PRAYER OF THE DAY

NOVENA TO SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET

Saint Anthony Mary Claret is the helper of those who are suffering from cancer, heart trouble and other serious ailments of soul and body.

St. Anthony Mary Claret,

during your life on earth

you often comforted the afflicted

and showed such tender love

and compassion for the sick and sinful.

Intercede for me now

that you rejoice in the reward

of your virtues in heavenly glory.

Look with pity on me

(or on the person afflicted or whose conversion is desired)

and grant my prayer,

if such be the will of God.

Make my troubles your own.

Speak a word for me

to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

to obtain by her powerful intercession

the grace I yearn for so ardently,

and a blessing to strengthen me during life,

assist me at the hour of death,

and lead me to a happy eternity.

Amen.

DAILY MASS READINGS

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading

Rom 8:12-17

Brothers and sisters,

we are not debtors to the flesh,

to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,

but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,

you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you received a spirit of adoption,

through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit

that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs,

heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,

if only we suffer with him

so that we may also be glorified with him.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 68:2 And 4, 6-7ab, 20-21

R. Our God is the God of salvation.

God arises; his enemies are scattered,

and those who hate him flee before him.

But the just rejoice and exult before God;

they are glad and rejoice.

R. Our God is the God of salvation.

The father of orphans and the defender of widows

is God in his holy dwelling.

God gives a home to the forsaken;

he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.

R. Our God is the God of salvation.

Blessed day by day be the Lord,

who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.

God is a saving God for us;

the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death.

R. Our God is the God of salvation.

Gospel

Lk 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.

And a woman was there who for eighteen years

had been crippled by a spirit;

she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,

"Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."

He laid his hands on her,

and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

But the leader of the synagogue,

indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,

said to the crowd in reply,

"There are six days when work should be done.

Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."

The Lord said to him in reply,

"Hypocrites!

Does not each one of you on the sabbath

untie his ox or his ass from the manger

and lead it out for watering?

This daughter of Abraham,

whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,

ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day

from this bondage?"

When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;

and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

SAINT OF THE DAY

October 24

St. Anthony Claret (1807-1870)

The "spiritual father of Cuba" was a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop and refugee. He was a Spaniard whose work took him to the Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris and to the First Vatican Council.

In his spare time as weaver and designer in the textile mills of Barcelona, he learned Latin and printing: the future priest and publisher was preparing. Ordained at 28, he was prevented by ill health from entering religious life as a Carthusian or as a Jesuit, but went on to become one of Spain’s most popular preachers.

He spent 10 years giving popular missions and retreats, always placing great emphasis on the Eucharist and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Her rosary, it was said, was never out of his hand. At 42, beginning with five young priests, he founded a religious institute of missionaries, known today as the Claretians.

He was appointed to head the much-neglected archdiocese of Santiago in Cuba. He began its reform by almost ceaseless preaching and hearing of confessions, and suffered bitter opposition mainly for stamping out concubinage and giving instruction to black slaves. A hired assassin (whose release from prison Anthony had obtained) slashed open his face and wrist. Anthony succeeded in getting the would-be assassin’s death sentence commuted to a prison term. His solution for the misery of Cubans was family-owned farms producing a variety of foods for the family’s own needs and for the market. This invited the enmity of the vested interests who wanted everyone to work on a single cash crop—sugar. Besides all his religious writings are two books he wrote in Cuba: Reflections on Agriculture and Country Delights.

He was recalled to Spain for a job he did not relish—being chaplain for the queen. He went on three conditions: He would reside away from the palace, he would come only to hear the queen’s confession and instruct the children and he would be exempt from court functions. In the revolution of 1868, he fled with the queen’s party to Paris, where he preached to the Spanish colony.

All his life Anthony was interested in the Catholic press. He founded the Religious Publishing House, a major Catholic publishing venture in Spain, and wrote or published 200 books and pamphlets.

At Vatican I, where he was a staunch defender of the doctrine of infallibility, he won the admiration of his fellow bishops. Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore remarked of him, "There goes a true saint." At the age of 63, he died in exile near the border of Spain.

OFFICE OF READINGS

O Lord, open my lips.

  And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

---

Invitatory Psalm	Psalm 66 (67)

Let us rejoice in the Lord and extol him with songs.

– Let us rejoice in the Lord and extol him with songs.

O God, take pity on us and bless us,

  and let your face shine upon us,

so that your ways may be known across the world,

  and all nations learn of your salvation.

– Let us rejoice in the Lord and extol him with songs.

Let the peoples praise you, O God,

  let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and rejoice,

  for you judge the peoples with fairness

  and you guide the nations of the earth.

– Let us rejoice in the Lord and extol him with songs.

Let the peoples praise you, O God,

  let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has produced its harvest:

  may God, our God, bless us.

May God bless us,

  may the whole world revere him.

– Let us rejoice in the Lord and extol him with songs.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

– Let us rejoice in the Lord and extol him with songs.

---

Hymn

Our limbs refreshed with slumber now,

And sloth cast off, in prayer we bow;

And while we sing thy praises dear,

O Father, be thou present here.

To thee our earliest morning song,

To thee our hearts’ full powers belong;

And thou, O Holy One prevent

Each following action and intent.

As shades at morning flee away,

And night before the star of day;

So each transgression of the night

Be purged by thee, celestial light!

Cut off, we pray Thee, each offence,

And every lust of thought and sense;

That by their lips who thee adore

Thou mayst be praised forevermore.

Grant this, O Father ever One

With Christ, thy sole-begotten Son,

And Holy Ghost, whom all adore,

Reigning and blest forevermore.

---

Psalm 30 (31) Trustful prayer in time of adversity

Hear me, Lord, and come to rescue me.

In you, Lord, I put my trust: may I never be put to shame.

  In your justice, set me free,

Turn your ear to me,

  make haste to rescue me.

Be my rampart, my fortification;

  keep me safe.

For you are my strength and my refuge:

  you will lead me out to the pastures,

  for your own name’s sake.

You will lead me out of the trap that they laid for me –

  for you are my strength.

Into your hands I commend my spirit:

  you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.

You hate those who run after vain nothings;

  but I put my trust in the Lord.

I will rejoice and be glad in your kindness,

  for you have looked on me, lowly as I am.

You saw when my soul was in need:

  you did not leave me locked in the grip of the enemy,

  but set my feet on free and open ground.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Hear me, Lord, and come to rescue me.

---

Psalm 30 (31)

Lord, let your face shine on your servant.

Take pity on me, Lord, for I am troubled:

  my eyes grow weak with sorrow,

  the very centre of my being is disturbed.

For my life is worn out with distress,

  my years with groaning;

my strength becomes weakness,

  my bones melt away.

I am a scandal and a disgrace,

  so many are my enemies;

to my friends and neighbours,

  I am a thing to fear.

When they see me in the street,

  they run from me.

I have vanished from their minds as though I were dead,

  or like a pot that is broken.

I know this – for I have heard the scolding of the crowd.

  There is terror all around,

for when they come together against me

  it is my life they are resolved to take.

But I put my trust in you, Lord;

  I say: “You are my God,

  my fate is in your hands.”

Tear me from the grip of my enemies,

  from those who hound me;

let your face shine upon your servant,

  in your kindness, save me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Lord, let your face shine on your servant.

---

Psalm 30 (31)

Blessed be the Lord, who has shown me the wonders of his love.

How very many are the pleasures, Lord,

  that you have stored up for those who fear you.

You have made these things ready for those who trust in you,

  to give them in the sight of all men.

Far away from the plottings of men

  you hide them in your secret place.

You keep them safe in your dwelling-place

  far from lying tongues.

Blessed be the Lord,

  for he has shown me his wonderful kindness

  within the fortified city.

In my terror, I said

  “I am cut off from your sight”;

but you heard the voice of my prayer

  when I called to you.

Love the Lord, all his chosen ones.

The Lord keeps his faithful ones safe,

  heaps rich revenge on the arrogant.

Be brave, let your hearts be strong,

  all who trust in the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Blessed be the Lord, who has shown me the wonders of his love.

---

Guide me in your truth, Lord, and teach me;

– for you are my God and my salvation.

---

Reading	Wisdom 1:16,2:10-24

The godless call with deed and word for Death,

counting him friend, they wear themselves out for him,

with him they make a pact,

and are fit to be his partners.

‘As for the virtuous man who is poor, let us oppress him;

let us not spare the widow,

nor respect old age, white-haired with many years.

Let our strength be the yardstick of virtue,

since weakness argues its own futility.

Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us

and opposes our way of life,

reproaches us for our breaches of the law

and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing.

He claims to have knowledge of God,

and calls himself a son of the Lord.

Before us he stands, a reproof to our way of thinking,

the very sight of him weighs our spirits down;

his way of life is not like other men’s,

the paths he treads are unfamiliar.

In his opinion we are counterfeit;

he holds aloof from our doings as though from filth;

he proclaims the final end of the virtuous as happy

and boasts of having God for his father.

Let us see if what he says is true,

let us observe what kind of end he himself will have.

If the virtuous man is God’s son, God will take his part

and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies.

Let us test him with cruelty and with torture,

and thus explore this gentleness of his

and put his endurance to the proof.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death

since he will be looked after – we have his word for it.’

This is the way they reason, but they are misled,

their malice makes them blind.

They do not know the hidden things of God,

they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded,

they can see no reward for blameless souls.

Yet God did make man imperishable,

he made him in the image of his own nature;

it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world,

as those who are his partners will discover.

Responsory

The wicked ask: ‘Where is the just man? We must plot to get rid of him; he will not lend himself to our purposes; he calls himself the son of God. Let us put his claims to the proof: if to be just is, indeed, to be God’s son, then God will save him from the power of his enemies.’

‘He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. He said: “I am the son of God.” Let us put his claims to the proof: if to be just is, indeed, to be God’s son, then God will save him from the power of his enemies.’

---

Reading	St Clement's letter to the Corinthians

Let us not be fugitives from the will of God

My dear friends, take care to do good and virtuous deeds in unity before him, and be citizens worthy of him; or his many good works towards us may become a judgement on us all. For, as he says somewhere, The spirit of the Lord is a lamp searching the inward parts.

  Let us observe how near he is, and that nothing escapes him: not the thoughts we think, not the arguments we construct. It is right, therefore, that we should not be deserters from his will. Let us offend foolish and thoughtless men, men who puff themselves up and boast in the pride of their words, rather than offending God.

  Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us. Let us respect those who rule us; let us honour the aged; let us instruct the young in the fear of God.

  Let us lead our wives to what is good: let them exhibit the lovely habit of purity, let them show forth the innocent will of meekness, let them make the gentleness of their tongue manifest by their silence, let them give their affection without favouritism but in holiness equally to all who fear God.

  Let our children share in the instruction which is in Christ, let them learn the strength of humility before God, the power of pure love before God, how beautiful and great is his fear and how it gives salvation to all who live holily in it with a pure mind. For he is a searcher of thoughts and desires; his breath is in us, and he chooses when to take it away from us.

  Now the faith which is in Christ confirms all these things, for he himself through his Holy Spirit calls us: Come, Children, hearken to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man that desires life, that loves to see good days? Make your tongue cease from evil, make your lips speak no guile. Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.

  The all-merciful and beneficent Father has compassion on those that fear him, and kindly and lovingly bestows his favours on those that draw near to him with a sincere intention. So let us not be in two minds, and let us have no doubts about his excellent and glorious gifts.

Responsory

Praise the Lord God at all times and ask him to guide your course. Then all you do and all you plan will prosper.

Serve God and do what pleases him in sincerity and with all your strength. Then all you do and all you plan will prosper.

---

Let us pray.

Lord God, deepen our faith,

  strengthen our hope,

  enkindle our love;

and so that we may obtain what you promise,

  make us love what you command.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

  God for ever and ever.

Amen.

---

Let us bless the Lord.

– Thanks be to God.