to someone in need … ) and we go. We should not worry about how we will have what we need to accomplish it, but know that if God called us to it, he’ll give us what we need to get through it.
Adults -Take some time this week to thank the person you are going two by two with through this life.  They are a gift from a loving God.
Teens  -Who are your companions on your journey — with whom has God sent you “two by two”? How do you help one another?
Kids - What is your favorite way to help people?
LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! – “God's mercy and love can reach into the darkest corners and produce fruit from the most unlikely and apparently most neglected of orchards.  While we thank God from our hearts today for having been put on the road to heaven, let us remember in our prayers our fellowmen, God's other children, who are trudging along through the fields and hedges. May God continue to show his mercy and divine understanding toward them!” -Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.
​

Do you and I ever consider that in his flesh, Jesus Christ ended sin and death by being slain and dying on the Cross, and then became food for our very body and soul that we might be transformed so that we might populate Heaven? 


Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
 
P.S. To learn more of why a Lamb, read the piece in Catholic Term. 
 
P.S.  This coming Sunday is the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time .  > Readings  


P.S.S.  At the end of E-weekly is this week's readings with reflections and questions for self or family.
​

Catholic Term
 

Lamb of God
- name given to Christ foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament
[A symbol of Christ. Rendered in many forms as early as the fourth century. Various aspects show the animal balancing a staff by its right front leg, with a wound in its chest pouring blood into a chalice, representing Christ's Blood in the Passion; the staff bearing a flag signifying Christ's victory in the Resurrection; the lamb resting or standing on a closed book with its seven sealed streamers symbolizing Christ as the judge. The lamb is the emblem of docility; "harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly, he never opened his mouth like the lamb that is led to the slaughter house" (Isaiah 53:7).  But the lamb triumphant is portrayed symbolically in the song ascribed to St. Ambrose, "Now at the Lamb's high royal feast," and St. John speaks of the wrath of the Lamb when the sixth seal is broken. As an emblem of St. John the Baptist, it is found in Chartres Cathedral on a banner that reads "Behold the Lamb of God," referring to Christ, "Who takes away the sins of the world." St. Agnes, the child virgin and martyr, is also symbolized by the lamb.] 

 ​

​"Helpful Hints of Life"
​

Pray for Christian Unity

There is more that unites Christians than divides them.  Yet at times this is easy to forget.   Jesus prayed in John 17:

Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. 

- John 17:11 ​

Screen grab of Pope Francis interview shown to a group of Pentecostals in the United States. (CNS photo)

 
The pope’s message can be seen here, it begins at about 31:35 after Bishop Tony Palmer delivers a speech to a Kenneth Copeland Ministries about the importance of Christian unity for preaching salvation in Christ to the world. The bishop, who also serves as international ecumenical officer for the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, a group that is not affiliated with the Anglican Communion, takes a much simpler view of the path full Christian unity than the pope and the mainline Christian churches do.
 
The translation used for the English subtitles on the video are not precise, but the pope’s sincerity is clear.
 
The video can be found at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9Ssvs5cgY
 

 
John the Baptist is "more than a prophet." In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah. He proclaims the imminence of the consolation of Israel; he is the "voice" of the Consoler who is coming. As the Spirit of truth will also do, John "came to bear witness to the light." In John's sight, the Spirit thus brings to completion the careful search of the prophets and fulfills the longing of the angels. "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. . . . Behold, the Lamb of God."  -Catechism of the Catholic Church #719
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Diocesan News AND BEYOND
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Several Pro-Life laws Take Effect in South Dakota
By CNA Staff
Pierre, S.D., Jul 2, 2021 / 17:01 pm
Five pro-life laws went into effect in South Dakota on Thursday.
As of July 1, it is no longer legal to abort a child due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, and it will no longer be legal to require a surrogate to abort a child as part of her surrogacy contract. 
SB 183, “An Act to declare certain contract provisions regarding abortion as deceptive acts or practices,” was introduced by state Sen. Lee Schoenbeck (R-05), the president pro tempore of the South Dakota Senate, and Rep. Jon Hansen (R-25), the speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives. 
The legislation makes it illegal to write a contract that “Include(s) a provision in a contract that, under any circumstances, requires a woman to have an abortion, or is intended to compel a woman to have an abortion.”
The law also makes a contract which coerces or compels a woman to have an abortion; punishes her for not having an abortion; or forces a woman to pay for a child she did not abort “void and unenforceable.” 
Further, as of July 1, doctors in South Dakota will be required to provide appropriate medical care to a child who is born alive following an attempted abortion, and doctors must inform women seeking a medical abortion that it is possible to attempt to reverse the effects of the first abortion drug in a two-drug regimen.
Additionally, an updated definition of “abortion” in South Dakota is now law. This new definition states that abortion is the “intentional termination of the life of a human being in the uterus.” 
The previous definition in South Dakota law stated that abortion was “the use of any means to intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant with knowledge that the termination with those means will, with reasonable likelihood, cause the death of the fetus.”

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Vatican Media / EWTN, YouTubeFifty years ago, Pope St. Paul VI watched Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the moon.
The pope looked at the moon from a telescope and watched the landing on television from the Vatican Astronomical Observatory.
He dedicated Psalm 8 to the astronauts, giving them a handwritten letter to leave on the moon. He also blessed them once they landed. He then congratulated President Richard Nixon via telegram for the successful landing.
Pope St. Paul VI sent this message to Apollo 11 astronauts:“Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will!
Christ, when coming among us from the abysses of the divinity, made this blessed voice resound in the firmament.
Today, we, His humble representative, echo and repeat it as a festive hymn on the part of our whole terrestrial globe, no longer the insurmountable boundary of human existence but the open threshold to the wide expanse of boundless space and new destinies.
Glory to God!
And honor to you, the architects of this great space undertaking! Honor to the men responsible to the scientists, the planners, the organizers, and the technicians who made it a reality!
Honor to all those who have made possible this most daring flight. Honor to all of you who in any way played a part.
Honor to you who, seated at your marvelous instruments, control the flight; to you whom inform the world of the enterprise and its time-table, which extends to the depths of the heavens the wise and bold dominion of man.
Honor, greetings and blessings!
Here, from His Observatory at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Pope Paul the Sixth is speaking to you astronauts.
Honor, greetings and blessing to you, conquerors of the Moon, pale lamp of our nights and our dreams! Bring to her, with your living presence, the voice of the spirit, a hymn to God, our Creator and our Father.
We are close to you, with our good wishes and with our prayers. Together with the whole Catholic Church, Paul the Sixth salutes you.”





INSPIRED BY POPE FRANCES, CALIFORNIA LEGAL COUNSEL CLINIC OFFERS FREE SERVICES
Oakland, Calif., Jul 19 (EWTN News/CNA) - Free legal counsel and advice may sound too good to be true, but in the Diocese of Oakland, it’s a reality.


On June 7, the Pope Francis Legal Clinic opened in Oakland, California, on the property of the Cathedral of Christ the Light.
“So many people have legal problems because law is everywhere,” Tom Greerty, director and co-founder of the clinic, told EWTN News.


“What we try and do is relieve the hardships of people.”


Experienced lawyers volunteer their time to offer free legal consulting, reconciliation, and resolution services to any adult in the community. 


Greerty, who recently retired from his legal practice in Martinez, California, said the idea started while he was earning his master’s degree in theological studies from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley.
“My professor, Sister Marianne Farina, asked me to do a project which would be consistent with my job,” Greerty said.
That project became the Pope Francis Legal Clinic, and in less than two years, others helped to make his idea a reality.
Nico Herrera, another attorney in the diocese, helped co-found the clinic. The Order of Malta, which runs a health clinic on the cathedral grounds, made space available for the new endeavor with the help of Tony Sanchez Corea, a member of the board. Bishop Michael C. Barber embraced the idea and had the clinic’s name in mind.
“I want this to be called the Pope Francis Legal Clinic,” the bishop told Greerty.
“We agreed to that naturally,” Greerty said.
Bishop Barber had a desire for the clinic to be about mercy, not just the law.
“Mercy is ordinarily not about the law,” Greerty explained. “The law doesn’t think in terms of mercy. The law thinks in terms of justice.”
But Greerty said the bishop wanted him and other faithful lawyers to bring mercy and reconciliation to legal problems that Greerty said are “almost always a breakdown in human relations.”
The lawyers spend an hour with each client. They listen to the client’s story, go over the history of the client’s problem, and try to understand the “nature of the problem.”
“We try to honor the memory of Pope Francis, and what he is trying to do with the Year of Mercy, to try and help people in a merciful way with the law,” Greerty said.
He also noted that the idea could likely be replicated in other dioceses across the country. Many Catholic lawyers are retired or far enough along in their practices to have the time and resources to establish similar clinics, he said.
Bishop Barber blessed the clinic on June 4, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the clinic was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart as well.
Right now, the clinic is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments are required.
According to Greerty, 10 lawyers have signed up to volunteer their services and more than 20 clients have already made appointments.
“I think we may be onto something,” he said.

 
POPE'S GENERAL AUDIENCE: 
"BE COURAGEOUS AND GO TO CONFESSION"

Vatican City, 19 February (VIS) – The Holy Father dedicated his catechesis at this Wednesday's general audience to the Sacrament of penance. After touring St. Peter's Square in an open car, greeting the thousands of faithful who applauded as he passed, the Pope explained that “the forgiveness of our sins is not something we can offer to ourselves; it is not the result of our efforts, but rather a gift from the Holy Spirit, which fills us from the wellspring of mercy and grace that surges endlessly from the open heart of Christ, crucified and risen again. … It reminds us that it is only by allowing ourselves to be reconciled through the Lord Jesus with the Father and with our brothers that we may truly be at peace”.

Pope Francis explained that the celebration of this Sacrament has transformed from its previously public nature to the private and reserved form of Confession. However, “this should not lead to the loss of the ecclesiastical matrix, which constitutes its living context. Indeed, the Christian community is the place in which the presence of the Spirit is felt, which renews hearts in God's love and brings all brothers together as one, in Jesus Christ”. He continued, “For this reason, it is not enough to ask for the Lord's forgiveness in our own minds and hearts, but rather it is also necessary to humbly and trustfully confess our sins to a minister of the Church”.

The Bishop of Rome emphasised that the priest does not only represent God, but rather the community as a whole, and that anyone who seeks to confess only to God should remember that our sins are also committed against our brothers and against the Church, which is why it is necessary to ask forgiveness from them too, and to be ashamed for what we have done. “Shame can be good”, he affirmed; “It is good for us to have a certain amount of shame, because to be ashamed can be healthy. When someone has no shame, in my country we describe them as “sin verguenza”, shameless. Shame can be good as it can make us humble, and the priest receives this confession with love and tenderness, and forgives in the name of God. Also from a human point of view, to unburden oneself, it is good to speak with a brother and to tell the priest those things which lie so heavily upon our hearts. And one feels unburdened before God, with the Church, and with a brother. Do not be afraid of Confession!”

The Pontiff went on to ask those present when they last confessed, and strongly urged them not to overlook Confession. “If a long time has passed, do not waste another day, go, the priest will be good. It is Jesus who is there, and Jesus is better than a priest, Jesus will receive you, he will receive you with love. Be courageous and go to Confession! … Every time we confess, God embraces us, God celebrates! Let us go ahead on this path. May God bless you!”
 
After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". By doing so, he reveals that Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes, and also the Paschal Lamb, the symbol of Israel's redemption at the first Passover. Christ's whole life expresses his mission: "to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  -Catechism of the Catholic Church #608

A bit of humor…
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Prayer for Christian Unity


That we may be one Father as You and your Son are one. Amen.
 


Christ's death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world", and the sacrifice of the New Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to God through the "blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins".  –Catechism of the Catholic Church #613


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+JMJ+
SUNDAY MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, July 4th, 2021

The First Reading- Ezekiel 2:2-5  
As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.  But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD!  And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them.
Reflection 
 Do you ever feel like you’re talking to a wall? Like nobody’s listening? In our first reading, the Prophet Ezekiel is going to be sent to speak to Israel on behalf of God. But, before he goes, God gives him a warning: they are “hard of face and obstinate of heart”. They are “a rebellious house.” Sound familiar? Sure—we’ve all been there. And we’ve all been them. But, God says that even if they don’t change, they will know that a prophet has been there. It wasn’t Ezekiel’s job to make them do what God wanted—only to bring the message and plant the seeds. It’s not our job to make people do what we think is right—only to bring God’s message and plant the seeds.
Adults -Do you ever feel like your efforts to spread the Gospel are in vain? How does knowing that this has been going on since the beginning of time make you feel?
Teens - It’s often hard to feel like we are being rejected, and continue to reach out in spite of it.  How does the first reading encourage you to continue to spread God’s love?
Kids - Do you ever feel like people don’t listen to you? How does it make you feel? What can you do about it?

Responsorial- Psalm 123: 1-2, 2, 3-4 
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven --
As the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
As the eyes of a maid
are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
till he have pity on us.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,
for we are more than sated with contempt;
our souls are more than sated
with the mockery of the arrogant,
with the contempt of the proud.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Reflection 
-Offer one of the Works of Mercy this week.  

The Second Reading- 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.  Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reflection
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul has a condition that he’s asked God to take from him a number of times. God didn’t heal him. Instead, Paul feels that God wants him to be content with the spiritual comfort that God offers, but he will not be healed. Paul says, “when I am weak, I am strong” because he has to rely on God for his strength in that illness. That’s not an easy attitude to take. God didn’t give him that affliction, God didn’t cure it, but God holds him up in the midst of it.
-Say a special prayer this week for all those afflicted with physical or mental illness.

The Holy Gospel according to Mark 6: 1-6
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished.  They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Reflection
The Gospel is reminiscent of one from a couple of weeks ago—Jesus is home and being rejected. They knew him when he was a kid, and they don’t feel that there was anything particularly remarkable about him then—why should he be such a big shot now? They don’t want to hear his message or have him perform any miracles. They want him to be normal or leave. So, he does. Just like as the first reading, we hear that God will send us what we need, but God won’t require us to be open to receiving it.
Adults -Is there someone in your life that you have written off as unimportant?  How can you reach out to them, and maybe help them use their gifts for the Kingdom of God?
Teens  -Why do you think Jesus was unable to perform many miracles in his hometown? Are you surprised at the reaction of his neighbors?
Kids - Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t teach people about Jesus because you’re too small.  This reading shows us that people often don’t know as much about others as they think that they do!
LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! – “Let us renew our loyalty to Christ today. He humbled himself so that we might be raised to the standing of sons of God. He shared our human nature with us so that we could share his divine nature. He died a cruel death on Calvary so that we could have an eternal life in heaven. We pray for light for those whose foolish pride has left them groping in darkness. Let us also ask the good God to keep us ever on the road of truth, the road of Christian humility which leads to the eternal home which Christ has won for us by his incarnation.  -Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.